This beautiful first edition is in pristine condition, the pages are lightly marked at the bottom. The dust jacket is near fine, red cloth and blue lettering on the spine of the book. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise chronicles Ruth Reichel's experiences as the restaurant critic for The New York Times during the 1990s. It includes some of Reichl's original reviews and favorite recipes. The book received positive reviews and became a New York Times bestseller.