Sadie is a rising star and dreams of owning her own restaurant where she’ll have modern takes on Jewish cuisine. But when she gets fired after a public breakup with her boss, she thinks her dream is over - until she gets a spot on a TV show, Chef Supreme. On her way to start filming, Sadie meets Luke and sparks fly. She promises she’ll contact him once filming is over, only to see Luke the next day when she gets to set. Will Sadie be able to ignore her chemistry with Luke to save her career and make her dream a reality?

Sadie on a Plate focuses on the cooking competition aspect with a pinch of romance. As someone that loves both of those things, I really enjoyed this. I loved all of the food descriptions and how the competitors were able to add their own personalities to their food. I loved Sadie and Luke’s characters and the way that they supported each other.

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:
“Sadie is a rising star in the trendy Seattle restaurant scene. Her dream is to create unique, modern, and mouthwatering takes on traditional Jewish recipes. But after a public breakup with her boss, a famous chef, she is sure her career is over--until she lands a coveted spot on the next season of her favorite TV show, Chef Supreme.
On the plane to New York, Sadie has sizzling chemistry with her seatmate, Luke, but tells him that she won't be able to contact him for the next six weeks. They prolong their night with a spontaneous, magical dinner before parting ways. Or so she thinks. When she turns up to set the next day, she makes a shocking discovery about who Luke is....”

I loved this book, it’s so much fun and I was sorry when it ended. The premise is great and all the characters are so well done. The chef competition Chef Supreme is clearly (same challenges with different names) based on Top Chef, which is one of my favorite shows. I really enjoyed reading about the competition cooking and the behind the scenes look at a competition cooking show.

Sadie and Luke have great chemistry that is obvious from the first time they meet, and Sadie has a hard time concentrating when he’s around. Can they overcome some obstacles and finally be together?
I happily recommend this book, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sadie on a Plate is an adorable and funny story of one women’s journey on a cooking completion and, unintentionally, finding love along the way. There are tons of mouth-watering food descriptions and a hilarious, sarcastic heroine that you can’t help fall in love with. I loved Sadie from the beginning and it was so great to see how her Jewish culture influenced her journey and the dishes she created.

Sadie’s life and the cooking competition take center stage here and all the fun hijinx that come with that. The romance does not take center stage and is closed-door, so I wouldn’t recommend it to those who prefer more focus on romance and steam. With that said, it has tons of charged moments where you can definitely feel the chemistry between Sadie and Luke. And, once the HOA finally arrives, it’s absolutely swoon-worthy!

I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Amanda Elliot in the future!

Thank you so much to Berkley for providing me with an eARC of Sadie on a Plate in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really loved this debut romcom between Sadie, a reality tv cooking competition contestant and Luc, one of the judges. Sadie is Jewish and wants to open her own restaurant featuring Jewish inspired foods. She meets Luc on the plane to NYC where the two really hit it off not realizing he's going to be a judge on the show.

What follows is soooo many amazing recipes, lots of new friendships and a slow burn, forbidden romance between two foodies. Perfect for fans of Master Chef or books like Love and other disasters and great on audio narrated by Emily Lawrence. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Available now, you definitely want to add this one to your TBR!!

Steam rating: kissing only

This was such a fun & entertaining read! I was hooked literally from the first sentence. “My life has this irritating habit of throwing its biggest changes at me while I’m completely in the nude.” This novel had me laughing and smiling from ear to ear! I appreciate the AMAZING Jewish rep given throughout the entire novel, as well as the diverse characters.
The storyline was focused more around the cooking competition & the romance was a little more light. There is also a big focus on Sadie’s personal life, her career, and the journey she is taking on self discovery.
I loved how I really felt as if I was going through the journey along with her & the way I connected to her character.

After being called to participate in a cooking competition called “Chef Supreme”, Sadie leaves Seattle and makes her way to NYC. On the plane she meets Luke who she has an instant connection & great chemistry with. After landing, they unexpectedly share an amazing dinner together, & have a great time. Sadie has no idea of the great surprise she’s in for the next morning. That is when she finds out Luke is a judge on Chef Supreme. She made a decision to go to NYC for a fresh start & has to focus on what’s more important for her in the moment. & That is giving her all and winning this competition. (Without anyone finding out her true feelings for Luke of course.)

