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Cooking as Fast as I Can: A Chef's Story of Family, Food, and Forgiveness
Remarkably candid, compulsively readable, renowned chef Cat Cora’s no-holds-barred memoir on Southern life, Greek heritage, same sex marriage, and the meals that have shaped her memories.
Before she became a celebrated chef, Cathy Cora was just a girl from Jackson, Mississippi, where days were slow and every meal was made from scratch. Her passion for the kitchen started in her home, where she spent her days internalizing the dishes that would form the cornerstone of her cooking philosophy incorporating her Greek heritage and Southern upbringing—from crispy fried chicken and honey-drenched biscuits to spanakopita. But outside the kitchen, Cat’s life was volatile.
In Cooking as Fast as I Can , Cat Cora reveals, for the first time, coming-of-age experiences from early childhood sexual abuse to the realities of life as a lesbian in the deep South. She shares how she found her passion in the kitchen and went on to attend the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and apprentice under Michelin star chefs in France. After her big break as a co-host on the Food Network’s Melting Pot , Cat broke barriers by becoming the first-ever female Iron Chef.
Cooking as Fast as I Can chronicles the difficulties and triumphs Cora experienced on the path to becoming a chef. She writes movingly about how she found courage and redemption in the dark truths of her past and about how she found solace in the kitchen and work, how her passion for cooking helped her to overcome hardships and ultimately find happiness at home and became a wife and a mother to four boys. Above all, this is an utterly engrossing story about the grit and grace it takes to achieve your dreams.
Before she became a celebrated chef, Cathy Cora was just a girl from Jackson, Mississippi, where days were slow and every meal was made from scratch. Her passion for the kitchen started in her home, where she spent her days internalizing the dishes that would form the cornerstone of her cooking philosophy incorporating her Greek heritage and Southern upbringing—from crispy fried chicken and honey-drenched biscuits to spanakopita. But outside the kitchen, Cat’s life was volatile.
In Cooking as Fast as I Can , Cat Cora reveals, for the first time, coming-of-age experiences from early childhood sexual abuse to the realities of life as a lesbian in the deep South. She shares how she found her passion in the kitchen and went on to attend the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and apprentice under Michelin star chefs in France. After her big break as a co-host on the Food Network’s Melting Pot , Cat broke barriers by becoming the first-ever female Iron Chef.
Cooking as Fast as I Can chronicles the difficulties and triumphs Cora experienced on the path to becoming a chef. She writes movingly about how she found courage and redemption in the dark truths of her past and about how she found solace in the kitchen and work, how her passion for cooking helped her to overcome hardships and ultimately find happiness at home and became a wife and a mother to four boys. Above all, this is an utterly engrossing story about the grit and grace it takes to achieve your dreams.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2015
34 people are currently reading
1095 people want to read
About the author
Cat Cora
13 books31 followersBorn Catherine Ann Cora.
Both on-and off-screen, Chef Cat Cora has made a lasting impression on the culinary community. In 2005, Cora was the first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America. The following year she was named Executive Chef of Bon Apptit along with their Teacher of the Year Award.
Both on-and off-screen, Chef Cat Cora has made a lasting impression on the culinary community. In 2005, Cora was the first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America. The following year she was named Executive Chef of Bon Apptit along with their Teacher of the Year Award.
In 2008, Cora launched CCQ (Cat Coras Que) at Macys new Signature Kitchen restaurant in Californias South Coast Plaza location. Inspired by her own unique barbeque traditions, CCQ defines her passion for global BBQ. Last year, Cora opened Kouzzina (Greek for kitchen) at Walt Disney Worlds Boardwalk Resort, which offers Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to her Greek roots. She has also authored two cookbooks.
Outside of the kitchen, Cora is known for her philanthropy. She is President and Founder of Chefs for Humanity, an organization founded in response to the 2004 Tsunami disaster."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
July 6, 2016
(3.5) Despite her various Food Network appearances and restaurants, I had never heard of Cat Cora. I don’t generally read ghostwritten celebrity autobiographies, but I really enjoyed this. A sharp, sassy voice comes through as Cora narrates her Mississippi upbringing in a half-Greek adoptive family and the challenges of being gay in the conservative South. The highlights for me were Cora’s two stages (apprenticeships) in France and her menu development for restaurants from upstate New York to the Bay Area of California. It’s less interesting once her restaurants start to become a brand/franchise.
