"13 October 2008. Welcome to the worst day of Chef Charlie Sheridan's life, the day he's about to lose his two great loves: his childhood sweetheart, Lulu, and the legendary Brighton hotel his grandfather, Franco Sheridan, opened in 1973.
This is the story of the Belle Hotel, one that spans the course of four decades – from the training of a young chef in the 1970s and 80s, through the hedonistic 90s, up to the credit crunch of the noughties – and leads us right back to Charlie's present-day suffering.
In this bittersweet and salty tale, our two Michelin star-crossed lovers navigate their seaside hangout for actors, artists and rock stars; the lure of the great restaurants of London; and the devastating effects of three generations of family secrets."
Let's start with a moment to appreciate that cracking little cover. Designed by David Shrigley. It's bold, very eye catching and sums up main character Charlie perfectly. It's not the lobster waving its claw shouting 'damn you all', it's Charlie.
The boldness continues in the prose which was sprinkled with real life events and heavily interlaced with the rich and famous. Yes there was a Brighton hotel bombing involving Margaret Thatcher. Yes Lawrence Olivier did drop the ball at the Oscars and yes, there is a Ship Street in Brighton. Although not a Belle Hotel as far as I can tell.
The concept for the book - a receipt or a recipe followed by a section of story to which it related to - hooked me immediately. The book moved through four decades yet Melvin hit the nail on the head every time when it came to authentic settings. From the couples who had identical (bar one digit) mobile phone numbers as they both got phones at the same time (90s!) To the free ruler you got when opening your first savings account as a child (80s!) and the Ben Sherman shirted Stags (00s!) All throw away sentences but oh so evocative of certain periods in time.
The recipes made my mouth water (hands up who is going to try the hollandaise?!) The descriptions, particularly the venison with beetroot were at times lyrical. This plus the liberal mentions of La Gavroche, The Savoy and Michelin stars make it perfect for foodie lovers or anyone who has ever watched Masterchef. Melvin is clearly someone who knows the industry well and you couldn't help at times wonder just how many of the anecdotes had actually happened....
In addition The Belle Hotel was a whose who in celebrity through the decades from the sublime to.......Peter Andre. Yet the underlying story of a man trying to find his place in the world was what underpinned it all and cemented it as a firm favourite for me.
It was feel good nostalgia, with meat, bones and plenty of salt. 'Better than a poke in the eye from an angry lobster', much better.
My thanks go to Unbound via Anne Cater's Random Things Through my Letterbox website for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of the Belle Hotel, one that spans the course of four decades – from the training of a young chef in the 1970s and 80s, through the hedonistic 90s, up to the credit crunch of the noughties – and leads us right back to Charlie's present-day suffering.
In this bittersweet and salty tale, our two Michelin star-crossed lovers navigate their seaside hangout for actors, artists and rock stars; the lure of the great restaurants of London; and the devastating effects of three generations of family secrets."
Let's start with a moment to appreciate that cracking little cover. Designed by David Shrigley. It's bold, very eye catching and sums up main character Charlie perfectly. It's not the lobster waving its claw shouting 'damn you all', it's Charlie.
The boldness continues in the prose which was sprinkled with real life events and heavily interlaced with the rich and famous. Yes there was a Brighton hotel bombing involving Margaret Thatcher. Yes Lawrence Olivier did drop the ball at the Oscars and yes, there is a Ship Street in Brighton. Although not a Belle Hotel as far as I can tell.
The concept for the book - a receipt or a recipe followed by a section of story to which it related to - hooked me immediately. The book moved through four decades yet Melvin hit the nail on the head every time when it came to authentic settings. From the couples who had identical (bar one digit) mobile phone numbers as they both got phones at the same time (90s!) To the free ruler you got when opening your first savings account as a child (80s!) and the Ben Sherman shirted Stags (00s!) All throw away sentences but oh so evocative of certain periods in time.
The recipes made my mouth water (hands up who is going to try the hollandaise?!) The descriptions, particularly the venison with beetroot were at times lyrical. This plus the liberal mentions of La Gavroche, The Savoy and Michelin stars make it perfect for foodie lovers or anyone who has ever watched Masterchef. Melvin is clearly someone who knows the industry well and you couldn't help at times wonder just how many of the anecdotes had actually happened....
In addition The Belle Hotel was a whose who in celebrity through the decades from the sublime to.......Peter Andre. Yet the underlying story of a man trying to find his place in the world was what underpinned it all and cemented it as a firm favourite for me.
It was feel good nostalgia, with meat, bones and plenty of salt. 'Better than a poke in the eye from an angry lobster', much better.
My thanks go to Unbound via Anne Cater's Random Things Through my Letterbox website for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks so much for this terrific blog tour support x
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