The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry

A true story of food, Paris, and the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

In 2003, Kathleen Flinn, a thirty-six-year-old American living in London, returned from holiday to find that her corporate job had been terminated. Ignoring her mother's concern that she get 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 famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. THE SHARPER YOUR KNIFE, THE LESS YOU CRY is the touching and remarkably funny account of Flinn's transformation as she moves through the school's intense programme and falls deeply in love along the way. More than two dozen recipes are interwoven within this unique look inside Le Cordon Bleu amid battles with demanding chefs, competitive classmates and her 'wretchedly inadequate' French. Flinn offers a vibrant portrait of Paris, one in which the sights and sounds of the city's street markets and purveyors come alive in rich detail. The ultimate wish fulfilment book, her story is a true testament to pursuing a dream.

? An engaging story about a fantasy fulfilled. It's "Under the Tuscan Sun" goes to cooking school.?
?Michael Ruhlman, author of "The Elements of Cooking" and "The Soul of a Chef"

? A joy to read . . . A compelling story about learning to cook and learning to love at the same time, told with humility, humor, and passion.?
?Bill Radke, host of NPR's "Weekend America"

? This tasty offering . . . seems destined to earn an honored place on the crowded bookshelves of many foodie readers.?
?"Seattle Post-Intelligencer"
An engaging story about a fantasy fulfilled. It s "Under the Tuscan Sun" goes to cooking school.
Michael Ruhlman, author of "The Elements of Cooking" and "The Soul of a Chef"
A joy to read . . . A compelling story about learning to cook and learning to love at the same time, told with humility, humor, and passion.
Bill Radke, host of NPR s "Weekend America"
This tasty offering . . . seems destined to earn an honored place on the crowded bookshelves of many foodie readers.
"Seattle Post-Intelligencer"
a An engaging story about a fantasy fulfilled. Itas "Under the Tuscan Sun" goes to cooking school.a
aMichael Ruhlman, author of "The Elements of Cooking" and "The Soul of a Chef"
a A joy to read . . . A compelling story about learning to cook and learning to love at the same time, told with humility, humor, and passion.a
aBill Radke, host of NPRas "Weekend America"
a This tasty offering . . . seems destined to earn an honored place on the crowded bookshelves of many foodie readers.a
a"Seattle Post-Intelligencer"
I can never get enough of true stories about people who stop in the middle of their life's journey to ask, What do I really want?' and then have the guts to actually go get it. Kathleen Flinn's tale of chasing her ultimate dream makes for a really lovely book engaging, intelligent and surprisingly suspenseful.
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love"
"The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry" is an engaging story about a fantasy fulfilled. It's Under the Tuscan Sun goes to cooking school.
Michael Ruhlman, author of "The Soul of a Chef"
Although I can't cook my way out of a "sac de papier," I found this book a joy to read. It's is a compelling story about learning to cook and learning to love at the same time, told with humility, humor and passion.
Bill Radke, host of public radio's "Weekend America"
Kat Flynns vivid story of her adventures at Le Cordon Bleu Paris had me smiling page after page. It's about what you should always think about in the pressure behind a hot stove the pure romance of cooking.
Jerry Traunfeld, author of "The Herbfarm Cookbook" and "The Herbal Kitchen"

Kathleen Flinn has been a writer and journalist for nearly 20 years. Her work has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, USA Today, Men's Fitness and many other publications. She divides her time between Seattle, Washington and Southwest Florida.

Author Location: Seattle, USA

A true story of food, Paris, and the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.In 2003, Kathleen Flinn, a thirty-six-year-old American living in London, returned from holiday to find that her corporate job had been terminated. Ignoring her mother's concern that she get 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 famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. THE SHARPER YOUR KNIFE, THE LESS YOU CRY is the touching and remarkably funny account of Flinn's transformation as she moves through the school's intense programme and falls deeply in love along the way. More than two dozen recipes are interwoven within this unique look inside Le Cordon Bleu amid battles with demanding chefs, competitive classmates and her 'wretchedly inadequate' French. Flinn offers a vibrant portrait of Paris, one in which the sights and sounds of the city's street markets and purveyors come alive in rich detail. The ultimate wish fulfilment book, her story is a true testament to pursuing a dream.

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