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The Forager Chefs Club
When the enigmatic Forager Chefs Club accepts a contract to host a terroir cooking competition, five people are selected to participate in what could be a life-changing event. Each has motivations and histories that could help or hinder. There is Celeste, young and sheltered, raised on an island by her hippie mother and relegated to kitchen prep duties at a prestigious resort hotel; Christian, who left culinary school to care for his dying mother in a city struggling to survive; Blaise, an up-and-coming chef who sees himself as the benevolent caretaker of his twin brother with autism while others perceive it as exploitation; Eden, who brings pride and talent to the dinners she cooks at her father’s mission in Detroit; and Daniel, a private chef fighting his in-laws’ attempts to declare him an unfit father after his wife’s tragic death. As the competition gets underway, it doesn’t take long for alliances, strategies, and mind games to evolve.
Filled with heart and sprinkled throughout with foraging and cooking tips, The Forager Chefs Club shows that where food comes from matters, and what comes out of the kitchen can feed more than just the body.
Filled with heart and sprinkled throughout with foraging and cooking tips, The Forager Chefs Club shows that where food comes from matters, and what comes out of the kitchen can feed more than just the body.
338 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2024
29 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mace Walston
2 books19 followersRita Mace Walston was born and raised in Michigan. After moving four times in five years and never staying in the same time zone, she and her family settled in rural northern Virginia. She and her husband have a small homestead with extensive gardens and a greenhouse, as well as a dog, a cat, two beehives, and a dozen-plus chickens.
Rita loves experimenting in the kitchen with ingredients from her gardens and foraging. Her first novel, Paper & Ink, Flesh & Blood, was published in 2020. Rita is a graduate of the Queens University MFA program in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rita loves experimenting in the kitchen with ingredients from her gardens and foraging. Her first novel, Paper & Ink, Flesh & Blood, was published in 2020. Rita is a graduate of the Queens University MFA program in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 14, 2024
The Forager Chefs Club is a captivating novel that blends the art of foraging with the thrill of the competition. It is a story rich in the character development of the 5 chefs competing for a 50K grand prize. Each individual brings their own unique experience and personality to the competition and I cheered for each one of them. Nothing is predictable in this book and I loved that too.
The book gives a detailed exploration of foraging and culinary arts. The author's passion for these subjects is evident in the diligent research and vivid descriptions that bring the foraging scenes to life.
The pace of the novel blends the high-stakes competition with the personal growth of the characters.
It is an engaging read that both fans of culinary adventures and contemporary fiction will enjoy.
I would love to see this book made into a movie!
The book gives a detailed exploration of foraging and culinary arts. The author's passion for these subjects is evident in the diligent research and vivid descriptions that bring the foraging scenes to life.
The pace of the novel blends the high-stakes competition with the personal growth of the characters.
It is an engaging read that both fans of culinary adventures and contemporary fiction will enjoy.
I would love to see this book made into a movie!
October 8, 2024
A varied group of people who love to forage their food ingredients and cook mouthwatering meals is invited to a cooking competition. One dinner — made only with Michigan ingredients — could win them $50k. A life-changing sum. But over the course of this multi-perspective novel’s calendar-year timeline all the characters grow and change. At the end of this enjoyable book, I wanted to spend more time with each of the characters. And I most definitely wanted to taste their food.
March 25, 2025
What a compelling read! This book follows a group of diverse chefs through a unique cooking experience in rural Michigan. The competition brings out the best and worst in them while also highlighting the unique bounty that comes from the earth. The author's writing draws the reader into this unique space with characters who they will love and, if not hate, then dislike intensely. I had to keep reading to find out what each of them got out of the experience.
February 10, 2025
3.75 rounded up. I enjoyed this lighthearted read that I flew through. I’ve never read anything like it (a cooking competition based on seasonal cooking - fun, right?) and it kept my interest throughout. I wanted to know more about how the chefs in the competition were chosen as well as the Founders of the club. This latter topic was really missed, especially with the reveal about Randall - it just seemed like there was more there… this was also a complaint about some of the other characters (Eden and Blaise in particular - they were not as well-developed as the other chefs) but overall, the book moved along at a good clip and it was nice to read something lighter.
April 5, 2025
My social media feeds may be full of ads for all kinds of things, but I’m grateful for a Facebook ad promoting this book! This was really a fascinating book that was definitely right up my alley.
The Forager Chefs Club is a bit of a secret society. No one knows about it unless they’re involved, and the members of the Founders Circle are a mystery. But the club is committed to the practice of foraging, of celebrating the elements and foods that are local to a particular area.
The Club is hired to run a cooking competition in which the contestants must only use ingredients from Michigan—apart from three “exceptions.” Five individuals from different backgrounds are invited to participate in the competition, and winning could change the trajectory of their lives.
