Infusion
He’s a culinary genius who lost his sense of taste; she’s the chaotic line cook who might be his only salvation.
Gideon Valerius is the precision-obsessed chemist of the Valerius dynasty, ruling the pastry kitchen of Le Veau d'Or with scientific rigor. But weeks before the high-stakes 'Taste of New Orleans' competition, the unthinkable happens: Gideon wakes up with total sensory loss of taste. Without his palate, his career, his identity, and his family's legacy are on the brink of collapse.
Jules LeBlanc is everything Gideon despises—loud, messy, and prone to treating recipes as mere suggestions. Yet, she's the only one who discovers his secret. They strike a desperate bargain: Jules will be his 'tongue,' translating flavors into technical data, while Gideon teaches her the discipline she needs to survive in a professional kitchen. It's a partnership built on necessity, but it quickly evolves into something much more explosive.
As they experiment with deconstructed flavors and sensory substitution in the heat of a New Orleans kitchen, the professional lines blur into a searing connection. Between high-tech pipettes and humid nights, Gideon and Jules must learn to trust each other's instincts. To defeat a corporate raider and win the competition of a lifetime, they’ll need to prove that the perfect infusion requires both scientific precision and a whole lot of soul.
The Blurb
Gideon Valerius is the precision-obsessed chemist of the Valerius dynasty, ruling the pastry kitchen of Le Veau d'Or with scientific rigor. But weeks before the high-stakes 'Taste of New Orleans' competition, the unthinkable happens: Gideon wakes up with total sensory loss of taste. Without his palate, his career, his identity, and his family's legacy are on the brink of collapse.
Jules LeBlanc is everything Gideon despises—loud, messy, and prone to treating recipes as mere suggestions. Yet, she's the only one who discovers his secret. They strike a desperate bargain: Jules will be his 'tongue,' translating flavors into technical data, while Gideon teaches her the discipline she needs to survive in a professional kitchen. It's a partnership built on necessity, but it quickly evolves into something much more explosive.
As they experiment with deconstructed flavors and sensory substitution in the heat of a New Orleans kitchen, the professional lines blur into a searing connection. Between high-tech pipettes and humid nights, Gideon and Jules must learn to trust each other's instincts. To defeat a corporate raider and win the competition of a lifetime, they’ll need to prove that the perfect infusion requires both scientific precision and a whole lot of soul.
"An absolute masterclass in tension and technical brilliance! Gideon and Jules are the perfect fire-and-ice duo. The molecular gastronomy details were fascinating, and the emotional depth of Gideon’s sensory loss had me hooked from page one."— Ava R.