"Despite coming from a very culinarily talented family, my skills in the kitchen are mid at best. I make a mean quesadilla, and I can follow a boxed cake recipe pretty well, but my talents stop there. So you will probably not be shocked when I say I’m not usually one to buy a cookbook. That is, until I heard that Meredith Hayden, the internet-famous chef behind Wishbone Kitchen, was coming out with her own.
I started following Hayden’s Wishbone Kitchen account on TikTok a few years ago and was instantly obsessed. I loved her “Day in My Life as a Private Chef in the Hamptons” videos and drooled over the beautiful meals she made. As a day one fan, I jumped at the chance to order her cookbook so I could attempt to make these recipes in my own kitchen and pretend that I’m not the kind of girl who uses jarred garlic (a big no-no according to Hayden).
Ahead, I’m sharing my honest review of The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook and my experience making some of Hayden’s best-loved recipes.
About Meredith Hayden and Wishbone Kitchen
Hayden didn’t always plan on becoming everyone’s favorite internet chef. Back in 2019, she was juggling a full-time ad sales job at Vogue while attending culinary school at night. But when she got furloughed from her 9-to-5, she took it as a sign to go all in on her food dreams. She launched Wishbone Kitchen as a way to promote her private chef business while sharing recipes, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at her cooking gigs on Instagram, TikTok, and her website.
It wasn’t until one of Hayden’s DITL TikTok videos blew up that things really took off. Her chill energy, elevated-but-approachable meals, and soothing kitchen vibes hooked viewers (myself included), and her following grew fast. Suddenly, she was known for her Hamptons grocery hauls, quiet luxury pasta dishes, and love of Diet Coke.
My review of The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook
The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook is exactly what you’d expect if you’ve ever happened upon Hayden’s TikTok page. It’s effortlessly chic, a little cheeky, and filled with recipes that make you want to light a candle, pour a glass of wine, and romanticize your Tuesday night dinner. The cookbook covers a little bit of everything: party-ready apps, veggie-forward side dishes, surf and turf main courses, desserts, and even cocktails. I especially loved that Hayden included curated menus for everything from a birthday party to a summer clambake at the back. The whole book is also beautifully designed, with colorful illustrations and dreamy photography that made me want to book a trip to Round Swamp Farm ASAP (IYKYK).
The cookbook opens with a breakdown of essential kitchen tools and must-have ingredients, which I found helpful to know before diving into the recipe portion. To get a sense of this cookbook, I tested out three recipes: the iconic Boyfriend Roast Chicken with Pan-Sauce Potatoes (one of the meals Hayden is most known for), Olive Oil Cake with Peaches and Cream, and Boozy Blueberry Basil Lemonade.
The Boyfriend Roast Chicken was, hands down, the most involved dish I’ve ever cooked. It was also the best thing I’ve ever made, according to both me and my fiancé, making it worth the trouble and the burn I got while cooking. And now I totally understand why you don’t make that meal for just anyone—it’s a recipe best saved for guests you really want to impress. When it came to the olive oil cake, I worried whether it would turn out as good as the one I get from my favorite local restaurant, but the results lived up to my expectations without being too difficult to make. The cocktail was also simple to throw together (even with the extra step of making my own blueberry jam) and was tasty and refreshing.
Is The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook worth it?
While some dishes were a little advanced for my personal skill level and palate, the cookbook doesn’t take itself too seriously. I felt a little out of my depth at times—like when I didn’t know the difference between a saucepan and a pot or how to tell if something was “cooked until done”—but Hayden encourages readers to make mistakes and learn as you go. If you’re someone who loves a challenge, wants to level up your home cooking, or simply appreciates a well-styled meal, this cookbook is so worth a spot on your counter.
Christine Winder, Contributing Wellness Writer
Christine is a long-time reader turned contributing writer for the Everygirl. She has a BA in Communications from Roanoke College and lives with her two cats in Richmond, VA where she writes for several local publications.