ZIN MIGNON and the SECRET of the PICKLED PIGS' FEET

by Michael Daswick

A frolicking trip to the pantry! Incredibly, the greatest Chef in the world is only 13 years old. He’s Zin Mignon, the spectacular culinary mastermind who lives at the intersection of fantasy, laughs, gripping mystery, inspiration and humanity.The four-book Series kicks off in the pathetic family Brooklyn deli where young Zin clutches a secret note from his dying dad. The cryptic words set Zin on a world-spinning quest, an adventure that takes him through the alleys of the homeless to the tables of billionaires, to discover who he really is and the greatness for which he’s destined.Is it a spoof on the celebrity Chef phenomenon? Or a sophisticated, inspirational and twisting mystery?Book One chronicles Zin’s astonishing apprenticeship, where he’s kidnapped from Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris by the mysterious Mustard Monks and spirited away to the Monks' ultra-remote mountaintop abbey, where they worship food. They also show Zin the world’s greatest cooking secrets. But why in the world are they showing Zin? That’s the question both Zin and his comically materialistic mother will ask, over and over, as they strive to learn his shocking family legacy.Soon enough, Zin shocks the cooking world. After all, despite a host of envious and evil detractors, he’s become the greatest Chef on the planet. As billionaires send private jets for take-out, supermodels, celebrities and European royalty scramble to sit at his tables. Ah… but Zin’s just a kid. He’s easily distracted. Besides, he made a solemn promise to his dad -- to learn the incredible secret of his family legacy.Find out why ZIN was seen on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS. It’s truly original, perfect for foodies and mystery lovers of all ages. A wonderful (and clean!) Series for kids who cook, or their parents and grandparents, who cook with their kids. Never to be taken too seriously; but maybe so. How ‘bout all these amazing exploits? And the heartfelt compassion? High concept fiction is here, hiding under the tablecloth!Book Two finds Zin in the challenge of his life, with his culinary empire on the ropes.Book Three has the nay-sayers and evil-doers catching up.Book Four solves all the mysteries, reveals who Zin really is, and what his family legacy is all about. The ending is, to say the least, nothing short of a shocker and a revelation. “How did he ever think of that?”The Series is Magical Realism, full of pop-culture, twists and turns, laughs and tears. We ask… why can’t a 13 year old be the greatest Chef in the world? Why can’t every child be great at something? This Series shows you how! Try a nibble or two! Delicious kitchen-fiction.Author MICHAEL DASWICK is the winner of both of Columbia’s prestigious literary awards for creative writing and story-telling. He writes High-Concept fiction. He’s the author of the gripping and much-acclaimed epic novel CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART, its sequel CHIP ROCK and the CATALINA KID, and HALLBOYS, a collection of inspiring connected short stories.The Zin Series is four books long, was written for his own children. It’s suitable fun for all ages.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2019

About the author

Michael Daswick is the winner of both of Columbia University's venerable literary awards: The Bennett Cerf Memorial Prize for Fiction and The Cornell Woolrich Fellowship for Creative Writing. This work featured the character Chip Rock, set in the (fictional) deteriorating SoCal beach town of No Palms. The novel CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART followed, as did the collection of connected short stories, HALLBOYS.

Michael grew up in Pasadena, California where he worked in a much-maligned meat market, and played on beaches from Avalon to Zuma. That seedy meat shop and those beaches provide part of the setting for his epic novel, Chip Rock and the Fat Old Fart. Michael’s keen interest in food started in that same meat shop.

Michael and his wife Kim live in Scottsdale, Arizona. They have three children and two happy dogs. Everyone in the family offers a bounty of suggestions as to what direction his plot and characters should take next, and as any honest writer would tell you, this input is always invaluable. These novels would be much less than they are if not for this assistance.

Professionally, Michael has worked in the international golf industry and owned the leading dog shop in Scottsdale. He now writes full time.

Michael has always been interested in cooking and fancies himself a flashy cook and backyard barbeque superstar on his 28 year-old Weber grill. “My relationship with food comes through my family and, especially, our daughter with special needs. From her wheelchair, she’s great at ‘helping’ me cook in the kitchen. Nobody is as excited about food as she is, and this passion is contagious. She loves the Food Network and it’s her dream to become a chef.” Zin Mignon is the written manifestation of her dream and the family’s passion.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Voracious Reader Only.

I was first intrigued by the name of the story and when I read the blurb I thought that the story sounded that like it would be a fun read and to be honest I quite enjoyed the book.

The story is told by Nacho, Zin’s best friend who is also the dishwasher in his restaurant.
It follows the journey of Zin from when he was very young, right up to the opening of his first restaurant. The story jumps backwards and forwards in time as it tells you of the challenges Zin faced as he heads towards his goal of owning his own restaurant and tries to discover the secrets of his father’s past.

