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A White House Chef Mystery #8
All the President's Menus
It’s an old adage that too many cooks spoil the broth. But when a tour of the White House kitchen by a group of foreign chefs ends in murder, it’s Olivia Paras who finds herself in the soup…
Due to a government sequester, entertaining at the White House has been severely curtailed. So executive chef Olivia Paras is delighted to hear that plans are still on to welcome a presidential candidate from the country of Saardisca—the first woman to run for office—and four of that nation’s top chefs.
But while leading the chefs on a kitchen tour, pastry chef Marcel passes out suddenly—and later claims he was drugged. When one of the visiting chefs collapses and dies, it’s clear someone has infiltrated the White House with ill intent. Could it be an anti-Saardiscan zealot? Is the candidate a target? Are the foreign chefs keeping more than their recipes a secret? Once again, Olivia must make sleuthing the special of the day…
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
132 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
About the author
Julie Hyzy
46 books875 followersNew York Times bestselling author, Julie Hyzy, has won the Anthony, Barry, Phobos, and Derringer Awards for her fiction.
Novels include:
Virtual Sabotage
The White House Chef Mystery series
The Manor House Mysteries
Deadly Blessings
Deadly Interest
Dead Ringer
Artistic License
Playing With Matches
Visit:
www.juliehyzy.com
Novels include:
Virtual Sabotage
The White House Chef Mystery series
The Manor House Mysteries
Deadly Blessings
Deadly Interest
Dead Ringer
Artistic License
Playing With Matches
Visit:
www.juliehyzy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
July 12, 2024
This is a wonderful series but this book is lacking not only by its own merit but also when compared to the other books that came before it in this series. One of the favorite characters is hardly in this, the plot is slow and it’s easy to figure out who did it. The personal life drama was a bit much and felt out of place to happen right away. The book also has a few problems with the timeline. The current president has only been in charge about a year maybe a year and a half but they make it seem longer. I know that there was issues with this series, the author and the publishing firm so I wonder if I’m feel that in this book..
February 5, 2025
Sadly, this story fell well below my expectations after reading the first seven stories. I disliked it from beginning to end. The visiting characters, the plot—I was simply disappointed.
January 28, 2015
A great read, although not quite as good as the last four. I think it's because I just didn't connect with the made-up country, although she did an excellent job with it. But I loved the last scene in Blair House and I loved the way she opened up future opportunities for Olivia and Gav - I can easily see this series eventually veering off in a totally new direction. One of the best series out there at the moment.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/109683...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/109683...
January 23, 2015
There's never a dull moment in the White House with Chef Olivia Paras as executive chef in the White House Kitchen. There's a sequester going on at the White House so entertaining, planning and excuteing White House dinners has been cut short for the time being.
When a canditate for President from the country of Saardisca, A woman who is running for President and four top chefs from that country are to be guests at the White House for a dinner and the chefs will be guests in the White House Kitchen. The kitchen is now on high alert.
The chefs are to stay for two weeks working with Chef Olivia and the White House Kitchen Staff . Tensions are high in the kitchen but Olivia and her staff try their best to work with the chefs. Olivia starts to have suspicions of wrong doing when Pastry Chef, Marcel suddenly passes out and then later claimed to have been drugged.
Preparations for a dinner with the Saardisca Presidential Canditate are underway. Then one of the Saardisian Chef's suddenly collapses and dies in the White House kitchen. Dinner with the presidents can come at a high cost if the murder plot cannot be solved. Olivia makes it her mission to find the truth or her well prepared and exquisite dinner with the two president's will be in the weeds.
Tenasious and passionate, Chef Olivia Paras never disappoints. I love the inner working of the White House kitchen and how beautifully conveyed Author Julie Hyzy writes Olivia's character and in describing the food they prepare. It is no secret this is a favorite series of mine and I find it hard to find the words to describe how much I love it. From beginning to end action like usual for this series for yet another savory trip to the White house Kitchen and of Chef Olivia Paras and all the intriguing characters. Like me, You will never want this series to end. I highly anticipate reading and reviewing the next one.
January 16, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I absolutely devoured this book!
We all learned about the word sequester not too long ago so it is perfect that Julie Hyzy takes us inside the White House to see how it effects Ollie’s kitchen. Most events were cancelled but their commitment to Saardisca could not be delayed or cancelled. Soon Ollie’s kitchen is boiling over with visiting chefs from there and trying to plan a dinner for woman trying to become its President. Things do not go smoothly as pastry chef Marcel is out of commission and one of the visiting chefs dies. Ollie can’t understand a word of Saardiscan but she knows that is the key to catching the killer and getting her kitchen back to normal.
