"The Little Black Apron" is a little bit "Sex and the City," a little bit Gourmet magazine and a little bit Rachael Ray. It's a little bit naughty, quite sassy and often wickedly funny. Metaphors generously sprinkled throughout the new "single girl's guide to cooking with style and grace" relate to clothing, sex, boyfriends and accessories.

The trio behind this thoroughly-modern-Martha handbook includes Melissa Gibson, who grew up in Nu'uanu. Her father, attorney Michael Gibson, is sixth-generation local, making Melissa the seventh. The Punahou graduate (class of '96) got her literary start writing poetry for the school's literary magazine, Ka Wai Ola.

Before settling down in San Francisco, Gibson globe-trotted, and lived and worked in Mexico and Los Angeles, in the film industry and the accessories business. Now she does creative (not to mention off-the-wall) advertising writing for DINE The Food & Drink Agency in San Francisco. Clients she has worked with include Green Giant, La Brea Bakery and Columbus Salame.

Her mother, Lisa Gibson, president of the Hawai'i Science & Technology Council, is not at all surprised by the turn her daughter's career path has taken: "She's an outstanding storyteller and natural entertainer, and she's translated that into her writing," Lisa Gibson said. "She knows her audience, she's got the energy and vision, she's a natural marketer — she's got it nailed."

THE NESTING INSTINCT

That audience is the 20- or 30-something young woman who grew up not knowing the first thing about cooking. Now she's on her own, with a demanding job, and she recognizes that some day she may want to be (or at least appear to be) a bit more domesticated, particularly in the kitchen. But where to begin?

Gibson co-wrote "The Little Black Apron" with Jodi Citrin, a New York nutritionist and nutrition correspondent for "Good Morning America," and Katie Nuanes, a chef who now lives in Orange County but honed her culinary skills at the seminal Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. Citrin was Gibson's roommate at Duke University; Nuanes a friend she met in a bar in San Francisco.

QUICK COLLABORATION

Gibson and Citrin came up with the idea and title in one night and an outline was completed within a week. The next week a publisher bought the book concept and asked for the first draft in four months.

The tricoastal trio collaborated on and wrote the entire 300-page book via e-mail. "A testament to a long-distance relationship," Gibson quipped, adding "you can write 10 pages in one day if you just sit down and do it."

The co-authors are their own best clients. Nuanes' mother never cooked; she brought home takeout every night. Citrin and Gibson had mothers who cooked but were so busy with careers that they didn't always have time to teach their daughters how to manage matters in the kitchen.

"A lot of girls don't know how to boil water," Gibson said. "We all grew up being pushed into being intellectually curious and groomed in careers. But then at some point it dawns on us that we want to be domestic some day; we want to make a wonderful meal. It's part of the nesting instinct."

START OF A FRANCHISE?

Although Citrin provides interesting nutritional facts, calories are not counted in "The Little Black Apron." Rather, portion sizes are emphasized as a way to keep healthy and trim.

Each recipe has a list of nutrients contained in the foods. There is also a list of cooking accessories. Chicken enchiladas, for example, require a chef's knife, wooden spoon, grater, 7-inch saute pan, saucepan and loaf pan or small baking dish.

Recipes are followed by "Quickies," tips to help the kitchen neophyte navigate the supermarket spice aisle, cut up a pineapple or freeze leftovers. Alternative ingredients are also sprinkled throughout.

"The Little Black Apron" could be the beginning of a franchise. The three co-authors have already trademarked the name to attach to a line of cookware (beginning with an adorable black apron with pink embroidery), a TV concept and a magazine.

They are angling for interviews on "Good Morning America" and, naturally, every author's dream, an interview with Oprah. With Citrin already appearing on "Good Morning America," and old college connections with the folks at Oprah, these possibilities aren't just dreams.

All three partners in "The Little Black Apron" will be in Honolulu for a launch party for the book on Dec. 27 at the W Hotel. They will also have book signings throughout O'ahu. Stay tuned.

TIPS FROM "THE LITTLE BLACK APRON"