Kapi'olani Community College graduate Adina Guest, now working at the French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, Calif., is featured in a new book, "Knives at Dawn" (Free Press, hardback, $26), about the prestigious 2009 Bocuse d'Or culinary competition in Lyon, France.

New York writer Andrew Friedman followed the U.S. team of French Laundry chef de cuisine Timothy Hollingsworth and commis (helper) Guest throughout their preparation for and participation in the Bocuse d'Or, the world's most prestigious cooking competition. Participating chefs are rigorously scored not only on how food tastes but on how it looks and on their skills and kitchen savvy.
Guest's mentor, KCC chef-instructor Frank Leake, is quoted in the book and Friedman paints a portrait of a quiet, hardworking, committed young culinarian. Legendary chef Paul Bocuse is quoted as praising her, saying that if the team won, she should get half the prize.
Hollingsworth and Guest beat out several American teams, including one headed by "Top Chef" contestant Hung Huynh, to win the right to represent the U.S. at the Bocuse, which has never been won by an American. They came in a disappointing sixth.