A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen
'Fantastic, exciting deep dive into kitchen life from one of Britain's leading young chefs' (Tom Kerridge)
Author: Sally Abé
From the star of the Great British Menu, for readers who loved Kitchen Confidential and couldn't tear their eyes away from Boiling Point, a book that reveals the reality of working in restaurant kitchens - and how they need to change for the better.
7th July 2025
Paperback
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
From the star of the Great British Menu, for readers who loved Kitchen Confidential and couldn't tear their eyes away from Boiling Point, a book that reveals the reality of working in restaurant kitchens - and how they need to change for the better.
Description
'Sally really tells it how it is . . . This book will be a go to for those needing that bit of bravery and resilience in a world that needs more people like her' CANDICE BROWN
'Wow. Sally's book is an insightful, honest account of a young cook's journey to an inspirational chef' ANGELA HARTNETT'She doesn't so much pull back the curtains as yank them away, revealing the plain truth of what it takes to get dinner on to your plate' OBSERVERThis is the story of Sally Abe's rise to become an award-winning chef in the brutal world of restaurant kitchens; how a girl from the midlands who used to cook herself Smash to get by is now one of the most successful fine-dining chefs working today.It's a familiar trope: angry men berating each other in kitchens as pots furiously boil, sauces burn and a giant slab of beef rests in the background. The dominant view of a professional kitchen is one of chaos and pent-up fury - a gladiatorial contest of male ego. Why then do we also hear the misogynistic refrain that women 'belong in the kitchen' if, in a professional context, they're all but erased from them? A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen is a stirring manifesto - drawing back the curtain on restaurant kitchens to show how she is endeavouring to change them for the better. Filled with stories of Michelin-starred food, the relentlessness of kitchens, as well as the hope for the future of the culinary landscape, Sally's memoir is set to become a classic.Critic Reviews
Sally really tells it how it is. She is not only someone I look up to but a friend and a complete trailblazer when it comes to being a "woman" in the kitchen. This book will be a go to for those needing that bit of bravery and resilience in a world that needs more people like her -- Candice Brown
Wow. Sally's book is an insightful, honest account of a young cook's journey to an inspirational chef -- Angela Hartnett
Fantastic, exciting deep dive into kitchen life from one of Britain's leading young chefs, talking about her experiences and outlining how amazing this industry can be, but also the hard work and dedication it takes to get to the top -- Tom Kerridge
Sally Abé is lifting the lid on what being a woman in male-dominated, professional kitchens is really like Independent
She doesn't so much pull back the curtains as yank them away, revealing the plain truth of what it takes to get dinner on to your plate Observer
a story of graft and tenacity, learned amid the often military brutality of professional kitchens. It is unflinching and funny, and features plenty of candid stories -- Best Books of 2024 Observer Food Monthly
About the Author
Sally Abe is a fine-dining chef at the top of her profession. She has worked in some of the best establishments in the UK, including The Savoy Grill, The Ledbury, and she retained a Michelin star at The Harwood Arms. She currently runs The Pem with a team of 80% women producing some of the finest dishes in London. She was named Female Chef of the Year in 2021 by SquareMeal, and shortlisted for GQ's overall Chef of the Year in 2021. She is constantly working to get women into the hospitality industry and create fair, safe, and happy living standards within kitchens across the UK.
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7th July 2025
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