Spiced : a pastry chef's true stories of trials by fire, after-hours exploits, and what really goes on in the kitchen

Read Dahlia Jurgensen's posts on the Penguin Blog. A clever and affectionate glimpse at the truth about what goes on behind that swinging door, full of "great insider stuff" (Anthony Bourdain) Life in a restaurant kitchen is strenuous and exciting, while its inhabitants are ... unique. In this testosterone-laden atmosphere, Dalia Jurgensen tirelessly pursued her dream of becoming a chef, working her way up though New York's top restaurants. In her deliciously entertaining memoir, she divulges the dynamics between cooks and waiters, chefs and food critics, and heated affairs between staff members. Written with sincere love for the industry, this is a candid insider's tour from the unique perspective of an acclaimed pastry chef Spiced is Dalia Jurgensens memoir of leaving her office job and pursuing her dream of becoming a chef. Eventually landing the job of pastry chef for a three-star New York restaurant, she recounts with endearing candor the dry cakes and burned pots of her early internships, and the sweat, sheer determination, and finely tuned taste budsas well as resilient ego and sense of humorthat won her spots in world-class restaurant kitchens. With wit and an appreciation for raunchy insults, she reveals the secrets to holding your own in male-dominated kitchens, surviving after-hours staff parties, and turning out perfect plates when you know youre cooking for a poorly disguised restaurant critic. She even confesses to a clandestine romance with her chef and bossnot to mention what its like to work in Martha Stewarts TV kitchenand the ugly truth behind the much-mythologized family meal. Following Dalias personal trajectory from nervous newbie to unflappable professional, Spiced is a clever, surprisingly frank, and affectionate glimpse at the sweet and sour of following your passion.