I have always been a massive fan of RBG, so I will admit that I went into this book with somewhat of a bias, if you may call it that. I really liked this book, overall though- not to take away from the credit the author deserves.

The premise, to my mind, is a tough one, to weave chapters around one central event which was a considerable ways away when the book begins, and yet, throughout, there is that distinct connect to the guests of honour- Justice RBG and Professor Ginsburg; but it was executed extremely well.

Apart from that, if a person likes food in all it's intricacies, the book is a treat on its own- meticulous planning, making and breaking combinations apart, trial runs and then the final execution. The personal touch from excerpts of the emails were also a really nice touch.

A great, quick read.

Imagine that you have the opportunity to cook a private dinner for Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her husband, Martin Ginsburg. How would you feel? Excited, inspired, intimidated, fearful?

Leslie Karst, the author, did cook such a dinner, and she experienced all those feelings and more. This book tells the story of that dinner, from the time she found out about it until the dinner had been served and the very special guests had departed.

This occasion was arranged by Leslie’s father, who was a law professor at the UCLA School of Law. He had met Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) when they were both teaching law courses, he at Ohio State University and she at Rutgers. They had kept in touch, and she had finally accepted his invitation to speak at UCLA.

The dinner was scheduled for January 28, 2006 and would take place in the home of Leslie’s parents in Los Angeles. Including Leslie, and with the addition of Leslie’s partner, Robin, there would be six people dining.

Justice Ginsburg accepted the Karst’s invitation about nine months before the date of the dinner. That gave Leslie plenty of time to plan, to make test recipes, to hunt down the best sources of ingredients, and to locate and purchase additional dinnerware she needed. And to worry and be nervous.

Leslie had a lot of help with the dinner preparations from her parents and Robin. Her mother and father sound like lovely people. The dinner became a family project and brought them closer together.

I enjoyed reading about the food and wine, but my favorite parts of the story were those that focused on the life of RBG. These sections, which were interspersed throughout the book, were interesting and well written.

The descriptions of the delicious food made my mouth water, and luckily the recipes are included. And it was fascinating to hear about the dinner itself and especially about the conversations. Justice Ginsburg was reportedly shy and quiet, but also intelligent and humorous.

⭐️⭐️⭐️, available now. Extra credit for the wonderful title. My thanks to the author, Leslie Karst, to the publisher, She Writes Press, and to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

#LeslieKarst #SheWritesPress #netgalley

Justice is Served is a book about the author, an unsatisfied lawyer and armature, cooking dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruther Bader-Ginsberg. I love RBG and thought this book seemed like a fun premise!

This was a nice personal story that went into the food prep, relationships with family members, and career angst from the author's POV. It is also interspersed with asides about RBG's life, which were fun to read.

My main issue with this book is that the event is just not enough to warrant an almost 300 page book. I think that it would have worked much better as a long article or a fictional retelling inspired by actual events. As it stands, you're reading a book about one dinner that happened in 2003. I like reading about food but even for me it went too far into the prep, menu design, etc. I felt like everything was stretched to the utmost degree to get enough content out of the event that happened 20 years ago. About 60% in I felt like I would never get to the dinner. I feel like the bones of a good piece are here, but the event just did not warrant memoir about the occasion.

Good premise but just not the right medium for me! 2.25 stars rounded down to 2. Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book started out well for me and then declined rapidly. It felt like a lot of name dropping. The author’s background was interesting, but a lot of her becoming a chef seemed exaggerated to an extreme.

This was a beautiful book! A delicious read. It was such fun to read the details of this story about a lawyer, daughter, foodie and RBG fan finding herself tapped to create an epic meal for the illustrious justice and her delightful husband.

This is a cooking memoir about the night the author (a former lawyer, culinary school graduate and now mystery writer) cooked a meal for US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (a.k.a. RBG, 1933-2020).

