I really want to give this 3 1/2 stars, most especially for the delicious recipes. A good read with an interesting revelation for me: this woman traveled many miles to have a similar experience to many other women who work in kitchens, so the problems that exist really are industry wide.

My personal favorite portions of the book took place Hanoi and Tel Aviv. You could feel what the author was talking about as though you were there with her as she experienced two very diverse cultures from her own. I plan to make quite a few of the recipes from these two sections! I will say that if you are at all squeamish you might want to avoid the part where they visit a restaurant that serves dog. I had to skim that part, it was really rather unnerving.

Interestingly, there was a sense that even though the author grew as a chef that there was some disconnect on an emotional growth level. Her awkwardness with men feels a bit odd to me, not saying it's unreal so much as her age doesn't fit that feeling for me. There are one or two situations it felt like she should have seen coming.

I do love her honesty in talking about the rampant sexism that exists for women in the kitchen and how her NY colleagues were good about bearing that in mind as not all of the chefs one might work with do. I also admire that she is very honest about loving to cook but no longer wanting to cook in restaurants. All in all I found this an enjoyable read, really worth it for the recipes alone!