Twenty-something Ruthie Cohen, a data entry minion for a second-tier movie app, spends her days thinking about the kickass meals she's going to make for her besties, Trish and Lilly, while pining for Dean (sigh, Dean), her vacation fling from six months earlier. Could they have made it work in real life?
On top of that, Bubbe Bobby Grace, Ruthie's beloved and inspiring grandmother, passed away and left Ruthie an inheritance of $62,873.42, along with instructions on how to use it: "Follow your passion, Dollface." During a prosecco-fueled night with her gal pals, Ruthie decides to turn her passion into a career and learn the art of French cooking, enrolling in culinary school, paying tuition, and buying her chef's whites with a few quick clicks online. It's not long before Ruthie marches into the kitchen and feels the heat from her cooking partner, Jeff, the super hunky (totally taken!) musician that weasels his way into her brain - right next to Dean.
How can anyone be expected to focus on school, cooking, career planning, baking, friends, and deciding between two hot guys, especially when one of them also thinks that John Cusack is woefully underrated? And what if neither feels quite like Ruthie's perfect pairing? In Amy Rosen's debut novel, Off Menu, hilarity and heartbreak are dished out in equal measure. Mid-20s Ruthie navigates learning what she wants, who to love, and how to laminate pastry in this Heartburn meets Bridget Jones's Diary adventure for the next generation.
Amy Rosen is an award-winning food and travel writer and cookbook author who writes for publications such as Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and The Globe and Mail. A former editor-in-chief at Modern Farmer and food editor at Chatelaine, she's the author of seven cookbooks. Amy's also the proud founder of Rosen's Cinnamon Buns. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
"Written as a series of charming and hilarious diary entries, this novel is a fantastic blend of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary, Nora Ephron's Heartburn, and the humor of Molly Harper, Janet Evanovich, and Emily Henry. Perfect for foodies who love a bit of fun, hijinks, and romance." - Library Journal, starred review
"I simply devoured this delicious debut of a novel! Amy's signature wit shines through in this quintessential mid-20s stumbling journey of romance, friendship, and every delectable bite that ties it all together." - Mary Berg, cookbook author and host of The Good Stuff with Mary Berg
"[This] was such an entertaining book, and it was a pleasure to read a foodie fictional piece where the dishes, places, and culinary terms are actually accurate! A delicious way to daringly dine and swoon from the comfort of your cozy chair." - Anna Olson, pastry chef & cookbook author
"Rosen pens the most important chapter of any young chef's life with all the understanding of your best friend. Laughter, tears, and too much wine will keep you captivated in the lives of Ruthie, Trish, and Lilly. Coupled with wisdom from beyond, we can all learn from Ruthie's grandmother's sage advice and pine for her generosity. Off Menu is a must-read for anyone who knows someone who cooks. Hilariously accurate, it brings Canadiana to the stage when we need it most. When God Was a Rabbit meets The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Rosen takes us on a journey full of wisdom and diminishing accounts. With Bubbe Bobby Grace, we can be heroes, just for one day." - Kyla Kennaley, pastry chef and judge on The Great Canadian Baking Show
"A delicious romp! The cooking is as irresistible as the love story. An exhilarating peek behind the doors of culinary school, filled with passion, purpose, and puff pastry." - Olivia Potts, author of A Half Baked Idea
Sales and Market Bullets
• WOMEN'S FICTION THAT PACKS A PUNCH: For readers of Main Character Energy (Jamie Varon), Really Good, Actually (Moni
