My kingdom for a cooking competition romance!!!

Sadie on a Plate wasn’t what I was expecting but I mean that in the best way possible. A very Grey’s Anatomy setup where Sadie hits it off with a young man on her way to the set for the cooking competition TV show she’s competing in, only to find out that he’s one of the judges? YES. GIVE ME THE DRAMA.

Fighting to represent Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine in a new light while encouraging said judge to embrace his Korean background in his own cooking? I NEEDED MORE RECIPES.

A hero that throws himself under the bus so that she can thrive (after getting caught making out in a kitchen on camera)? WE STAN A GRAND GESTURE.

This book put a smile on my face and hunger in my belly. WHERE ARE THE RECIPES?!?

Thank you so much @BerkleyRomance & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 15 March 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Sadie is a chef who has made a name for herself creating Jewish-inspired recipes with her own special twist. She jumps at the opportunity to partake in a super popular cooking competition (Chef Supreme) & on the way there she finds herself sat next to another chef on the plane who may or may not be in the competition too.

WHAT I LIKED:
- all of the food descriptions (& cultural diversity in the recipes was top notch)
- the behind the scenes into the making of a cooking competition
- Sadie's relationship with the other contestants was the highlight of this story

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the story focused more on the cooking competition than on the actual romance
- there are very few scenes of Sadie & Luke together so I really struggled to understand their chemistry or root for them as a couple
- so much self-sabotaging for the sake of adding drama & obstacles to a not that great romance to begin with

Really enjoyed this book and the behind the scenes peek at a reality cooking show. The characters, friendships, and romance all rang very true and I'll definitely be recommending this book to my romance readers.

3.5⭐️
You know I can’t turn down a cooking show book!!
This was fun, flirty, great Jewish rep - all mixed together with a Top Chef style cooking competition and it turned out so delish! I loved Sadie’s journey - it definitely had a womens fic vibe. Loved the touch of forbidden romance. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I would have like a tad less cooking details and more focus on the romance!
Overall, a great adult debut!

I adore foodie books and especially when they are mixed with romance. This was a really sweet lighthearted read. I loved the characters, really enjoyed all of the different types of food, particularly those from other cultures. I felt that the representation of women in the food industry was really well done. This was a really fun light read and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

This book was a highly engaging and fun read! I adored the protagonist and all the descriptions of food made my mouth water. I will certainly be recommended this book to others to read.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for my gifted copy of Sadie on a Plate. This book was delightful!

Sadie has been broken up with and let go from her job when she gets a call for the cooking show of her dreams. Sadie becomes one of the twelve contestants fighting to be crowned Chef Supreme. On the flight to New York, Sadie chats with a handsome stranger only to find out he’s one of the judges on the show and they can’t have a relationship.

I love reading about a cooking show! The friendships and rivalries that form, the recipes and challenges they take on, they’re so much fun! I loved learning more about Sadie’s Jewish heritage and how her recipes represented her and her family. I loved the sweet moments with Sadie and Luke. I loved the friendship that developed with Kaitlyn and Sadie and especially loved the ending!

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/03/24/sadie-on-a-plate-by-amanda-elliot/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I thought I was going to have trouble after only reading the first page two nights in a row, but the third night I started a little earlier and voila, finished at 4am!   Sadie on a Plate was easy and fun to read.   The main character has a confidence break after getting dumped and fired by her chef boss.  She applies to Chef Supreme, not believing she would really get accepted but she does. On the plane, she meets a great guy named Luke and they go eat before she turns up at the contest.

I loved this cooking show plot.  It had the crazy, weird people that the shows always do.  Sadie hopes to get to the final four to have great restaurants or investors interested in her.  She isn't sure she has a shot but she hangs in there.  Of course she has some issues.  Various contestants, including Sadie,  run out of time to finish a dish, make a bad choice when creating a recipe, and burn or drop their food.

I couldn't stop reading.  The people, the relationships, and the food all appealed to me.  Sadie goes through some real personal growth and learns to believe in herself and also not to view others negatively.  There are both good and bad people in the world and it's surprisingly what happens when you get to really know someone.

Sadie on the Plate is perfection.

The protagonist is relatable.
The reality TV setup structure.
The Jewish food. 🍲😌 I’m here dreaming of my aunt Shira’s Matzah Ball soup!

The characters are fun and well developed. The love interest isn’t the entire plot, but just a part of it, which I like. I like the focus on Sadie and her cooking and her character growth.

I can already tell this is going to be a favorite of the year. I am fully planning to buy physical copies of this book to gift to everyone I know. A must read, for sure!

I think we have discussed my love of cooking books with romance in them before right? Add in a competition element and you are sure to win both mine (and other readers) hearts.

I loved this book.

Spoilers ahead: I don’t know that I would categorize it as a romance or a romcom, and I think it’s more of a women’s fiction novel, but it is very very good. Don’t get me wrong, there *is* a romantic interest, and there is romance but it is secondary to Sadie falling in love with herself.

Sadie is a disaster bisexual chef who gets blacklisted when her boss spitefully dumps her and fires her at the same time. In a lucky turn of events, Sadie auditioned for and is accepted onto a cooking show where she will debut her unique style of modern Ashkenazi Jewish cooking. That’s right, we’ve got a 🫧bisexual Jewish protagonist!🫧

On the plane from Seattle to the competition house in Astoria, Queens, she’s seated with a half-Korean hottie named Luke and sparks fly. After they land, Luke takes her on an impromptu date nearby the show house, and they share a world shaking kiss.

Sadie meets her competition, and over the course of the challenges, finds her voice above the insecurities plaguing her soul, above the misogyny in the cooking world, and her voice as a modern Jewish chef. The other competitors are another bisexual chef, her frenemy Kaitlyn, and a non-binary person Kel, as well as four men named Joe. The competition and the food dishes feel real (or as real as a person who watches GBBO and Top Chef understands it to be real), and I couldn’t put it down once they really got into it.

HUGE SPOILER: Luke is one of the judges 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

There’s a lot of mutual pining. I’m not going to say anything more on it, except that it’s just the right amount of pining for a contestant and a judge, and that @amandapanitch managed to make matzah brie somewhat sexy. Put it into my veins, please!

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC, this was everything I wanted and more.

4.5/5 stars

Sadie on a Plate is the author's debut adult novel. It is a fun romantic comedy that has amazing Jewish representation.

I am Jewish and am the biggest Top Chef fan around. So this book could not have been more perfect for me.

Sadie is a 27 year old Jewish chef living in Seattle. She is such an amazing heroine. I absolutely adored her.

The story focuses a lot on a Top Chef type competition. And I was obsessed with absolutely everything about this part of the story.

Sadie's cooking style is Jewish cuisine with a twist. And I thought that this was incredible. The Jewish representation in this book was amazing.

The book is so funny. But due to the circumstances the romance aspect is not the main focus of the book. However I still loved everything about it.

I have not enjoyed a book this much in a while. And I absolutely cannot wait to read the author's next Berkley Romance book titled Best Served Hot, coming out in 2023.

[Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for my gifted e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions reflected are my own]

Synopsis:
Sadie is a Chef on the rise in the Seattle scene, making a name for herself by creating delicious Jewish-inspired recipes, with her own special twist. She is currently unemployed and feeling down, when she gets a call from a show that is *most definitely not* Top Chef to join this season's contestants. On her flight out to the show, she ends up sitting next to another Chef, who may or may not also be competing. They both skirt around the topic and even watch a few episodes of "Chef Supreme" together during the flight. The kitchen isn't the only thing heating up... but what is this mysterious stranger's true identity? I devoured this romance in single sitting, and was left hungry for more Amanda Elliot!