Sadie on a Plate taught me about self discovery, & believing in yourself. Overall I absolutely loved it and recommend if you’re a fan of cooking competition TV shows, & light rom-com.

You can expect:
* Based in NYC & Seattle
* Great Jewish Rep
* Mouth Watering Foods
* Cooking Competition TV Show
* Forbidden Love
* Closed Door Romance
* Sarcastic Hot Mess Heroine
* Sizzling Drama

Sadie has been cooking her way to the top at a popular restaurant in her hometown of Seattle. After a breakup with her boss–and famous chef– she’s scrambling to find footing in the restaurant scene she loves so much. She’d love to jump in to follow her dream of having a space to create her take on traditional Jewish recipes–but that takes more resources than what she currently has.

When Sadie’s offered a spot on her favorite reality cooking TV show–Chef Supreme– she’s determined to make it far enough to make a name for herself. On her flight to start filming in NYC, Sadie really hits it off with her seatmate, a fellow chef. They share a cozy, romantic dinner together before parting ways, but it turns out Sadie won’t have to wait six weeks to see Luke again.

Sadie goes all in for Chef Supreme, cooking her heart out for hours and hours every day. She’s been able to cook exactly what she wants and her dreams are so close she can almost taste them, and she’s determined not to get distracted by Luke.

The book is billed as a rom-com, but even if your appetite for romance books is indifferent at best, I think you’ll still enjoy this book! At least 70-80 percent of the story is focused on all the happenings of the show. This book was so atmospheric- I feel like after reading several others in a similar vein–aka reality cooking trope–this really hit the spot in terms of everything I wanted and needed from this specific niche. I truly felt like I was right there in the kitchen for almost the entirety of the book. The high stakes were palpable throughout the pages, and I loved the adrenaline rush of being both behind the scenes and on camera with Sadie and the rest of the crew. The food prep, execution, and presentation will satiate even the pickiest of eaters. I mean readers.

If I had to critique anything (which took nothing away from how much I loved the book!), I wish that Sadie maybe had to truly deal with a consequence or two. I feel like there was definitely a little more space for some growth to happen.

Back to the gushing... The secondary characters are SO good. There are the four Joes, Nia, Kaitlyn, and my personal favorite, Kel. Kel’s cooking style is “upscale Appalachian” and I was so here for the delectable dishes they created (my mouth was watering extra hard at the mention of ramps –it’s so close to ramp season here– and also chow chow, which is a staple in my own fridge.) I love that they each chose different parts of their backgrounds (not necessarily culturally) to infuse into their dishes. Sadie especially had fun experimenting with a ton of different Jewish dishes, including those from Jewish diaspora from all over the world. The challenges, the twists, the contestants-- whole competition aspect was executed so perfectly here!

Finally, another favorite part was (the late) Grandma Ruth. I pictured her as a tiny little old woman on Sadie’s shoulder every time she heard her “voice”. Those were some of the cutest conversations. This was just overall a really well written, fun, and entertaining story that was easy to digest! I loved the sneak peek included for Amanda’s next book, which I’ll definitely be checking out. Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an eARC of Sadie on a Plate.

Sadie on a Plate by Amanda Elliot was a fun and heartwarming book full of lovable characters and delectable food descriptions!

Sadie is a talented chef who thrives on creating unique and modern dishes inspired by traditional Jewish cuisine. When she lands a spot on the next season of her favorite cooking show, Chef Supreme, she feels like her dreams of owning her own restaurant are about to come true!

I felt like I got a behind the scenes glimpse into a cooking competition show! I loved how the contestants incorporated different cultures in their cooking and came up with creative and mouthwatering dishes. Of course, I was rooting for Sadie to win the competition! She was quirky, witty, and passionate, and I enjoyed reading about her Jewish heritage and what it meant to her. I would definitely eat her matzah ball ramen! I also adored Sadie’s love interest, Luke! I was expecting the romance to be a main dish rather than a side, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of this delightfully charming and feel-good read!

Sadie on a Plate is a delightful, light-hearted romance that felt like binging your favorite cooking competition. This book was a fun read that packed in some light romance, character growth, and lots of Jewish cooking.

