Friday 11 August 2017

Book ~ "I Hear She's a Real Bitch" (2017) Jen Agg

From Goodreads ~ A sharp and candid memoir from a star in the restaurant world and an up-and-coming literary voice. Toronto restaurateur Jen Agg, the woman behind the popular The Black Hoof, Cocktail Bar, Rhum Corner and Agrikol restaurants, is known for her frank, crystal-sharp and often hilarious observations and ideas on the restaurant industry and the world around her. 

"I Hear She's a Real Bitch", Jen Agg's first book, is caustic yet intimate, and wryly observant; an unforgettable glimpse into the life of one of the most interesting, smart, trail-blazing voices of this moment. 

The Black Hoof, Cocktail Bar and Rhum Corner are about a twenty minute walk northeast from me.  I like rum and have walked by the Rhum Corner to check it out but I seem to pick the wrong times because it's been closed when I've gone by.  I'll get there eventually.

Jen Agg is the owner of these bars/restaurants (along with two others) and this is her story.  The book starts with her childhood in Scarborough, working in restaurants and bars for others, realizing her dream of opening her own bar (Cobalt on College Street) but closing it due to a bankruptcy, meeting and marrying her second husband and designing and opening more bars/restaurants.

I liked the writing style.  I found the author honest and open about her experiences.  It was interesting reading about all that is involved in deciding to open a bar and/or restaurant, creating and designing it, running it and the personalities involved.  There is no doubt about the passion the author has about the bar and restaurant industry and her establishments.

The author has a mouth and she's not afraid to use it (and there's nothing wrong with that).  I think you'd either like her or you wouldn't ... and she couldn't care less.  As a head's up, there is swearing (she likes to use the F-bomb frequently) and TMI about the author's sexual activities that goes beyond information about the restaurant industry.

It would have been nice to have more pictures of her restaurants, some of the dishes and drinks offered, etc.

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