This story picks up with Ollie and Gav settling into married life and him returning to work at The White House. They also have an opportunity presented to them that may be too good to refuse.
I love the entire cast of characters in this series! Ollie has grown comfortable in her position as executive chef but she still jumps when Chief Usher, Peter Sergeant, shows up in her kitchen. His arrival usually means trouble for her and her staff. Gav is finally back to work. Virgil is missing from the kitchen, but an angry Saardiscan chef takes his place. In fact all the Saardiscan visitors are interesting, each in a different way. Saardisca is a fictional country but it seems to be on the verge of some big changes especially if a woman is elected to be their new President.
I also enjoyed that we visited Blair House on our trip to Washington D.C. We can only see pictures of the extraordinary place so many dignitaries stay. Hyzy brings it to life for all of us from the kitchen to the myriad of stairways and hallways that connect all the beautiful rooms.
This is one of the best cozy mystery series available today. I have loved each and every story and am always anxious for the arrival of the next book. It will be the first book I read in 2016!!!
December 29, 2018
This is billed as a cozy mystery, which is not my favorite genre, but I have to say it was much better than expected.
One of the White House Chef Mysteries, the book opens as the White House Chef, Ollie, is preparing for a visiting group of 4 chefs from Saardisca, who are coming immediately prior to a visit from one of the candidates for President of Saardisca. (Don’t bother trying to figure out where Saardisca is --- it is fictional.)
The visiting chefs arrive, and we learn that most of them do not speak English, and the ones that do speak English choose to speak their language in the kitchen, leading to tension. Strange events start happening, and it appears someone is involved in a murder plot.
The novel is quite well written and enjoyable, but I did take exception to the idea that four chefs from a not necessarily “friendly” country would be allowed to prepare meals for White House staff and visitors. But what do I know? Maybe this happens every other week in the White House. The novel is a little more “gritty” than I thought cozy mysteries usually were, but it is still quite mild. I recommend it to everyone.
One of the White House Chef Mysteries, the book opens as the White House Chef, Ollie, is preparing for a visiting group of 4 chefs from Saardisca, who are coming immediately prior to a visit from one of the candidates for President of Saardisca. (Don’t bother trying to figure out where Saardisca is --- it is fictional.)
The visiting chefs arrive, and we learn that most of them do not speak English, and the ones that do speak English choose to speak their language in the kitchen, leading to tension. Strange events start happening, and it appears someone is involved in a murder plot.
The novel is quite well written and enjoyable, but I did take exception to the idea that four chefs from a not necessarily “friendly” country would be allowed to prepare meals for White House staff and visitors. But what do I know? Maybe this happens every other week in the White House. The novel is a little more “gritty” than I thought cozy mysteries usually were, but it is still quite mild. I recommend it to everyone.
March 30, 2015
This book lives up to the high expectations I now have for this series and I loved reading it!
This book was a bit different than the other books in the fact that there is a fictional country that's given a starring role in the book. I'd heard reviews saying that the nation was the downpoint of the book, but I thought Ms. Hyzy did the best she possibly could with making a fictional country and trying to make it believable in a piece of fiction.
I loved the fact that we got to see more of Marcel in this book. In the last few books you barely even heard about him, let alone saw him, but in this book he is moved to a more of a center stage.
A great book that leaves a personal problem for Ollie. I'm excited for the next one!
This book was a bit different than the other books in the fact that there is a fictional country that's given a starring role in the book. I'd heard reviews saying that the nation was the downpoint of the book, but I thought Ms. Hyzy did the best she possibly could with making a fictional country and trying to make it believable in a piece of fiction.
I loved the fact that we got to see more of Marcel in this book. In the last few books you barely even heard about him, let alone saw him, but in this book he is moved to a more of a center stage.
A great book that leaves a personal problem for Ollie. I'm excited for the next one!
March 4, 2015
I'm willing to suspend disbelief for mystery series involving amateur sleuths. I have no problem with that. But if the Secret Service were really to dismiss Ollie's concerns about all the weird goings-on in the kitchen since the Saardiscan chefs arrived, I would be very concerned for the safety of our top officials! The way they ignored all the odd medical things was just ridiculous. It made it hard for me to enjoy the characters and plot, because my brain just kept intruding: "Seriously? Give me a break." Hoping the next one is back up to the series standards.
