Dish: Spiels, scoops, emotional outbursts and the occasional recipe

by Rhys Nicholson

Every now and then, when the planets align in just the right way, a book comes along that changes everything. An author sweats and toils to birth a tome with such colossal cultural impact, it has the power to retune the entire world to a whole new frequency. This is absolutely not one of those books. Not even close. And actually, that all sounds a bit much really, doesn’t it?

Rhys Nicholson is a multi-award winning comedian, writer and busy mum with an anxiety disorder, a complicated relationship with food and a book deal. In Dish , a debut whack at writing an entire book, Nicholson is reaching out to get some stuff straight in their head. Through a series of revealing stories, intrusive thoughts and a recipe here and there, they’re hoping to ruminate, gossip and generally have a deeply private, wide-ranging conversation with themselves about a whole bunch of life’s smaller questions. What do you do if you think you might have an underwear fetish? How long do you roast a chicken for? Does everyone hate you? Why did no one bring up how hard it is to write a book? What’s going on with heterosexual men, and are they okay?

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Comedy, Biography, Memoir

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2023

About the author

Rhys Nicholson is a Multi-award winning Australian stand-up, author, actor and collager.

With an enormous passion for live performing and a well-earned reputation for intelligent, premium comedy, Rhys Nicholson’s work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world. A star of the stage and the screen, there is no doubting their domination of Australian comedy, and their inevitable impact on the global scene.

Rhys was hand-picked to open for comedy legend Conan O’Brien on his 2019 Australian tour, followed by their USA television debut as the stand up guest on CONAN (TBS). This was immediately followed by the recording of their third stand up special Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations. The show was released on Netflix worldwide, making Rhys one of only three Australians with a solo show on the streaming giant at that time. The show’s success additionally earned them a nomination for Best Stand Up Comedy Special at the AACTA Awards in 2021. Rhys has additionally received two AACTA Award nominations in the 2024 Awards, Best Stand Up Comedy Special for Big Queer Comedy Concert (Amazon Prime) and Best Comedy Performer for Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under (STAN).

Alongside a booming stand-up career, Rhys has become a favourite across our small screens. Scripted appearances include being cast as a series regular in the Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects (NETFLIX), and a recurring role in FISK (NETFLIX). On top of this, Rhys appeared on all four seasons of Drag Race Down Under (STAN), featured as a contestant on Network 10’s Taskmaster Australia, and was invited to appear twice on the re-boot of Thank God You’re Here in 2023 & 2024.

Rhys is also a regular guest on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering (ABC), along with featuring on many of Australia’s entertainment shows, including Guy Montgomery Spelling Bee (ABC), Spicks and Specks (ABC), Question Everything (ABC), and Would I Lie To You (ABC). Additionally, viewers may have caught them hosting the 2023 & 2024 ARIA Awards (STAN), New Years Eve Broadcast (ABC), and World Pride Broadcast (ABC).

2023 saw the release of Rhys’s debut book, Dish: Spiels, Scoops, Emotional Outbursts and the Occasional Recipe, published by Penguin Random House.

Rhys has been a beloved mainstay of comedy festivals in Australia and beyond since their inaugural show, with subsequent tours through all major Australian cities, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and Canada, and an impressive trophy cabinet featuring such prestigious awards as Best of the Fest and Directors Choice at Sydney Comedy Festival, and Best International Show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

They have enjoyed appearances on the televised Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s All Stars Gala (ABC), participating frequently with short spots, but also in the prestigious role of host.

Recent years have seen them take their critically acclaimed shows abroad where they performed at the renowned invite-only Just For Laughs Montreal, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Soho Playhouse New York, Just For Laughs Toronto and theatres throughout the United States and the UK.

Reviews

[Nisha-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read most, if not all, of this in an extremely sleep-deprived stressed the fuck out at my noisy neighbour and her equally noisy male friend state which I feel is a reading state Rhys would approve of for this book.

And I loved every bit of it. The withering sarcasm, the genuine heart, the verbal tics, the gratitude for their luck, and the matter-of-fact attitude to their own struggles and triumphs. There were a rather surprising number of typos which must be a first-edition thing and will prolly be cleaned up soon enough. Come on, Random Penguin, do you not proofread final manuscripts anymore, what the hell? Hire me, I can do it!

Can't wait to see Rhys and Joel next month for the Christmas special.

[Jayden Masciulli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhys is one of my all-time favourite comedians, so this collection of essays and recipes was right up my alley. Surprising, illuminating, and legitimately laugh-out-loud funny; plus, the audiobook narration by Rhys elevates the entire thing, much like clarified butter.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Laugh out loud funny. Alarmingly similar to my upbringing. They mention the forgotten soap Passions, I knew I loved the book then.

[Tiana Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was great to hear Rhys read their own novel - made the experience more entertaining. Definitely felt like they were opening up a lot more towards the end, which I would have liked to see throughout.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. One of those books you want to tell people you're reading. That you being out to show people. That you post about on Instagram. That you don't want to put away in your bag because you want everyone to know you're reading it. One of those books you want to go into stores to find on the show and shuffle books around to really make a feature of it. This book has reignited my love for reading. Thank you, Rhys.

[Shane Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want another book. I could have kept reading it like a never ending story. Love Rhys and his words. Give me another book.

[Jasmin Caplan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Reads like Rhys is reading out loud to you and can’t wait to try the m&m cookie recipe

[Jas Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book is such a blast. Before this, I don't think I have ever read or finished a comedy book or a cooking book but genuinely this was such an entertaining mix of both, I really enjoyed reading it!

Rhys is so Australian and that sense of humour seeps onto every page and as, another Australian, I found practically every re-telling f*cking hilarious. Rhys' book reads like any of their comedy shows if you've ever seen any of them; funny punchlines, hilarious prose, I felt like I was being told an animated story through the words and I really enjoyed that.

I haven't tried any of the recipes in the book. Yet! Some of the ones at the start of the book look kinda scary but I'm keep to try out the apple pies genuinely they look Good.

I had to tag so many points in the book for just going "omg that's so funny and totally relatable." The weirdest one perhaps being them talking about 'attack llamas' - don't google it, just read the book - because *I* own attack alpacas. Anyway, crazy turn of events.

Heaps of fun, laughter and just an easy read that I found made some great points and just some damn entertaining ones.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Rhys, they are the highlight of Drag Race Down Under every season for me, and their stand up is superb. Getting to hear their anecdotes in their signature voice was delightful. I laughed out loud quite a few times, and will thus never look at cruise ships the same again. A delightfully wicked and sharp collection of essays!

[Steven Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Reading 'Dish' felt like attending one of Rhys’ fabulous stand-up gigs: I smiled, I laughed and I wanted more. I also love my signed copy! 😍

[Robert Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book five stars as I listened to Rhys narrate his book. His vocal range is only excelled by Kenneth Williams. We hear lots about Rhys, much touched on in his routines, but also much new. Rhys has a fabulously large vocabulary. Between regular chapters he also has segments on how to write your first book (or how to procrastinate) and recipes. All quite fun and a treat.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I thought the stories/essays were entertaining and am actually going to try some of the recipes. Was going to give it 4 stars but the incredibly niche reference to Maurie the Mole bumped it up to 5 from this fellow Novocastrian :)

[Gabrielle Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Rhys.

[Brooke Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a time!! I loved all the recipes
Especially the “special brownies”
It made me giggle but not as much as I thought

[Karen]

Listened to this on audio and loved it. Rhys is one of my favourite comedians, love their honesty and openness, and willingness to talk about the things that make life complicated. Particularly appreciated the idea that somebody with an eating disorder would include recipes in a book like this. I mean I can't attempt any of the recipes personally, but they were there, and the instructions were perfect.

(Yes this is tongue in cheek in style, yes there are some messages and, heavens to betsy, some opinions, dotted throughout so no don't listen to it if you don't like their comedy / lifestyle / choices / preferences / voice / personality etc etc etc).

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this was too silly to read, but after a few guffaws and a laugh loud enough to wake my toddler, I kept going until I’d gobbled it all up. Underneath the barbs, it’s quite humble and wholesome (unless you’re rabidly rightwing, I guess). Rhys’ love of family and food is particularly endearing.

[Nicola Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You've made your bed, now shit in it."

I'm not giving this five stars because it's not life-changing, but it is very VERY funny. I saw Rhys live this year and I think it was the most laughs per minute I've ever had in a comedy show. So good.

[Jemma Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rhys, both Edinburgh Fringe shows that I’ve seen are up there with my favourite stand up shows. This book can’t fully recreate the experience of seeing a comedian at the absolute top of their game, but I think this is more of a testament to how engaging and virtuosic Rhys’ stand-up performance is, rather than a criticism of the book. I loved having this on in the car, was fabulous company of long journey’s. As a touring performer myself, some of the stories about Rhys’ early days on the road were very relatable, I loved it!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book had been floating around our household since Christmas, it was the audio book (WITH RHYS NICHOLSON NARRATING) that had us in stitches.

Sure, the recipes were great (tried the anchovy toast and fried chicken), it was the mix to humour, reflection and advice that gave strength (and laughs) to this collection of personal essays.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly amusing at point, downright repetitive and overly self indulgent in others.
If he isn’t sharing basic recipes like some kind of low rent temu Julia Childs, he’s trying to justify his position in life.
I’m not sure the editor was impressed either, given how many grammatical errors plague the book, they obviously didn’t put any effort into it.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook. I enjoy these anecdotal memoires and this one was appealing because the author is a fellow Novacastrian. Very funny in parts - shows how a clever comedian and writer can make the mundane funny.

[Chuck McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhys Nicholson is one of my favourite Australian comedians of the past 30 years, and this eclectic collection of essays, anecdotes and recipes amply showcases his often painfully self-aware and sassy humour. If you're a fan, you'll love this book. If you're not, buy it anyway and leave it on your coffee table to initiate conversations about how wokeness is killing the world, or something.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I legitimately laughed out loud a few times, which was nice but also odd. An enjoyable read.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very funny book

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny. Rhys has a great way with words. (Audiobook)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. Witty, sarcastic and exactly the joyful read I’d expect from Rhys. Highly recommend and as a non-cook I want to try some of these recipes.

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say I chortled I don't mean figuratively. I also learnt things, like how cream has no business in carbonara. If you enjoy Rhys' comedy you'll love this.

[Leigh Mellish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such lols, loved every minute/page/word

[John H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written. The positive is that you don't have to listen to that fake voice.

[Pk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely hilarious read, dotted with heartfelt moments and lovely stories. Loved this book!