'Inspiring, intrepid, and bold' - Bonnie Garmus, international bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
'Comforting and quietly empowering' - Melissa Hemsley, bestselling cookbook author
'Rachel Khoo shaped a path for chefs like me . . . She's an icon' - Ravneet Gill, chef and bestselling cookbook author
'A fascinating insight into finding a niche and building something meaningful. Rachel's writing is superb, her story inspiring' - Rukmini Iyer, international bestselling cookbook author
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It begins in a tiny bedsit near the Bastille. Newly arrived from London, Rachel Khoo is trying to make a life for herself in Paris, carrying a British, Chinese-Malaysian and Austrian background, while juggling odd jobs, culinary school and persistent doubts about where she belongs.
The book follows her years in the city: studying French patisserie, scraping by on short-term work, chasing food ideas and creative projects, and slowly finding confidence through trial, failure and curiosity. Almost without noticing, a series of small dinner parties in her flat plants the seed for what would later lead to her international bestselling cookbook and TV series, The Little Paris Kitchen.
Part memoir, part food writing, this illustrated book pairs personal stories of life in Paris with recipes inspired by the city, celebrating resilience, curiosity and the power of small beginnings.
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Arvustused
'Next time you wonder if you'll ever reach your goals, grab this book. Rachel Khoo is just like her recipes: inspiring, intrepid, and bold.'
- Bonnie Garmus, international bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
'A nourishing, honest memoir about trusting your instincts and letting small, brave choices lead the way. Rachel's story is comforting and quietly empowering.'
- Melissa Hemsley, bestselling author
'To say Rachel Khoo shaped a path for chefs like me is an understatement - she made it possible. She's an icon who carved out an entirely new space for cooks doing something a little different, and showed that there was room to do things your own way. I couldn't be more excited to pick this book up, sit back, and take it all in.'
- Ravneet Gill, chef and bestselling author
'A book to warm your heart and ignite your soul. This beautiful memoir deserves a place on every ambitious young woman's bookshelf.'
- Farah Storr MBE, Head of Substack International and former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan Uk and ELLE UK
'I couldn't put down Rachel's memoir on The Little Paris Kitchen. It's a fascinating insight into finding a niche and building something meaningful. Rachel's writing is superb, her story inspiring, with generous kitchen wisdom and recipes woven throughout.'
- Rukmini Iyer, bestselling author and food writer
'Rachel has always been a model to me as a TV chef and food writer. It's fascinating to read where it all began and to follow her inspiring journey. I couldn't help but smile at her first moments as an au pair in Paris, having done the opposite myself as a French au pair in London. A lovely reminder that anything is possible, and that good food always wins.'
- Manon Lagreve, food writer and content creator
'Rachel Khoo's memoir is a delicious tale of a young woman pursuing her passion for food and finding her creative path - the origin story of her iconic tiny Parisian restaurant. Equal parts fun and fabulous, it's peppered with useful recipes. Fascinating, colourful, and utterly moreish, I devoured it as I would one of Rachel's culinary creations.'
- Rosie Birkett, food writer
Muu info
Wednesday 17th June 2026 Honey and co studios, London
An author talk and Q & A
Join us on Wednesday 17th June for an evening with Rachel Khoo in honour of her memoir, The Smallest Restaurant in Paris. We'll serve light nibbles, have a conversation with Rachel, an audience Q & A and she'll sign copies of her book.
For tickets and more info click here:
https://geni.us/TSRP_events
Sunday 21st June 2026 La Cuisine Paris, Pairs
Join Rachel Khoo to celebrate the launch of The Smallest Restaurant in Paris at La Cuisine Paris, Sunday 21st June, 3.30 to 5pm, with a reading at 4pm.
https://geni.us/TSRP_events
Thursday 3rd December, 2026 Toppings, Bath
A thoroughly Parisian evening of French food and storytelling with The Little Paris Kitchen's Rachel Khoo.
https://geni.us/TSRP_events
Contents
1. Food for Thought
2. The Battle of Waterloo
3. Out of the Mouths of Babes
4. Loneliness, Language and Libraries
5. Ms Pronounciation and the Silent 'L'
6. The Date
7. Bien Cuit, Au Point or Bleu
8. When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Curd
9. My Knife in Shining Armour
10. Kitchen Dramas
11. Endgame
12. Summer's Silver Lining
13. Too Good to be True
14. Banlieue Blues
15. The Good Mixer
16. Walking in JC's Footsteps
17. Montmartre Macarons
18. La Cocotte
19. Les Pique-niques
20. Pimp My Cupcake
21. Downsizing to Belleville
22. My First Front Cover
23. My Doughnut Daze
24. Greed is Good
25. Muesli Mayhem
26. The Sound of Beirut
27. La Vie en Rose
28. Jammy Days and Sticky Situations
29. Turning Thirty
30. Finding my USP
31. A Little Paris Preview
32. La Piece de la Resistance
List of Recipes
Author's Note
Remerciements
Rachel Khoo is a Sunday Times bestselling British cook, author and broadcaster whose Malaysian-Chinese and Austrian heritage informs her inventive, design-led approach to food and storytelling. Her creative work spans television, books, brand collaborations and digital media, including series for the BBC, Food Network and Netflix. Her television work also includes judging roles on programmes such as The Great Australian Bake Off and Great British Menu.
She is the author of six books, translated into fourteen languages, and first gained global recognition with The Little Paris Kitchen, inspired by the one-table restaurant she ran from her tiny Paris flat. Born in South London, Rachel now divides her time between London and Sweden, where she lives with her children.
