I'm Not Trying To Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches

We are pleased to offer copies signed by Drew Nieporent.

A memoir from one of New York’s boldest and influential restaurateurs, I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult is as candid, entertaining, and full of life as a great night out.

Drew Nieporent helped shape the NYC dining scene with legendary restaurants like Montrachet, Tribeca Grill, and Nobu. But he’s also a gifted storyteller, and this book delivers the kind of behind-the-scenes tales that rarely make it into print. Robert De Niro, David Bouley, Princess Diana, cruise ship dining rooms, and three-star reviews all show up in Nieporent’s orbit, and he’s not afraid to share where he stumbled, what he learned, and what really matters when you’re building something lasting.

What sets this memoir apart is how personal it is: Drew writes with humor and humility about his battles with weight, the grind of the industry, and the people who helped (and hindered) along the way. It’s not a sanitized highlight reel—it’s a sharply observed, deeply human story from someone who’s spent a lifetime at the center of the action.

A deeply diverting read for anyone who loves restaurants, personalities, or just a great New York story well told.

Hardcover. Photo insert.