Georgia's Kitchen by Jenny Nelson: Book Review

released August 3, 2010

Georgia's Kitchen
by Jenny Nelson
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Gallery
ISBN-10: 1439173338
ISBN-13: 978-1439173336

What a fun summer read Georgia's Kitchen is!  

First Line:  Georgia turned onto a tree-lined street of brick town houses and brownstones, stopping when she reached a gunmetal-gray low-rise that shared none of its neighbors' quiet charm.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At thirty-three, talented chef Georgia Gray has everything a woman could want—the top job at one of Manhattan’s best restaurants; a posse of smart and savvy gal pals who never let her down; and a platinum-set, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring courtesy of Glenn, the handsome entertainment lawyer who Georgia’s overbearing mother can’t wait for her to marry. The table is set for the ambitious bride-to-be until a scathing restaurant review destroys her reputation.

To add salt to her wounds, Glenn suddenly calls off the wedding.
Brokenhearted, Georgia escapes to the Italian countryside, where she sharpens her skills at a trattoria run by a world-class chef who seems to have it all—a devoted lover, a magnificent villa, and most important, a kitchen of her own. Georgia quells her longings with Italy’s delectable offerings: fine wine, luscious cheeses, cerulean blue skies, and irresistible Gianni—an expert in the vineyard and the bedroom. So when Gianni tempts Georgia to stay in Italy with an offer no sane top chef could refuse, why can’t she say yes?

An appetite for something more looms large in Georgia’s heart – the desire to run her own restaurant in the city she loves. But having left New York with her career in flames, she’ll need to stir up more than just courage if she’s to realize her dreams and find her way home.

picture from Wikipedia

Georgia's Kitchen came out at the perfect time, during the dog days of summer! This is the  perfect book to take to the pool or the beach with a cooler filled with ice cold mimosas!  Georgia takes two huge blows on the same day that would throw many into a major funk, but not Georgia.  She takes this opportunity to return to Tuscany to work in her former mentor's trattoria.

I had to look up what a trattoria is and now I want to go! (have you eaten at a trattoria?) 

A trattoria (Italian pronunciation: [trattoˈria]) is an Italian-style eating establishment, less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria. There are generally no printed menus, the service is casual, wine is sold by the decanter rather than the bottle, prices are low, and the emphasis is on a steady clientele rather than on haute cuisine. The food is modest but plentiful (mostly following regional and local recipes) and in some instances is even served family-style (i.e. at common tables).      -from Wikipedia

The lushness of the countryside, descriptive fresh ingredients for Tuscan meals, and Georgia herself make Georgia's Kitchen such a fantastic read!  It's light-hearted, somewhat romantic, but more about Georgia's search for meaning after her life falls apart.

At one point Georgia's mentor tells her:

I'm not telling you this to burden you, but so you can see that you're not the only one with--how do you Americans call it? Issues. You lost your job, your fiance, but here you have another chance. Stop looking for what you don't have, and start seeing what you do.

How easy it is to get caught up in the negatives of life, but staying positive in the face of adversity is such a gift of character. I love positive people! I want Georgia's mentor to come mentor me while I work on opening my bookstore! She's only got 4 restaurants to run....I'm sure she has time!

Read the first chapter.
Guest Post with Jenny Nelson
Connect with Jenny Nelson on Twitter.
Connect with Jenny Nelson on Facebook.
Jenny Nelson's site.

If you are in need of something light, fresh, with lots of food involved then Georgia's Kitchen is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed it! From me, it gets 5 out of 5 quills!