Girl Cook: A Novel

by Hannah Mccouch

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 she ultimately 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.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Food, Foodie, Young Adult, Food Writing

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Meredith Hines-Dochterman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Years ago I read an article about the Food Network impact on kids who would run home from school to watch their favorite chefs create wonderful meals. The article talked about the next generation of chefs who only see the glamour of TV personalities -- not the reality of working in an actual restaurant kitchen.

Layla Mitchner knows the difference. The hard work, long hours, chauvinism and no money.

What? TV lies?

This book started strong -- Layla wants to make it at a chef -- but then it drifted into formulaic chick lit storytelling and that's where it got boring, complete with stupid decisions the Layla in the early chapters wouldn't make.

[eRin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this only a week ago but I have problems remembering it. That says something. Typical chick lit, but I did get tired of it. The main character made all the mistakes that chick lit heroines make, but I recall getting a bit angry about it because the book did start out with some promise: a woman in a male-dominated field (that, ironically, everywhere other than the professional world is deemed to be "women's work"). Could have been good, but then got annoying, then predictable. Merely okay.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read. I started on Sunday night and finished Monday afternoon. I also felt like it realistically depicted kitchen work life--could relate to a lot of what she has to go through working with a bunch of guys, but also could relate a lot to the main character's personality: strong and mouthy. Only thing was that it pushed it into the non-respectable genre of chick lit was the fairy tale romance with the guy that seemed kind of unbelievable and just a bit of a cop out to the character (although a part of me enjoyed the fantasy). But really good overall. Pacing and plot was excellent. Was never bored.

[Vanessa Opal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll put this in the "read" catagory, though I've never finished it. Though McCouch's character's experiences couldn't have been made up (was the author a cook?), I couldn't get past how bitter the overall tone of the book was enough to try and cheer the protagonist on. As a kitchen chefette, I feel like telling her "stand up for yourself, and take some effing responsibility for your situation. It's friggen New York City; find another restaurant that won't stick you in garde manger. Christ." I am a girl cook in NYC, and this book is not a blanket statement of what it would be like to cook.

[Shiloh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Layla is bitter and resentful about her position in the kitchen and hates her boss, and you're thinking as you're reading, why doesn't she just quit? But then later you find out through her own thoughts to herself that she's just a total bitch and she attracts people that don't treat her well. She's hostile, doesn't know how to be nice, and hates most people.

Not only is Layla unlikeable, but the story is poorly written. I won't read anything by McCouch again.

[Stephany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This kept me busy while on a long flight, but otherwise I probably wouldn't have read it. The main character was annoying and petty, and the love story was cliche. The protagonist is suppose to be strong and independent, but really she is just a spoiled rich girl who fails without her parents money and then is saved in the end by a rich guy with little to no personality. I've worked with girls like her before, and always hated it

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book claims to show the empowerment of a woman working in the man's world of commercial kitchens, but in reality, I found it did the opposite. The main character constantly beats herself down and never really develops past that. The closest she gets is by dumping a loser, but even then, she needs another guy to save her. She also doesn't actually ever make it in a commercial kitchen, and instead is going to end up having her own cooking show... Which some handsome guy helps her get.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this, thinking it would be about a female cook trying to make it in the male-dominated New York food scene. Instead, it was more about an entitled little rich girl's quest for a man. Disappointing.

[Alix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out with a woman looking to make her mark in a male-dominated industry, and then ended abruptly when she ended up with a romantic interest - a rich man who might be offering her a job??? I was disappointed.

[Lance · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was interested in seeing a woman make it in NY cooking scene, however bogged down in personal life and a fairy tale ending. Quick read is about the best one can say for this, and maybe good on a long flight.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found that I quite enjoyed the first half of this book. As a woman working in another male-dominated field, I found that I could actually relate to Layla's character. Despite being a strong, "one of the guys" types on the outside, she tries to hide her secretly sensitive core. Normally I become quickly fed up with the foolish and silly shortcomings of the chick-lit heroine who alternates between acting completely irrationally and breaking down over the ensuing chaos. Layla is (for the most part) more sensible.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and after a refreshingly different introduction, the book plummeted back into formulaic chick lit. Layla's refreshingly different character devolves into the irrational love-confused ninny, leaves her strong and independent exterior along with her job, and lands in a trite Bridget Jones knock-off, complete with a questionable wardrobe choice and a fist fight between the male suitors. I accept the fact that most chick lit is extremely formulaic, but this is a bit too much. Especially after such a promising introduction.

[Tori]

2004- Layla Mitchner dreams of becoming a chef and of true love. Instead, she works as a lowly salad tosser under the watch of a seemingly misogynistic boss. Under increased pressure from her semi-famous actress mother and her friends, she finally quits. Best bud Billy tries to hook her up with Dick Davenport, but Layla thinks he might be a little too uptight for her. (He wears shoes with tassels for goodness sakes!) She then meets a broody mysterious musician named Frank, but everything isn't always what it seems with him. Layla continues to try and get back on track with her career, while constantly finding herself running into Mr. Davenport, whom she seems to be unable to get out of her head. While some parts are a tad predictable, I really enjoyed Layla's cast of friends, which besides flamboyant Billy, include Austrian cook Gustav and bartender Dina.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very modern and not like your usual "Cinderella" story. Nothing was sugar coated and you never knew what was gonna happen. You think that this is whats gonna happen and you keep reading and it takes a twist that you would never expect. Its not all serious or funny or even romantic, Hannah McCouch combines an equal amount of all. I loved this book but the one thing that I thought could use some work was the ending, through the whole book it keeps you wanting more and wanting to know whats gonna happen next and the ending is just the same. If there is gonna be a sequal so that you know what happened to Layla, that would be great but the ending now kinda sucked. Other than that AMAZING book.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 28-year-old protagonist was raised by wealthy parents but cut off in her early 20s. She's now living hand-to-mouth trying to make it as a cook in New York City, but her boss is sexist and keeps her stuck in salads instead of giving her a shot at saute. It's kind of an interesting story, but the main character is only mildly sympathetic, and although she admirably turns things around for herself, there's still too much reliance on a rich guy pursuing her for no apparent reason. Worth a read if you're bored and looking for something easy.

[Alecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book won't disappoint you as long as you have realistic expectations. The themes aren't new- twentysomething girl trying to find love in the big city and struggling for success in a man's world- but it's a good little piece of fluff, nonetheless.
'Girl Cook' is a quick read, and the humor is sharp and witty. The plot is predictable, but is entertaining enough to keep you reading. If you enjoyed 'Loose Lips' by Claire Berlinski or the Bridget Jones' Diary books, then this will probably be a good book for you.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book I completely picked at random while perusing the shelves at the library. The book starts off strong- the main character is interesting, has a ton of passion and grit. Then the book peters out about halfway through to banal twenty something trials. The ending is predictable.

Thankfully, it is a short and quick read with fast paced prose. This is a "ok" book- since its summer and I'm in a master's program I have a pretty low bar for my leisure reading. This book fit the purpose!

[Sandy D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very, very quick read....a combination of chick lit. (think Bridget Jones Diary) and Kitchen Confidential. The girl got on my nerves with her first person whining, but I did like reading about the restaurant business and the people were all well described and sometimes pretty funny.

The format put me off a bit - no chapters, its all one big long run-on story with those little text dividers every few pages. It needed more structure.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like there was no "there" there. This was a light fresh read, and I enjoyed the details about working in a restaurant kitchen in Manhattan (I just read Heat, on the same topic, and they appeared to match up). However, just when it had gotten started, it ended! I'm familiar with chick lit, but I felt like this book showed without telling that the narrator was in a dry spell. Shortest 200+ page book I've read in a while.

[Felicia Latoya Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not big into "chick-lit", but I got this book because a friend mentioned it to me. There were things I liked and things I didn't (because it was my first real "chick-lit" read). There were scenes that made me laugh out loud, but I won't post those because it might be a spoiler for someone. It was a very quick read, but the details for the cooking industry were informative and interesting. McCouch has potential, and I'd like to see where her future in writing goes.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice culinary narrative on what it's like for a woman to push into the macho realm of high-stakes, high-pressure cooking. A bit whiney, but can't fault the author for it if Hannah McCouch's accounts of Tacoma's kitchen and crew are anywhere near the truth. The romance of meeting Mr Right I suppose is necessary for the chick-lit formula and rescues the tone of the work.

--Ashland Mystery

[Brokenpoetry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Layla works in a kitchen as the 'salad manager'. Her boss refuses to see any potential and doesn't offer her any opportunities to grow. Besides all the frustration that gives, she also has some friends that insists she needs to start dating someone new and even set her up. Of course some struggles follows and it all ends 'well'.
Considering I didn't have too high expectations. This was a nice enough, easy read.

[Kristen's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute super fast read! I related so much to this book. Like the main character, I also went to Le Cordon Bleu and worked in fine dining restaurants. Being a female in this industry is as tough and rewarding as the author has laid out for the readers.
Story was cute...characters were cute...very much a cliché damsel in distress works her way thru it and gets the guy in the end. All in all worth a few hours of your time to read.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't ordinarily get overly fussy about the use of the word "girl" to describe an adult female. However, in reading this book I began to understand people's objections: the main character embodies every assumption that one worries would attach to a woman called a girl, and I think I actually started to discriminate against women based on her behavior.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had all the elements you see in chick lit: woman hates her job, quits her job, worries about finding new job, dates a jerk, wants to find a great guy, struggles with money. For the most part, I enjoyed the book although some of the supporting characters weren't very interesting. But the book fulfilled its purpose by being a quick, entertaining read.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. I read it nonstop for two days. Coming from a chefs point of view, I loved the way she connected food with Layla Mitchner life. Even if you don't have a culinary background, you can admire the witty charm and humor of Layle, the main character. I do recommend it if you are looking for a light read, and share a passion of cooking.

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute fun novel about a cook trying to make it in New York City. The NYC restaurant scene (in the back of the house - not the front) has always been fascinating to me, so this was a perfect fit. While reading it I was probably 1/3 of the way through before I realized it is a novel not a memoir! The words "a novel" on the cover should have been my first clue! LOL

[Laurie]

The food terminology is accurate (a plus, and all too rare; I am particularly annoyed by typos in discussing food) and the main character was mildly interesting, but it didn't grab me enough to keep reading. I think it would be a good beach read, in the literal sense.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything to do with the kitrchen .. add in a wacky romance and I am a ginner - so of course this was a good, easy read for me. it shows how tough it can be for women to break through the glass ceiling in the Chef world. A must read for anyone who loves working in the kitchen.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light, superfast read. I would have enjoyed more about the kitchen and less about Layla's love life and insecurities- would have preferred her happy ending focused on career fulfillment rather than finding the "perfect" man.

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a woman with experience in the backbones of the Culinary world, I felt this book described the discrimination we feel in the kitchen. Unfortunately this book was dull, and it's "Romantic" plot was less than thrilling.