Deep Dish is a light, southern foodie story that would make a good beach or summer read. The main character in Deep Dish is Gina Foxton, a 30-something chef who hosts a public TV cooking show focusing on healthier, fresh southern cooking. She is devastated when her show is cancelled because the producer (also the boyfriend of Gina) has slept with the shows sponsors wife. They find out that the Cooking Channel is looking for a new show and Gina decides this is her only option to save her career. The Cooking Channel is also interested in another southern cooking show hosted by an outdoors man style chef fondly referred to as Kill It and Grill It Tate Moody and his sidekick dog Moonpie. The Cooking Channel decides to create a competition between the two into a reality style cooking show. The winner will get the new show on The Cooking Channel. The competition turns into a romance but this takes awhile to develop and is fairly drawn out. There is a twist in the end as to who actually wins the competition which makes for an interesting conclusion to the book.
This was the first book that I have read by Mary Kay Andrews but I'm not sure that it was one of her best. I found the characters fell flat and some parts were drawn out. I did like the cooking show emphasis as I enjoy reading foodie type books. Parts of the competition reminded me of some of my favorite reality show cooking shows, one scene was reminiscent of one of my favorites, the new show Chopped on Food Network. There are some nice recipes in the back of the book as well as an author interview and readers guide. If you are a fan of southern fiction and chick lit and/or enjoy foodie type books, I think that you will enjoy this book.
I read Deep Dish as part of the Book Club Girl Online On Air Discussion with the Author. The show airs this Wednesday, March 25th at 7 PM EST. You can find more information about the show and listen in live at Book Club Girl. I am looking forward to being part of the discussion with other readers and especially the author Mary Kay Andrews.
For a different perspective on Deep Dish check out the review at Booking Mama.
Sorry this one didn't work for you.
ReplyDeleteI read just about any book that I can find that involves cooking, but some are definitely better than others. The cooking competition sounds like it would be fun!
ReplyDeleteToo bad you didn't enjoy this one more. I found it to be a really enjoyable break from the heavier stuff I've been reading lately.
ReplyDeleteI passed on this one. It just doesn't sound like a strong enough plot to me. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, I read Deep Dish and it was my least favorite of Mary Kay Andrews! I love her other books but this one was really lacking.
ReplyDeleteHISSY FIT is my favorite of the books by her I've read. I look forward to her books for the lightness and humor.
ReplyDeleteThis looks cute.
I've never heard of this author but I don't mind an easy summer beach read now and again. But honestly, if you didn't care for it that much, I'm sure that I probably won't either. I did however really like your review and how you wrote at the bottom...for a different perspective...great way to show that this book may appeal to someone else even though you didn't like it that much!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the only book that I have read by Mary Kay Andrews, but I liked it. I'm sorry you didn't like this one. I enjoyed the cooking competition.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at the length of this book, considering the genre, but I found it to be a quick, fun read. I'd definitely pick up another of her books sometime.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, I hope you try others by Mary Kay Andrews. She is one of my absolute favorite authors and I eagerly await each of her new releases! I, personally enjoyed this one, so am sorry that you did not enjoy it much. Hissy Fit was my first by her and was the one to hook me!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of her other books, so I can't compare, but I really enjoyed this one. Then again, I tend to enjoy books about food, and I'm addicted to cooking shows. Thanks for the honest review.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric