Summary of Burn the Ice

Kevin Alexander

Looking for the book?
We have the summary! Get the key insights in just 10 minutes.

Editorial Rating

The rating – what does it mean?

At getAbstract, we summarize books* that help people understand the world and make it better. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria:

Enlightening – You’ll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions.

Helpful – You’ll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do.

We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from solid (5) to brilliant (10). Books we rate below 5 won’t be summarized. Here's what the ratings mean:

10 – Brilliant. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. Often an instant classic and must-read for everyone.
9 – Superb. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning.
8 – Very good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that has a substantial number of outstanding qualities without excelling across the board, e.g. presents the latest findings in a topical field and is written by a renowned expert but lacks a bit in style.
7 – Good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner.
6 – Notable. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. is particularly well structured.
5 – Solid. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. For instance, it may offer decent advice in some areas while being repetitive or unremarkable in others.

*getAbstract is summarizing much more than books. We look at every kind of content that may matter to our audience: books, but also articles, reports, videos and podcasts. What we say here about books applies to all formats we cover.

Qualities

Concrete Examples
Engaging
Insider's Take

While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths:

Applicable – You’ll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations.
Analytical – You’ll understand the inner workings of the subject matter.
Background – You’ll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis.
Bold – You’ll find arguments that may break with predominant views.
Comprehensive – You’ll find every aspect of the subject matter covered.
Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes.
Controversial – You’ll be confronted with strongly debated opinions.
Eloquent – You’ll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text.
Engaging – You’ll read or watch this all the way through the end.
Eye opening – You’ll be offered highly surprising insights.
For beginners – You’ll find this to be a good primer if you’re a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge.
For experts – You’ll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert.
Hot Topic – You’ll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue.
Innovative – You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends.
Insider’s take – You’ll have the privilege of learning from someone who knows her or his topic inside-out.
Inspiring – You’ll want to put into practice what you’ve read immediately.
Overview – You’ll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects.
Scientific – You’ll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research.
Visionary – You’ll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you.
Well structured – You’ll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application.

Recommendation

In the new millennium, American dining underwent a resurgence that may have peaked. Chefs rediscovered obscure ingredients, bartenders reincarnated classic cocktails and food trucks served gourmet fare. Every detail became a big thing: cheeseburgers, hot sauce, pizza, coffee, exotic cuisines, ramen stalls, craft breweries and small distilleries. Food journalist Kevin Alexander (writing before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry) chronicles this era with wit and insight, tracing trailblazing chefs and restaurateurs who redrew the culinary landscape.

About the Author

Kevin Alexander is a food journalist and writer-at-large for Thrillist. A James Beard Award winner, he contributes to Esquire, Men’s Journal, The Boston Globe, Howler and other publications.

Summary

“Burn the Ice” is restaurant slang for melting the ice at closing or breaking a glass in the ice well.

Until the mid-2000s, New York City and San Francisco, California were America’s culinary centers. “American” style cuisine developed in the 1950s and 1960s as Joe Baum opened several restaurants, including New York City’s Four Seasons. At Chez Panisse, Alice Waters started the French-West Coast hybrid that became California cuisine. Jonathan Waxman brought the movement to Los Angeles, sparking a culinary revival throughout the 1980s.

New Orleans, Louisiana chef Paul Prudhomme created Nouvelle Creole. In Dallas, Texas, amazing chefs developed the Southwestern style. New York and San Francisco remained the culinary trailblazers until 2006, when unknown chefs in Portland, Oregon started producing noteworthy and locally sourced food, using previously ignored ingredients. Soon, Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, had food scenes of their own.

The United States enjoyed a culinary renaissance for a number of reasons: a yearning for authenticity and craftsmanship, the rise of food television, the subsequent emergence...

Read on