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166th out of 194 books
—
51 voters
My rating:
add to my books
Last Bite: A Novel of Culinary Romance
After ending a bad relationship, Casey Costello, an executive chef at a morning television show, swears off men. Who has the time anyway? She's busy overseeing a rambunctious food-prep crew in a kitchen the size of a closet; trying to please high-maintenance celebrity guest chefs; and dealing with her large extended Italian American family, who believe that the solutions t...more
Hardcover, 308 pages
Published
June 9th 2006
by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
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Rachel
rated it
Recommends it for:
lovers of hetero romances, cooking, and anyone who's ever been pinched by their Nonna.
Recommended to Rachel by:
Another one from mom!
This is another wavering-between-three-stars-and-four book. It got better as the plot progressed, but it was definitely one of those cookie-cutter romances about a recently dumped woman who meets a flirtatious and devilishly handsome man who she resists for a while out of principle but eventually can't resist. Except this one was interspersed with really detailed cooking scenes, because it was written by a chef. I did enjoy the tour through Italy, though I thought the main character (half Ita...more
Sara ♥
rated it
This book was very cute. I'm in love with Danny... I hope my husband doesn't mind! ;)
So the main character, Casey, is a chef who works backstage on a TV show, preparing food-preparation segments (cooking back-up food, doing all the food prep work, etc.) for an early morning talk show. She works closely with a very famous chef, Sally, who is, essentially, Julia Child (who the author worked with for 18 years). So Casey and her boyfriend have an ugly and painful breakup at the beg...more
So the main character, Casey, is a chef who works backstage on a TV show, preparing food-preparation segments (cooking back-up food, doing all the food prep work, etc.) for an early morning talk show. She works closely with a very famous chef, Sally, who is, essentially, Julia Child (who the author worked with for 18 years). So Casey and her boyfriend have an ugly and painful breakup at the beg...more
I would give this book 4.5 stars. For a baker and a food lover the fact that the story is one of romance centered around food really appealed to me. The characters are great, Danny O'Shea is an Irish dream. Never have I wanted to hear a man speak to me in an Irish accent sooo bad!
The story is a bit predictable, but in a good way so that doesn't take away from my rating. If you're a chef, a food lover or just a sucker for an Irishman the book is worth a read. An added bonus is ...more
The story is a bit predictable, but in a good way so that doesn't take away from my rating. If you're a chef, a food lover or just a sucker for an Irishman the book is worth a read. An added bonus is ...more
Pat
rated it
Recommends it for:
everyone who lives Italian food
Recommended to Pat by:
saw it browsing on Amazon
I enjoyed the beginning, a little too much technical T.V. stuff though. The family interaction was so much fun. The trip to Italy was the icing on the cake. I loved that part. The scenes in Florence made me want to go back s-0-0 much.[was there last fall]. The food !! Thouroughly enjoyed the travel stories.
what coud be more fun than a handsome Irishman ! [I'm prejudiced, I'm Irish. ] Highly recommend for "foodies" and people who love Italy and Italian food.
what coud be more fun than a handsome Irishman ! [I'm prejudiced, I'm Irish. ] Highly recommend for "foodies" and people who love Italy and Italian food.
This was a kick in the pants. Barr was executive chef to Julia Child for 18 years, and bases this entertaining tale on that experience. There's more than just food cookin' in the studio kitchens when an Italian/Irish/American mixes it up with a genuine Irish chef. When they take the show on the road to Italy, more strange behavior ensues when it turns out the star of the show is being blackmailed. Of course, the good guys come out on top in the end.
Karen
added it
This book was written by a chef and cookbook author who was an assistant to Julia Child. It is a fun, light read about a young chef who is an assistant to a character a lot like Julia Child. Interesting behind the scenes look at how cooking demos are done on tv. Light, predictable romance but good for a quick read.
What a fun book -- not "over the top" crazy or so far fetched as to be believable. The author, a former assistant to Julia Child for 18 years, sheds light on behind the scenes in the food industry thru her main character, Casey, and her descriptions of the food they make have your mouth watering!
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun getting to learn what it's like backstage on a cooking show. I enjoyed the different plotlines running throughout the story so it wasn't just a straight up romance novel, there was some other action going on as well.
A fun beach read. There is a bit too much description in this book, which slows down and action and also makes the book considerably longer than it needs to be.
I wouldn't have chosen this book, but Matthew picked it up at the library for me and it turned out to be just right for someone taking painkillers.
Couldn't finish it. Clunky, unbelievable romantic storyline. I wanted to like it more because of Julia Child but it just wasn't there.
If you love food and a good romance book, this is the perfect read. The author, Nancy Verde Barr, was Julia Child’s executive chef, and she uses that experience to shed light on all the prep work that happens behind the scenes during cooking shows. Although classified as romance, the romance part really is more of a side plot than the main plot. Humorous and entertaining, I only have one tip: definitely do not read when hungry!
-Jennifer W.O.-
-Jennifer W.O.-
I really liked this book. The author kept me intersted. I had a hard time getting a good picture of some of the characters in my head, but I think that was my fault. I really though the "roman holiday" was super cute! One downfall to this book was that it made me hungry!!
I loved every minute of this book!
Reread. I love this book, it's like an excellent romantic comedy movie. Including food. Set in Italy. Seriously, what's not to like?
Cute, quick read.
Modern
If you love food and a good romance book, this is the perfect read. The author, Nancy Verde Barr, was Julia Child’s executive chef, and she uses that experience to shed light on all the prep work that happens behind the scenes during cooking shows. Although classified as romance, the romance part really is more of a side plot than the main plot. Humorous and entertaining, I only have one tip: definitely do not read when hungry!
This is hardly the best book ever written, but it should be read for two reasons:
1. Chef and author Nancy Verde Barr was Julia Child's former assistant, so the book has some interesting details about the behind the scenes working of a food show.
2. It contains a fantastic recipe for eggplant Parmesan that is to die for.
1. Chef and author Nancy Verde Barr was Julia Child's former assistant, so the book has some interesting details about the behind the scenes working of a food show.
2. It contains a fantastic recipe for eggplant Parmesan that is to die for.
So far it is a light, simple summer read :) It is makign me smile, and I love the Italian phrases scattered throughout!
I love food books. In this book the main character is a chef assistant to a "Julia Child" kind of character. It's a fun book that looks into the world of food tv. The author based it on her own experiences behind the scenes of food tv. Not the next great book of the century, but a fun read.
This book always made me want food - really good food! They have great recipes at the back and very interesting tidbits about certain foods throughout the book - loved it!
I quit maybe 60 or 70 pages in, because it was poorly written. Too bad, because the premise (a behind-the-scenes chef for a television show star) was interesting.
Alot of food detail, but a great romance, mystery as well. Happy ending of course. But I loved all the characters. Even the mean ones.
Very predictable, but still entertaining if you're in the mood for a truly light book.
ok, pretty fluffy, but I do love a good foodie novel.
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Nancy Verde Barr was executive chef to Julia Child from 1980 to 1998 and the culinary producer for PBS's Baking with Julia and ABC's Good Morning America. She has written for Gourmet, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Parade, and Cook's Magazine and is the author of three award-winning cookbooks.
More about Nancy Verde Barr...
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