Flavor of the Week

Author: Tucker Shaw

Rose considers Cyril a true friend, but that’s as far as it goes. Cyril wishes for a romantic relationship with her, but he knows he has no chance because of his weight. His weight is also the reason he never tells anyone about his genius for cooking. He can just imagine the teasing he would get at school, so he pretends his mother is the great cook.
Nick, an old friend of Cyril’s, moves back in next door after several years away. Cyril is glad to have him back—Nick doesn’t care about Cyril’s weight, and never treated him like “the fat kid”. Nick was always hopeless in a kitchen, and he is at Cyril’s almost every day, tasting his latest creation.
Nick is very good-looking, and Rose is very attracted to him even the first time she sees him. Of course, Nick in turn is smitten with Rose. When Nick figures out that the way to Rose’s heart is through great (vegetarian) food, he realizes he has no chance with her unless Cyril is willing to cook behind the scenes and let him take the credit.

Each chapter finishes with a recipe for something that Cyril makes in the book. The recipes are not too complicated, and all of the instructions are given in Cyril’s voice. His personality and state of mind come through, especially at the end of the chapter where he auditions for culinary school.
The basic story is that of Cyrano de Bergerac, but reframed around cooking instead of eloquent words, and with a weight problem taking the place of the prominent nose. This is an interesting twist, and hits close to home for many teens.