There have been a number of romances and contemporary books that have recently been published that feature cooking shows or competitions. The first that comes to mind is Love and Other Disasters, which I did not like. Sadie on a Plate was everything I wished Love and Other Disasters was. If the setting of your book is a cooking competition, I want to follow the competition – know the dishes and the challenges – and be invested in characters’ placement in the contest. Sadie on a Plate immersed me in Chef Supreme, had me rooting for my favorite contestants, and hoping my least favorite would be eliminated.

The romance begins right from the start, which is a pleasant change of pace. However, if you want a romance-heavy book, this may not be for you. I enjoyed the fact that Sadie on a Plate had a storyline other than the romance that drove the plot. For me, it made it both more interesting and realistic.

I also appreciated that Elliot included a diverse cast of characters. The protagonist, Sadie, is Jewish and cooks Jewish cuisine which readers get to learn more about. The supporting characters span different races, gender identities, and sexual orientations without it feeling like tokenism. Even though there were a number of side characters, I felt like I had a solid grasp on who each was thanks to distinctive development of each by Elliot.

Overall, I really enjoyed Sadie on a Plate and recommend it. The sheer fun that I had while reading this book left me with a major book hangover. I look forward to seeing what Amanda Elliot writes next!

Don’t read on an empty stomach! Sadie on a Plate is essentially reading about a baking show competition with a dash of romance! I loved the Jewish representation in this, and reading all the food descriptions 😋

I binged this book on the airplane to Italy, and it was the perfect light read that I wanted.

Would recommend if you liked The Holiday Swap and for fans of competitive cooking shows!

Sadie is a chef competing on a cooking show, Chef Supreme. This is her chance to prove to herself that her food is worthy and turn her dreams into a reality after being fired in a humiliating way. On the plane to New York, she meets Luke. Sparks flew and they spend an entire day together. Then she turns up to set the next day, she makes a shocking discovery about who Luke is a judge on Chef Supreme. Sadie will need to learn how to separate business and pleasure.

Do not read this while hungry. If you are a Top Chef fan this one is a must, it felt exactly like you are watching the show. I watch The Food Network more than is probably considered an acceptable amount, so a book centered around an cooking competition love story was made for me.
I enjoy Sadie’s sarcastic, hilarious narration, the way of her character’s evolving by getting rid of her insecurities, finding her own way. The ending of the book was also extra sweet. You'll swoon, laugh, and cheer as you watch Sadie earn the happily ever after she so deserves.

This book publishes today!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the early review copy—all opinions are my own!

Amanda Elliot’s delectable SADIE ON A PLATE had my mouth watering & my heart feeling lighter than soufflé! There’s so much to love here: a Top-Chef style food competition! Hot guy beside her in the airplane! on her way to the food competition! who turns out to have a connection to the show too! This story feels fresh & lighthearted, the romance softly woven into Sadie’s journey of self-discovery. Amanda’s Jewish heritage through her lead Sadie & Sadie’s culinary creations inspired by traditional Jewish recipes especially shines. Seeing Sadie grow into her confidence, seeing both her and Luke bond over their love of cooking food from their heritage and finding ways to integrate it into modern cuisine, was such a treat. Sadie says
“We’re not trying to feed people food… We’re trying to feed them feelings,” and that sentiment perfectly conveys this story’s same feel-good effect. I’m so excited to see what Amanda gives us next!

Make sure you're eating while reading this book, else you may go hungry.

This book was filled with diverse characters to make me blush, especially the Jewish representation. When it comes to books with food in it, I'll grab them like I grab my favorite red velvet cake.

I loved how Sadie took a very keen interest in her Jewish background and put it all out in the form of food. It shows that culture is not only about how you are but could also be the food you eat. Sadie is a determined young woman and has her eyes set on her culinary goals. No matter what obstacles she faced, it did not deter her.

This book talks not only about romance but also shows that with determination and a positive mindset — you can achieve your goals.

Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley, for this arc!

Beautiful book! Such an endearing main character and just so interesting to read start to end. If you’re a Top Chef/Food Network competition fan, this book needs to get in your hands.

In my opinion, this book isn’t a romance 🤭 the covers a bit deceiving, the description even more so. It’s so backseat, closed door I just don’t think it makes sense in the romance category.

Pick this up if you want a women’s fiction empowerment read that explores Jewish cuisine and culture!

