Off the Menu by Alaina Erdell is an opposites attract contemporary romance about a chef and the reality TV star of Restaurant Redo.
Taylor Mobley is a chef under pressure. The attractive TV star of Restaurant Redo, Erin Rasmussen, is coming to Taylor’s kitchen to film a show aimed at turning around a restaurant. Taylor is conflicted about this because it could mean that she is not shown in the best possible light since she is the head chef. But it could also be an opportunity for the restaurant owners to finally listen to some of her ideas.
When the owner makes her sign a non-disclosure things become tense and even more complicated for her. Taylor is just trying to make it through the show and keep her career intact.
Erin has a reputation for saving failing restaurants. She loves getting involved in the nitty-gritty of it all and making a difference in the restaurant industry.
Taylor is less than accommodating, though, she refuses to answer questions, gives vague information and is downright stubborn about helping Erin figure out what is happening in the restaurant.
Despite Erin’s frustration and Taylor’s seeming disinterest in helping the show, the on-screen chemistry between them could set the kitchen on fire and their off-screen chemistry is just as hot.
Can Taylor and Erin figure out how they really feel about one another without the show, restaurant owner and non-disclosure getting in the way or are they doomed to remain at arm’s length?
Writing and Story
One of the things that intrigued me about this story was this question: how are you going to write a romance between the chef of a restaurant that is so bad that it needs a redo and the reality star that comes in to fix it? It’s a great setup for drama but how do you prevent a power imbalance in the relationship? I mean, either the chef is going to be an awful chef or the reality star is going to be a know-it-all ass.
As it turns out it is entirely possible to write this romance while maintaining a power balance through a series of clearly thought-out choices by the author.
Erdell clearly created conflict without making the chef awful and without making the tv star an asshole. She should win an award for managing that balance because it was something fun to behold.
In terms of the actual writing, Erdell has an easy-to-read writing style. She excels at creating chemistry between the main characters and she is not afraid to have the characters do things that are not necessarily in line with expectations around romance novels. This makes the book feel more realistic and it ups the stakes for the romance.
I am intrigued to see if she is going to carve out a niche for herself as the romance that feels real, author in the sector.
Pros
I like the way Erdell writes chemistry. I loved the restaurant setting and how awesome it was to have such a realistic feel for it.
This book has the most adorable plot line with a kitten and any animal lover will melt for it.
Heads up
Touted as an enemies-to-lovers romance is going to set expectations that I am not sure this one lived up to. There was a push and pull between them, but I would say that it was not quite enemies. Both characters were too nice to one another the entire time. No zingers, no quips, no offhanded remarks that sting, which is a large part of what drives enemies-to-lovers.
It’s not a bad thing, just a heads up for those wanting that fire.
The Conclusion
Erdell’s books explore genuine character flaws rather than romanticised ones and I am here for it.
Worth knowing is that the book explores some much-loved tropes like age gap, rich/poor, antagonistic to lovers and workplace.
I enjoyed Off the Menu and suggest you get it if you want good chemistry, an interesting setting and a cool premise that feels a little more real than the fairytale-type romances.
Excerpt from Off the Menu by Alaina Erdell
“I can always tell non-restaurant people by their shoes.” Taylor spread the hazelnuts out to cool.
“Crocs or no Crocs?” Jo laughed at her bad joke.
There was some truth to their joking. The two current owners could be listed among those who liked to come into a working kitchen wearing Italian brogues and complain that the floor was slippery. There was a reason the staff all wore nonskid shoes and stood on honeycombed, rubber floor mats all day. Slipping was a well-known hazard of the job.
“I know her type. I bet you ten dollars she shows up in heels.” Jo sliced watermelon radishes paper thin on the mandoline, guiding them with the palm of her hand to protect her fingers.
Taylor saw the bakery had yet another new delivery driver, a woman in a hoodie who wore a gray cap pulled low over her forehead. The turnover among delivery personnel was high. The last young woman, Sophie or Sophia, had started a week or so ago.
“You can put the bags over there.” She pointed at a Metro rack. The woman didn’t move, so Taylor wiped her hands and walked toward her. The woman was pretty, even with little evidence of wearing makeup. “Are you waiting for a signature? We never sign for the bread.”
“This bag was sitting on the ground on the loading dock.” The woman blinked a few times. Flecks of ochre dotted her espresso-brown pupils, highlighting their depth. Her eyebrows furrowed.
Taylor took the bag of bread. “It shouldn’t have been, but it can still go here.”
“Where’s Sophie? Is she off today?” Jo appeared beside them.
The woman held up her hands, palms out. “I think there’s some confusion.”
Taylor glanced at the woman’s shoes. She wore black Birkenstock clogs, not unlike her own. When she looked up, the woman pulled off her newsboy cap. She shook out her dark hair. It fell past her shoulders, waves unrolling, its gorgeous sheen catching the light. For all Taylor knew, it all happened in slow motion, like in shampoo commercials. With her cap in one hand, the woman extended the other.
“I’m Erin Rasmussen. I’m here to get this place in shape.” She introduced herself without a smile. Something sparked in her eyes.
Taylor didn’t know whether to be captivated or frightened. She took her hand. Despite holding the warm bread a moment ago, Erin’s hand felt cold. The tone of her voice had been just as icy.
Just then, Sophie rushed in carrying another bag of bread. “I’m so sorry! I saw a kitten near the cardboard boxes and set the bag down for a minute. I wanted to see if its mother was around.”
She directed her apology at Jo, not Taylor.
Taylor turned away, letting Jo handle that conversation. “Taylor Mobley. Chef.” If Erin wanted to do cool, she could do cool. How long had Erin been standing there? Had she overheard them joking around? Was that why she was as chilly as an Anchorage outhouse? “Where’s the rest of your crew?” She craned her neck to peer down the hallway behind her.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-1636792958
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
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