It's a light hearted, easy read, though definitely not to be consumed while you are hungry. Leslie Karst's parents are acquaintances of RGB and the Justice's husband, and invited the couple to dinner. The first third of the book are about preparations for the meal, which include an exploratory trip to Paris. It is interesting to learn how a menu comes together, and the thought behind selecting both table ware and wines to match the food. It's intricate work, and nerve wracking when such an influential icon is involved.

There were two highlights for me--interspersed among the chapters are biographical sketches of RBG's life, from a working class Jewish girl from Flatbush, to the sexism she faced in law school (no law firm in New York City would hire her after graduation), to founding the ACLU's Women's Rights Project in 1972, to arguing before the Supreme Court, and finally to becoming a Supreme Court Justice herself. The respect that Karst, her wife, and her parents have for RBG is clearly shown, as is the astonishing influence RBG has had on women's legal status in the US.

The second highlight was the meal itself, beginning with Champagne, cashews and rice crackers, then seared scallops with a ginger and lime cream sauce; a butternut squash soup; followed by a baby spinach salad with blood oranges, red onion and pine nuts with a dijon vinaigrette; a main course of blackened ahi tuna and wasabi mashed potatoes; and patisserie. It was an inspiring menu, and I was glad that the recipes were included.

This book will appear to aspiring cooks and anyone who wants to learn more about RBD and her legacy.

Justice is Served is part memoir, part cookbook, and part RBG biography. Author Leslie Karst gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she has the honor to host dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her husband, Marty. Justice is Served then details Leslie’s journey to planning the perfect dinner party.

One thing that is very interesting about this book is that it features “Interludes” with biographical sections on RBG and her legacy. These Interludes give the reader a better understanding of why it was such an honor for Leslie to be able to cook for Justice Ginsburg, but also to share the powerful change that one woman has had on the United States and gender equality.

At times, the details of the memoir part of the book can run a little long, however, I feel that it was still well-written with a fun and friendly tone. While reading, I almost felt like I was Leslie’s friend who she was recounting her journey to. There are quite a few footnotes, some of which I felt added to the story, while others felt more like “asides.”

For home chefs, Justice is Served also includes the recipes that Leslie cooked at her dinner, which I cannot wait to try! Overall, this was a fun read that I would recommend to any fan of cooking and/or RBG.

I am in LOVE with this book! I'm old enough to remember RBG becoming a Supreme Court Justice and - usually with tears in my eyes - immensely enjoyed "Justice is Served". Leslie Karst takes us from the time that cooking a dinner for the Justice and her husband was only a possibility through the dinner itself. We are at her side as she tries various recipes and chooses the wines. There are boxed intermissions within the chapters with commentary on RGB's life, accomplishments, and persona, all of which are placed to give additional insight for the chapter. At the end are a few photos and recipes of the courses of the meal.

This is a wonderful addition to the many books on RGB that speak to her in her various professional roles. Here she becomes supremely human as an individual in addition to her stature as Supreme Court Justice and human rights advocate. Most highly recommend!!!

I was immediately drawn to this memoir due to its content on the queen herself RBG, but the unique POV and personal viewpoint of the author it was really made it memorable!

I loved how the book gave the reader the opportunity to learn both about the author herself, RBG and the impact the RBG had on the author's own life.

This was a delightfully surprising page turner. I wasn't sure what to expect. It's part memoir, part travelogue, part cookbook, part biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is all parts wonderful.

An annoying fast read, I wanted more stories, more behind the scenes, just more RBG, honestly. I will definitely read more from this author, and will mention this book to everyone I know that also has a crush on RBG.

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, She Writes Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the afterword, I learned that the author is now a writer of culinary mysteries, which sounds fun. In the life phase described in this book, the author is still working as a lawyer and very much questioning her choice of profession. Most of this book follows along as the author prepares to cook a dinner for RBG and her husband, when they are visiting the university where the author's father teaches at the law school. I loved the bits of insight offered into RBG's life that are woven throughout, but found most of the rest more suited to a long-form article - as it was, it felt stretched out far enough to make a book. I did enjoy the actual dinner, but the descriptions of nine months of deliberations on the menu were way too much for me.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an intriguing and inspirational woman and I wanted to read this book to learn something more about her.
It was a compelling and entertaining read that kept me turning pages and made me learn something.
Well written, good storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This was a delightful, informative, and intriguing read! As a law student, aspiring attorney myself, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an obvious icon and inspiration of mine. Not as obvious, however, is my admiration for her as a hardworking, compassionate, hysterical, brilliant woman, not just the judicial pioneer she was. I can relate to the authors legal burnout and desire to change careers, so being able to mesh her knew and old careers highlighting the Notorious RBG was a treat. I greatly appreciated the chance to get a new biographical angle to RBG, while also reading how hard work, nerves, and passion for ones career goals knows no bounds and exits in any profession be it legal or food or anything!
Thank you for the ARC!!!

Leslie Karst is an American lawyer turned writer. This is a highly engaging true story about the opportunity she had, as the daughter of a retiring law lecturer as UCLA, to join her parents as both chef and fellow diner at a dinner with Supreme Judge Ruth Ginsberg, a former student of her father’s. A keen foodie, she spends the best part of a year preparing for this event, with every detail carefully researched and thought through, attending to every detail in terms of food, wine and table dressing. An entertaining and informative read, especially for RBG fans, to see her in a social setting.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I decided to read this because I always admired Judge Ginsburg. It was interesting to hear stories about her and to see a part of her life off the bench. I never realized all the marshals with her. Nine months of meal planning got a little much sometimes. An interesting read that took me awhile to get through.
I would like to check out Leslie's other books. Thanks, NetGalley for another choice out of my box!

In this memoir, Santa Cruz corporate lawyer and cooking enthusiast Leslie Karst writes about the time she prepared dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG). It happened like this: Leslie's father Kenneth Karst, a professor of constitutional law at UCLA, invited his 'warm colleague' Ruth Bader Ginsburg to speak at the law school. Hearing about the invitation, Leslie blurted out, "Ohmygod, if she does say yes, you and Mom should invite her for dinner and I can come down to your house and cook."

Ginsburg accepts the invitation and Leslie has nine months to prepare for the big day, scheduled for January, 2005. Karst, who up to now has limited herself to small stylish dinner parties for friends, observes: "This momentous event called for a sophistication and grandeur on a scale I'd never even considered attempting." Serendipitously, Leslie and her partner Robin are going to Paris for a month, where - among other activities - Leslie will seek out the very best recipe ideas for her 'dinner with Ruth.'

In Paris, Leslie and Robin sample as many dishes as they can, such as steakfrites (steak and fries); pan-fried duck breast; mussels and oysters; foie gras; goat, cow, and sheep's cheeses; frisée salad with lardons and poached egg; and much more. For dessert the women try a variety of sweets, including crème brûlée; chocolate mousee; tarte tatin, and coupe chantilly. Of course everything is washed down with glasses of delicious French wine....which cost less than Coca-Cola in Paris restaurants.

Karst realizes she needs to know the food preferences and dietary constraints of her guests of honor, RBG and her husband Professor Martin Ginsburg - who's an excellent cook himself. Leslie emails Martin, who responds: "How nice of you to ask. I eat anything (except poi); RBG likes fish and shellfish (as do I) and does not eat red meat. We have no known allergies."

This information informs Karst's menu for the dinner, and Leslie scours cookbooks; peruses the internet; asks friends; consults foodies; speaks with oenophiles; tastes wines; tries out recipes; obsesses day and night; and finally comes up with five courses.....and matching wines.

The food menu consists of:

➤ Appetizer - seared sea scallops with ginger-lime cream sauce

➤ Soup - roasted butternut squash soup with brown butter, garnished with crème fraîche, walnut oil, and chopped walnuts;

➤ Salad - baby spinach salad with blood orange, red onion, dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheese, pine nuts, and Dijon vinaigrette dressing;

➤ Main Course - blackened ahi coated with a dry rub of spices and black sesame seeds, served with wasabi mashed potatoes and sautéed snow peas;

➤ Dessert - pastries from a fine bakery, including chocolate mousse and praline tart; chocolate ganache tart; lemon chiffon tart; strawberry and crème fraîche tart; and cheesecake.