January 25, 2015
Hyzy returns to the kitchens of the White House for another Ollie Paras mystery, sure to pique the various buds of the curious reader. When a chef foursome from Saardisca arrive for a two-week learning experience, Executive Chef Paras is sure she's bitten off more than she can chew. The president is negotiating the end to a spending freeze, in which all non-essential staff are on furlough, leaving Paras to run things on a cheesecloth budget . Faced with a collection of misogynistic sentiment from the Saardiscans, Paras must work through the issues and try to teach these four men the ins and outs of White House culinary experiences. When two chefs fall victim to food poisoning, one fatally, Paras begins sleuthing and hopes to get to the root of the issue, all while Saardisca's first viable presidential alternative, a woman at that, is touring the US and spending time in Washington. If that were not enough, Paras's new husband, Gav, receives some enticing news that might change the future for everyone involved. Hyzy entertains and intrigues all while keeping her series reading regulars happy as can be.
Those who have read and followed my Hyzy reviews in the past will know that I have a soft spot for her writing. While it is nothing stellar, its pace and flow makes it easy to digest. There are the odd hokey moments, but Hyzy redeems herself with attention to detail and unique ideas. Pitting most, if not all, of the story within the White House adds a certain spice to the tale that keeps the reader wondering how much is fiction and where reality might be added to the literary roux. Decadent, but not too heavy, this is the perfect novel to keep the sleuth in everyone from wilting.
Kudos, Madam Hyzy! Another successful White House Chefs novel, with just the right amount of je ne sais quoi.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Those who have read and followed my Hyzy reviews in the past will know that I have a soft spot for her writing. While it is nothing stellar, its pace and flow makes it easy to digest. There are the odd hokey moments, but Hyzy redeems herself with attention to detail and unique ideas. Pitting most, if not all, of the story within the White House adds a certain spice to the tale that keeps the reader wondering how much is fiction and where reality might be added to the literary roux. Decadent, but not too heavy, this is the perfect novel to keep the sleuth in everyone from wilting.
Kudos, Madam Hyzy! Another successful White House Chefs novel, with just the right amount of je ne sais quoi.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 6, 2015
All the President's Menus is the eighth book in the A White House Chef Mystery series.
Another wonderful book from Julie Hyzy and five stars aren't enough for this book.
The government has been sequestered and Chef Ollie is managing the kitchen with a reduced staff, when she is informed that the candidate for President of Saardisca will be visiting The White House and that four of that country's top chefs.
Once the chef's arrive, Chef Ollie can see that this will be a challenge for her reduced staff. Kilian, the chef that is the lead chef of the group seems to be easy to work with, while Tibor who has a problem with Ollie being in charge of the kitchen and is sure that it is some form of American propaganda. While Hector and Nate seem to be easy to work with, but the fact that they spend a good deal of time talking in their own language is a bit discerning to Ollie. Then when Ollie's chief pastry chef, Marcel collapses in the kitchen, Ollie begins to wonder if the visiting chefs had anything to do with it. Working with s short staff, she doesn't have time for this and starts to do a little sleuthing. Surprisingly she does get a little, very little, help from the Chief Usher and from Tom, head of the WH Secret Service detail.
Things are going well for the newlyweds. I love all of Hyzy's books and am definitely looking forward to the next in this series. Hoping to Cyan back in the White House kitchen and the same for Josh, the son of the President. It's so nice to see a child that isn't playing a hand held game every chance they get.
Another wonderful book from Julie Hyzy and five stars aren't enough for this book.
The government has been sequestered and Chef Ollie is managing the kitchen with a reduced staff, when she is informed that the candidate for President of Saardisca will be visiting The White House and that four of that country's top chefs.
Once the chef's arrive, Chef Ollie can see that this will be a challenge for her reduced staff. Kilian, the chef that is the lead chef of the group seems to be easy to work with, while Tibor who has a problem with Ollie being in charge of the kitchen and is sure that it is some form of American propaganda. While Hector and Nate seem to be easy to work with, but the fact that they spend a good deal of time talking in their own language is a bit discerning to Ollie. Then when Ollie's chief pastry chef, Marcel collapses in the kitchen, Ollie begins to wonder if the visiting chefs had anything to do with it. Working with s short staff, she doesn't have time for this and starts to do a little sleuthing. Surprisingly she does get a little, very little, help from the Chief Usher and from Tom, head of the WH Secret Service detail.
Things are going well for the newlyweds. I love all of Hyzy's books and am definitely looking forward to the next in this series. Hoping to Cyan back in the White House kitchen and the same for Josh, the son of the President. It's so nice to see a child that isn't playing a hand held game every chance they get.
