Drew Nieporent, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches
Totally Booked with Zibby
Zibby Owens
4.5 • 644 Ratings
🗓️ 25 September 2025
⏱️ 33 minutes
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Summary
Zibby welcomes legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent to discuss his compelling, rollicking new memoir, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches. Drew reflects on his decades-long career shaping New York dining culture—from iconic spots like Tribeca Grill and Nobu to feeding workers after 9/11 and navigating the challenges of the pandemic. He also shares candid stories of success, setbacks, partnerships, and survival, along with deeply personal moments about his health, family, and resilience.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | My daughter used to hide behind me at parties and refused to say hello. |
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