I am so excited to be on the blog tour for Sadie On A Plate by Amanda Elliott which is out March 15! I am the kind of Top Chef fan who has eaten at restaurants established by Tom Colicchio, Hubert Keller, Rick Moonen, Rick Bayless, and others just because I fell in love with them from their time on Top Chef! So Said On A Plate, which is heavy on the food talk, was such a fun read for me.

Sadie is an up and coming chef in Seattle when she breaks up with her boyfriend/boss and gets fired at the same time leaving her at a loss. Thankfully she gets the call that she has been chosen to be on the next season of her favorite TV show, Chef Supreme and is hoping she can leave her past behind and use this to springboard her career. Sadie tries to stay true to herself making a fresh new take on traditional Jewish recipes. On her way to film, she has a great connection with her seatmate on the plane, Luke. Little does she know, she will soon be spending more time with Luke that she bargained for and will have to tamp down this building chemistry if she wants to succeed on Chef Supreme.

This book was such a fun tribute to all the things that make shows like Top Chef so much fun. The delicious descriptions of the food, the drama and suspense, and seriously, why are there so many Joe's on these shows?! ha ha. While there is definitely a sizzling story line between Sadie and Luke in this book, it falls to the background as the primary focus of this story is Sadie's growth as a person and a chef and learning to take control of her life, her confidence and her career. This is a great story of finding your worth and your path and and must read for anyone who loves a good cooking show!

Sadie On A Plate is out 3/15 so be sure to grab a copy! Huge thanks to Berkley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

Forbidden romance in the food world takes second place to delicious dishes in Sadie on a Plate. Amanda Elliot takes readers on a journey through food in this delightful story as our titular heroine comes into her own by putting her heart and soul on a plate.

Sadie’s career has nearly tanked thanks to her jerk of an ex-boss when she lands a spot on the famous TV show, Chef Supreme. Sadie dreams of having her own restaurant where she can show that Jewish food is more than latkes and lox. Her creative, modern spins inspired primarily by Ashkenazi Jewish food were fantastic to read about. The care and attention Elliot gave to showing more Jewish cooking than is usually depicted in the media (and how and why Sadie’s creations differed from kosher cooking) made my heart sing. Elliot’s descriptions made even a die-hard vegetarian like myself salivate over Sadie’s plates (yes, even the chicken feet). The Chef Supreme competition is sure to delight any foodie and I absolutely loved getting to know Sadie’s fellow competitors (especially Kaitlyn, Kel, and Nia).

Sadie’s biggest obstacle is herself; she battles against negative self-talk but comes into her own over the course of the story. Sadie is messy, in a relatable way, and her imperfections make her as appealing as her stellar talent in the kitchen. She’s quirky, honest, and real; I enjoyed watching her find her confidence personally and professionally. She makes mistakes a lot, but she never gives up even when she wants to, which I respected.

A meet-cute on a plane with a fellow chef turns out to be not-so-cute when Sadie finds out her sexy seatmate is the newest Chef Supreme judge. Luke is an endearing hero, one I wish we could have seen more of (though his absence makes sense in the context of the story). To call this a romance is a bit of a stretch, though Luke and Sadie do get a happily ever after. The romance is in the background as Sadie and Luke can’t really interact too much else they’d ruin the integrity of the competition (and likely their careers). I would have loved to have gotten Luke’s point of view. He’s weighed down by the demands and expectations of his famous chef father who wants Luke to follow in his footsteps, cooking fancy French food with prices that make it largely inaccessible to the public. Luke would much rather be cooking his spin on the Korean food his halmoni made. The way Luke (and really, almost all the chefs except for Vanilla Joe) talk about their food light up the book. When someone is passionate about a subject it comes through and draws you in.

Since Sadie on a Plate is told in the first person and is really about Sadie’s journey, Luke and the love story take a back seat which may or may not bother you depending on reader preference. Even if I wish I could have gotten Luke’s point of view, I still really enjoyed Sadie on a Plate overall. Elliot made the competition as thrilling – perhaps even more so – than any you would see on Food Network. I loved Sadie and her fellow competitors, the romance with Luke made me smile, and the dishes that were served up could have leapt right off the page.

Cooking competitions are my favorite type of reality TV, but there have been so many rom-coms focused around cooking competition shows lately that I almost passed on reading Sadie on a Plate. I’m so glad I didn’t.