Eden spends most of her time cooking for her father’s mission in Detroit, and winning the competition could expand her ability to help those in need. Blaise is a culinary school graduate with immense talent and the attitude to match. Cooking is a way of connecting with his twin brother, who is on the autism spectrum.
Christian was attending culinary school until his mother got sick, and he moved back to his hometown of Flint to care for her. Celeste lives on Mackinac Island and is the youngest competitor, but she can’t find anyone to give her a chance. Daniel is a private chef raising his young son after the tragic death of his wife and is fighting his in-laws, who want custody of the boy.
If you’re a foodie, this book is for you. I loved the comprehensive discussions about foraging as well as the meals each competitor approved. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the story, and while there is a little suspense, it’s just a satisfying and hunger-inducing read!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
Check out my best reads of 2024 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2024.html.
The Forager Chefs Club is a bit of a secret society. No one knows about it unless they’re involved, and the members of the Founders Circle are a mystery. But the club is committed to the practice of foraging, of celebrating the elements and foods that are local to a particular area.
The Club is hired to run a cooking competition in which the contestants must only use ingredients from Michigan—apart from three “exceptions.” Five individuals from different backgrounds are invited to participate in the competition, and winning could change the trajectory of their lives.
Eden spends most of her time cooking for her father’s mission in Detroit, and winning the competition could expand her ability to help those in need. Blaise is a culinary school graduate with immense talent and the attitude to match. Cooking is a way of connecting with his twin brother, who is on the autism spectrum.
Christian was attending culinary school until his mother got sick, and he moved back to his hometown of Flint to care for her. Celeste lives on Mackinac Island and is the youngest competitor, but she can’t find anyone to give her a chance. Daniel is a private chef raising his young son after the tragic death of his wife and is fighting his in-laws, who want custody of the boy.
If you’re a foodie, this book is for you. I loved the comprehensive discussions about foraging as well as the meals each competitor approved. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the story, and while there is a little suspense, it’s just a satisfying and hunger-inducing read!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
Check out my best reads of 2024 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2024.html.
December 2, 2025
The Forager Chefs Club surprised me in the best possible way. I went in expecting a warm, food-centered novel and found something far more layered, a story about identity, resilience, and the quiet ways people heal when they’re finally given room to be seen. Rita Mace Walston brings together five characters whose lives couldn’t be more different, yet each one is shaped by hunger that goes beyond food: hunger for belonging, for redemption, for a place to stand on their own terms.
What struck me most is how compassionately each character is drawn. Celeste’s sheltered upbringing, Christian’s caregiving grief, Blaise’s complicated bond with his brother, Eden’s steadfast pride, Daniel’s desperate fight for his daughter, these aren’t dramatic plot points but deeply human scars, and Walston treats them with a gentleness that feels rare. The cooking competition is tense and cleverly constructed, but the real heat comes from the emotional stakes simmering underneath. You can feel the pressure, the unspoken rivalry, the fragile alliances that form when people chase the same dream for very different reasons.
The book also has a rooted sense of place, whether we’re in a city fighting to stay alive or an island shaped by alternative living, the settings feel lived-in. And the foraging insights sprinkled throughout aren’t gimmicks; they remind us that food is memory, history, and survival. By the time I turned the last page, I had the sense that the dishes being created were reflections of the characters themselves: imperfect, humble, but full of life.
This is the kind of story that feeds both heart and mind. It’s tender without being sentimental, honest without being heavy, and ultimately hopeful. I closed the book feeling full in the best way grateful, reflective, and a little more aware of the stories people carry quietly behind their craft.
What struck me most is how compassionately each character is drawn. Celeste’s sheltered upbringing, Christian’s caregiving grief, Blaise’s complicated bond with his brother, Eden’s steadfast pride, Daniel’s desperate fight for his daughter, these aren’t dramatic plot points but deeply human scars, and Walston treats them with a gentleness that feels rare. The cooking competition is tense and cleverly constructed, but the real heat comes from the emotional stakes simmering underneath. You can feel the pressure, the unspoken rivalry, the fragile alliances that form when people chase the same dream for very different reasons.
The book also has a rooted sense of place, whether we’re in a city fighting to stay alive or an island shaped by alternative living, the settings feel lived-in. And the foraging insights sprinkled throughout aren’t gimmicks; they remind us that food is memory, history, and survival. By the time I turned the last page, I had the sense that the dishes being created were reflections of the characters themselves: imperfect, humble, but full of life.
This is the kind of story that feeds both heart and mind. It’s tender without being sentimental, honest without being heavy, and ultimately hopeful. I closed the book feeling full in the best way grateful, reflective, and a little more aware of the stories people carry quietly behind their craft.
