Foodies with a hunger for juicy cooking-show competitions will eagerly lap up every last drop of Sadie on a Plate, Amanda Elliot's delicious rom-com.
Sadie Brooke Rosen--a saucy, 27-year-old chef in Seattle--has her up-and-coming career dismantled by her jealous boss and beau when the local media highlights her menu dishes, instead of his, in a feature about his restaurant. Suddenly unemployed and with her confidence shaken, Sadie is selected to compete on Chef Supreme, a popular reality TV show where chefs battle to win big money and national recognition.
On the plane bound for New York City, where the show is taped, Sadie meets handsome and charming Luke Weston. There is an instant chemistry between the two as they share passions for food and cooking. Sadie enjoys upscale presentations of Jewish foods; Luke leans toward Korean influences. Once in New York, they have dinner together and part ways--until the next day, when they learn they are both affiliated with Chef Supreme. Sadie is a contestant; Luke, a fill-in judge. Sadie, keeping their attraction secret, competes among talented chefs with distinct methods, personalities and quirks. Can she regain her confidence and rise to the top of the cut-throat pack?
Elliot writes thrillers and character-driven novels for middle-grade readers and young adults under the name Amanda Panitch (Never Missing, Never Found). In Sadie on a Plate, her first adult romantic comedy, detailed food descriptions, recipes and kitchen culture--along with a diverse cast--spice up a well-plotted story warmed with romance, humor and heart. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines