Jeff Henderson was just another inner-city black kid born into a world of poverty and limited options, where crime seemed to provide the only way to get out. Raised mostly by his single mother, who struggled just to keep food on the table, Jeff dreamed big. He had to get out and he soon did by turning to what so many in his community did: dealing drugs. But Jeff was no ordinary drug dealer; by twenty-one, he was one of the top cocaine dealers in San Diego, making up to $35,000 a week. Two years later he was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges and sentenced to almost twenty years in prison. Before he knew what had hit him, he was looking at spending most of his life behind bars. The street life had been the only one he'd ever known and even incarcerated he was too hardheaded to realize that no good would come of it.

That is, until he was assigned to one of the least desirable prison jobs: washing dishes. That job helped turn his whole life around. It gave him access to the prison kitchen and he became fascinated watching his fellow prisoners cook for the thousands of other inmates and prison officials. Henderson learned to cook in prison. Not cocaine, but food. And his dream was born: Once outside, he would become a chef.

It was a tough, seemingly impossible journey for an ex-con. Few chefs would give him the opportunity to cook in their restaurants. And once hired, he endured racism and sabotage in the kitchen. But Henderson refused to accept rejection. Driven by a dream and an unshakable will to succeed, Chef Jeff worked hard to overcome unimaginable adversity and eventually reached the top of his profession, becoming executive chef at Café Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Alive with the energy of the streets, the sober reality of prison, and the visceral thrill of being inside the fast-paced kitchens of great restaurants, Cooked is an intense, intimate tale of crime, punishment, and redemption—a deeply poignant story of how the worst wrong can lead to the most extraordinary right.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 43 reviews)

Fantastic read: amazing story!

What a life this gentleman has led, and what a brilliant effort he's put forth here telling his tale. Well-written, totally gripping, and an inspiration. I hadn't heard his story prior to reading the book, which made it that much better.
July 07, 2008

Hard work pays off!

This was a wonderful, quick read. I appreciated the honesty for the lure of the lifestyle that Chef Henderson describes in the book. I respect his recounts of his respect for his mentors, willingness to learn and work hard at his passion. I wish that there were more ways to exploit the passions of our young girls and boys BEFORE they end up in jail, though that's where he was saved. But how many of us are given the keys to success and don't work as hard as Chef Jeff? This book inspired me to work harder at my passions.
July 01, 2008

It gets no better

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. In real life we learn as we grow. This book shows that growth in a way that seems nearly super human. A person who once saw only a tiny piece of the world and no positive ways to display his genius, found a big world and a path for genius. I wish this were mandatory reading in the 9th grade.(there is bad language, but what 9th grader hasn't heard it all before) This is a man to admire. when's the movie coming out???
May 12, 2008

Inspiring and educational

In 'Cooked,' Jeff Henderson recounts his unlikely rise from a crack dealer in San Diego to a well-respected chef in a prestigious Las Vegas restaurant. His ambitions and inspiration came to him while serving a drug-related sentence in federal prison, and upon his release he put 100% of his efforts into educating himself, gaining experience, and convincing influential people in the restaurant business to take a chance on him.

Jeff's gritty memoir was fascinating to me, someone to whom most of his life experiences are completely foreign, and I had a difficult time putting it down between sittings. One can't help but admire his strength and resolve in making his dreams come true despite a past he wasn't proud of.
March 11, 2008

Wow!

This book has it all: the druggie street scene, cash and sex, prison from the inside, redemption of a drug dealer, and the highest echelons of haute cuisine. It's very well written and thoughtful, too. The reader really feels a part of every vividly described scene. This book also makes you think about how people end up dealing drugs and that with the right motivation and influences drug dealers -- and perhaps other accused criminals -- can turn their lives around. But not all incarcerated felons have the insight, guts, leadership, strength and intelligence to pull themselves up and out. More attention should be paid to helping along inmates with potential to do good for themselves and for the world.
January 03, 2008

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