I picked up Tart with no prior knowledge of Slutty Cheff herself, drawn instead by the promise of a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes chaos and charm of the restaurant world. What I discovered was an entertaining and sharply observed account of life in London’s fine dining scene, told with wit, honesty, and a generous dash of irreverence.

At its heart, Tart is about a woman stepping away from the safety net of corporate life to follow her passion for food. What follows is a vibrant, often raw depiction of kitchen culture – the camaraderie, the exhaustion, the impossible hours, and the quiet triumphs that come with a perfectly executed service. There’s something deeply compelling about the way the author captures the energy of a kitchen in full swing, the adrenaline, the mess, the madness, and the joy.

Though the title and the persona might suggest a raunchy romp – and yes, there’s sex, flirtation, and a fair bit of saucy humour – what stood out to me was the focus on food. The sex is more of a garnish than the main course, adding spice to what is, at its core, a book about a woman carving out space in a male-dominated industry and finding her own rhythm.

Slutty Cheff writes with both grit and charm. She doesn’t shy away from the grim realities – the unrelenting shifts, the unwelcoming attitudes, the physical toll – but she also celebrates the magic. The early mornings cycling through a sleepy city, the heat of a kitchen on a busy night, and the triumph of small wins. If you’re interested in food, hospitality, or the lives of women in high-pressure spaces, this is a thoroughly relevant and enjoyable read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

An incredibly wild ride into the London culinary scene - it started off a bit slowly but once it got going it was incredibly pacy and I felt like I was there in the kitchen with the author, right beside the pass, feeling the heat as she scrambled against the clock to plate up her dishes and banter with the (male!) team.

This book does not hold anything back! The honesty and exhilaration from the author brings you so clearly into the center of her world and you can only try your best to keep up. I flitted between laughing out loud and having hunger pangs for the phenomenal food cooked!