March 8, 2015
Of all the chefs I watched on television growing up, Cat Cora was always a bit of a mystery to me. She didn't prepare meals for her husband as Ina Garten did, nor did she cook alongside her sons like Paula Deen. Compared to her Food Network contemporaries, her life seemed a bit more private and less of an act. Cora's unlikely path to celebrity chef and bittersweet coming of age story is one all too many women can relate to and one I am grateful she shared with us. Her memoir deserves to be placed next to Ruth Reichl's TENDER AT THE BONE and Marcus Samuelsson's YES, CHEF--it is as tender, rewarding, and inspiring.
A must read for fans of the genre.
A must read for fans of the genre.
January 21, 2016
So...I'm not a foodie in any way, shape, or form. I'd never heard of Cat Cora prior to reading this book and had to look up Iron Chef to figure out exactly what it meant that she'd been an Iron Chef. Still, I like food memoirs and queer memoirs and so on, so on paper (pun totally intended) this works well for me.
There's a reason, though, that I have a shelf called 'fame first, book second': celebrity memoirs (and occasionally fiction) are a whole different ballgame. I've read some legitimately good ones and some legitimately enjoyable ones (not always the same thing), but much of the time they seem more an attempt at further branding than anything. Case in point: the writing here is fine, perfectly competent and all (aided, no doubt, by the ghostwriter), but there's no real story; in places it feels like an attempt to stuff every life event into the book, and in other places it reads like a résumé. Would have been a lot more interesting to me if she'd focused really closely on one or two experiences. Some interesting points about knowing that she was a lesbian in the southern US in the early 1980s, though: I didn't even fantasize about being truly, deeply in love with a girlfriend because I knew I could never have it. It would be like a straight chick hoping to marry a rock star or the Prince of Wales (28). Lots of places, still, where that hasn't really changed.
The book ends on something of a downer—less because that's the intent, I think, and more simply the story arc beyond my life so far is pretty thin. The timing is perhaps unfortunate, though—.
There's a reason, though, that I have a shelf called 'fame first, book second': celebrity memoirs (and occasionally fiction) are a whole different ballgame. I've read some legitimately good ones and some legitimately enjoyable ones (not always the same thing), but much of the time they seem more an attempt at further branding than anything. Case in point: the writing here is fine, perfectly competent and all (aided, no doubt, by the ghostwriter), but there's no real story; in places it feels like an attempt to stuff every life event into the book, and in other places it reads like a résumé. Would have been a lot more interesting to me if she'd focused really closely on one or two experiences. Some interesting points about knowing that she was a lesbian in the southern US in the early 1980s, though: I didn't even fantasize about being truly, deeply in love with a girlfriend because I knew I could never have it. It would be like a straight chick hoping to marry a rock star or the Prince of Wales (28). Lots of places, still, where that hasn't really changed.
The book ends on something of a downer—less because that's the intent, I think, and more simply the story arc beyond my life so far is pretty thin. The timing is perhaps unfortunate, though—.
January 14, 2016
2.5-2.75? Not bad. It was entertaining and interesting, but it felt a little self aggrandizing at times with a lot of name dropping and what not, and she glossed over a lot of really deep issues making it seem as though she hasn't quite worked them out yet, which is fine of course, we're all works in progress, but it was maybe a little uncomfortable. Real life is so messy, I guess maybe I'm just looking for something a little tidier in my reading? Not totally sure. Something about it just felt awkward.
April 13, 2018
Picked this up at a used book store because we needed a book to read in a bar. I chose this because it was a bout a celebrity chef from Jackson MS! I had never heard of Cat Cora, the Iron chef, but I appreciated her honest (as far as I could tell) story of her life-particularly growing up in Jackson, struggles with her sexuality and coming out and then fighting in the male dominated kitchen and her love life. parts of the book felt rushed but so does her ridiculous life...
April 11, 2019
This book checked all the boxes: cooking, travel, queer and feminist.
I didn’t know much about Cat Cora, her personal or professional story. This was a great, quick airplane read giving insight into her drive/aspirations and what it was like to be a woman chef in the 90s.
I didn’t know much about Cat Cora, her personal or professional story. This was a great, quick airplane read giving insight into her drive/aspirations and what it was like to be a woman chef in the 90s.
