Flash in the Pan: The Life and Death of an American Restaurant

"Flash in the Pan is a vivid and entertaining excursion into the world of restaurant entrepreneurs. With a cool eye and cheeky wit, David Blum follows a group of hustler-dreamers as they try to beat a ten-to-one chance of failure. This wryly illuminating account will be an eye-opener to anyone who has ever thought it might be fun to open a restaurant---and fascinating to anyone who has ever eaten in one."--- Julie Salamon, author of The Devil's Candy

"Flash in the Pan is a brilliant mixture of sharp reportage, hot and stylish writing, so many hysterically funny scenes that I stopped counting them halfway through, and a memorable cavalcade of characters who come to life on every page. With his portrait of restaurateur Bruce Goldstein---a flesh-and-blood latter-day Milo Minderbinder of the trendy urban cafe scene---David Blum evokes an honest-to-God American original. From start to finish, this book is sure to make you laugh."---Donald Katz, author of Home Fires