June 26, 2017
Olivia Para is the executive chef of the White House where there is never a dull moment. A highlight coming up for her team is planning the menus associated with the visit of the first woman presidential candidate of the country of Saardisca. They will also be entertaining the top four chefs of the country.
Things do not go too smoothly because of language differences and cultural differences between the visiting chefs and the White House kitchen staff. They are not used to seeing too many women chefs in their country and certainly not having a woman give them directions. When Marcel, the White House pastry chef passes out and has to be taken to the hospital, he insists that someone poisoned him and then a tragic event happens to one of the visiting chefs. Concerns about the visiting presidential candidate are front and center. Once more, Ollie and friends have a mystery to solve.
I always enjoy hearing about the menus and workings of the White House kitchen. It is interesting to see how strict the security is and how the protocol works with the White House and the private residency. When the dinner honoring the presidential candidate was held at the Blair House, there was a lot of background history about it that I found very fascinating. This is another fun read by Julie Hyzy.
Things do not go too smoothly because of language differences and cultural differences between the visiting chefs and the White House kitchen staff. They are not used to seeing too many women chefs in their country and certainly not having a woman give them directions. When Marcel, the White House pastry chef passes out and has to be taken to the hospital, he insists that someone poisoned him and then a tragic event happens to one of the visiting chefs. Concerns about the visiting presidential candidate are front and center. Once more, Ollie and friends have a mystery to solve.
I always enjoy hearing about the menus and workings of the White House kitchen. It is interesting to see how strict the security is and how the protocol works with the White House and the private residency. When the dinner honoring the presidential candidate was held at the Blair House, there was a lot of background history about it that I found very fascinating. This is another fun read by Julie Hyzy.
January 24, 2015
I often wonder if things are as exciting in the White House as they are for Olivia Paras, our fictional White House Chef. In this book Ollie is trying to cope with a reduction in her staff and run her kitchen as smoothly as usual. But of course we know from the rest of the series this can not happen. Olivia is sent four chefs from Saardisca and she must now cope with them and their foreign ways. To top this off she is informed that the presidential candidate from Saardisca is coming for a state visit and of course this means a state diner. And than strange things start happening in Ollie's kitchen. And therefore all the excitement begins and Ollie jumps into action.
April 17, 2015
One of my favorite series, and while this wasn't a bad read, it's by far my least favorite in the series to date. As some of my other reading buddies mentioned, I believe the "made up" country was a big part of what I didn't like. A visit with Ollie, Gav & company is never time wasted, but I'll hope this was just one small falter in an otherwise stellar series. I'd still recommend it to any one who follows the series.
January 20, 2015
Ollie is at it again! There is never a dull moment in the White House with chef Olivia Paras around.
Ollie finds herself working teaching and learning from four chefs from another country who are a challenge. Strange things start to happen and that does not sit well with Ollie.
The action in this story will have you not wanting to put the book down.
Lots of recipes in the back.
Can not wait for the next book in this amazing series!
Ollie finds herself working teaching and learning from four chefs from another country who are a challenge. Strange things start to happen and that does not sit well with Ollie.
The action in this story will have you not wanting to put the book down.
Lots of recipes in the back.
Can not wait for the next book in this amazing series!
November 11, 2014
Omg I could not put this book down!!! I have followed this series from the beginning and I always fall more in love with it! I don't do spoilers, but I will say that this All The President's Menus is a must read!! Not to mention that the recipes are always delectable :). Julie Hyzy is a very talented writer and I hope for way more books to come!!
November 6, 2014
I thought this book a grand slam! It has Ollie the cook who is just so cute and smart she really takes the cake. The other characters have charm and are so mysterious that you won't want to put the book down. This was my first read by this author and I plan to read all of her books just spot on for a great read!
January 13, 2015
I didn't find the mystery in this one as intriguing as past installments, but I always enjoy spending time with Ollie and her crew.
July 14, 2017
Another truly enjoyable read from Hyzy! The writing is clean, fresh and strong. Love the plot twists (especially the ending!). Hope for more!
Read
November 27, 2018Great series. Really missed reading this series.
December 27, 2020
Another clever book in this series which I enjoyed reading.
July 12, 2019
Loved it!
November 4, 2020
I love this series and am sad I only have 1 book left to read. This one didn't disappoint. As always no one is going to get away with anything in Ollie's kitchen. I didn't like the sequester as it seemed some favorite characters weren't around. I did like that Marcel (and his creations) were featured a bit more. The mystery was good and I was kept guessing as to what was going on. The ending as always was exciting. Recipes are included at the end.