January 31, 2023
I wasn’t impressed by this book. We get it you worked really hard and travelled all the time 👏🏻👏🏻
I felt like she was just name dropping at one point. Which was overly annoying as I’ve only heard of a handful of people mentioned. She also made it sound like she just kept getting offers for everything left and right handed to her. Bragging much? I wanted to like the 1st female iron chef but I didn’t at all.
Overall I’m glad it was a short read, sorry Cat.
I felt like she was just name dropping at one point. Which was overly annoying as I’ve only heard of a handful of people mentioned. She also made it sound like she just kept getting offers for everything left and right handed to her. Bragging much? I wanted to like the 1st female iron chef but I didn’t at all.
Overall I’m glad it was a short read, sorry Cat.
December 22, 2020
Compulsively readable for fans of foodie memoirs by a food network star. Made me immediately want to look up different cooking techniques and places she references, as well as binge Food Network.
July 21, 2017
I'm glad I stuck with this book. I originally bought it to preview for my AP Language class but quickly discovered that it was ghostwritten, and that didn't work for my assignment. Anyway, there's a slow part near the beginning that almost made me put it down but I kept going because I want to send it to my sister, and it did indeed get better. What I liked most about this book was Cat Cora's emphasis that success and fame is not linear, that there are ups and downs, that reality TV is so fake and that there are real emotions behind the people we're avidly watching and that what we see is not those things.
September 2, 2015
I've long been intrigued by Cat Cora. She always seemed sassy and fun whenever I saw her on Iron Chef America, super petite but packing tons of energy. When I saw she had written a memoir, I knew hers was a life I wanted to know more about.
And what a life she has led so far. I got winded just reading about it—all the cross-country flights for TV appearances, countless restaurant openings, stints in culinary school and internships abroad. Cora has worked unbelievably hard to become one of the best chefs in the country (or would she say the world?), and it's paid off handsomely for her, even though the spark that drives her was kindled at least partly from hardship.
Cora hasn't led a perfect life; in fact, I was surprised at how colorful her account is, and how honest she seems to be about her rowdy past. She may have a wife and four children now, but in her twenties and thirties she was clearly of the “work hard, play harder” mindset. She weaves in some great behind-the-scenes stories of when tempers—hers included—flared in the kitchen along with the gas. There's a good balance in the narrative between her personal and professional lives, and as she makes clear, when you're in the kitchen six days a week, the two have a way of blending together.
This memoir would be a great gift for the foodies in your life, or really, anyone who likes finding out what makes other people tick.
With regards to Scribner and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale September 15.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
And what a life she has led so far. I got winded just reading about it—all the cross-country flights for TV appearances, countless restaurant openings, stints in culinary school and internships abroad. Cora has worked unbelievably hard to become one of the best chefs in the country (or would she say the world?), and it's paid off handsomely for her, even though the spark that drives her was kindled at least partly from hardship.
Cora hasn't led a perfect life; in fact, I was surprised at how colorful her account is, and how honest she seems to be about her rowdy past. She may have a wife and four children now, but in her twenties and thirties she was clearly of the “work hard, play harder” mindset. She weaves in some great behind-the-scenes stories of when tempers—hers included—flared in the kitchen along with the gas. There's a good balance in the narrative between her personal and professional lives, and as she makes clear, when you're in the kitchen six days a week, the two have a way of blending together.
This memoir would be a great gift for the foodies in your life, or really, anyone who likes finding out what makes other people tick.
With regards to Scribner and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale September 15.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
December 7, 2015
Renowned chef Cat Cora’s candid memoir on Southern life, Greek heritage, same sex marriage, and the meals that have shaped her memories.
The book takes us from her childhood in Jackson, Mississippi to her current status as a successful chef and television personality.
Although she skirts around the topic, I would have liked to have known more of the specifics of her challenges as a female chef in a male dominated career. An open and honest story of a Chef Cora's life experience and how she got to where she is today.
The book takes us from her childhood in Jackson, Mississippi to her current status as a successful chef and television personality.
Although she skirts around the topic, I would have liked to have known more of the specifics of her challenges as a female chef in a male dominated career. An open and honest story of a Chef Cora's life experience and how she got to where she is today.
February 17, 2016
Her story was interesting. The book itself could have used a lot more editing though. She didn't seem to have a focus and would start and stop stories suddenly. The ending in particular felt unfinished. But still, it was interesting to read about her life.
August 26, 2017
Entertaining anecdotes from Cat's early life, culinary life and romantic life. Very frank, and fast-moving.
