The Sharper the Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Learning and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cookery School: Love, Laughter and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School - Softcover

Kathleen Flinn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 074995163X ISBN 13: 9780749951634

Publisher: Piatkus Books, 2008

Synopsis

In 2003, Kathleen Flinn was a thirty-six-year-old American in London who felt trapped in corporate middle management - until her boss eliminated her job while she was on vacation. Ignoring her mother's advice that she find another job immediately or "never get hired anywhere ever again," Flinn cleared out her savings and moved to Paris to pursue a dream - a diploma from the venerable Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.

But instead of being ushered into "a glamorous world of soufflés and foie gras," Flinn found herself struggling in a stew of hot-tempered chefs, competitive classmates, and her own "wretchedly inadequate" French. She trudged home traumatized by gutting fish, severing the heads off rabbits, and dropping an entire roast duck on the floor moments before having to present her plate to the presiding chef. One day she was even advised that her tronçons de colin pochés needed "a bit more salt" from the homeless man who sat near the school's entrance. As the story moves through the various classes, the basics of French cuisine--the ingredients, cooking techniques, wine, and more than two dozen recipes--are interwoven, but not every page is spent in the kitchen. Flinn also offers the experience of the vibrant sights and sounds of the markets, shops, and avenues of Paris. In time, Flinn triumphs in her battle with puff pastry, masters her sauces, and wins over the toughest of chefs. More importantly, though, she finds within herself the strength to pause on the usual journey and challenge a career-focused mind set and attempt a discovery of what really matters to her. She even comes to realize that the love of her life has been right in front of her the whole time. Fans of Julie & Julia, Cooking for Mr. Latte, and Eat, Pray, Love will be amused, inspired, and richly rewarded by this vibrant tale of romance, food, Paris, and chasing a life's dream.

About this title

About the Author:

Kathleen Flinn has been a writer and journalist for nearly twenty years. Her work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, USA Weekend, Men’s Fitness and many other publications. She is a proud member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Author’s Guild. She divides her time between Seattle and southwest Florida.

From AudioFile:

Finding herself suddenly unemployed, former middle manager Flinn fulfills a lifelong dream by enrolling at the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Listeners are there step-by-step as she learns to chop, fillet, saut, braise, and plate hundreds of entres, overseen by finicky chefs. Flinns French was originally spotty, but Cassandra Campbells pronunciation isnt. Neither is her portrayal of Flinn, determined, dismayed by dropping her half of a duck, delighted by her intensifying relationship with her future husband, Michael. Even non-cooks will be fascinated by her clear descriptions of food dishes, Paris, her lodgings, and new friends. Only the recipes that are included are out of place for audio. They sound delicious but are read too fast for copying. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Piatkus Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 074995163X
• ISBN 13: 9780749951634
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256