Who is Bill Buford? Why does he want to learn to cook in Mario Batali's restaurant? What does Bill do for a living? How does Bill have time to learn to cook? What does Bill learn that he did not already know? Why does Bill continue his education outside of Batali's restaurant? What does Bill's wife think of his actions? How does the reader know this?

Who is Mario Batali? How did he become a chef? Why does he dislike French cooking? Why does Batali open a restaurant in New York? Why does he allow Bill to work in his restaurant? What is his relationship with Bill? What kind of a boss is Batali? Why is he infrequently in the restaurant? How many restaurants does Batali own in New York at the time in which the book is set?

Who is Marco Pierre White...