November 12, 2019
First and foremost, you got to give it to Cat Cora for such an intimate and open memoir / biography. But at the same time to, I have to cringe a bit about whether all she reveals is in good taste. As someone who has worked in professional kitchens since they were 16 I know who Cat Cora is and of her Iron Chef fame but I did not know she was adopted, a victim of sexual abuse at such an early age, or homosexual. I picked this up thinking it would be mostly about her rise from struggling aspiring cook to celebrity chef and yes - that is included - but there's an awful lot her romantic exploits but that I could of done without.
I applaud Chef Cora for all she has accomplished in her career, making herself into a brand but what I really was hoping to read about was the food she was making and why she making it. What I was not expecting to read, and what I personally could of done without, was knowing what the genitalia of the first girl she ever went down on tasted like, her alcoholism, her recounting of making out with two Latina women while drunk at the restaurant she was executive chef of at the time, the poo pooing of a former boss she thought had wronged her. I wanted to read about her food and not what her physical preferances are in a romantic partner.
I applaud Chef Cora for all she has accomplished in her career, making herself into a brand but what I really was hoping to read about was the food she was making and why she making it. What I was not expecting to read, and what I personally could of done without, was knowing what the genitalia of the first girl she ever went down on tasted like, her alcoholism, her recounting of making out with two Latina women while drunk at the restaurant she was executive chef of at the time, the poo pooing of a former boss she thought had wronged her. I wanted to read about her food and not what her physical preferances are in a romantic partner.
July 7, 2015
I chose to read Cat Cora's memoir mainly because I hadn't yet formed an opinion on her which was the perfect basis for eliminating basis upon reading a book. Despite my affinity for The Food Network, I never caught Cora on a show. About as much as I knew about her--her height, her hair color, and her cooking style--I could learn on her Wikipedia page. The more intimate details about her--her childhood, her education, her relationships--were mere questions in my mind before reading her memoir, Cooking As Fast As I Can.
This is one of my favorite memoirs because of Cat Cora's Southern charm, no-bullshit badassery, and selflessness. It is the perfect blend of food knowledge, as she includes some of her favorite dishes, childhood connections to cooking, and forays into the culinary world, and personal information, like where she grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, painful memories of sexual abuse, and learning how to navigate her sexuality. I never found myself at a loss for either food or secrets because Cora so effortlessly weaved the two together in an engaging way.
I appreciated Cat Cora's candidness about her life, especially her obvious, plentiful love for her family, her genuine remorse for her mistakes, and irrefutable passion for cooking. This is not one of those memoirs that simply reinforces how talented or successful a chef the author is. More than that, I was left realizing that above being a force in the culinary world, Cat Cora is also a devoted Southern girl, family woman with secrets like all the rest of us. The only difference between her and us is that she shares those secrets instead of harboring her regret.
This is one of my favorite memoirs because of Cat Cora's Southern charm, no-bullshit badassery, and selflessness. It is the perfect blend of food knowledge, as she includes some of her favorite dishes, childhood connections to cooking, and forays into the culinary world, and personal information, like where she grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, painful memories of sexual abuse, and learning how to navigate her sexuality. I never found myself at a loss for either food or secrets because Cora so effortlessly weaved the two together in an engaging way.
I appreciated Cat Cora's candidness about her life, especially her obvious, plentiful love for her family, her genuine remorse for her mistakes, and irrefutable passion for cooking. This is not one of those memoirs that simply reinforces how talented or successful a chef the author is. More than that, I was left realizing that above being a force in the culinary world, Cat Cora is also a devoted Southern girl, family woman with secrets like all the rest of us. The only difference between her and us is that she shares those secrets instead of harboring her regret.
January 22, 2016
There is so much about Cat Cora's memoir that grabbed me. It's sass, its vivid descriptions of her southern childhood and her determination to make it in the hard-driving world of celebrity cooks. You can see her boldness, her grit early on and when she decides to become a chef she brings it right with her. She lived hard and fast and she liked it that way (and it was fun to read) and yet, it got tricky. Alcohol got in her way (and maybe, still does) as does the impact of being sexually abused by a family friend. She deals with it, keeps going, deals some more with it and keeps on going. It is all so admirable especially how she talked to her family about the abuse. I was with her for about 2/3 of the book but then I started to become irked by some of her bravado and the book started to feel more gamy and a bit like an advertisement. Ms Cora did not seem as open as before. My sense was that by the conclusion of the book that things were pretty tough, at home, with drinking perhaps. That is fine and understandable and reading about the hard stuff is what I gravitate to but she seemed inaccessible and her writing felt stilted with platitudes and triteness. I mostly wound up thinking "No yet, too early. It wasn't time to write your story yet." If there is a sequel I will be sure to pick it up and see where she is at and I will hope that it can be as strong and open as the beginning of this book.
