The Chef's Secret - Paperback
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A Captivating Novel of Renaissance Italy
The Chef's Secret by Crystal King delivers a richly detailed historical novel centered on Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time. This culinary fiction masterpiece weaves together mystery, romance, and the opulent world of Renaissance Italy's papal court.
The Story
When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his prestigious position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. Along with this inheritance come keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi's dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni's life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle's secrets.
Giovanni undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi's journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair. As he pieces together the details of Scappi's past, Giovanni must contend with two rivals who have joined forces: his brother Cesare and Scappi's former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef's recipes.
Renaissance Culinary World
With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, this novel serves up power, intrigue, and passion. Crystal King brings Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion, making this book an ideal choice for book clubs, food history enthusiasts, and historical fiction readers alike.
Crystal King is an author, culinary enthusiast, and marketing expert. Her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity, and social media at several universities including Harvard Extension School and Boston University, as well as at GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US. A Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal received her MA in critical and creative thinking from UMass Boston, where she developed a series of exercises and writing prompts to help fiction writers in medias res. She resides in Boston but considers Italy her next great love after her husband, Joe, and their two cats, Nero and Merlin. She is the author of Feast of Sorrow.
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