Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law, and Cooking for RBG

Description

"The book is a romp from cover to cover-and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more." -Karen Shimizu, Executive Editor, Food & Wine When Leslie Karst learned that her offer to cook dinner for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her renowned tax law professor husband, Marty, had been accepted, she was thrilled-and terrified. A small-town lawyer who hated her job and had taken up cooking as a way to add a bit of spice to the daily grind of pumping out billable hours, Karst had never before thrown such a high-stakes dinner party. Could she really pull this off? Justice Is Served is Karst's light-hearted, earnest account of the journey this unexpected challenge launched her on-starting with a trip to Paris for culinary inspiration, and ending with the dinner itself. Along the way, she imparts details of Ginsburg's transformation from a young Jewish girl from Flatbush, Brooklyn, to one of the most celebrated Supreme Court justices in our nation's history, and shares recipes for the mouthwatering dishes she came up with as she prepared for the big night. But this memoir isn't simply a tale of prepping for and cooking dinner for the famous RBG; it's also about how this event, and all the planning and preparation that went into it, created a new sort of connection between Karst, her partner, and her parents, and also inspired Karst to make life changes that would reverberate far beyond one dinner party. A heartfelt story of simultaneously searching for delicious recipes and purpose in life, Justice Is Served is an inspiring reminder that it's never too late to discover-and follow-your deepest passion.

The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst waited tables and sang in a new wave rock band before deciding she was ready for "real" job and ending up at Stanford Law School. It was during her career as a research and appellate attorney in Santa Cruz, California, that she rediscovered her youthful passion for food and cooking, at which point she once again returned to school-this time to earn a degree in culinary arts. Now retired from the law, Leslie spends her days penning the Sally Solari culinary mystery series, as well as cooking, gardening, cycling, and singing alto in her local community chorus. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai'i.

"An entertaining, engrossing page-turner that documents months of planning and soul-searching . . . . an extraordinary evening with the Ginsburgs and Karst's renewed resolve to find a vocation that she 'truly loved-as much as Ruth did the law'." -Foreword Reviews, STARRED "Home chefs and Ginsburg fans will find this culinary adventure exquisitely delectable." -Kirkus Reviews "In this lively read that blends the genres of memoir, biography, and cookbook, Karst vividly captures what it is like to host a high-stakes dinner party for one of the most revered people in the land. Justice Is Served is full of marvelous details that cooks and oenophiles will savor, and deftly interweaves the life and achievements of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Karst's quest for meaningful, satisfying work in life, and the pleasures of connecting at the table. The book is a romp from cover to cover-and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more." -Karen Shimizu, Executive Editor, Food & Wine "Engaging, entertaining, and enlightening.... What starts as an offhand invitation becomes the most important dinner of Karst's life when it evolves into a journey of self-discovery-of searching for your purpose and your passion and pursuing it with your whole heart. A must read!" -Jenn McKinlay, New York Times best-selling author of Wait For It "Leslie Karst's account of preparing a home dinner for a very distinguished guest...is refreshingly candid, and studded with telling nuggets from RBG's life and work. Entertaining, informative, and recipes included!" -Harold McGee, author of On Food and Cooking and Nose Dive "The highest of recommendations for this unique and gorgeously written recipe for happiness. Surprising, captivating, and as delicious as a perfect meal, I love this book beyond all reason." -Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today best-selling author of Her Perfect Lie "[A] delectable page-turner...part memoir, part culinary odyssey, and part historical account of an extraordinary evening. I was salivating from beginning to end." -Reyna Grande, author of A Dream Called Home "[D]elicious and delightful.... Whether you love food or the law-or both!-you will savor every page." -Adam Winkler, author of We the Corporations, National Book Award finalist "[A] captivating chronicle of one woman's commitment to the law, to the culinary arts, to family, and to finding her life's purpose.... Karst has masterfully woven her own story with that of the beloved Supreme Court justice, creating a narrative of two inspiring women whose paths cross for one special night." -Elizabeth McKenzie, author of The Dog of the North and The Portable Veblen "Leslie Karst's celebration of women's progress wrapped up in the tale of one stupendous and life-changing dinner is . . . chef's kiss. Quietly patriotic, passionate, and oh-so readable, this book is a feast." -Catriona McPherson, Anthony and Agatha Award-winning author of In Place of Fear "Verdict: A delicious and soul-satisfying read, the perfect recipe for anyone hungry to discover her passions and follow them, one bite at a time. Laced with tempting tidbits of cooking advice and insights into Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and career, Leslie Karst's Justice Is Served will show you another side of the justice and her husband, make you hungry, and leave you plotting your way to get invited to the author's home for dinner!" -Leslie Budewitz, attorney and three-time Agatha Award-winning author of the Spice Shop Mysteries "A literary meal that's heartwarming, suspenseful, humorous, and entertaining.... An absolute delight." -Ellen Byron, USA Today best-selling author of the Cajun Country and Vintage Cookbook Mysteries "Leslie Karst delights and tempts your appetite in this lovely memoir.... Justice Is Served is a dish you'll savor and enjoy." -Edith Maxwell, (aka Maddie Day), Agatha Award-winning author of the Country Store and Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries "For readers who love food and admire the fascinating life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Karst's book is an irresistible and loving look into not only cooking the big dinner itself, but also her exploration of what this dinner meant and how it changed her life." -Lucy Burdette, author of A Dish to Die For