Review:
This book is tasty, delicious fun! I loved all of the recipe ideas, it definitely makes you hungry as you read! If you are an aspiring chef or home chef, you'll love all the foodie mentions - however, it inspired me to want to go out to a fancy restaurant (not much of a cook). The romance is sweet and a tad spicy, and there are a few surprises around each corner - which I thoroughly enjoyed. It wasn't overly predictable, and was so much fun!

Tropes:
- Forbidden Love
- A Dash of Enemies to Lovers

I am such a Top Chef super fan and I just loved this! I read other reviews stating this wasn't heavy on the romance and I agree - that helped me taper my expectations for this one and I really enjoyed it! So fun.

Warning… reading Sadie on a Plate will make you extremely hungry. 🤤

Sadie is a chef who has a a shot on the big reality cooking show Chef Supreme. On her way to NYC for filming she meets a fellow food enthusiast. They share a wonderful day before she heads into seclusion for filming. To her surprise her date turns out to be a judge.

I really enjoyed Sadie’s characters. Her banter had me cracking up. This story is mostly about Sadie’s journey from a meek/timid chef to a confident chef capable of running her own restaurant. I enjoyed her growth throughout the story. Heads up there is minimal romance. Would recommend this one if you love reality shows and great food!

I loved this one so much! I loved the delicious Jewish fusion recipes and the high stakes competition. The romance felt like a sweet side plot and I loved it. Very satisfying! Recommended!!

there's too much words that aren't necessary. i'm 50% in and i am NOT feeling it. i can't relate to the characters. i'm so sad.

Sadie on a Plate is Amanda Elliot’s debut adult romance novel and it is an absolute delight. It follows Sadie who is making a name for herself as a rising star in Seattle’s culinary world. That is, until a very public breakup with her famous chef boyfriend gets her blacklisted from pretty much every restaurant in the area. When we meet Sadie, she is sure her career is over and is reeling from the loss until a stroke of good fortune lands in her lap – she has been chosen for a coveted spot on the next season of the popular reality TV show, Chef Supreme. If Sadie can perform well in this competition, she can get her career back on track.

I love a good underdog story so I was rooting for Sadie to kick butt in this competition. Sadie is smart, sweet, talented, and resilient and I just really wanted her to prove everyone wrong since there have been some folks in her life who don’t think she has what it takes to succeed. I was also rooting for her to hit it off with Luke, the sexy seatmate she meets on her cross-country flight, because she deserves someone better in her life than her ex. Even though Sadie and Luke have major chemistry, however, there’s one major obstacle to any possibility of a happily ever after for them. When Sadie arrives at the Chef Supreme studios, she learns that Luke is actually one of the judges so he is off limits unless she wants to be disqualified.

While I really enjoyed the forbidden love element of their relationship because it added drama and suspense, not to mention longing looks from afar, the romance does not take center stage in this story. Instead, it bookends the main focus of the story, which is actually the competition itself. If you enjoy reality TV cooking shows like Top Chef, you are sure to enjoy the competition scenes in this book. Between the delectable descriptions of each dish Sadie and her fellow competitors created, to the tense competitive atmosphere, it truly felt like I was watching a cooking competition. The entire cast of secondary characters was great, but I most enjoyed following Sadie as she came up with so many creative ways to show that Jewish cuisine is so much more than just latkes and pastrami. By the end, she had me wishing she really did have a restaurant where I could partake of her delicious sounding creations.

I would have liked a little more focus on the romance, but honestly, watching Sadie come into her own and grow both on a personal level and as a chef was more than enough for me. I would highly recommend Sadie on a Plate to anyone who enjoys a good underdog story with a side of romance and to fans of reality TV cooking shows.

DNF'd this one at 30%. I was really interested in the premise and it sounded like it'd be up my alley, but I just couldn't connect with the voice. The pacing felt a little too off and the first date had no chemistry between the love interests. I was especially hoping for more tension between the love interests once he became a judge but it just wasn't there for me sadly.

If you are a fan of TOP CHEF this book is for you. This book was just so good. The romance was a minor plot but the story worked as is.