September 22, 2024
Five people's lives are about to change as they are approached by a mysterious man with an invitation to join an elite cooking club. Along with that invitation to join the club, they are also to participate in a thrilling goût de terroir contest; each brings their own motivations and unique histories to the table, which could either propel them to success or present obstacles along the way.
Just like slow food, this book has an unhurried pace of reading. Adding the tasty ingredients of foraging tips, cooking insights, and even complete recipes, Walston grants the reader a full membership in the “F.C.C”.
The book is written from the mobile standpoint of five main characters (plus some supporting ones), providing the reader with a depth of understanding into every character.
As the five are revealed and the contest progresses in intensity, we enjoy the author’s human touch, savory turn of phrase, and her own new passion for foraging. The Forager Chefs Club is like a dinner with friends, easy, with an awareness of secrets both spoken and unspoken, and the gentle goodbye of a poignant departure. Bon appetit!
Just like slow food, this book has an unhurried pace of reading. Adding the tasty ingredients of foraging tips, cooking insights, and even complete recipes, Walston grants the reader a full membership in the “F.C.C”.
The book is written from the mobile standpoint of five main characters (plus some supporting ones), providing the reader with a depth of understanding into every character.
As the five are revealed and the contest progresses in intensity, we enjoy the author’s human touch, savory turn of phrase, and her own new passion for foraging. The Forager Chefs Club is like a dinner with friends, easy, with an awareness of secrets both spoken and unspoken, and the gentle goodbye of a poignant departure. Bon appetit!
February 13, 2025
**The Forager Chef's Club: A Delightful Culinary Adventure**
If you have a passion for cooking, foraging, or the beautiful state of Michigan, "The Forager Chef's Club" is a must-read. This book cleverly intertwines the excitement of a cooking competition with the joy of discovering wild ingredients in the Michigan wilds. The narrative's heart lies in its vivid depiction of the characters and their culinary journeys, making it an engaging and fast-paced read once the introductions are complete.
One of the standout features of this book is the cooking competition, which brings an element of fun and creativity. It's easy to imagine how this could be adapted into a "basket ingredient" challenge for the popular TV show, Chopped. The idea of contestants foraging for their ingredients before creating their dishes adds a unique twist that would certainly captivate audiences.
Overall, "The Forager Chef's Club" surprises and delights, offering readers a fresh perspective on the world of cooking and foraging. It's a fantastic read for anyone who loves to cook, enjoys the outdoors, or appreciates a well-crafted, fast-paced story. Highly recommended!
If you have a passion for cooking, foraging, or the beautiful state of Michigan, "The Forager Chef's Club" is a must-read. This book cleverly intertwines the excitement of a cooking competition with the joy of discovering wild ingredients in the Michigan wilds. The narrative's heart lies in its vivid depiction of the characters and their culinary journeys, making it an engaging and fast-paced read once the introductions are complete.
One of the standout features of this book is the cooking competition, which brings an element of fun and creativity. It's easy to imagine how this could be adapted into a "basket ingredient" challenge for the popular TV show, Chopped. The idea of contestants foraging for their ingredients before creating their dishes adds a unique twist that would certainly captivate audiences.
Overall, "The Forager Chef's Club" surprises and delights, offering readers a fresh perspective on the world of cooking and foraging. It's a fantastic read for anyone who loves to cook, enjoys the outdoors, or appreciates a well-crafted, fast-paced story. Highly recommended!
June 27, 2025
I don't usually write reviews, but every once in a while a book comes along that I love too much to keep to myself and The Forager Chef's Club is one of those rare gems. This story checked so many boxes for me. As someone who loves spending time in nature, has a growing interest in foraging, and finds joy in cooking, I knew this book would resonate with me from the start.
It’s beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that transported me into the various settings of the story. The characters felt real and relatable, and I found myself truly caring about them as the story unfolded.
As a Michigander, I especially loved that the story takes place in Michigan and includes so many details about my home state—it added a special layer of connection and pride that made the book even more meaningful to me.
Whether you’re into wild food, heartfelt stories, or just enjoy a good read that nourishes the soul, I highly recommend this book. It kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I already know I’ll be coming back to it again.
It’s beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that transported me into the various settings of the story. The characters felt real and relatable, and I found myself truly caring about them as the story unfolded.
As a Michigander, I especially loved that the story takes place in Michigan and includes so many details about my home state—it added a special layer of connection and pride that made the book even more meaningful to me.
Whether you’re into wild food, heartfelt stories, or just enjoy a good read that nourishes the soul, I highly recommend this book. It kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I already know I’ll be coming back to it again.
May 27, 2025
Foragers Chef Club is a beautifully written and immersive story that lingers long after the last page. One of the most remarkable aspects of the book is how the forest feels like a character in its own right—alive, mysterious, and deeply woven into the journey of the characters. The vivid descriptions and sensory details made me feel as though I was walking among the trees, foraging alongside the characters, and tasting every wild-crafted dish they prepared.
