A young chef whose dreams were cut short savors every last minute as she explores food and adventure, illness and mortality, coming of age and coming out in this stunning, lyrical memoir and family story that sweeps from Pakistan to New York City and beyond
Fatima Ali won the hearts of viewers as the season fifteen "Fan Favorite" of Bravo's Top Chef. After the taping wrapped and before the show aired, Fati was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, which eventually became terminal. Not one to ever slow down or admit defeat, she vowed to spend her final year traveling the world, eating delicious food, and making memories with her loved ones. But when her condition abruptly worsened, her plans were sidelined. She pivoted, determined to make her final days count as she worked to tell the story of a queer brown girl chef who set out to make a name for herself, her food, and her culture. The result is this inspiring ode to the food, family, and countries Fatima loved so much.
Written both during Fati's last weeks and posthumously by her co-writer, Tarajia Morrell, this deftly woven memoir brings Fatima's perspective together with supporting chapters from her mother Farazeh. Flashing between past and present, readers are transported back to Fatima's childhood and also her mother's, both women deeply affected by the cultural barriers they faced, shaping the course of their lives. Food plays an important role throughout, from the rustic stalls of the outdoor markets of Lahore to the kitchen and dining room of Meadowood, the acclaimed three-star Michelin restaurant where Fatima apprenticed. Along the way, Fati reflects on her life and her identity as a chef, a daughter, and a queer woman. She explores and defines her sexuality, oftentimes butting up against the more conservative and traditional views of those in her native Pakistan.
This triumphant memoir is at once an exploration of the sense of wonder that made Fatima so special, and a shining testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is, at its core, a story about what it means to truly live, a profound and exquisite portrait of savoring every moment. Born in Pakistan, Fatima Ali was a chef in New York City. She received her education from the Culinary Institute of America and, at the age of twenty-three, competed in and won an episode of Chopped on the Food Network. Ali was a contestant on the fifteenth season of Bravo's Top Chef, where her talent, tenacity, and humor captivated international audiences, and for which she was voted "Fan Favorite." She passed away in January 2019.
