Robin Robertson’s memoir chronicles her bumpy ride from cooking in a biker bar in small-town Pennsylvania to chef de cuisine of an upscale French restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina.

Restaurant kitchens can harbor a world of temptations, pressures, addictions, and burnout—but there is also the creativity, satisfaction, friendships, and, of course, the food. Written with humor and honesty, her story shares the frustrations and rewards of life on (and off) the cooking line.

Woman in the Weeds delves into Robin’s private world—her unconventional marriage, impossible love affairs, ensnarement in drugs and alcohol, but mostly, her passion for cooking and how she eventually triumphed, both as a woman and as a chef. What began as a seven-year stretch working in restaurant kitchens, ultimately led her to a successful career as a vegan cookbook author.