SandDanz picked this up for me at Half-Price Books on her way from New Albany, IN to Dayton, OH!

FROM THE PUBLISHER
I, for one, have piled enough skyscraper salads to be given some consideration. I’m not working my way up the kitchen ladder for my goddamn health. I know all too well the sting of vinegar in an open cut. Oh yes, that salad you’re eating as a light appetizer? My bare hands have massaged dressing into every leaf. Lettuce loves me. But I’ve got ambition and, I don’t mind saying, a decent palate. I want to be The Chef. And the only way to do this is by becoming the greatest cook I can be. Which means kicking ass on the line, not just salads and desserts. These are my hopes. These are my dreams.
Layla Mitchner is a twenty-eight-year-old Cordon Bleu graduate trying to carve out a space for herself in the fast-paced, high-pressure world of Manhattan’s top restaurant kitchens. She knows she’s got the talent to be a great chef, but there she is slaving for a misogynistic boss who’d sooner promote the dishwasher than give a woman the chance to prove her sous-chef mettle. And while Layla knows that the dwindling balance in her bank account won’t begin to cover what she owes her roommate, she’s desperate not to seek help from her self-absorbed, serially divorced, soap-opera-actress mother.
Her romantic prospects seem no brighter. She gets set up with a nice enough guy, but his tassel loafers and corporate demeanor reek of the WASP aristocracy she’s determined to leave behind. After continuously striking out, she meets a musician who appears to be the bohemian Mr. Right of her dreams, only to find he may be more deadbeat than heartthrob. But Layla refuses to settle for anything short of true love and success, and sheultimately finds both where she least expects them.
Hannah McCouch’s fresh and animated voice leaps off the pages of Girl Cook, a deliciously modern Cinderella story of love, sex, chefs, and the city.

I enjoyed this book. Of course, I started reading it before dinner so they had me at "Goat Cheese, Chorizo, and Black Bean Terrine." I was dissapointed that there weren't any receipes...now I'll either have to find one or create it myself. Another fun aspect of the book is that I've eaten at several of the restaurants mentioned in the book. March is my absolute favorite...fabulous tasting menu with wine pairing; although bring money because I swear John and I spent the equivalent of a mortgage payment.

Here is a receipe to start from: http://www.wineskinny.com/recipes/beans_sw-black-bean-terrine.htm

Reserved as a 2007 Bookcrossing Convention RABCK for TITurtle1! Happy Reading!

I got this from Nou as a RABCK! Thank you so much. This was on m wishlist, so it was a real treat! :-)

Borrowed this from TITurtle1's bookshelf and read it. I thought it was funny, and could relate to her.

I finished this book while I was up at camp, it was another light, quick read but I got really into the story. I thought the story wouod be about how she gained more respect as a cook, but it was a bit different how I thought it would happen. Either was it was a great story. Thanks Nou for giving this to me!

Book buffet at BCinDC Convention 2011!

I got this one at the 10th Anniversary Bookcrossing Convention. Thanks for offering this one in the beautiful book buffet!

I really liked this one! At first I thought it was a memoir of a NYC cook, but finally realized ("a novel" on the cover should have given it away! LOL) that this is fiction! I loved reading about the crazy fast paced life in the restaurant scene. Not a life I'd actually like to live myself, but fun to read about!

I'm sending this on to nimrodiel who chose it from the Yummy Yummy VBB on bookobsessed.

your package made it here safe! I', looking forwards to reading this one soon.

This was cute and a fast read and way to short!

I found myself wanting to know more at the end of the book. It felt like it could have gone on for a few more chapters.

I loved the descriptions of the behind the scenes in the kitchen moments, and the composition of very yummy sounding food.

I'm sending this to BooksnBeer as part of her birthday package as I saw it on her wishlist recently.

ohhhh...Thanks for the great Birthday package. Actually, I just finished reading this - so I will find a great home for this one.

Received this from BooksnBeer in my birthday package. Thanks BnB!

Here's my review:
Layla is a graduate of the somewhat prestigious Cordon Bleu cooking school in France. While she dreams of being put on saute, she can't seem to get off making the salads in what's described as a "man's world". Her boss is a complete jerk who treats her horribly and basically dares her to quit. To make matters, worse, Layla's love life isn't going anywhere either. Layla needs to find a new job, and a new man!

Typical to any chick lit, this was very easy to read and very predictable. It was interesting to have a different backdrop for the story though - that being of a professional kitchen. The writing wasn't the best, the story line wasn't the best, but it was a nice break from the more serious stuff I've been reading recently.

To the finder of this book: I hope you enjoy reading this book. Please keep it or set it free when you're done. If the book is of no interest to you, please release it into the wild for someone else to find and enjoy. I hope you will make a journal entry so its journey can be tracked and to let me know the book has been found. You can remain anonymous if you wish, but if you join BookCrossing, you are in for a great experience.

What a great find (OBCZ, 2nd Cup Coffee Shop, in Oakville, Ontario). My daughter is a pastry chef - newly graduated. (As it turns out, from Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Ottawa, Ontario - wow, what a place!) She's working these days making chocolate creations in downtown Toronto at a small but gorgeous family-run store. I will be in Toronto soon, and will drop it off at her place!