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emwilliams's review
4.0
I’m not into food and restaurants as an art form in a deep way, but this was an interesting look at the mechanics of the business in Toronto. I do have a soft spot for unflinching looks at how work happens. It made me sad I never got to the Black Hoof (again, not a super experimental diner) and curious about Agg’s other venues.
horse_oats's review against another edition
3.0
I was entertained by this but I'm not sure this book knew what it wanted to be. Jen Agg's awareness of her own intelligence got a little ham-handed at times, and was decidedly undermined by her excessive use of all-caps parentheticals.
livlaw's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.25
I found this book really frustrating! Truth be told, I didn’t know who Jen Agg was before reading this - but I did think that reading a book about a trailblazer in the Canadian restaurant scene would be interesting and that I’d learn something.
However, something about the writing here irked me. I found the book quite messy, with no drive or “why” behind most of it. It came across as the author introducing her opinion as a “hot take” and it ending up just being the most mainstream opinion ever. Very “not like other girls”.
Still, I did find it interesting to learn more about the industry, and the parts of Agg’s life she shared in this.
nesza's review against another edition
4.0
As a female restaurant owner myself, I really related to a lot of the industry related content here, and felt like I learned a lot.
That being said, I felt like a lot of her ‘feminism’ led plot/stories were like a sex in the city kind of not quite version, like I understood the point she was trying to get across, but talking about vaginas a lot does not a feminist make. *Not saying she’s not a feminist** just that her writing maybe didn’t capture her version of it in its full capacity.
But her book is not a how to manual, and I found it a page turner where her story and her journey was very inspiring, and I loved how many parallels I could draw between her journey and mine, and I wouldn’t feel I belonged at her ‘table’ in a million years.
I hope to visit her restaurants one day myself and in the meantime I will continue to hone my boss Bitch energy in homage to Jen Agg from my own little west coast joint!
That being said, I felt like a lot of her ‘feminism’ led plot/stories were like a sex in the city kind of not quite version, like I understood the point she was trying to get across, but talking about vaginas a lot does not a feminist make. *Not saying she’s not a feminist** just that her writing maybe didn’t capture her version of it in its full capacity.
But her book is not a how to manual, and I found it a page turner where her story and her journey was very inspiring, and I loved how many parallels I could draw between her journey and mine, and I wouldn’t feel I belonged at her ‘table’ in a million years.
I hope to visit her restaurants one day myself and in the meantime I will continue to hone my boss Bitch energy in homage to Jen Agg from my own little west coast joint!
gleegz's review against another edition
3.0
This book is good, particularly the parts about her process of conceptualizing and designing her new restaurants, sexism in the industry, and the complexity of running excellent service. I learned a lot. I’m not an industry person but have enjoyed a meal at the Black Hoof and cocktails Cocktail Bar, so it was cool to learn more about the history of those establishments and her impressive journey in building them. It gave me new insight and appreciation for what my industry friends do for a living. I could have used fewer insights about her earlier life - there’s nothing particularly standout or interesting about that part - and I really appreciated her obviously wonderful marriage but could have done without the meditations on her seven year itch, etc. But she’s a good writer, and Jen Agg is an important voice for women in business, especially in a highly gendered industry where boundaries between work and professional lives are profoundly blurred.
josephtremblay's review
3.0
There’s a lot in this book.
It’s a little like Kitchen Confidential.
It’s a little bit feminist manifesto.
It’s a little bit of an ego fest.
I, for the most part, liked it. I appreciated Agg’s raging against the long-standing and virulent misogyny of restaurant life. I appreciated her tales of growing up in the Toronto of the early- and mid-1990s — the Toronto I remember from my time there. I especially appreciated how honest she was about the battles she’s fought to achieve success in a field she’s passionate about.
What was a little off-putting (though not overwhelmingly so) is her occasional arrogance: this restaurant of mine was the best ever, this cocktail menu was unequalled, and so on. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but it did leave a sour taste in my mouth.
It’s a little like Kitchen Confidential.
It’s a little bit feminist manifesto.
It’s a little bit of an ego fest.
I, for the most part, liked it. I appreciated Agg’s raging against the long-standing and virulent misogyny of restaurant life. I appreciated her tales of growing up in the Toronto of the early- and mid-1990s — the Toronto I remember from my time there. I especially appreciated how honest she was about the battles she’s fought to achieve success in a field she’s passionate about.
What was a little off-putting (though not overwhelmingly so) is her occasional arrogance: this restaurant of mine was the best ever, this cocktail menu was unequalled, and so on. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but it did leave a sour taste in my mouth.
thejanewayprotocol's review
4.0
I loved listening to Jen tell her incredible life story! She was completely fearless in her endeavours and never took no for an answer.
This book is full of so much more than just how to open a restaurant, although I found these chapters captivating. She also shares some great ideas on workplace culture, (which I definitely could translate into my male-dominated workplace) feminism and white privilege, and self awareness. She doesn't shy away from anything and that's why this book is so much more than just a "Girl Boss" how to.
I love that she knows what she wants, and I truly think there are several take aways here (no pun intended!) that can be applied to many aspects of life.
This book is full of so much more than just how to open a restaurant, although I found these chapters captivating. She also shares some great ideas on workplace culture, (which I definitely could translate into my male-dominated workplace) feminism and white privilege, and self awareness. She doesn't shy away from anything and that's why this book is so much more than just a "Girl Boss" how to.
I love that she knows what she wants, and I truly think there are several take aways here (no pun intended!) that can be applied to many aspects of life.