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Guinea Pig in White Wine Sauce
Alan Rochford was living the dream when he started Stone Cottage, an idyllic French restaurant nestled in the Adelaide Hills. He had everything going for him apart from experience, money, and the first idea about what he was doing. After two years and one divorce, he began to see the funny side, fed on an endless diet of characters and occurrences so crazy that you couldn’t make them up.
Australia’s answer to Basil Fawlty, Alan serves up a degustation of lip-smacking anecdotes, from his side-line in snail trading across the French countryside, to the time two customers got a touch too ‘intimate’ in the middle of his dining room.
Guinea Pig in White Wine Sauce is the tale of one man trying to keep his head in the certifiably insane world of fine dining.
Australia’s answer to Basil Fawlty, Alan serves up a degustation of lip-smacking anecdotes, from his side-line in snail trading across the French countryside, to the time two customers got a touch too ‘intimate’ in the middle of his dining room.
Guinea Pig in White Wine Sauce is the tale of one man trying to keep his head in the certifiably insane world of fine dining.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2020
2 stars
The blurb of this book promised so much, but for me the contents just didn’t deliver. Whilst there were a couple of laugh out loud moments, I didn’t generally enjoy the writing style; the attempts at humour or most of the stories generally. The majority of the book felt like hearing a story from someone who enjoyed telling it because they had a great time, whilst you are sitting there thinking ‘guess you had to be there’ to get it.
I want to make it clear that others may well find this book enjoyable and funny, it just personally didn’t gel with me. Like all things in life, you should consider others views, but ultimately form your opinion. Chefs and others that love Fawlty Towers humour may well find it more relatable; but for me the best bits were the brief descriptions of the wide variety of game food on the menu, sans guinea pig!
Guinea Pig in White Wine Sauce by Alan Rochford is book 6 in #ktbookbingo - category ‘Purchased for less than the RRP’. If you’d like to play along go to #ktbookbingo or @kt_elder on Instagram
The blurb of this book promised so much, but for me the contents just didn’t deliver. Whilst there were a couple of laugh out loud moments, I didn’t generally enjoy the writing style; the attempts at humour or most of the stories generally. The majority of the book felt like hearing a story from someone who enjoyed telling it because they had a great time, whilst you are sitting there thinking ‘guess you had to be there’ to get it.
I want to make it clear that others may well find this book enjoyable and funny, it just personally didn’t gel with me. Like all things in life, you should consider others views, but ultimately form your opinion. Chefs and others that love Fawlty Towers humour may well find it more relatable; but for me the best bits were the brief descriptions of the wide variety of game food on the menu, sans guinea pig!
Guinea Pig in White Wine Sauce by Alan Rochford is book 6 in #ktbookbingo - category ‘Purchased for less than the RRP’. If you’d like to play along go to #ktbookbingo or @kt_elder on Instagram
June 22, 2021
Hilarious! I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the plums. Alan planted native trees to encourage wildlife, which came in abundance, but then proceeded to decimate his orchard. Been there, done that!!
Being a resident of Adelaide, this book made sense on so many levels. Much of what he writes is tongue in cheek and those readers who don't realise this do not have a sense of humour. Exaggeration can be funny, especially when the reader has been in similar situations. I have never owned a restaurant, mind you.
Being a resident of Adelaide, this book made sense on so many levels. Much of what he writes is tongue in cheek and those readers who don't realise this do not have a sense of humour. Exaggeration can be funny, especially when the reader has been in similar situations. I have never owned a restaurant, mind you.
March 15, 2021
Great collection of anecdotes and mishaps told in a very dark and dry manner. Very good.
March 31, 2024
Amusing
I can see there are mixed reviews for this book. I really enjoyed it and the author’s sense of humour expressed in his writing style
I can see there are mixed reviews for this book. I really enjoyed it and the author’s sense of humour expressed in his writing style
February 1, 2020
Had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this hilarious book. The subtle humour, the canny turn of phrase and Alan's unique storytelling style all contributed to the colourful imagery created in my head by his cleverly narrated anecdotes. Loved it!
September 10, 2019
It certainly is a funny book. Alan Rochford recalls some of the hilarious and unexpected antics that occurred in the famous 'Stone Cottage Restaurant'.
From travels through the French countryside to learning how to build stone walls and friendships that are just as strong and long-lasting.
A flood of characters that keep coming back.
A good read with lots of laughs!
From travels through the French countryside to learning how to build stone walls and friendships that are just as strong and long-lasting.
A flood of characters that keep coming back.
A good read with lots of laughs!
July 27, 2019
Funny book.
October 13, 2019
Very funny book full of good Aussie humour.
October 31, 2019
Laugh out loud funny.
January 12, 2020
Waste of time. Alan writes lies about his life and encourages violence against women. This book should be removed from the shelves. Revolting human .
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews