Sadie On A Plate
By Amanda Elliot

I love books that I can devour in one sitting and Sadie On A Plate was just that perfect read I needed that made me swoon over.

I love reading about food and life in the food service industry. Elliot really brought this exciting cooking show to life, and all the while adding a few sprinkling of drama and diverse characters – this was a feast for the senses.

Sadie On A Plate by Amanda Elliot was the romance read I enjoyed that brought out the foodie in me. I highly recommend this funny and light hearted read.

I love reality TV and cooking shows, and this was a great read to make me feel like I was in the cooking show world.

This book was an absolute delight! While a little light on the romance, I absolutely loved the main character's voice and appreciated the bi and Jewish rep.

I am a big fan of cooking competition shows and this book did not disappoint in that aspect. This was a fun read with a main character that is trying to make her way in a male-dominated industry. The romance in this story took a back seat to the growth and development of the characters.

I did recognize that this author wanted to be inclusive of all people but for me, just adding in pronouns and a mention of LGBTQIA+ sexuality felt forced. It did not add to the plot in any way.

I did enjoy this contemporary foodie book and read it very quickly. If you are a fan of cooking competitions then I think you will enjoy this book.

This book isn't bad its just not what I was expecting, I would've loved a balance between the cooking and romance but that wasn't there. There was no build up or exciting scenes to it unfortunately.

"We're not trying to feed people food," I said. "We're trying to feed them feelings."

Sadie is an up-and-coming chef in Seattle, known for her famous Jewish dishes. However, after things get nasty with her boss, Sadie is left feeling like she can never show face in the culinary industry in Seattle, or anywhere for that matter, ever again. That is, until she gets a call from Chef Supreme, aka a cooking show where some of the most talented chefs get invited to compete. Those who win it end up getting funds and investors to open restaurants of their own. Sadie decides this competition is her way to redeem herself after everything she has been through. On the plane ride to New York, Sadie gets to sit (in a business class, mind you) next to a cute chef named Luke, who is cute and charming. The two hit it off, but once the flight lands, Sadie has to say goodbye to this fellow as she is contracted to stay quiet about being a contestant on the show. However, once Sadie gets to the studio to begin her competition, who does she see as one of her judges? LUKE HIMSELF. Now, Sadie has to deal with all the pressure of being on tv and performing her best recipes with the most talented competitors, all while trying to avoid her growing feelings for Luke. Meanwhile, Luke's got baggage of his own when it comes to the pressure of his father forcing him to be the kind of chef that does not align with his own heart's passions and goals. Let me just say, reading this book about chefs making food made me super hungry all the time😂😂🤪 still a good book nonetheless. A must read y'all!

Sadie on a Plate was such a cute, fun read!! I always love books set to the backdrop of competitions, and this one was no exception! Any fans of reality cooking shows are absolutely going to love this book, but definitely don’t read on an empty stomach! I also can never resist a forbidden/star crossed lovers trope and Amanda Elliot executed it so well. I can’t wait to see what comes next from her!

First of all, this book isn't a romance. Sadie and Luke barely interact for more than half of the book. There is no romance or connection to be had. And then there is the food. I wouldn't even know where to start except to say that there is so much more to Jewish food than what was presented here, so much more to our culture than the Eastern European slant that was presented as our cultural cuisine. It was all so very bland.

This book was really cute, I liked the writing and the characters were really fun. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys soft romance books!

Loved this contemporary romance! All the cooking made me so hungry! So many fun characters and the tension that builds between Luke and Sadie. This was a light romance with a bit of heat between our two main characters. Very enjoyable read and the cooking contests were fun!

Bonus: I felt like I learned quite a bit about the culture and traditions between Jewish cuisine. It was really cool how Sadie meshed tradition with the requirements in the cooking contests to reflect.

Thank you to NetGalley,Berkley Publishing Group and author Amanda Elliot for this digital review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my reviews are voluntary and my opinions are my own.
#Berkleywritesstrongwomen #Berkleybuddyread

I’m not sure why I’m such a sucker for romances set against a reality TV backdrop, but I’ve reviewed several “Bachelor” and “Great British Bake-Off”-themed novels. Now it’s time for “Top Chef” to have its moment in the spotlight, thanks to Amanda Elliot’s Sadie on a Plate.

I am a massive fan of “Top Chef,” which is currently entering the home stretch of its nineteenth season. It’s obvious reading Sadie that its author knows everything there is to know about the show, its tropes, and its challenges; I laughed out loud when she introduced us to not one but four contestants named Joe, who wind up being distinguished by the monikers Vanilla Joe, Bald Joe, Kangaroo Joe and Old Joe. (Shades of “Top Chef” season 15, which featured “Mustache Joe” Sasto squaring off against Joe Flamm, who ultimately won the competition and can now be referred to as “Top Chef” Joe.)

Like Alexis Hall’s Rosemary Parker Takes the Cake, Sadie is 20% romance, 80% reality. On the flight from Seattle to New York, where she will be competing on “Chef Supreme,” Sadie winds up seated next to a handsome stranger, and flirtation ensues. Much later, she is shocked to learn that her seatmate is none other than brand-new “Chef Supreme” judge Luke Weston, an up-and-coming star in the food world and son of the famous chef Charles Weston. There is obviously no way for them to act on their attraction—it would be unethical and most likely result in Sadie getting kicked off the show. Sparks fly anyway, of course, but for the vast majority of the novel, it’s more about stolen hallway moments than getting down to business.

Sadie needs to do well in the competition; after a personal scandal forced her out of her Seattle restaurant job, she wants to reinvent herself, serving inventive twists on Jewish cuisine. Luke, meanwhile, needs to break free from his father’s expectations that he follow in his footsteps and aspire to cook Michelin-worthy French food, instead of the Korean flavors he longs to focus on—cherished tastes from childhood visits with his mother’s side of the family in Korea.