January 15, 2026
Even though these books need a serious suspension of disbelief, I do like them.
February 9, 2021
There is a government sequester and the White House has cut the dining room staff since entertaining at the White House has been curtailed. Olivia Paras finds out that a Saardisca presidential candidate is going to visit as well as four chefs from that country. Pastry chef Marcel passes out twice, the first time due to a pill overdose and the second time he claims to be drugged. Later, one of the visiting chefs collapses and dies. Olivia suspects not all is right and keeps her eyes and ears out for anything amiss. I am using this for my Possessive Noun title in What's in a name challenge.
You do not have to read the books that come before this one to enjoy the mystery.
You do not have to read the books that come before this one to enjoy the mystery.
December 14, 2024
All the President's Menus by Julie Hyzy is the 8th book of the White House Chef mystery series set in Washington D.C. At last, White House Executive Chef Olivia "Ollie" Paras is happily married to her beloved Special Agent Gavin of the Secret Service.
Work in the White House kitchen has slowed down. Ollie's friend and fellow chef Cyan is on a temporary layoff. We were in the middle of a government sequester. State dinners had been delayed, parties canceled, and visitors put off until our country's leadership got their act together.
Pastry cook Marcel was still busy. The president recognized how effective a tray full of expertly crafted and lick-your-fingers-clean pastries could be at the bargaining table.
Ollie and Peter Sargeant, once constantly knocking heads, now get along fairly well. Over the years I'd come to accept his personality. I appreciated the fact that I could depend on him for support when I needed it, but on a day-to-day basis, I found dealing with his persnickety attitude to be more than a bit tedious. Sargeant arrives in the White House kitchen to make an announcement. He wore his customary squirrel-alert expression. It's partly welcome news: an upcoming official dinner to welcome a presidential candidate from Saardisca (first woman to run for office), and partly unwelcome news: 4 chefs from Saardisca will join Ollie in the kitchen.
The foreign chefs clearly view Ollie with disdain. In their culture, women do not have important jobs. In a heartbeat, I knew this was going to be a long couple of weeks. As much as I wanted to fire off a retort, I held back. I needed to remain tactful. More important, I needed to maintain control. Until I got to know these visitors a little bit better I couldn't risk offending them.
I'd learned early on that crusty people often used their crabby demeanor to mask insecurities.
This mezzanine-level work area, which was always tight, felt overwhelmingly warm today with the addition of four sizeable Saardiscans. Their tangy body odor made me wonder how often they bathed.
Killian was the lead chef of the group. His baldness, ample girth, and cheeks blazing with broken blood vessels gave him the appearance of a well-fed, successful businessman.
The official dinner is to take place at Blair House, an opulent residence on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White House. It was purchased by the United States during World War II when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt decided that guests were best accommodated elsewhere. Legend has it that this determination was made after Eleanor Roosevelt happened upon frequent guest Winston Churchill wandering the White House corridors at three in the morning, looking for Franklin to chat with.
Ollie becomes suspicious of the frequent conversations between the foreign chefs in their language. There were times I believed I could understand anyone, no matter the language. Body movement, tone, and expression all combine to provide context. This was not one of those times. Killian's smile rose and fell quickly in that fake way people do when they're working hard to minimize tension.
When Marcel breaks an arm, Ollie protests the decision by "higher-ups" to put Killian in charge. I paced in a small circle, my anger compelling me to move, to fight for what I knew was right. I was so full of fury I didn't know where to begin.
On the "home front"....Gav returns home from a visit with Bill and Erma, so close they're surrogate parents. Ollie is delighted he's home. After years of dining alone at my kitchen table, the prospect of cooking for someone I loved seemed like a great gift. Ollie flat out adores Gav. If only he could see himself the way I saw him. Compared to most men his age, Gav was a fine specimen. He was tall, slim but not emaciated, and when he took his shirt off my breath caught at the sight of muscles the rest of the world didn't get to see. The man was beautiful. In every sense of the word.
After an incident in the White House kitchen, Ollie expresses her growing doubts and suspicions at home. Gav's grave look of concern and his unwavering faith in me made my heart skip a beat. He never shut me down, never told me I was being foolish. Quite the contrary: He actually encouraged my curiosity. I'd hoped that once we'd settled down, we wouldn't have to deal with criminal or conspiratorial issues anymore. But given our jobs, I supposed there were hundreds of things going on around us every day that I was unaware of. I should be grateful that we only became involved in the few we did.
