Chapters 9 & 10 Summary and Analysis

In The Philosopher of the Table, Ruth goes to work at L'Escargot, the most expensive restaurant in Ann Arbor. The newly opened restaurant is decorated with antiques and fine china. The owner, Maurice, is a pretentious man who wears pancake makeup and understands little about the financial aspects of the restaurant business. Ruth has a crush on brooding waiter Alan Jones, a fellow student. He ignores her but the lecherous German Sous Chef Rolf does not. He tries to seduce Ruth by giving her a tenderloin, stolen from the restaurant by the arrogant French Executive Chef.

Henry, an African-American waiter, teaches Ruth the art of working in a fine dining restaurant, tossing Caesar salads and flaming crepes table-side. He teaches Ruth that a restaurant is a war between the kitchen and the customers, with the waiter always in the middle and...