A comic romance guaranteed to melt the hardest of hearts. Ugo DiFonte is the duke’s food taster: the duke loves Ugo’s daughter, the daughter loves the cook, and Ugo alone can save them all, though any bite could be his last. ‘A sparkling tale of love, intrigue and dodgy food. I enjoyed every minute of it … Peter Elbling begins where Patrick Süskind left off. He has produced a delicious novel which should tickle the dullest palate.’ David Robson, Sunday Telegraph ‘Delicious historical intrigue.’ Mail on Sunday ‘Brilliantly done … Buy it.’ Mirror ‘A high Renaissance romp, casually cruel and ripely romantic … Umberto Eco crossed with a tale of Boccaccio and optioned by Spielberg on a Disney kick – a fairytale for grown-ups.’ Iain Finlayson, Saga