Waiter to the Rich and Shameless

Confessions of a Five Star Beverly Hills Server

By: Paul Hartford

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

A down-and-out musician chops off his hair to become a server at the top of the Hollywood food chain, discovering a cloistered world of money, fame, bad behavior, and intrigue.

Waiter to the Rich and Shameless is not just a peek into the secretive inner workings of a legendary five-star restaurant; it is not just a celebrity tell-all or a scathing corporate analysis. It is a top-tier waiter's personal coming-of-age story, an intimate look into the complicated challenges of serving in the country's most elite, Hollywood-centric dining room while fighting to maintain a sense of self and purpose.

Of the many millions of food service workers around the globe, only a tiny number ever ascend to a top-level position at a world-renowned restaurant catering to iconic celebrities, moguls, and politicians. As one of those select few, Paul ("Pauli") Hartford is the first waiter to open the door into a cloistered, coveted world of money, fame, bad behavior, and intrigue. He peels back the veneer of civility and culture at the nation's most preeminent celebrity hangout, the Cricket Room, in Beverly Hills, California. He exposes the epic human foibles of its elite clientele, the dining room's corrupt corporate culture, its clandestine culinary practices, and the heartbreaking struggles of its beleaguered waitstaff.

This keenly-observed story also traverses Pauli's 10-year evolution from a jaded, party-hungry rock musician who moonlights as a bartender, into a snobbish and pretentious waiter, and finally into a polished and sophisticated server who takes his job so seriously that it drives him to the brink of illness. Pauli finds himself at first seduced by his famous guests' glamour and self-indulgence, then accustomed to it, and finally appalled by it.

For obvious reasons, some details and specifics about the real Cricket Room have been cleverly disguised, but discerning listeners will easily connect the dots.

©2014 Paul Hartford (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Excellent!

I loved this book! Right from the beginning, you feel like the author is speaking directly to you. The person narrating on audible did a great job telling the story and had a very fitting tone for the overall feel. It was interesting, entertaining, and frequently comical. I'm assuming the people who wrote bad reviews because of it being "vulgar" didn't understand the initial warning. The author explains right in the beginning that it's a book about his life, which involves working in a restaurant and warns the reader of some adult content. The word "shameless" is in the title; what else did you expect!? The majority of content we read without conflict, deviation from the norm, and a little vulgarity is usually pretty dull anyway. So, yeah, if you were looking for some spiritual awakening or Christ-driven inspiration, this probably wasn't the book for you, and you should've listened to the warning. Anyone that likes to laugh and can appreciate a good story that is probably relatable to most- will enjoy this book!

Wow

Very interesting read! I knew the restaurant business is hard work but I have a new appreciation. I'm glad to know that Johnny Depp is as cool as I've always imagined :)

Love a Good Industry Tell All!

Having worked in the same industry (albeit back-of-house) for 30+ years, the life is pretty much the same. Comiserate along!! Great listen / read!

Great!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! So many interesting, wild, and funny stories. Outstanding narrator too!

amazing

If you work in this type of environment you will enjoy reading it and not only that but you will see your self in first person active as the main character. Great reading! Thanks for sharing your stories... .................