Long considered a culinary renegade and a pioneering chef, Norman Van Aken is an American original who chopped and charred, sweated and seared his way to cooking stardom with no formal training, but with extra helpings of energy, creativity, and faith.

No Experience Necessary is Chef Van Aken’s joyride of a memoir. In it he spans twenty-plus years and nearly as many jobs—including the fateful job advertisement in the local paper for a short-order cook with “no experience necessary.”

In the irreverent tradition of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential,and populated by a rogues’ gallery of colorful characters—including movie stars, legendary musicians, and culinary giants Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, and Charlie Trotter—No Experience Necessary offers a uniquely personal, highly-entertaining under-the-tablecloth view of the high-stakes world of American cuisine told with wit, insight, and great affection by a natural storyteller.

Norman Van Aken is known as the founding father of New World Cuisine, a celebration of Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African, and American flavors. He is also known internationally for introducing the concept of “Fusion” to the culinary world. Van Aken is the only Floridian inducted into the prestigious James Beard “Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage”; his restaurant, Norman’s, was nominated as a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Restaurant in America.” He has also been a James Beard Foundation semi-finalist for “Best Chef in America.” Van Aken has published five cookbooks: Feast of Sunlight, The Exotic Fruit Book, Norman’s New WorldCuisine, New World Kitchen, and My Key West Kitchen (with Justin Van Aken). He lives in Miami, Florida.

Prologue: The Triangle
Chapter 1: Pre-Chef
Chapter 2: Carnival Rides
Chapter 3: The Fireside: Hainesville, 1972–73
Chapter 4: The Midget: Key West, 1973
Chapter 5: The Deerpath Inn: 1973–1974
Chapter 6: The Holiday Inn: Greeley, 1974
Chapter 7: The Gale Street Inn: Diamond Lake, 1975
Chapter 8: The Fox Lake Country Club: 1975–77
Chapter 9: 700 Duval: Key West, 1978
Chapter 10: The Pier House: Key West, 1978
Chapter 11: Shit Happens
Chapter 12: The Port of Call: Key West, 1979
Chapter 13: Chez Nancy: Key West, 1979–80
Chapter 14: The Port of Call (Reprise): Key West, 1980–82
Chapter 15: Sinclair’s: Lake Forest,1982–84
Chapter 16: Sinclair’s American Grill: Jupiter, 1985
Chapter 17: Louie’s Backyard: Key West, 1985–88
Chapter 18: Mira: Key West, 1988
Chapter 19: Boca, Boca, Boca!: Boca Raton, 1989–90
Chapter 20:a Mano: Key West, 1990–92
Epilogue: The Triangle Comes Full Circle