Image of crossed swords

Read the Witcher

I’m Not Trying To Be Difficult

Stories from the Restaurant Trenches

I’m Not Trying To Be Difficult Open the full-size image

Contributors

By Drew Nieporent

Formats and Prices

Price

$30.00

Price

$40.00 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. Hardcover $30.00 $40.00 CAD
  2. Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $24.99

Also available from:

Drew Nieporent has been a staple of the New York dining scene for decades, establishing a host of iconic restaurants like Nobu, Tribeca Grill, and Montrachet. But his career started from much more humble beginnings—the grill at the local McDonald’s.

A middle class kid from New York’s East Side, Drew spends his childhood tagging along with his father to help restaurants get their liquor license, igniting a lifelong obsession with food. His passion takes him on a winding, continent-spanning journey, crossing paths with legendary chefs, iconic athletes, and movie stars as he grows into one of the most influential names in the culinary world. From waiting tables on a cruise ship to getting his first three-star review; from squabbling with Cornell professors to partnering with Robert DeNiro; this is more than a story of one man’s extraordinary life—it’s a story of an evolving industry. As culinary trends come and go, and relationships blossom and combust, Nieporent navigates it all with a simple yet powerful philosophy: give the customer what they want.

Told in Drew’s unforgettable voice, I’m Not Trying To Be Difficult is a rollicking memoir that feels like sitting across the dinner table from someone who has seen it all—one of the last great restaurateurs.

Genre:

  • “Drew Nieporent is a born storyteller. Lively and inviting, he brings the frenzy and excitement of the New York dining scene to life with the same energy and warmth he’s brought to his restaurants throughout his incredible career.”
     
    Harlan Coben

On Sale
Sep 23, 2025
Page Count
288 pages
Publisher
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-13
9781538765579

You May Also Like

In the Weeds
In the Weeds $19.99 $25.99 CAD
Workhorse
Workhorse $28.00 $35.00 CAD
You Had Me at Pet-Nat
You Had Me at Pet-Nat $28.00 $35.00 CAD
Truffle Boy
Truffle Boy $27.00 $35.00 CAD
Bon Appetempt
Bon Appetempt $37.00 $47.00 CAD

Drew Nieporent

About the Author

Drew Nieporent, one of America’s most respected and celebrated restaurateurs, is the founder and inspiration behind the Myriad Restaurant Group, which operates Tribeca Grill, Nobu New York City, Nobu Fifty Seven, Nobu London, Nobu Next Door, Bâtard, Porsche Grille at Citi Field, and Crush Wine & Spirits. Nieporent’s first restaurant, the groundbreaking Montrachet (1985), earned three stars from The New York Times and kept that rating for 21 years. He has partnered with Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, and Francis Ford Coppola, among others. He’s won multiple James Beard Awards.
 

Learn more about this author