The Ungarnished Truth: A Cooking Contest Memoir

(Paperback)

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A woman, a chicken dinner, a million dollars-and a romp through the heartland of America's competitive cooking culture. When Ellie Mathews entered her Salsa Couscous Chicken in the venerable Pillsbury Bake-Off, she never imagined she'd win the grand prize. Immediately after Alex Trebek announced that her dish had won a million dollars, she was thrown into the limelight. Booked with Oprah and Rosie-even photographed for the New York Times in a vest made of ostrich feathers-she instantly became the reigning queen of chickendom, the Pillsbury "It Girl" of the moment. With a dash of self-deprecating humor and a pinch of biting social commentary, Ellie takes readers on her roller coaster ride to the top of the food chain as the Pillsbury prizewinner. As a cooking contest insider, she goes behind the counter and beyond the aprons and oven mitts to reveal a fascinating slice of Americana.

Reviews

"A page-turner."
-Seattle Post- Intelligencer

"Enthusiastic and sharp."
-Kirkus Reviews

"With graceful writing, Mathews takes us behind the scenes at the Bake-Off."
-Minneapolis Star Tribune