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
2022-12-21
A home chef recounts fretting about the exciting opportunity to cook for a United States Supreme Court justice.
In this delightful memoir, culinary mystery series author Karst writes of rediscovering her love of food and cooking in the midst of a career as a small-town appellate attorney. This passion culminates in the pinnacle of her hobby when she is commissioned to cook for Ruth Bader Ginsburg in February 2006. When the author received the news nine months earlier, a lavish menu began spinning inside her head, as did fears and insecurities on how to perfect an important meal for such a distinguished guest. With affable, enthusiastic prose, Karst describes how her father, a constitutional law professor who met Ginsburg in the 1960s, arranged for his daughter to host a dinner party with the prestigious justice in honor of his pending retirement. The dinner menu construction became the author and her partner Robin’s raison d’être for visiting Paris to research tempting, delicious, sophisticated, and sumptuous entrees, side dishes, and desserts to incorporate in what came to be known as “the dinner.” As the countdown to the event dwindled to mere weeks and all the cookbooks the author could meticulously scour were perused, Karst’s anxiety about cuisine, wine selection, and china finally resulted in an impressive, elegant multicourse dinner fit for a Supreme Court justice. The author makes the journey a fun one thanks to a smooth, charming writing style and the food preparation subject matter that readers can relate to. More than just a dabbling chef’s journal of the most important meal prep of her life, the book is also educational, fortified by intriguing information about Supreme Court cases and protocols along with “interlude” sidebars that elaborate on everything from Ginsburg’s personal and professional history to her outspoken reputation as an outlier. Bonus material features complete recipes for some of the dishes Karst prepared for the justice’s meal, including “Seared Sea Scallop with Ginger-Lime Cream Sauce,” “Wasabi Mashed Potatoes,” and “Blackened Ahi.” Home chefs and Ginsburg fans will find this culinary adventure exquisitely delectable.
A savory stew of memories and entertaining anecdotes about a dinner with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
