Fiction Pick of the Week: In the Kitchen

In the Kitchen by Monica Ali 2009

From the author of the critically acclaimed Brick Lane, this new novel is set “in the kitchen” of a large London hotel. Gabriel Lightfoot is the chef and main character. He dreams of having his own restaurant, but he must contend with the UN that is his kitchen, where everyone speaks a different language and everybody is underpaid. When a Ukrainian porter is found dead in the cellar, Gabe’s life begins to unravel. His personal life, as well as his professional life. A powerful portrayal of a man whose life is slowly spiraling out of control.