Rottenkid
A Succulent Story of Survival
by Brigit Binns
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Pub Date Mar 05 2024 | Archive Date Mar 04 2024
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Description
A memoir sauteed in Hollywood stories, world travel, and always, the need to belong
Prolific cookbook author Brigit Binns’ coming-of-age memoir—co-starring her alcoholic actor father Edward Binns and glamorous but viciously smart narcissistic mother—reveals how simultaneous privilege and profound neglect lead Brigit to seek comfort in the kitchen, eventually allowing her to find some sense of self-worth.
In the old Hollywood of her childhood, Brigit seems to live in an elite world. But when her parents eventually divorce—her father flees and her mother sends her off to boarding school so she can more easily conduct her decades-long romance with a married California governor—Brigit racks up seven schools and a host of bad decisions before the age of 16.
Marriage to an Englishman takes her across the pond and to professional cooking school. But when that life comes crashing down, she returns heartbroken and alone to Los Angeles eighteen years after vowing never to return. Here she thrives, cold pitching herself to top chefs as co author for their cookbooks. Peppered with humor and seasoned with optimism, Brigit’s story is an entertaining tribute to female resilience.
Advance Praise
“A brave, delicious, and often darkly funny tale of growing up in the Hollywood of the 60’s and 70's, Rottenkid is Brigit’s story of breaking free from parental disapproval and finding herself. I loved reading this deftly crafted, insightful memoir by my childhood friend.” —Cecilia Peck, Emmy-nominated filmmaker; daughter of Gregory Peck
"There’s no shortage of childhood trauma on display in Brigit Binns’ disarmingly honest Rottenkid. But with the knowledge that the author scripted, of all things, a Hollywood ending for herself, we’re able to enjoy the gallows humor and novelist’s eye for telling detail that enliven every page. For all its celebrity cameos (Henry Fonda! Fred Astaire!) and privileged settings (including a memorable stretch at boarding school), at its core, this is the story of a search for self amid the ruins of a lavishly dysfunctional family. You don’t have to be a Coppola to relate.” —Andrew Friedman, author The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food, and Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: How Food Lovers, Free Spirits, Misfits and Wanderers Created a New American Profession
“Brigit Binns has written a powerful memoir of a childhood of Hollywood privilege among the offspring of other household names in competition with her father’s bottle and a wicked mother right out of Disney. 'Born with a silver spoon in my mouth and a knife in my back,' somehow her precocious, painful, and randy youth led her to a life of sophistication as she waded through ill-fitting men and learned how to cook. She has gone on to author numerous cookbooks that I count as indispensable. What a tasty read.” —“Meathead” Goldwyn, Hedonism Evangelist and BBW Whisperer and author of NY Times bestseller Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling, and proprietor of the world’s most popular BBQ and grilling website, AmazingRibs.com
Praise for The Relaxed Kitchen: How To Entertain with Casual Elegance and Never Lose Your Mind, Incinerate the Souffle, or Murder the Guests
“It’s a trip around the world. It’s a trip through life. Not only will The Relaxed Kitchen alter the way you cook, it may just alter the way you think—about food and about you. Don’t miss this one!” —Linda Ellerbee, author of Take Big Bites: Adventures Around the World and Across the Table
“The Relaxed Kitchen opens with a promise, and then keeps it: Using this cookbook, you will enjoy your kitchen and culinary life with friends a lot more, and so will they!” —Jeremiah Tower, author of California Dish: What I Saw (and Cooked) at the American Culinary Revolution
Marketing Plan
- National Media Campaign with focus on Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago markets. (Author has appeared on The Today Show three times.)
- California Winery Circuit Tour in Central California, Sonoma and Napa Counties with bookstore partners
- Binge Screening Nights of the classic Hollywood movies in which Brigit’s father, actor Edward Binns, appeared — Patton, The Verdict, Failsafe, and Twelve Angry Men—to take place at retro theater sites with Brigit as emcee and Rottenkid readings
- Book Trailer available
- Trade Reviews and Trade Advertising
- Featured title at Winter Institute February 2024
- Social Media campaigns, including advertising support for bookstore partner events
- Confirmed magazine feature stories in Edible San Luis Obispo, 805 Living, interview in Chicago Tribune, with more pending
- Podcasts and Book Club appearances
- Events at book and cookbook stores
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781960573995 |
| PRICE | $19.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Poppy M, Librarian
Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************
A memoir sauteed in Hollywood stories, world travel, and always, the need to belong
Prolific cookbook author Brigit Binns’ coming-of-age memoir—co-starring her alcoholic actor father Edward Binns and glamorous but viciously smart narcissistic mother—reveals how simultaneous privilege and profound neglect lead Brigit to seek comfort in the kitchen, eventually allowing her to find some sense of self-worth.
In the old Hollywood of her childhood, Brigit seems to live in an elite world. But when her parents eventually divorce—her father flees and her mother sends her off to boarding school so she can more easily conduct her decades-long romance with a married California governor—Brigit racks up seven schools and a host of bad decisions before the age of 16.
Marriage to an Englishman takes her across the pond and to professional cooking school. But when that life comes crashing down, she returns heartbroken and alone to Los Angeles eighteen years after vowing never to return. Here she thrives, cold pitching herself to top chefs as co-author for their cookbooks. Peppered with humour and seasoned with optimism, Brigit’s story is an entertaining tribute to female resilience.
Brigit has certainly lived an interesting life … and to be honest, I am amazed that she survived her parents. I thoroughly enjoyed her story and by looking her up I can see that I have read most of her cookbooks but never dreamt what her back story would be.
Utterly delicious book – highly recommended to lovers of food, biographies and resilient women.
#shortbutsweetreviews
Tammy B, Reviewer
I am not generally fond of memoirs. But this one, a poor-little-rich-girl variation, coming on the heels of Rob Henderson’s actual poor-boy memoir, Troubled, seemed too ideal of a bookend to that book for me to ignore. Binns had every possible privilege except that of loving and involved parents and it turns out, unsurprisingly, that no amount of privilege can really make up for that vital lack. Somewhat fluffy, but well written and interesting, with a happy ending and lots of name-dropping to add to the fun, Binns avoided the navel-gazing that makes me dislike memoirs so much.
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