Once the food and wines are chosen, Leslie - with help from her partner Robin and mom Smiley Karst - focuses on the china, stemware, and silver needed for each course. Some items come from Leslie's parents' house in Santa Monica; some from Leslie and Robin's home in Santa Cruz; and some are purchased online or from department stores. On the 'big day' Leslie collects edible flowers to decorate the plates, and even steals a few nasturtiums from a flower bed outside an apartment building.

During RBG's visit to Los Angeles in January, the justice speaks at the law school and has a Q&A session; is the guest of honor at a reception at the dean's house; attends an opera with Leslie's parents; and is a dinner guest at the Karst home, where Leslie's food is delicious and the conversation is stimulating.

Karst also writes about her personal life; her family and friends; her partner Robin; her work as a corporate lawyer; her other interests, like music and singing; and more. Leslie laments she doesn't love the law like her father and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and mentions her intention to become a fiction writer. In fact, Karst now pens the 'Sally Solari' culinary mystery books.

The narrative is interspersed with 'interludes' about RBG, including the justice's schooling; jobs; husband Marty; interest in equal rights; ascension to the Supreme Court; judicial philosophy; affection for Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Antonin Scalia; writing style; caustic wit; love of opera; stylish wardrobe; and more. Speaking of style, RBG was named one of Glamour magazine's Women of the Year in 2012.

Recipes for the scallops, soup, salad, ahi, potatoes, and snow peas are included.

I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to foodies and fans of RBG.

Thanks to Netgalley, Leslie Karst, and She Writes Press for a copy of the manuscript.

I love RBG and was excited to start this book. It was interesting to see a glimpse into a small segment of her life, as author, Leslie Karst, prepares a menu for a small dinner party at which RBG and her husband will attend. I loved hearing the little anecdotes of Justice Ginsberg's life along the way. For me, it was reminiscent of Julie and Julia. If you are a fan of RBG and food, check this one out!

This was a wholesome, enjoyable read about the excitement and joy that author Leslie Karst had when she was given the opportunity to cook a dinner for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The memoir was written now, though events occurred in 2004, so some references in dialogue were outdated, but the narration would go on to reflect current law (such as the passage of the Freedom of Marriage Act). I really enjoyed reading about Leslie's relationship with Robin, and their relationship with Leslie's parents. They were such a good team as they planned the meal, but even references to past holidays when Leslie's partner would perform in skits with the family show that they always got along well.

Leslie's enthusiasm and heart really showed through on all of the pages and her impression of Ruth Bader Ginsburg fits with other memoirs about the justice. She seemed to be very fair, kind, and funny, though softspoken at times.

Overall, this was a lovely memoir, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Karst's works.

What an interesting read. I am grateful for NetGalley and the publisher bringing this one to my attention and allowing me the early opportunity to check it out. Thank you so much!

I received this advance reader copy via Netgalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This is a part homage, part foodie journey and part memoir by author Leslie Karst on the memorable planning and meal that she cooked for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her husband, Marty. It is not a fictional mystery story for those who enjoy Ms. Karst’s food mystery series.
Interspersed in the detailed meal planning, nine months from start to finish, are notes about Justice Ginsburg’s legal history and cases, her friendship with Justice Scalia and their shared love of opera, and Justice Ginsburg’s long-time friendship with Ms. Karst’s father, a noted legal scholar and teacher at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Also woven into the narrative are stories from the weekend in question, including meeting other luminaries such as Diane Keaton at the UCLA reception.
And, luckily for us, Ms. Karst includes recipes from the memorable dinner. The personal touches include this meal serving as a personal catalyst for Ms. Karst to transition from a full-time lawyer to attending culinary school and then to being a full-time author of cozy, food-related mysteries. What a journey!