Clearly Top Chef inspired, Sadie on a Plate follows the titular Sadie, recently single and unemployed, as she gets selected to compete for Chef Supreme, and throughout her experience on the show. Sparks fly between Sadie and her cute seat-mate, Luke, on her flight from Seattle to New York, but when he shows up the next day as Chef Supreme’s new judge, Sadie has to balance her attraction to him with her vision for the future.

Because Sadie puts her own needs first (in the best way possible) the romance in Sadie on a Plate is minimal, but the chemistry between Sadie and Luke still sizzles. Sadie’s cooking style is elevated traditional Jewish cooking, and the descriptions of the food throughout this book made me feel like I was binge watching Chef Supreme (and made me hungry).

I loved Sadie’s creativity, drive, and commitment to cooking the food that made her heart sing, and loved the way that she carried the voice of her grandmother with her. Sadie doesn’t need anyone else to save her, and it’s only through her relationship with herself that she recovers from an internal crisis of confidence.

I loved Sadie, the side characters (Elliot even gives us a villain(ish)). In addition to a Jewish lead and a Korean love interest both focused on cooking food connected to their roots, there’s diverse rep in the side characters including a nonbinary character, lesbian and bi characters, and Black characters who bring to light ways that racism within the competitive cooking world has pigeonholed their cooking. Elliot’s writing is full of humor with just a bit of snark, and I couldn’t put this one down.

Fans of cooking shows, good food, and mutual pining should pick up this low-steam gem of an adult debut from Elliot. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thanks so much to Berkley/Jove for putting this one on my radar and for an advanced copy to review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. Sadie on a Plate is out tomorrow, 3/15/22.

I love watching cooking shows and reading romcoms, so this book was a natural fit for me!

This was an entertaining book to read because of the behind the scenes goings on at the Chef Supreme cooking show. Plus I loved the description of Sadie’s background and her modern twist on traditional Jewish recipes.

The chemistry between Sadie and Luke is instantaneous. When they go their separate ways, I missed the romantic tension between them. They are apart so much that it made this book less about the romance for me.

If you enjoy cooking shows, delicious-sounding food, and a light romantic storyline, then this is the book for you!

I have posted this review to my Goodreads account (link provided) and will post it to my Amazon and Instagram accounts during publication week. I will update my links to reflect these reviews when they are posted.

This was a really fun book; a meet-cute and a television cooking show combined! I was so pleased by all the character diversity. If there were anything I'd change about the book, it would be much, MUCH less food description in the final chapters. There was a LOT happening there, and the food was the least important bit of the climax.

If you love cooking competition shows, then you’ll love this book.

Sadie is a chef and enjoys making traditional Jewish recipes. She has been recently fired from her job, so she applies to be a contestant on Chef Supreme, a cooking competition show.. She selected and on the plane to NYC she has amazing chemistry with her seatmate, Luke. They spend some time in the city prior to her arrival to the show, The next day, Luke is on set as a judge. In order to win, Sadie must put her feeling aside and focus on the grand prize.

This book has some great Jewish presentation and food. The competition was the main focus of the book and I felt the stress and intensity of the environment throughout. I loved getting to know Sadie and loved that the side romance with Luke didn’t get in the way of the competition and her goals of winning. The other contestants/characters where also a lot of fun. This is was a sweet closed-door romance filled with a lot of amazing, mouthwatering food.

A huge thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first read of March and wow what a way to start the month off strong!
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I absolutely fell in love with this book and finished it in one sitting! The cooking show setting made everything feel much more high stakes with a behind the scenes feel that makes you feel so connected to the characters. ⁣
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Sadie is Jewish American and seeks to show the world that Jewish food is more than bagels with lox - and does so wonderfully! - especially after her ex-boss left her blacklisted from all the restaurants in Seattle. Aside from Sadie though, there was a whole cast of diverse chefs each seeking to showcase their cultural foods. I dare you to read this book and not leave hungry! Though it was clearly still a competition, I really liked watching true friendships blossom between the cast both during and after the show!⁣
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I do feel I need to mention that this book isn’t really a romance. This story is more about Sadie’s own journey, and the romance, though sweet and endearing, felt like more of a secondary plot point. That being said, I did still enjoy the stolen moments between Sadie and Luke, and the HEA was perfect!⁣
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I cannot wait to read more from this author!⁣
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