Hadley Beckett's Next Dish

A really cute, slow-burn, culinary romance. Hadley Beckett has a top rated cooking show on the Culinary and she is beloved for her southern charm. When she competes on a cooking show with the even more famous (and studly), Maxwell Cavanagh she isn't expecting what happens. He's drunk and flies off the handle at her when she wins over him. It's mortifying. Hadley doesn't expect to every have to work with that pompous chef again, but when the network wants to put them on the most famous documentary show together - they have no choice but to put the knives away and try to be civil. What could possibly happen? Filled with mouthwatering cooking scenes, romantic build-up, and lots of second chances - readers will gobble up this inspirational romance!!

The Secret Ingredient

There were huge chunks where I REALLY got into this book and other moments when I couldn't care less. Having just read Christmas in Evergreen I was ready to give Nancy Naigle another go (I mean I have been on a Hallmark kick lately) and this one wasn't Christmas themed (although with the snow on the cover it could have been holiday themed.... and speaking of the cover - whoever photo-shopped the cake on the cover... shame on you! It's awful!). Kelly and her fiance called it off years ago after he went to Paris to take a baking class and never returned. She fulfilled "their" dream of opening a very successful bakery all on her own and without that dumbass. Seven years later, old feelings return when Andrew comes back home to visit. Maybe they should have tried to make it work. Is it too late now? Things will get even trickier though when they find out their both competing on the same baking show. Do old wounds ever heal. Cheesy as all get out and super predictable. I dd however love all the baking show bits. That was fun and made me VERY HUNGRY while listening to the audiobook!

With the Fire on High

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I loved the characters, the layout, the recipes, the plot, and that beautiful ass cover. How can you not pick up this book with a gorgeous cover like this? Emoni has a lot on her plate. Not only is she a senior trying to figure out what her future after high school will be; but she lives at home with her grandma and two year old daughter, works part time, and tries to excel in class. Emoni's real passion is her daughter and cooking. She can whip up recipes that will make the strongest men cry, and whenever she is overwhelmed she feels safest in the kitchen. When her high school offers an immersive culinary class that will have a week long study abroad component in Spain, Emoni is torn. How can she afford to go and how can she leave Babygirl alone for a week? Is wanting to take this class selfish of her?  To make matters worse, that good looking boy Malachi is in that class. She doesn't have time for boys and their nonsense. A wonderful book about taking risks, putting family first, and realizing that just because your path doesn't look the same as someone else; doesn't mean it is any better or worse. A truly wonderful book that will resonate with many readers.

The Hundred Foot Journey

I would never have even heard of this book had it not been for Buzzfeed's 16 books to read before they hit the theaters in 2014. Apparently this is going to be a movie starring Helen Mirren and produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.

This is a great book if you're a foodie. This book is a homage to French classical cuisine and Indian and Pakistani food. As far as stories go there isn't a whole lot of plot. Young Hassan tells his journey of food in four stages: as a child in Mumbai, a teen in London, a student in Lumiere, and a master in Paris. In terms of food, the story is gorgeous and descriptive and made me horribly hungry. I wanted to sample all of the concoctions that Hassan describes!

As I mentioned there isn't much of a plot, food is central to the story and it moves forward as Hassan masters more in the kitchen. The characters however, are quite intriguing and I really enjoyed Madame Mallory, the two star chef that is appalled by the new Indian restaurant in town but still begrudgingly takes on the Indian boy, Hassan anyways, because she realizes that one day his talent will surpass hers in the kitchen.

An alright read. I'd really only recommend it to foodies though.

Yes, Chef: A Memoir

Ok, go ahead and judge me, but I will admit I started this book not having a clue who in the hell Marcus Samuelsson was. Not one. I won this audiobook in a competition and it sounded interesting, I like watching and reading about people cooking, but I am no chef. On a good day I make mac n cheese. I'm pretty pathetic. Anyways, I'm glad I read this, it was a really inspiring story.

Hod does an Ethiopian orphan raised by Swedish parents become one of the greatest chefs in the world? Well you have to read to find out. Marcus put all of his energy and talents into becoming the greatest chef he could be, and over the years traveled to different countries chasing flavors and developing a unique spin on cooking. He hit it big in America which is where he now resides as a celebrity chef.

For those that don't care squat about cooking this book may still interest you, this memoir touches on a little bit of everything from growing up as a little black boy in a mainly all white country, to family, to the value of hardwork, forgiveness, and love.

I would also recommend listening to the audio version which is narrated by Marcus himself, his accent and annunciations help make the story.

The Sweet Life in Paris

I'm a traveler at heart and I think that is the main reason I loved this book. Not because I give a hoot about cooking and baking but because I LOVE learning about other cultures. I love reading about how other people go about their daily lives, it's so fascinating.

This book basically reads as a travel guide/cookbook. The author David recounts his first five years living and adjusting to life in one of the greatest cities in the world, Paris. Each chapter is a short story about some aspect of Parisian culture followed by an exquisite recipe or two (the likes of which I will never be able to replicate). You will learn how to properly eat cheese, cut in line, order coffee, go to the doctor, make an absinthe cake and much much more. It is a great book and a must read for anyone planning to travel or live abroad in Paris.

Also, if anyone can figure out the divine sounding recipes make a few and send them my way for sampling :)