Thank you to Edelweiss for allowing me to review this book for an honest opinion.
Thank you to Edelweiss for allowing me to review this book for an honest opinion.
June 18, 2015
Iron Chef, mother, wife, and friend – while Cat Cora may be all of these, she has spent most of her life defying labels. Her gritty and candid memoir hops from Mississippi to California to France, all the while unearthing the things—and food—closest to her heart.
Cora is a true Southern girl, complete with a slight twang and penchant for no-nonsense axioms. After a horrifying incident when she was six years old, Cora grapples with feelings of betrayal, loneliness, and shame until she realizes “that I’m the only one responsible for taking care of myself.” Her mental armor prepares her to undertake several restaurant internships in France, and then to become executive chef at Postino. After gathering tremendous momentum in the culinary world, Cora then becomes the first female Iron Chef.
It would be remiss not to discuss another important facet of Cora’s life—her relationships. Cora, out and proud, had many volatile affairs before settling down with Jennifer and having four children. Cora’s unflinching narrative and honesty only serve to endear us more to her, her family, and her cooking.
If you’ve ever watched the Food Network just to gaze at the glistening racks of lamb or steaming mussels, then this book is for you. Cora’s fearless glimpse into the cryptic world of the kitchens is enthralling without being overly lofty. She strikes a fine balance between grit and glamour that creates a breathless, can’t-put-it-down narrative. [Reviewed for ELLE Magazine]
Cora is a true Southern girl, complete with a slight twang and penchant for no-nonsense axioms. After a horrifying incident when she was six years old, Cora grapples with feelings of betrayal, loneliness, and shame until she realizes “that I’m the only one responsible for taking care of myself.” Her mental armor prepares her to undertake several restaurant internships in France, and then to become executive chef at Postino. After gathering tremendous momentum in the culinary world, Cora then becomes the first female Iron Chef.
It would be remiss not to discuss another important facet of Cora’s life—her relationships. Cora, out and proud, had many volatile affairs before settling down with Jennifer and having four children. Cora’s unflinching narrative and honesty only serve to endear us more to her, her family, and her cooking.
If you’ve ever watched the Food Network just to gaze at the glistening racks of lamb or steaming mussels, then this book is for you. Cora’s fearless glimpse into the cryptic world of the kitchens is enthralling without being overly lofty. She strikes a fine balance between grit and glamour that creates a breathless, can’t-put-it-down narrative. [Reviewed for ELLE Magazine]
May 10, 2016
Cat Cora has always struck me as sassy and slightly larger than life. As a fellow southerner and feminine feminist I find her beguiling and her autobiography is one of the most refreshingly honest portrayals that I have ever read. Her struggles and triumphs are told with candor and you can hear her voice loud and clear in the telling of her story. From beginning to end Cat Cora is genuine and her blend of brashness and heart are super endearing. I hope she and her family thrive and that all of them can grow together happily. Cat Cora has survived challenges which are relatable and real and I can't help but cheer this beautiful, talented and earthy chef and woman onward. Some readers are shocked by the sexual episodes mentioned but I honestly found it suited the book as it was and is an autobiography and it was not told in a tawdry way but as part of life. Personally I found the whole book to be told in a way that was truly memorable because it was such a well rounded voice which spoke and I enjoy people who live life on their own terms. Life is messy and complex, beautiful and sometimes painful and if you are ok with that you will enjoy this book tremendously.
September 9, 2015
Cat Cora’s memoir is brutally forthright. I enjoyed learning about her as the chances of us becoming besties is slim to none so this was my shot at an up close and personal glimpse into the daughter, woman, chef, wife, mother.
Cat takes you through her childhood in Mississippi through her current days in lovely Santa Barbara California. Reflecting on her early years in the kitchen, Iron Chef to current status we are privy to her well-earned and deserved accomplishments. No doubt her admitted stubbornness, determination and endless talent provided her much success in the male dominated field.
Cat shares her challenges, insecurities, missteps with all honesty. As a reader I admired the obstacles she overcame and her willingness to forgive with an open heart. Despite her triumphs she comes across with humility, a generous heart noted.
Interesting to learn of this food icon, her story surprised me, I closed the cover admiring her strength as she navigated life, finding herself and with decidedness carved out a place of respect in the male dominated culinary world.
Cat takes you through her childhood in Mississippi through her current days in lovely Santa Barbara California. Reflecting on her early years in the kitchen, Iron Chef to current status we are privy to her well-earned and deserved accomplishments. No doubt her admitted stubbornness, determination and endless talent provided her much success in the male dominated field.
Cat shares her challenges, insecurities, missteps with all honesty. As a reader I admired the obstacles she overcame and her willingness to forgive with an open heart. Despite her triumphs she comes across with humility, a generous heart noted.
Interesting to learn of this food icon, her story surprised me, I closed the cover admiring her strength as she navigated life, finding herself and with decidedness carved out a place of respect in the male dominated culinary world.
November 23, 2015
I won a copy from a Goodreads Giveaway.
I remember when the only reality show on Food Network was Iron Chef. Oh, how times have changed.
I remember Cat Cora from the show because she was the only female Iron Chef to ever win the competition. I did not know anything about her but I could tell, just from watching her, she was a no nonsense, straight forward, take charge attitude person. In other words, she kind of scared me, but in a good way.
Her memoir is short and brief but no less an eye opener, which just proves a saying my dad likes to spout: Every person has a story to tell.
Adopted into a loving family, Ms. Cora had a mostly happy childhood; enduring and surviving child abuse, wild, passionate love affairs, adventures in Europe in life and cooking, alcohol addiction and coming to terms with the abuse and life changing events that did not define her life but in some way helped shape the formidable person she became, this memoir is a quick, interesting read, peppered with delicious descriptions of food, life and love.
I remember when the only reality show on Food Network was Iron Chef. Oh, how times have changed.
I remember Cat Cora from the show because she was the only female Iron Chef to ever win the competition. I did not know anything about her but I could tell, just from watching her, she was a no nonsense, straight forward, take charge attitude person. In other words, she kind of scared me, but in a good way.
Her memoir is short and brief but no less an eye opener, which just proves a saying my dad likes to spout: Every person has a story to tell.
Adopted into a loving family, Ms. Cora had a mostly happy childhood; enduring and surviving child abuse, wild, passionate love affairs, adventures in Europe in life and cooking, alcohol addiction and coming to terms with the abuse and life changing events that did not define her life but in some way helped shape the formidable person she became, this memoir is a quick, interesting read, peppered with delicious descriptions of food, life and love.
September 18, 2015
I stumbled upon this book at the library. There were two things about the book jacket that drew me in - one, that Cat Cora is a chef and I tend to really like chefs' memoirs; two, the 'about the author' section mentioned that she lives in California with her wife. So a queer chef memoir is totally my speed.
This book was ghostwritten, which is fine, maybe even preferable. If someone isn't a good writer but has a compelling story, I'd much rather read that story as written by someone who knows what they're doing. Cat Cora's story was definitely interesting. I got sucked into her life and had a hard time putting the book down at times. The first half of the book was much better than the second half though; I had a harder time empathizing with adult Cat than I had kid/teen/young adult Cat. She came across as hostile and whiny at times in the last few chapters. I do have to respect that she chose to be authentic though. In any event, I'd recommend this to someone who liked 'Blood, Bones, and Butter' by Gabrielle Hamilton.
This book was ghostwritten, which is fine, maybe even preferable. If someone isn't a good writer but has a compelling story, I'd much rather read that story as written by someone who knows what they're doing. Cat Cora's story was definitely interesting. I got sucked into her life and had a hard time putting the book down at times. The first half of the book was much better than the second half though; I had a harder time empathizing with adult Cat than I had kid/teen/young adult Cat. She came across as hostile and whiny at times in the last few chapters. I do have to respect that she chose to be authentic though. In any event, I'd recommend this to someone who liked 'Blood, Bones, and Butter' by Gabrielle Hamilton.
July 31, 2016
This book checked the box for the "Read a food memoir" category in the 2016 Book Riot Read Harder challenge. However, I had it on my "to read" list prior to embarking on the challenge. While I've enjoyed watching Cat Cora on various cooking shows, I didn't know much about her or her upbringing aside from the fact that she was a southern chef with Greek roots and thought it'd be interesting to learn more about the first-ever female Iron Chef. The memoir is a raw, unflinching look at Cora's life and how it shaped her rise as a professional chef. The memoir moves along briskly, offering an honest and open accounting of her life. In some ways, the memoir seemed to focus more on the personal life over the professional one but it is clear how decisions impacted both. I appreciated Cora's candidness and approach to telling her story--she highlighted the positive and negative with the same matter-of-fact-ness and demonstrated her ability to analyze each event, learn, and move forward.
September 15, 2015
*I received a copy of this book through Netgallery from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Cat Cora's memoir is remarkably candid and heart-felt. Having known very little about her previously, I enjoyed learning not only about her years as an Iron Chef and making it in the world of celebrity chef culture but also about how her life has changed from growing up in Mississippi to her present day life as a California mother/wife/chef. Readers who enjoy culinary memoirs might be enticed to read this book by Cora's chef background, but there's so much more to it than that. It is true that Cora worked with a ghost writer on this work, but that fact didn't impact my reading experience. It is true that the more recent years of Cora's life are not delved into as much (especially the 2012 DUI), but there's more than enough open honesty and narrative in the rest of the book to make up for the weak ending. Overall, a great read!
Cat Cora's memoir is remarkably candid and heart-felt. Having known very little about her previously, I enjoyed learning not only about her years as an Iron Chef and making it in the world of celebrity chef culture but also about how her life has changed from growing up in Mississippi to her present day life as a California mother/wife/chef. Readers who enjoy culinary memoirs might be enticed to read this book by Cora's chef background, but there's so much more to it than that. It is true that Cora worked with a ghost writer on this work, but that fact didn't impact my reading experience. It is true that the more recent years of Cora's life are not delved into as much (especially the 2012 DUI), but there's more than enough open honesty and narrative in the rest of the book to make up for the weak ending. Overall, a great read!
September 14, 2015
Full disclosure: I knew nothing about Cat Cora prior to picking up this book. However, I've long been interested in chef's memoirs, so I knew I wanted to read it all the same.
As many memoirs it was a bit slow to start, but after about 50 pages, it quickly made up for it and I found it difficult to put down. Cat's journey from cooking at home with her grandmother to being the first female Iron Chef and opening her own restaurants was absolutely fascinating, and certainly made me try my hand at cooking some of her delicious-sounding meals as well!
The story of Cat's rise to stardom was nicely seasoned with anecdotes from her more private life, and I appreciated the insight we got into her family, her relationships and her personal life in general. Cat Cora arose from the pages as a fully formed human being, instead of merely a 2-dimensional chef.
I'll have to check her out on youtube, and see if I can find any of her Iron Chef competitions.
As many memoirs it was a bit slow to start, but after about 50 pages, it quickly made up for it and I found it difficult to put down. Cat's journey from cooking at home with her grandmother to being the first female Iron Chef and opening her own restaurants was absolutely fascinating, and certainly made me try my hand at cooking some of her delicious-sounding meals as well!
The story of Cat's rise to stardom was nicely seasoned with anecdotes from her more private life, and I appreciated the insight we got into her family, her relationships and her personal life in general. Cat Cora arose from the pages as a fully formed human being, instead of merely a 2-dimensional chef.
I'll have to check her out on youtube, and see if I can find any of her Iron Chef competitions.
October 7, 2015
This was a fast, easy and compelling read, although I felt like the details were sparse at times. Cat Cora is the first woman to win Iron Chef. This book describes her life and how she made it to become an incredibly successful chef. I actually hadn't even heard of her before picking up this book. It's gotten great reviews from lots of big shots in the culinary world. The thing that stuck out to me the most in this book is the way that being sexually abused as a child impacted her life.
The author is also really honest and doesn't hesitate to admit to unflattering things she's done. I appreciated this honesty. One criticism I have is the way the book just kind of ends without any real closure. I think that maybe she should have waited a bit longer to write a memoir. Then she might have had a more cohesive story with solid points to get across. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and am always happy to read another chef memoir, especially one written by a woman.
The author is also really honest and doesn't hesitate to admit to unflattering things she's done. I appreciated this honesty. One criticism I have is the way the book just kind of ends without any real closure. I think that maybe she should have waited a bit longer to write a memoir. Then she might have had a more cohesive story with solid points to get across. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and am always happy to read another chef memoir, especially one written by a woman.
