Marilyn, Are You Sure You Can Cook? He Asked

by Marilyn Lewis

Book Overview

Marilyn Lewis has been feeding and clothing the glitterati in Hollywood, Washington, D.C., and across the country for decades. In Marilyn, are you Sure you Can Cook?, Marilyn shares the captivating... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580082963
• ISBN13: 9781580082969
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.4" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Marilyn Dishes Up a Six-course Meal and more!

Anybody in the business world or on the inside track of Los Angeles life knows who Marilyn and Harry Lewis are; their building of the Hamburger Hamlet dynasty is legendary. What makes this truly fascinating book come to life though, is the "true Marilyn" who jumps from the page. With many autobios, you can read it cover to cover and not know a whit more about the real person behind that public visage when you're done.Not here. There's a lot more served up than some famous recipes and a few anecdotes; Lewis manages to capture the Zeitgeist of the time in which she and Harry lived and loved; a period of Show Business and Big Business colliding an L.A. full of fashion and film and some sad realities along the way. I'd love to give details but I'm not blowing any surprises. Suffice to say the book is a surprise a mix of personal and public life, and every darn thing that happens when you're a woman with boundless talent and the energy of a high school sprinter. For instance, did you know that under a completely different name,in a completely different world, Marilyn Lewis was also famous for something that had nothing to do with her culinary crown? Double-famous in two different worlds: that's not luck. This is an extraordinary woman.Marilyn Lewis's own peronal story is downright fascinating; from such humble beginnings she became the Grande Dame of Los Angeles's love for food, fashion, and passion. You can't put Lewis in a box.....her proven "wins" in evrything from film to filet mignon come with a story, a real story, about a real woman who was ahead of her time and made a lot of people plain catch up.Written with the class you'd expect from one of the shining stars of Los Angeles social life, Marilyn tosses class and candor like a salad, and the result is a can't-put-it-down page turner.I give this prize of a book my highest recommendation. The Marilyn Lewis you're going to meet in this book is probably not who you thought was on the menu. But I'd put her compelling voice and prolific humanity up against any creme brulee in town: Mrs. Lewis emerges like a creme brulee, in fact: a tough cookie and nobody's fool on the outside, and downright delicious, smooth and all class on the inside. Give this book a read; it'll show you a Los Angeles (and a world) that may not even be possible anymore.....unless another Marilyn and Harry Lewis show up in town. For now, I'll take the originals....and they're both right here in plaintive sight. Enjoy the meal, and boy, does she know some of the juciest tidbits of Los Angeles's golden age. Enjoy, and don't forget to tip well.

Secret to Success Recipe?

MARILYN ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN COOK? HE ASKED Every once in a while one comes across a book that's truly inspirational, and this one says it all. Marilyn Lewis takes you by the hand and thrusts you into the world of entertainment, excitement, movie stars, recipes, design, and family, all the while introducing us to her own style of prose. There are poignant moments, understated and wise, that speak volumes to the reader. This was not an easy road, and it was told honestly and with a rare sense of innocence, savvy and humor.We are given a personal tour of the thoughts and feelings of a true entrepreneur, and we learn that anyone wanting to achieve a modicum of success must take risks.I think that everyone SECRETLY wants to run a restaurant, and Marilyn shows us how to pull it off. And if that's not all...she makes a movie! Kidnapped? Yes! Disappointed? Many times! Survivor? You bet! This is not just a woman's story, but a benchmark for anyone who has a dream--and seeks the blueprints for success. A MUST READ! Take a much deserved bow, Ms. Lewis!

And she can WRITE, he said!

This interesting memoir of a rags to self-made riches story not only tells a compelling tale but comes with a very pleasant surprise: Marilyn Lewis can not only cook and created designer clothing--she can write! Her style is uniquely her own-sparse yet colorfully descriptive, emotional without sinking into self pity, strong yet never harsh. Thank goodness Lewis did not fall prey to the temptation to hire a ghost writer. What a waste that would have been. As a result the reader is treated to her unique and inspiring story, made all the more enjoyable by a writing style that never ceases to entertain. Bravo.

An Absolute Must Read

There's no reason to think a woman can't be the stereotypical cuddly, seductive female and a cutting edge feminist at the same time. Pick up a copy of Marilyn Lewis' autobiography "Marilyn, Are You Sue You Can Cook? he asked". You'll find her thoroughly capable of matching wits with the smartest CEO, achieve success in just about any undertaking and never lose that Je ne sais quoi that makes men want to really get to know the fascinating female who just crossed their path. It's an easy read and tells engaging anecdotes about show people, as well as others who are rich, famous and powerful. In addition, the reader learns how this gifted entrepreneur turned $3500 worth of hamburgers into $33 Million, became couturier to White House first ladies, was a college professor and successfully produced movies. It's a must for women who are proud of the achievements of one of their own and men who still daydream about that all-American girl.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

NOSTALGIC, AMUSING AND TRUE TO LIFE ACCOUNT OF A VERY TALENTED & ACCOMPLISHED LADY AND THE HANDSOME HARD WORKING GUY WHO WORSHIPS HER (ALSO VERY TALENTED). THRU THE YEARS, I MADE THE ROUNDS OF MOST ALL THE HAMLETS, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL SUNSET LOCATION, AND MARILYN LEWIS' VIVID,CANDID AND MOST AMUSING TALES OF THE STAFF, FOOD, DECOR , & CLIENTELE MAKES FOR A MOST ENJOYABLE "CAN'T PUT IT DOWN" REVIEW FROM THIS SOURCE. I WELCOME A SEQUEL!!