You don't have to be a foodie to enjoy this lightly romantic, often laughable look behind the scenes at a television cooking show. Couldn't be more contemporary although, of course, fictionalized by the busy pen of Mary Kay Andrews (Blue Christmas, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies, etc). Fans know that she delivers on-target often tongue-in-cheek looks at her characters and situations - fun listening and reading!
I thoroughly enjoyed Isabel Keating's narration of "Hissy Fit" and wrote, "...is a fun, thoroughly enjoyable listening experience." My response to Deep Dish is the same. Keating is an experienced stage actress and a Tony nominee for her role as Judy Garland in The Boy From Oz. Perfectly voicing aces chef Gina Foxton, she imbues her with equal parts southern charm, savvy, and spice.
Gina is an important chef, a prime preparer of southern foods, and has her own cooking show, "Fresh Start" on Georgia Public Television. She means the word "Fresh" literally, and is more than upset when someone provides what she calls a fake cheese for one of her filmings.
However, she soon has a great deal more to be upset about - her very popular show is canceled when the prime backer backs out (pun intended). Why? Because her boyfriend and the producer has been sleeping with the backer's wife. But Gina's not going to stew forever. She knows that the Cooking Channel is looking for a new face and a new star. She sets her chef's cap for that job and finds that the Channel can't decide between Gina and Tate Moody, a handsome hunk who hunts, fishes and has a show of his own - what else but "Vittles"? The Channel proposes a cook-off to choose the winner.
It will come as no surprise to Andrews's listeners/readers that more than spaghetti sauce begins to simmer in the kitchen and soon comes to a rolling boil with lots of merry mishaps and love among the ladles. Nonetheless, as is said, "Too many cooks spoil the broth," so who will be the winner?
Enjoy!
- Gail Cooke