There are so many delightful moments in this book, like the judges’ critiques of Sadie’s soggy blinis, made for a Hamptons garden party with 100 guests (“Did you make them to order?” Sadie, no—serving reheated blinis is almost as bad as using store-bought waffle mix!), and the never-ending product placement (the contestants are frequently egged on to mention the “smooth ride” of the sponsor’s high-end sedans). As a “Top Chef” obsessive, I ate it all up with a spoon.

3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the early copy! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading Sadie on a Plate. It is a fast read with very little romance if that's your thing. The romance is mostly back-burnered during the whole book. The book mostly focused on the cooking competition, Chef Supreme. It was a nice palate cleanser to have a book with little romance. I did find some of the time jumps odd, but it doesn't really take from the story.

If I'm being honest, I would have liked more focus on the romance, but as I said, I did enjoy reading it still. I think I read a good 60-70% in one day. That's how fast of a read the book is.

In Sadie On a Plate, Sadie Brooke Rosen, a Seattle chef is selected to compete on Chef Supreme just after being fired from her job. On the flight to New York for filming, she meets Luke, another chef. Their chemistry and connection is clear right from the start. These two belong together! They have dinner together in NY, then part ways, only to meet up again during the competition. I did love how their romance slowly blossomed during the book, but I can’t say much without revealing spoilers, so you’ll just have to read it for yourself.

Sadie is a delightful character, so likeable and relatable. She second guesses herself and overthinks everything-she is a bit of a hot mess. Her specialty is Jewish food with a twist, and her dishes sounded delicious! Sadie is charming, funny, and endearing. I laughed so much! I also learned quite a bit about the diversity of Jewish food, a little history of the food origins and how the nomadic lives of the Ashkenazi influenced their cuisine.

I love cooking competition shows, including Top Chef, the show on which Chef Supreme is based. I found myself looking forward to each week’s challenge and to see who would get eliminated. It was almost like a bonus season of Top Chef, but with behind-the-scenes peeks at the cheftestants, their insecurities, budding friendships, they way they supported each other (or not).

I loved the relationships Sadie builds with her fellow contestants and her growing self-confidence. I was left with the feeling that those relationships would continue long after the competition ended.

A fun and fresh cooking show romance* with great Jewish rep and exploration of the importance of our heritage. Sadie's strengths were in the no-filter look at the world of cooking, acknowledging the sexism and racism faced by many. The weakness was 100% the romance, which was essentially non-existent. I honestly think it could have been left out entirely, Sadie's story can stand alone without a love interest!

This book made me hungry! This book had food that sounded amazing throughout it and I also enjoyed the “sizzle” of the romance that Sadie and Luke had as well. I appreciated how the other chefs dishes were also talked about since it is a good show and really read like it was a good competition. I am especially happy with the winner and Sadie’s future in the food industry.

If you love Top Chef, forbidden romance, and being so so so hungry while you read your romance books, Sadie on a Plate is for you.

I've never wanted to eat the words off a page so bad.

Since I absolutely love cooking shows, I was excited for this one. I enjoyed reading this story of Sadie finding love, the amazing recipes Sadie cooks, and her journey to finding herself.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5/5⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝: I loved the reality-TV-cooking-show format of this book. I previously enjoyed Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake (different author) last year, so I think this is just a storyline that works for me. I was very wrapped up in the competition, and wanting to know the outcome of each week’s cook-offs made this book un-put-down-able. It felt like I was binge watching a season of Top Chef.

I loved Sadie’s transformation throughout the competition. It was so encouraging to see this young woman with major self-esteem issues blossom into the confident chef that finally stood up to the man who tried to ruin her career. I learned a lot about Jewish cooking, and how the diaspora led the cuisine to influence and to be influenced by so many other cultures.

The friendships in this book were also a major highlight—I grew to love multiple contestants and found myself rooting for a few of them for different reasons. I felt that the author did a great job of highlighting the diversity of the culinary industry, and hearing all of the cultural food descriptions had me drooling through the majority of the book.
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𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞: Sadie meets the love interest briefly on a cross-country flight and later discovers that he is the new judge on her season of the reality cooking show, so they (rightfully) can’t communicate during the majority of the book. The story focused more on the cooking competition and there was very little in terms of a romance arc. I personally didn’t mind one bit, but I do think it helps to have lowered romance expectations going in!

What a wholesome darling of a book! Sadie On a Plate fulfilled my Jewish heart, and I wanted to share this review during Passover because I have been consistently making matzo brei. If you’ve never heard of it, then be on the lookout for it in this book!

When Sadie breaks up with her boss/chef, she’s forced out of the Seattle restaurant scene. When hope seems to be dwindling, Sadie gets the chance to appear on Chef Supreme (aka a take on Top Chef). But what happens when she meets a handsome stranger on the plane…?

First of all, this book is just one big love letter to Jewish food. Matzo brei, gefilte fish, blinis…I could go on for days. I felt hungry for the entire book and thank god Pesach was right around the corner. But also Sadie is an incredible protagonist. The restaurant industry has had a lot of issues, so Sadie’s story isn’t unique. Her growth and ability to find her voice, however, made this story special, especially with all of the support she received from the other characters. While there’s no steam in this book, there’s plenty of tension and humor. Frankly, I didn’t find myself needing the steam in this book anyways because it made my heart so full of joy.

Overall, this book is an absolute darling. If you love cooking or baking competitions, then you need this book in your life. Or if you ever wanted to hear cool ideas to spiff up Jewish food…

There is so much love in this book. Love for cooking, for Jewish and Korean foods, for Sadie and Luke. It gave me so many warm fuzzy feelings.