Synopses & Reviews
A deliciously entertaining memoir about one woman’s adventures in the student kitchens of the legendary French Culinary Institute—flavored with celebrity chefs, eccentric characters, and mouthwatering recipes
To anyone who has ever dreamed of life in a French kitchen, Katherine Darling serves up a savory dose of reality in this funny, fascinating, and altogether delightful account of her time spent slaving over a hot stove, wrestling with veal calves, and cleaning fish heads at The French Culinary Institute.
As she goes from clueless amateur to certified chef, Katherine and her quirky fellow students frequently find themselves the objects of scorn as their teachers wage psychological warfare over steaming pots of bisque. It’s a cutthroat world, and no one ever made a soufflé without breaking a few eggs—or cracking a few heads together.
Filled with delicious food lore and trivia, and including dozens of classic and original French recipes, Under the Table takes readers deep into the trenches of one of the world’s most prestigious cooking schools—and shows what really goes on behind the doors of every great restaurant kitchen.
Review
“[Darling] writes with uninhibited zest. . . . A charming memoir.”
—The Wall Street Journal
Review
"Readers dreaming of culinary school can indulge vicariously through this engaging memoir...[Katherine Darling] thoroughly captures the built-in drama of a professional cook's education." -- Publishers Weekly
Review
“You’ll find yourself relishing every word to the last page, like a biscuit sopping up that last drip of syrup.”
—Southern Living
Review
“[A] food-related memoir women everywhere will love—even you takeout types.”
—Glamour
Synopsis
A deliciously entertaining memoir about one woman's adventures attending the legendary French Culinary Institute.
About the Author
Katherine Darling graduated first in her class at the French Culinary Institute in New York City. After receiving her diploma, she went on to work at Saveur magazne. She currently lives in Manhattan.