May 26, 2016
Cat Cora's voice is clear as a bell, and her story completely engaging. Food drifts in and around the events of her life, from her adoption into a Greek American to her family life with her sons and wife, always there but not distracting from the events that shaped her path.
Cora tells the difficult stories of abuse in childhood at the hands of a son of a family friend, to her struggle with her sexuality in the deep south, to her struggle against alcoholism in such an uncompromising manner as to be blunt to the point of starkness, ultimately reading as acceptance: Here Cora is, warts, bad ass chef, and all! And she slips us some great glimpses behind the scenes at Iron Chef America. Do they really have no advance knowledge of the secret ingredient? Read and find out!
A Christmas gift from a friend who is also partaking of the 2016 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge, it fits my read in a day category.
Cora tells the difficult stories of abuse in childhood at the hands of a son of a family friend, to her struggle with her sexuality in the deep south, to her struggle against alcoholism in such an uncompromising manner as to be blunt to the point of starkness, ultimately reading as acceptance: Here Cora is, warts, bad ass chef, and all! And she slips us some great glimpses behind the scenes at Iron Chef America. Do they really have no advance knowledge of the secret ingredient? Read and find out!
A Christmas gift from a friend who is also partaking of the 2016 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge, it fits my read in a day category.
August 30, 2017
Cat Cora grew up in Mississippi enjoying Southern and Greek food since her father's family was Greek. It was nothing unique to her to eat grits with feta cheese. Her parents were both hard-working and loving and taught Cat that working hard is how you'll get far in life. In this memoir you see how Cat worked hard to overcome some serious challenges - she was molested by a family friend, she was gay in a time when it was still illegal in her home state, and once she knew she wanted to cook she struggled to get into professional kitchens that often didn't want women. But, she overcame all these struggles to become the Iron Chef Cat Cora most people recognize today. She has accomplished so much and opened so many doors for future women in the professional food industry. Her memoir is a pretty quick read, but it really sheds light on all the things in her life that helped create who she is today.
February 25, 2017
I always enjoy Cat Cora when I see her on the Food Network. She seems to be genuine, direct, and personable. Those same attributes come through in her memoir. I enjoyed reading more about who she is as a person, what her story has been thus far, and where she has struggled.
One sentiment that I found particularly relevant to my own thinking about how life twists and turns: "I was well into my thirties now, grateful for all of the opportunities I'd had and proud of my accomplishments, but that mind-blowing experience of one thing effortlessly and obviously leading to another, a life free of the feeling of stuttering and false starts, had thus far eluded me."
I also really adored this quote from a thirteenth-century Persian poet named Rumi: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I will meet you there." It was a beautiful reminder to worry less about what is right and wrong, and more about the nuances that influence each of our paths.
One sentiment that I found particularly relevant to my own thinking about how life twists and turns: "I was well into my thirties now, grateful for all of the opportunities I'd had and proud of my accomplishments, but that mind-blowing experience of one thing effortlessly and obviously leading to another, a life free of the feeling of stuttering and false starts, had thus far eluded me."
I also really adored this quote from a thirteenth-century Persian poet named Rumi: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I will meet you there." It was a beautiful reminder to worry less about what is right and wrong, and more about the nuances that influence each of our paths.
October 9, 2017
Fun, easy, quick read. I did not know much about Cat Cora at all, other than seeing her pop up on the Food Network and My Kitchen Rules so not knowing anything about her, I found her life story and rise to the top in the restaurant and television cooking industry very interesting.
"They say that cooking is love. The love in question might be for the earth's bounty or the perfection required to assure that every plate leaving the kitchen is flawless, or the stamina, discipline, and fortitude required to cook at the highest levels. Maybe it's love for the people you are nurturing with your food, or the ancient, communal experience of breaking bread. Before I began working with Robin, I secretly believed I cooked because without a plate of delicious food to offer someone, I was essentially unlovable."
"They say that cooking is love. The love in question might be for the earth's bounty or the perfection required to assure that every plate leaving the kitchen is flawless, or the stamina, discipline, and fortitude required to cook at the highest levels. Maybe it's love for the people you are nurturing with your food, or the ancient, communal experience of breaking bread. Before I began working with Robin, I secretly believed I cooked because without a plate of delicious food to offer someone, I was essentially unlovable."
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