The Girl Who Became King

“We have known and loved Melissa King, the chef, for years, but in this no-holds-barred memoir, we finally meet Melissa King, the person, with layers of heartbreak, fears, joys and triumphs that make her the singular force of nature that she is today. Essential reading for any modern-day foodie.”—Edward Lee, chef, finalist on Culinary Class Wars, and author of Bourbon Land “The Girl Who Became King is a must-read for anyone pursuing their dreams. What stayed with me is how honestly Melissa King traces her journey: the pressure, the contradictions, the quiet negotiations between who you’re expected to be and who you know you are. Through her food, King expresses the courage it takes to choose yourself, but she’s really doing something larger: She’s telling the story of becoming. This book is a reminder that there’s no single way to do that—only the act of doing it, of creating something true in whatever language or medium we have. And right now, that feels more important than ever.”—Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and author of Viewfinder “The Girl Who Became King is not only a chronicle of humble beginnings and big dreams. It’s an immigrant story, a story of finding your particular identity as a queer woman, insisting on who you are while still holding grace for the imperfect people who love you. A joy to read. One can’t help but root and cheer for our chef King.”—Padma Lakshmi, New York Times bestselling author of Love, Loss, and What We Ate