I liked the mystery and seeing all the challenges that Zin had to face. I like that it shows you need to work your way up to your goal and can’t expect things just to be handed to you because you think they should be. I like the Mustard Monks who worshipped food and I like that the story remembers that Zin is just a kid and he is going to make mistakes and learn from them.

All in all I liked the book and would recommend it to others.

I’m going to buy my nephew his own copy of this book and the ones that follow because I’m sure he’s going to love them.

[Tabatha Shipley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I Did Like:
+Right away, we love Zin. He’s smart, focused, and honest. You want him to succeed.
+For kids, Zin and his antics would be empowering. He is successful early and his success is recognized by many in the field. Even when he fails, he learns.
+The good guys are clear and the villains are clear. In the best kind of middle grade stories, you get good guys that have morals and ethics. This has that. On the other side, the bad guys add to the story without being overly scary and bring some excitement. It’s a great cast of characters.

Who Should Read This One:
-Middle grade readers who like cooking or have considered being a chef will love Zin’s attention to detail and ambition.

My Rating: 3 Stars

For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/10/...

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d like to thank Voracious Readers Only and author, Michael Daswick, for an ARC Copyof this book in exchange for an honest review.

When it comes to Middle Grade Fiction I often find myself reading with one of my two daughters. They’re smack in the middle grade age group but they have different personalities and I thought this book would fit my 11 year old the best. For holidays she asks for new cooking equipment and just received a soft serve ice cream marker this past Christmas. Cooking is her thing and she is eyeing culinary arts as her elective in high school.

Now that you know the backstory of the readers my review falls somewhere in the middle of the stars. Zin Mignon is a young prodigy who talks with a wisdom well beyond his age, but behaves exactly how you’d expect a young/tween child to act (they do think they’re always right). That attitude gets Zin into a lot of trouble no matter what door he walks through.

My 11 year old had a hard time focusing on the book and even though she loves cooking, felt the writing fell flat. I would agree to an extent, the writing is definitely relaxed but direct which sometimes leads us to go, “But that would never actually happen.” Suspending belief is a struggle of hers and to believe world renowned chefs would hire a 10 year old with no formal training requires a lot of suspended beliefs.

The disconnect for us is that the story is written through the perspective of Zin’s best friend, Nacho, and his way of storytelling is simple and direct. If Zin says something it’s simply accepted, if his mother makes a suggestion or asks a question she is often shut down in a way a child would not speak to his mother and if they did, the mother would just not simply accept it. While some middle grade kiddos may jive with that style of storytelling, mine didn’t.

[Robert Lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always distrusted, and kind of hated when a review compares one author to another. "If you like..., then you'll love..." "For fans of...". Well, I am crossing to the darkside! I liken Michael Daswick to John Grisham. Mr. Grisham's first novels were about courtroom and legal drama. Frankly, these are topics normally dry, boring, sleep inducing. Mr. Grisham tells his stories so well you cannot help but stay awake to finish. Michael Daswick does that in this first installment of Zin Mignon.
"Zin Mignon and the Secret of the Pickled Pigs' Feet" by Michael Daswick is a story about a cooking prodigy. The story is told from the perspective of his closest friend, Nacho. In this first installment, we learn who Zin is and sort of how he started. His Russian father owns a rundown, standing on the edge of failure deli. He is cheap to the extreme, using products that are way past their time, except when it comes to feeding the homeless and downtrodden. Then no expense is spared! His only saving grace is that he makes the best Russian rye bread in the world.
One day, the elder Mignon is sick and has to let his 10 year old son run the deli. He strictly forbids Zin from purchasing good product to make their sandwiches. It just happens to be this day that the deli gets its biggest order. Zin is a genius in the kitchen and turns basically rotten food into the greatest meatball subs ever devised. Shortly after this, the elder Mignon has a heart attack in the deli. Before passing, he points to the jar of pickled Pigs feet on the counter. Inside the jar, Zin finds two things, $25,000 and a letter that has been ruined by the pickling juices. Evidently, this letter would tell Zin about their heritage, setting the stage for the quest line.
That is all the spoiler alerts I will give. Now to the technical details... There is some character building with Zin. From the cooking side, however, it was like he was a great chef from the beginning. There were a couple of life lessons he had to learn, humility, charity. And those were handled well. I did feel like Zin was not really portrayed as a 10-13 yeard old until the end of the book. Where, frankly, he went from total Chernobyl melt down to smiling, happy well adjusted man in the space of two sentences.
Michael did an awesome job writing about the "cooking". He was able to sound like he knows things about cooking while actually being entertaining and humorous. He did not try to bog his story down with a lot of technical jargon. I applaud this approach. If you want to learn to cook, buy a cookbook. If you want to laugh a bit and be entertained about cooking, buy "Zin Mignon".
There were a few minor editorial issues, but nothing that should distract you from this wonderful romp through the world of fine dining. In keeping with my rating system even in this digital world, buy it in hardcover.

