SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain

by Victoria Allman

Victoria’s Recipe for Marriage
Take two adventurous newlyweds and place them on a floundering yacht where the wife is the chef, and her boss, the captain, is also her husband. Add two inexperienced crewmembers, an anorexic diva and her bully of a husband, a CEO who thinks he’s in charge, a drunken first mate, and a randy wife looking for diversion. Stir with a violent storm and a rapidly flooding engine room. Apply pressure and watch the situation simmer to a boil.


Sprinkled with over 30-mouthwatering recipes and spiced with tales of adventure, SEAsoned is the hilarious look at a yacht chef’s first year working for her husband while they cruise from the Bahamas to Italy, France, Greece and Spain, trying to stay afloat.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Food

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2010

About the author

Victoria Allman, author of SEAsoned: A Chef’s Journey with Her Captain, has been following her stomach around the globe for fourteen years as a yacht chef. She writes about her floating culinary odyssey through Europe, the Caribbean, Nepal, Vietnam, Africa and the South Pacific in her first book, Sea Fare: A Chef’s Journey Across the Ocean.

Both of Victoria's books, Sea Fare and SEAsoned, have won Florida's Royal Palm Literary Award for First Place in Travel.

Victoria was a columnist for Dockwalk, an International magazine for crew members aboard yachts for four years. Her column, Dishing It Up, was a humorous look at cooking for the rich and famous in an ever-moving galley.

She regularly contributes culinary travel stories to MarinaLIfe Magazine.

You can read more of her food-driven escapades through her web-site, www.victoriaallman.com

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just fun.

If you ever thought it would be cool to get paid to travel, this book will give you a dose of reality. If you ever thought it would be fun to have a bed and breakfast (or host a cruise), you will learn that working with the public can be a challenge.

This was a fast, fun read with occasional laugh-out-loud moments. The author's love for her job, her clients, and especially her husband are obvious on every page. Her food sounds yummy and she shares recipes from each chapter.

My day-dream is to have a coffee & yarn bookstore. Reading SEAsoned has given me more realistic expectations.

Victoria Allman is a Goodreads author and I discovered this book on a Goodreads link. I love the serendipity of discovering books on this site.

[Tina Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to take a gastronomic odyessy from the comfort of your living room? Start reading this one at home or take this book to the beach and enjoy SEAsoned: A Chef’s Journey with Her Captain by Victoria Allman.

Sprinkled with over 30 mouthwatering recipes and spiced with tales of adventure. Published by NorLights Press:

“I’d never seen the ocean turn that particular shade of grey. I could barely tell where the steel grey waves stopped and the concrete grey sky began, especially when the boat heeled to a forty-five degree angle.

Smash! The starboard cupboard flung open with a force that catapulted half a dozen glass vases from their shelf. They broke apart on the floor like sputtering tomato sauce on a hot stove.”
With an opening paragraph such as this, how could you not want to read on?! Victoria Allman brought together memories from her last 12 years at sea with her husband Patrick, initially working together as first mate and chef, the moving on to their own yacht where her husband is also her captain and boss.

They cruised to the Bahamas , Italy , France , Spain and Greece with their own crew, making memories, preparing great food and combining work with pleasure.
Among the many recipes in this book (over 30 great recipes) I have prepared Turkish Lamb Kebobs with Greek Tsatziki, Mojo Marinated Grilled Chicken and plan on the Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins very soon. This book is an easy adventure read with many amusing stories and is chock full of good recipes.

The kebab recipe may be found at Squirrel Head Manor.

[Gina Soacat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am yacht crew and was impressed with how well Victoria captured the feel of working on a boat with 10+ other people, in cramped quarters and the crazy guests we sometimes get. She obviously has a good working knowledge of her subject and the ability to tell funny stories. I felt like I was traveling with her in the Bahamas and the Mediterranean--she captured the feel of the places as well.
This book made me want to travel with Victoria on the yacht and eat her food every day.
This is a great book for anyone interested in what it is like to work on a boat.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read! I felt like I knew the author when I had finished. Would make an excellent hostess gift.
And the recipes!!!! Buy this book!

[K M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, entertaining read. The food and recipes sound delicious, but most are meat/seafood based.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tina suggested this book to me because of a recipe inside (her all-time favorite lamb kabab). I was drawn to it for the yachting stories.

Don't let the cover fool you. (If you're like me, it looks like a self-published book.) Allman voice is funny and self-deprecating but her knowledge of food and her ability to deliver on last minute guest requests is miraculous.

The blurb on the back cover is a little misleading--there's not that much drama. But, there are great tales of catering to the rich and famous in exotic locales. I would recommend this book to anyone fascinated by yachts or who just likes good recipes. (Each chapter ends with at least one of Allman's recipes.)

I've ordered her previous book SEAfare as well!

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! As an avid cruiser (pre-COVID) and lover of all things "Below Deck" reality TV on Bravo, this was a real-life version of everything involving yachting. The story follows the journey of a yacht chef along with a small crew and her captain husband. The plot entails true stories of crazy passengers in addition to a delicious mixture of the recipes the author creates per location they visit. Recipes included! Quick read and now on the hunt for her other book, 'Sea Fare: A Chef's Journey Across The Ocean' by Victoria Allman to follow my good-reads streak!

[Loafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love travel books, love cook books, love sailing , love character books, and simply like fun, this is a book that would appeal to many....easy quick book you can finish in a day or two....

[Pat Lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this memoir of a couple beginning a career as captain/chef for chartered yachts. Interesting to learn about what goes on and the problems and successes involved. I especially enjoyed her nimble last minute changes to the menu and her trips to the local fresh markets. I would hate to be in that position but I really liked reading about it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

 

Victoria Allman and her husband have just gotten their big break.  He is going to be the captain of a yacht after years of working on crews.  To do this though they have to lower their standards.  They aren't going to be on a big boat.  They are taking on a measly 100 foot yacht that isn't in the best of shape.

I was very surprised when I heard her refer to a 100 foot yacht as a small boat.  I've seen those things in marinas and they are huge.  That's your first clue that the lives of the rich people who rent these yachts are a bit different.



Victoria and her husband run the yacht with two crew members.  She is the chef.  She has to decide what to stock in the very small galley and what she might be able to find to cook with in ports that they call at.  If the passengers change their destination at the last minute or if they invite their friends from another yacht over, she might have to scramble.  She makes elaborate meal plans that can be crushed with a breezy "Here's what I want for lunch..."

They start out doing charters in the Bahamas until the yacht is damaged enough that it has to go in for lengthy repairs.  They then pick up another job on a 200 foot yacht in the Mediterranean.  This makes Victoria happy because of the bigger galley but adds more crew member problems.

This is a behind the scenes look at a life of luxury that most people would never experience.  See what it takes to cater to another person's every whim while living in cramped quarters with your spouse.

There are a lot of recipes in here too.  Most are meat based but there is one for a Santorini Eggplant Salad that sounds interesting.

I enjoyed the story telling in this book and wished it were a bit longer to immerse myself in this world for a while more.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I won this book on goodreads awhile ago but I wanted to try every recipe in this book before writing a review. First I have to say that the day I got the book I sat down and read the whole story and I loved it, I even reread some parts when making some of the recipes. Now as far as the recipes go all of them were good, and she gave good directions on how to make everything, and they were very easy to follow. I narrowed them down to a top 3 favorite recipes. 3. mojo marinated grilled chicken. this is some of the best grilled chicken I've ever made. 2. is the warm lobster potatoe salad, living in Colorado makes it hard to get good lobster sometimes, but if I could I would make this Alot more. So my number 1 recipe is the angel hair napoli. I make this usually twice a month it's very quick and easy to make and it taste really really good.

[R J Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of SEAsoned - A Chef’s Journey with Her Captain by Victoria Allman from Goodreads for a fair and honest review.
Ahhh! The life of luxury aboard a super-cool yacht with everything you desire at your beck and call. That is unless you’re one of the weary crew who stays up every night making these demands come true!! Victoria Allman spins a tale of high-seas misadventure better than an old-time pirate in a port bar. I must admit, I couldn’t believe the gall of a few of her haughty customers when they made their ridiculous demands. I laughed out loud at her predicaments and my mouth watered at her recipes. The next time I think of how much fun I’d have traveling the world by sea I’ll reread her stories and laugh with her once more. I loved it! Thanks Victoria! I’m now in-search of Sea Fare!!!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A RECIPE FOR LIVING A DREAM SEAsoned WITH SPICY ADVENTURES ! Once you start reading this book you become capivated by the humorous character depictions! I felt like I was on the yacht as the newlyweds discovered each other thru stormy seas and inexperienced and animated crew! I became entranced by the savory depiction of every dish prepared, each market she visited and felt her pain as the yacht owners invaded her kitchen and began abusing her special knifes! And the awesome recipes which are so easy to follow for this amateur cook make this book even more delicious! Excellent Read - page Turner! Something everyone will enjoy!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two thumbs up for SEAsoned, Victoria Allman's well written adventures as a chef on a charter yacht. I love getting to learn all the inside workings of various professions and this is most definitely an eye opener. The book is sprinkled with lots of recipes, so you can eat your way around the globe without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. I hope to read her other book someday.

[Sammie Justesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire book in one weekend, because I couldn't put it down. The recipes sound marvelous, but the adventures are even more fun.

[Deborah]

well-written and charming, whether you like food or travel (or both!)

[Mom Taxi Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this through the giveaway section here on Goodreads. I was totally surprised at how much I liked this book! Totally entertaining and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read.

[Vorris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Victoria. Loved her first book Sea Fare, but SEAsoned is even better! Highly recommended.

[Kristina Franken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone

FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is easy reading for vacation. The story isn't amazing or riveting and is kind of what one might expect - but their lifestyle is inspiring and fun to read about on vacation.