Our book club was especially lucky to have the author join us for a discussion, which brought even more depth to the experience. Hearing about the inspiration behind the story and the real-life knowledge of foraging and cooking that shaped it made us all appreciate the book even more. It sparked thoughtful conversations and left us inspired to look at the natural world a little differently.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves nature, food, and stories that nourish both the heart and the imagination.
Our book club was especially lucky to have the author join us for a discussion, which brought even more depth to the experience. Hearing about the inspiration behind the story and the real-life knowledge of foraging and cooking that shaped it made us all appreciate the book even more. It sparked thoughtful conversations and left us inspired to look at the natural world a little differently.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves nature, food, and stories that nourish both the heart and the imagination.
November 16, 2025
Chosen for the Massachusetts Center for the Book 2025 reading challenge:
November: A cookbook or book about food
Really Good! Some of the cooking terms were over my head but the descriptions of the foraged ingredients, the recipe in progress and the final menus brought visuals and taste to life. I loved the overall idea of a contest like this and the relationships that formed among the contestants. A very enjoyable read.
November: A cookbook or book about food
Really Good! Some of the cooking terms were over my head but the descriptions of the foraged ingredients, the recipe in progress and the final menus brought visuals and taste to life. I loved the overall idea of a contest like this and the relationships that formed among the contestants. A very enjoyable read.
November 13, 2024
A true “Pure Michigan” story featuring several interesting characters involved in a cooking competition. The reader experiences their conflicts, challenges, disappointments and accomplishments in this book with a very mysterious overtone. The author really brings out the individual personalities. Add a star if you enjoy reading about the science of cooking with natural local ingredients.
February 13, 2025
Treat yourself to this fun, delicious journey. Five people from different areas and backgrounds in Michigan are selected to compete in a foraging cooking competition.
The well developed, easy to like characters introduce the reader to different Michigan locations. Each contestant is chooses by blind draw a month to forage Michigan for the ingredients for their competition menu.
The well developed, easy to like characters introduce the reader to different Michigan locations. Each contestant is chooses by blind draw a month to forage Michigan for the ingredients for their competition menu.
April 22, 2025
This was a lovely read. Get to know these characters and the places in Michigan they represent. While not an overly long book, the author manages to fully emotionally engage the reader with the depth of each character, the arc of the plot and the lush descriptions of the dishes they create.
June 2, 2025
What a good read! If you like the Food Network and their contests, you will like this book. You get to know the characters really well and are rooting for your favorite. There is also the whole foraging aspect. So interesting. And of course there is a twist.
October 22, 2025
I didn’t expect to cry over a bowl of soup, but here we are. The Forager Chefs Club isn’t just about cooking it’s about healing, forgiving, and finding your way back to yourself. Celeste and Christian’s journey hit me right in the gut.
November 11, 2025
What a delightful book! I felt a connection to each of the characters and wanted (almost) all of them to win the contest, for different reasons. The food descriptions were delectable. A very fun read!
December 28, 2024
Great way to learn about foraging and cooking, plus some great characters.
January 10, 2025
This book is about food and Michigan. What not to love?
February 16, 2025
Pleasantly surprised by this one. Really good storyline and characters. Enjoyed learning more about forging and cooking at the same time. Also left me wanting more.
March 22, 2025
Wonderful fictional read and I was happy to see the author included some recipes.
April 2, 2025
I liked characters and their growth and development. I like the setting and the idea of a foraging cooking club. Some of the food and recipes described made me hungry as I read.
April 14, 2025
If you appreciate locally sourced, grown, and produced ingredients, this is a mouthwatering fun and easy read!
June 2, 2025
cutie little story, loved the foodie and foraging highlights! not a super enthralling book but enjoyed it for what it was and a nice easy read
July 11, 2025
Fantastic
If you enjoy cooking and/or foraging you must read this book. A cooking competition with a twist, and a hint of sweet romance.
I hope there's a book 2
If you enjoy cooking and/or foraging you must read this book. A cooking competition with a twist, and a hint of sweet romance.
I hope there's a book 2
August 3, 2025
Well written. Charming story. Enjoyed the Michigan references and foods.
October 22, 2025
The writing is lush, almost edible. Every page feels like it’s simmering with something regret, love, hope. I could practically smell the forest herbs and hear the clatter of pots.
October 22, 2025
“Beautifully written, though a bit slow at first.”
It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm, but once I did, I was hooked. The emotional payoff at the end was absolutely worth it.
It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm, but once I did, I was hooked. The emotional payoff at the end was absolutely worth it.
October 22, 2025
This book made me see food differently as memory, confession, and connection. I kept highlighting lines just for the poetry of them.
October 22, 2025
There’s something incredibly intimate about this story. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but it lingers. I felt every emotion like heat from a kitchen stove.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews