My Review
Many of us put up a front when we are afraid, after all what would others think if they knew how we really felt? We are so afraid of being judged.
As the book opens we see Sophie, a French-born American chef living in the states chasing a life-long dream. This dream is to be part of the 1% of female chefs running a Michelin-starred restaurant.
When that gets sabotaged she feels as if her life-long dream has been devastatingly snatched away from her. Her true passion is cooking, it has been since she was seven and
learned from the best at her grandmother's knee. Culinary traditions are passed down from her family and as she cooks it invokes nostalgia within her.
Needing a clean break when her dreams slip away she returns to the land of her birth, France where her grandmother who is in declining health resides. Knowing she hasn't had the time for her grandmother recently she feels so guilty and hopes her grandmother receives her well upon her arrival.
Grandmother owns an important French chateau with a winery and oh so delicious foods, which the recipes were created by the best,grandmother.
So many questions were answered about Sophie's mother and Sophie's life that she hadn't known about. Sophie's mother was unable to tell her these things because she had a mental illness and was unable to care for herself.
As Sophie discovers more about herself,her mother and grandmother we see her priorities changing and what was once so important isn't so much now. This really is a beautiful story and I highly recommend it. Published September 8th 2020 by Berkley. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
Amazon Buy Link
GoodReads Summary
A disgraced chef rediscovers her passion for food and her roots in this stunning novel rich in culture and full of delectable recipes. French-born American chef Sophie Valroux had one dream: to be part of the 1% of female chefs running a Michelin-starred restaurant. From spending summers with her grandmother, who taught her the power of cooking and food, to attending the Culinary Institute of America, Sophie finds herself on the cusp of getting everything she's dreamed of. Until her career goes up in flames. Sabotaged by a fellow chef, Sophie is fired, leaving her reputation ruined and confidence shaken. To add fuel to the fire, Sophie learns that her grandmother has suffered a stroke and takes the red-eye to France. There, Sophie discovers the simple home she remembers from her childhood is now a luxurious château, complete with two restaurants and a vineyard. As Sophie tries to reestablish herself in the kitchen, she comes to understand the lengths people will go to for success and love, and how dreams can change.
About The Author
Born
in Los Angeles, The United States
Website
Genre
Memoir, Fiction, Contemporary
Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously adorable Charteux cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.
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