Gav agrees to have the substance Ollie is concerned about tested. "You know that flowers, candy, and jewelry don't make me swoon. But ooh, when you whisper words like forensics, I get goose bumps."
When Ollie discovers the substance has disappeared, others in the White House are ready to listen to her suspicions. "Your instincts tell you that something is amiss. And your instincts haven't failed you yet, have they?"
One of the foreign chefs dies. His country forbids the US to perform an autopsy, sends another man to Ollie's kitchen. Not a chef, but an overseer. Sargeant's assistant Margaret is full of herself, tries to prevent Ollie from meeting with Peter (to learn of the overseer), even though Peter requested it. "It's a wise person who can expand her mind enough to appreciate another's challenges, even when they differ from her own." It took her half a second to understand that I'd mocked her. Ollie's right-hand chef Bucky applauds her spunk. "Good for you, boss. Where does she get off telling us our jobs? I'd give her one day--no, one hour--in the kitchen. She'd be reduced to a useless puddle of whining goo in no time."
Ollie doesn't like the presence of the foreign overseer one bit. She tries a scheme to find out what the foreign-language conversations are about. It backfires. She tries another, which leads to her being attacked on the street at night. But she has the evidence of foul play, captured on a trusty old-school recorder. A few minutes of attention were all the device needed to get it up and running--or whirring--again. Its technology might be woefully behind the times, but this little gem was sturdy, having been manufactured before planned obsolescence became industry standard.
The attackers are apprehended and detained. Plans for the Blair House dinner go on. During the final preparation of the meal, Sargeant appears. "Chef Paras," he began, "there has been a change for dinner this evening." "Change?" This came mere seconds after I'd predicted success. When would I learn?
During the dinner, highly observant Ollie sees behavior that does not make sense. She knows she must alert the President at once. If interrupting the dinner causes her to lose her job, so be it. She might save lives. To characterize the flurry of activity that followed as an exercise in terror would be to minimize its impact on everyone affected.
On the home front...Gav has been offered an opportunity. He hesitates to refuse. However it would significantly change both of their lives. Ollie is startled, yet tentatively supportive. "Last time I checked we were in this together," I said. "And you know me. I'm always up for adventure."
More Fave Quotes:
"Computer screens don't magically deliver better news, no matter how hard you frown at them."
"Being on the world stage changes everything. Every single step, every single action we take, can be scrutinized, analyzed, and criticized."
"His personality still rankles and there are times I'm tempted to bait him into an argument just for the fun of it, but there's no denying he's dependable and good at his job."
Recipes: Chicken Pita Sandwiches, Fall Harvest Quinoa and Chicken Soup, Pecan-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Orange-Maple Glaze, Squash Soup, Marinated Top Sirloin, Homemade Granola, Marcel's Famous Chocolate Drink
Work in the White House kitchen has slowed down. Ollie's friend and fellow chef Cyan is on a temporary layoff. We were in the middle of a government sequester. State dinners had been delayed, parties canceled, and visitors put off until our country's leadership got their act together.
Pastry cook Marcel was still busy. The president recognized how effective a tray full of expertly crafted and lick-your-fingers-clean pastries could be at the bargaining table.
Ollie and Peter Sargeant, once constantly knocking heads, now get along fairly well. Over the years I'd come to accept his personality. I appreciated the fact that I could depend on him for support when I needed it, but on a day-to-day basis, I found dealing with his persnickety attitude to be more than a bit tedious. Sargeant arrives in the White House kitchen to make an announcement. He wore his customary squirrel-alert expression. It's partly welcome news: an upcoming official dinner to welcome a presidential candidate from Saardisca (first woman to run for office), and partly unwelcome news: 4 chefs from Saardisca will join Ollie in the kitchen.
The foreign chefs clearly view Ollie with disdain. In their culture, women do not have important jobs. In a heartbeat, I knew this was going to be a long couple of weeks. As much as I wanted to fire off a retort, I held back. I needed to remain tactful. More important, I needed to maintain control. Until I got to know these visitors a little bit better I couldn't risk offending them.
I'd learned early on that crusty people often used their crabby demeanor to mask insecurities.
This mezzanine-level work area, which was always tight, felt overwhelmingly warm today with the addition of four sizeable Saardiscans. Their tangy body odor made me wonder how often they bathed.
Killian was the lead chef of the group. His baldness, ample girth, and cheeks blazing with broken blood vessels gave him the appearance of a well-fed, successful businessman.
