A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen: a chef's dispatches from behind the pass

by Sally Abé

From the star of the Great British Menu, for readers who loved Kitchen Confidential and couldn't tear their eyes away from Boiling Point, a book that reveals the reality of working in restaurant kitchens - and how they need to change for the better
It's a familiar angry men berating each other in kitchens as pots furiously boil, sauces burn and a giant slab of beef rests in the background. The dominant view of a professional kitchen is one of chaos and pent-up fury - a gladiatorial contest of male ego. Why then do we also hear the misogynistic refrain that women 'belong in the kitchen' if, in a professional context, they're all but erased from them?

A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen is the story of Sally Abé's rise to become an award-winning chef in the brutal world of restaurant kitchens; how a girl from the midlands who used to cook herself Smash to get by is now one of the most successful fine-dining chefs working today.

More than that, Sally's story is also a stirring manifesto - drawing back the curtain on restaurant kitchens to show how she is endeavouring to change them for the better. Filled with stories of Michelin-starred food, the relentlessness of kitchens, as well as the hope for the future of the culinary landscape, Sally's memoir is set to become a classic.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Food, Feminism, Biography, Cooking

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2024

Reviews

[abi slade · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

pros ✅
- readable, definite page turner
- ‘this is going to hurt’ but for cheffing
- the descriptions of posh foods and complicated cookery processes we’re not lost on me, despite my being a total noob
- easy and pleasant read
- finding out all the gendered statistics about the hospitality industry was interesting, shocking and somewhat unexpected

cons ❌
- you can’t unironically say “not today, Satan,” twice, in one book, and get away with it
- abé never misses an opportunity to use a cliche or a lazy metaphor
- not as sophisticated or literary as i expected or hoped
- i had high expectations that didn’t feel fully met

[Wendy Greenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chef's journey is a complete rollercoaster. A woman chef amplifies this many times over - misogyny, "banter", toxic culture alongside professional kitchens having been designed and structured for men. Sixteen hour days as standard, trying to continue with service after chopping off the top of her finger the reader experiences it all.

I enjoyed this insight into kitchen culture and hierarchy with Abe's career path. I have long been fascinated by a woman's perspective of the restaurant industry and I considered myself "in the trenches" with her.

Whilst I stand back in admiration at the sheer tenacity required to make this career work, women are breaking through and changing the culture from the inside. This will be added, with joy, to my foody bookshelf along with A Half Baked Idea (Olivia Potts), Blood, Bones & Butter (Gabrielle Hamilton). Ruth Reichl...and others!

[Natalia Goncalves · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I really liked this book. I felt that Sally was taking me with her through her struggles, experiences and winnings in the world of a female chef.

I loved the in-depth explanation that came with cooking the dishes in the book, made me extremely hungry!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book written by an exceptional chef. As an ex chef, and a woman, this was at times a difficult read but a reminder of why it's so hard for women in the industry, while at the same time a real message of hope that things are improving for male and female chefs alike. hopefully many chefs will take a leaf out of Chef Sally's book (no pun intended)! would highly recommend it to anyone who has worked in or is still working in hospitality, but especially to anyone who likes to eat out.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Art on a plate."

Being a fan of the BBC TV programme, Great British Menu, since it's inception about twenty years ago, I was already slightly aware of the stunning style and cooking ability of the author, Sally Abe, who was a winner in series 17. But I knew nothing of her story. Joining the ranks of kitchen workers when there were almost no women in the industry, a task made even more difficult because of her height at only 5 foot tall, and enduring not just the burns and accidents which accompany long, hard hours, heat and constant pressure to produce requested assorted meals simultaneously and in minutes, but also the jibes and sometime prejudices of her fellow workers to finally win respect as well as blaze a trail for other women to follow.

A book of determination, courage and an ability to grow in a chosen profession where few had gone before. I would have enjoyed a little more about the food itself, and found her narration style to be a little bit jerky - but, hey, it is her story and getting someone else to read it would probably be going a bit too far. So ignoring that, for this reader it is a five star, inspirational story.

[Mol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for those interested in the hospitality industry, specifically fine dining. I think Sally has done a brilliant job at raising the awareness for equality within these spaces. As a sewer, I always find it interesting that making your own clothes and the like is often (maybe more so in the recent past ?) seen as trivial crafts while those who find fame doing it are called artists and usually men. Think of all the great haute couture houses that were spearheaded by men, and still are. Sally brought up similar issues with in the food industry. My one slight critique would be that this could have looked more into intersectional feminism and equity over equality. There was a brief mention to Lorraine Copes in the last chapter who is championing POC in this industry which was great to see. Maybe Sally could put together a book featuring chapters from a range of chefs/staff from the industry and the specific challenges they have faced, I suppose a bit like her International Women's Day talks but in book format !?

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look inside some of London's most celebrated fine dining kitchens through the eyes of someone who experienced the highs and lows of them. From her early days at the Savoy to running her own kitchens and designing her own restaurant, Sally Abe writes with a frank, but reflective honesty of her time as a chef. She draws the reader into lunch and dinner services in some of London's top restaurants, working her way up from garnishes and cold starters to head chef. She even touches on how covid nearly decimated her industry and how she mobilised with other hospitality workers to keep people and key workers fed during the pandemic. I highly recommend the audiobook (Abe narrates it herself) - I got incredibly hungry listening to it and also felt incredibly proud of the work of she's done to achieve gender parity in professional fine dining kitchens. A great foodie memoir.

[Giordana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I wanted to give this book more stars, as I feel it is such an important subject and Sally Abé shines a light on the problems women (but also men who are more sensitive) face in professional kitchens. It was fascinating and horrifying to read about what it's like behind kitchen doors.

Unfortunately, I felt the second part of the book was a little rushed, as if it was more a collection of anecdotes strung together - and the repetitive use of certain expressions really bothered me ("Seems easy right? Wrong!" or "never a dull day at the Ledbury" were used ).
I also admit that I felt irritated by the glorification of drinking in this book. I know it's a cultural thing but honestly I could have done without the "funny" anecdotes of projectile vomiting, getting smashed and passing out drunk.

Nevertheless, Sally's work is amazing and I truly hope professional kitchens become more like hers.

[Carolyn Lochhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very readable account of a journey towards becoming a successful high-end chef, and of the awful kitchen cultures that still prevail in some places. Sally has an admirable determination to treat her staff better than she was herself, particularly women, given her own experiences of being badly treated.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 because it was just such an enjoyable read, albeit often about harrowing topics such as the institutionalised bullying and insane working conditions in hospitality. As someone generally interested in food/restaurants, this book was filled with fascinating insights into the UKs high end hospitality culture with an overarching emphasis on where women fit in this culture. Couldn’t put it down

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and interesting. Although for a book about women in the kitchen, it's not really specifically about women in the kitchen. The last chapter doesn't make up for that.

Apparently she entered some kind of televised contest, but since I'm not from the UK I had to guess a lot about this since she doesn't explain it very well.

[Nithesh S · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a refreshing, honest and humourous memoir of a female chef who made it to the top. It was probably the first cooking/food related book I read. I loved learning about the hierarchy inside professional kitchens, the challenges and the management styles which work in these spaces. It also made the show The Bear come alive in a sense.

[Jess Corcoran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was interesting but I found it quite repetitive - the same phrases “too green” and words used too much. I also felt like the author felt ashamed of her upbringing and experiences, rather than being proud of her roots!

[Thebookcookieandtea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik vind het mooi dat Sally eens een opening heeft gemaakt over de horeca (hospitality) en hoe zij al grote veranderingen heeft gemaakt.

Hoewel veel op een herhaling leek, haalde ik er wel goed uit hoe ze groeide door de jaren heen en hoe ze is beland waar ze nu is.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that really captures the heart of what it's like coming up in the brutal crazy world of British Michelin star cooking. I'm so glad I never wanted to go into the restaurant industry and im so glad she did!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an honest account of a young chef’s journey. I knew the industry was tough but this was a real eye opener!
What a great voice she is for females in the kitchen too. A must read

[Millie Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

have a day off

[liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sally abé sounds like a great boss but she is not a good writer! Sorry queen

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitchen Confidential: English woman edition aka reason #101 why I will never work in a kitchen

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for anyone in the hospitality industry. Heartbreaking, inspiring and heart warming.

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Amelia Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling and i read it quickly. You can tell she is a chef not a writer but i enjoyed the book nonetheless.

[KC Comal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Too preachy and no stories to surprise or amuse!

[Matt Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable

[Emily Dechant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring ♥️ an absolute tour de force chef who is making amazing changes in the hospitality world. So insightful to hear her story and her motivation.

[Bryony Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and important - even if I got bored of her tone.

[Breanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The behind the scenes of the kitchen is so interesting. Sally is really passionate and I really enjoyed her story

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but couldn't finish it. Just wasn't for me

[hannah schuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

sally Abe you deserve everything and more

[MK Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned so much about restaurant culture and expectations. Gives me a new perspective in eating out at nice restaurants!