The official dinner is to take place at Blair House, an opulent residence on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White House. It was purchased by the United States during World War II when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt decided that guests were best accommodated elsewhere. Legend has it that this determination was made after Eleanor Roosevelt happened upon frequent guest Winston Churchill wandering the White House corridors at three in the morning, looking for Franklin to chat with.
Ollie becomes suspicious of the frequent conversations between the foreign chefs in their language. There were times I believed I could understand anyone, no matter the language. Body movement, tone, and expression all combine to provide context. This was not one of those times. Killian's smile rose and fell quickly in that fake way people do when they're working hard to minimize tension.
When Marcel breaks an arm, Ollie protests the decision by "higher-ups" to put Killian in charge. I paced in a small circle, my anger compelling me to move, to fight for what I knew was right. I was so full of fury I didn't know where to begin.
On the "home front"....Gav returns home from a visit with Bill and Erma, so close they're surrogate parents. Ollie is delighted he's home. After years of dining alone at my kitchen table, the prospect of cooking for someone I loved seemed like a great gift. Ollie flat out adores Gav. If only he could see himself the way I saw him. Compared to most men his age, Gav was a fine specimen. He was tall, slim but not emaciated, and when he took his shirt off my breath caught at the sight of muscles the rest of the world didn't get to see. The man was beautiful. In every sense of the word.
After an incident in the White House kitchen, Ollie expresses her growing doubts and suspicions at home. Gav's grave look of concern and his unwavering faith in me made my heart skip a beat. He never shut me down, never told me I was being foolish. Quite the contrary: He actually encouraged my curiosity. I'd hoped that once we'd settled down, we wouldn't have to deal with criminal or conspiratorial issues anymore. But given our jobs, I supposed there were hundreds of things going on around us every day that I was unaware of. I should be grateful that we only became involved in the few we did.
Gav agrees to have the substance Ollie is concerned about tested. "You know that flowers, candy, and jewelry don't make me swoon. But ooh, when you whisper words like forensics, I get goose bumps."
When Ollie discovers the substance has disappeared, others in the White House are ready to listen to her suspicions. "Your instincts tell you that something is amiss. And your instincts haven't failed you yet, have they?"
One of the foreign chefs dies. His country forbids the US to perform an autopsy, sends another man to Ollie's kitchen. Not a chef, but an overseer. Sargeant's assistant Margaret is full of herself, tries to prevent Ollie from meeting with Peter (to learn of the overseer), even though Peter requested it. "It's a wise person who can expand her mind enough to appreciate another's challenges, even when they differ from her own." It took her half a second to understand that I'd mocked her. Ollie's right-hand chef Bucky applauds her spunk. "Good for you, boss. Where does she get off telling us our jobs? I'd give her one day--no, one hour--in the kitchen. She'd be reduced to a useless puddle of whining goo in no time."
Ollie doesn't like the presence of the foreign overseer one bit. She tries a scheme to find out what the foreign-language conversations are about. It backfires. She tries another, which leads to her being attacked on the street at night. But she has the evidence of foul play, captured on a trusty old-school recorder. A few minutes of attention were all the device needed to get it up and running--or whirring--again. Its technology might be woefully behind the times, but this little gem was sturdy, having been manufactured before planned obsolescence became industry standard.
The attackers are apprehended and detained. Plans for the Blair House dinner go on. During the final preparation of the meal, Sargeant appears. "Chef Paras," he began, "there has been a change for dinner this evening." "Change?" This came mere seconds after I'd predicted success. When would I learn?
During the dinner, highly observant Ollie sees behavior that does not make sense. She knows she must alert the President at once. If interrupting the dinner causes her to lose her job, so be it. She might save lives. To characterize the flurry of activity that followed as an exercise in terror would be to minimize its impact on everyone affected.
On the home front...Gav has been offered an opportunity. He hesitates to refuse. However it would significantly change both of their lives. Ollie is startled, yet tentatively supportive. "Last time I checked we were in this together," I said. "And you know me. I'm always up for adventure."
More Fave Quotes:
"Computer screens don't magically deliver better news, no matter how hard you frown at them."
"Being on the world stage changes everything. Every single step, every single action we take, can be scrutinized, analyzed, and criticized."
"His personality still rankles and there are times I'm tempted to bait him into an argument just for the fun of it, but there's no denying he's dependable and good at his job."
Recipes: Chicken Pita Sandwiches, Fall Harvest Quinoa and Chicken Soup, Pecan-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Orange-Maple Glaze, Squash Soup, Marinated Top Sirloin, Homemade Granola, Marcel's Famous Chocolate Drink
January 16, 2015
The White House Chef series is a favorite cozy mystery series of mine. I have followed it since 2008 with the publication of the first book. This is now the 8th book in the series.
In a few of the books in the series, the story line is away from the White House kitchen. This book is almost totally set in the White House kitchen which I know will please many readers. The White House is going through a period of sequestration. Personnel have been laid off and special events have been canceled to save money.
Just when it seems like Ollie is yearning for the hectic life of executive chief she has led, it is announced that four chefs from Saardisca are visiting the kitchen for several weeks. It is to be a learning and sharing time between the US and Saardisca. A candidate who is running for president of Saardisca will be joining everyone for a dinner at the Blair House in several weeks. This will wind up the Saardisca visit
Ollie soon find herself working and teaching four chefs who although different from each other are difficult and challenging. She soon is looking forward to the time when they complete their visit. Strange events start happening to people in the White House kitchen and Ollie's observation powers kick in. Soon she starts to get a feeling that not all is as it seems.
The familiar cast of characters are back.The book read fast and held my attention. It was suspenseful. Once again Ollie takes a huge chance and puts her neck on the line. One is left wondering about possible changes in Ollie and Gav's future occupations. This was a very good book in the White House Chef Mystery Series
In a few of the books in the series, the story line is away from the White House kitchen. This book is almost totally set in the White House kitchen which I know will please many readers. The White House is going through a period of sequestration. Personnel have been laid off and special events have been canceled to save money.
Just when it seems like Ollie is yearning for the hectic life of executive chief she has led, it is announced that four chefs from Saardisca are visiting the kitchen for several weeks. It is to be a learning and sharing time between the US and Saardisca. A candidate who is running for president of Saardisca will be joining everyone for a dinner at the Blair House in several weeks. This will wind up the Saardisca visit
Ollie soon find herself working and teaching four chefs who although different from each other are difficult and challenging. She soon is looking forward to the time when they complete their visit. Strange events start happening to people in the White House kitchen and Ollie's observation powers kick in. Soon she starts to get a feeling that not all is as it seems.
The familiar cast of characters are back.The book read fast and held my attention. It was suspenseful. Once again Ollie takes a huge chance and puts her neck on the line. One is left wondering about possible changes in Ollie and Gav's future occupations. This was a very good book in the White House Chef Mystery Series
October 25, 2014
All the President's Menus is the latest in the series featuring Olivia Paras, executive chef at the White House. She has just married her Secret Service agent, Gav. This is a terrific series and the new marriage adds an interesting new dynamic. Olivia has to entertain a group of chefs from Saardisca, trying to keep them out of trouble and entertained at the same time. Ollie tries to keep out of trouble, she truly does, but it seems to just always drop on her apron and this time is no different. The interactions among the characters are always fun -- especially as Virgil, the big thorn in her side -- has been banished. I always enjoy learning what the White House kitchen is like -- an area certainly foreign to most people. There are hints of changes to come in the future -- I'm looking forward to the next book. This book is well-written and interesting. As all of Julie Hyzy's book, a sure winner.
January 8, 2015
I do love this series but this seemed oddly enough slow and rushed, figure that! I never got a feeling at all about what the country of Saardisca was really like other than comically backward and oppressive. Maybe the possibilities presented with a winery in Louden County will shake things up, it really is not that far from DC. I wanted more of marriage with Gavin and living in DC and having been through sequester with so many friends I thought it got a very short part. Yes, for the non locals, there were short staffs but the moods of the area just were not in the least sympathetically portrayed, just an inconvenience. I am looking forward to trying the granola and chocolate drink recipes!
February 28, 2016
This is the 8th book in the White House Chef Mystery series. It features Olivia Paras as the White House Chef who seems to become involved in trying to protect the White House and the first family. This time a group of chefs from the country of Saardisca and a politician from the same country are coming to the White House for a visit. Olivia gets worried when the chefs seem to be on edge around her and then the Maurice the head pastry chef faints. She decides to investigate which ends at a dinner at Blair House. The book was a quick easy read.
September 12, 2015
Okay, I'll admit it: I am still absolutely loving this series. I'm loving it even more now that certain ongoing plot threads have been resolved. I'm loving it even during sequestration (yes, there are many furloughs at the White House -- including in the kitchen -- during sequestration in this one). I am just absolutely loving this. This book. This series. Everything.
I apologize for not giving a more coherent and descriptive review but words are escaping me. If you know kitchens at all and enjoy mysteries, read this series and this book.
I apologize for not giving a more coherent and descriptive review but words are escaping me. If you know kitchens at all and enjoy mysteries, read this series and this book.
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