I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only for an honest review.

[Taiylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the Voracious Readers Only Scheme…
This was advertised as a ‘Young Adult’ book and being in my late twenties, wouldn’t usually be my first choice. However, I usually read crime thrillers which can sometimes be a bit hard going, especially during a global pandemic! So I do like to read what I call an ‘easy reader’ every now and again to break up the harder to read genres. I am really glad that I chose to read this book. It was so easy to read and although it is listed as a young adult book I would recommend it to anyone who just wants to read something uplifting. My favourite part of the book would definitely be how it was written. Sometimes the order of the story seemed to be a bit fragmented and in the wrong order but this actually made you want to read the story more! This style of writing meant that you would get a glimpse into the future and then before the story was given away too much the author would take you straight back into the present again, leaving you desperate to read on in order to fill in the blanks. The hint at all of the family secrets definitely hooks you in straight away and makes you want to read on. I think this is due to the fact that many of us wish that we had some exciting family secrets locked away somewhere, waiting to be discovered. This appeals to the child within all of us! It was lovely to see the protagonist grow throughout the story, both figuratively and literally! I think this book would especially appeal to those who had a dream as a child and fought very hard along the way to achieve that dream. I would definitely love to read the next book in the story as I feel I am emotionally invested in the characters and would like to see what happens next!

[Meghan Brownjohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

! received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

From the first page of the first chapter Zin pulled a chuckle out of me. I loved reading about Zin's passion for food and the incredible adventures he finds as he grows into the unbelievable culinary genius 'Chef Zin Mignon'! The mystery at the bottom of the jar of pickled pig's feet is only the first step of a journey that shocks and delights the senses.
I loved hearing about Zin's family (especially his father, bless his soul) and all the friends (and enemies) he makes along the way. Though this book is really almost a backstory told to us by Zin's best friend Nacho, I really felt connected to Zin and his dreams. I can only imagine the difficulty of being born with such a gift and the process of trying to find your place in the world.

[Josephine P · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting idea for a story lurks beneath the appealing front cover of this book and it does have scope. However, with its slightly bizarre main protagonist, and the fact that the book shifts dramatically forwards and backwards in time, I was left a little wanting.

Zin is a 13-year-old boy who owns a restaurant. Whilst his talent isn’t exactly hard to believe, given his upbringing and the fantastic way the writer brings to life Zin’s ‘gift’, the fact that at just 10 years old actual chefs hired him, and subsequently inspired him to start his own restaurant, is very difficult to swallow. Although Zin does (for the most part) display behaviour appropriate for his age, at times landing in trouble (because of course he knows best, as all teenagers do), I do feel his character possibly lacks the maturity needed to run a restaurant or indeed be hired by a professional in the first place. I was also a little confused by his mother, who came across quite selfish at times and other times a fantastic mother who just wanted the best for her son. I can see why she had both streaks to her personality but I felt the two parts did not always gel together well.

I like the interesting way that the writer delivered the story through the first person narrative of Zin’s dishwasher, Nacho, and the fact that the writing echoed the everyday vernacular. This was a selling point for the book as it was easy to read and relate to, a bonus for young children. I personally found myself quite taken with the style of writing: quite chatty, informal and relaxed. However, the plot line did have the tendency to jump back and forth in time. Whilst this wasn’t difficult to follow, as the writer clearly, yet subtly, explained the time frame shifts, it did make the writing a little jerky in places and it almost lost its flow. I also found the scene where Zin lost his father a little dubious too. To me, he had plenty of time to seek help for his pops and their final conversation was quite drawn out and therefore the final moments were not quite believable. Early on in the narrative, the writer cleverly set up several plot lines for Zin and for those wanting more, the excellent cliffhanger ending as well as earlier unanswered questions will convince readers to invest in the series.

If you’re a dreamer and able to suspend reality, and like living in a world where luck and fate are just around the corner, I would recommend this book. After all, it is a child’s book, and it would certainly appeal to those children who believe anything is possible, which is a dream I’d encourage all children to have. However, in terms of offering a quality text with a plausible plot line, the story doesn’t quite deliver. Although I enjoyed reading of Zin’s adventure, there were several traits in the writing style that didn’t quite appeal to me. The Book Dragon thanks the Voracious Readers for the opportunity to review this book but on this occasion, will be awarding 2.5 stars.

Josephine
Lead Reviewer for Children’s and Young Adult Fiction
https://www.thebookdragon.co.uk/

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, fair warning, I'm well outside the age range for which this book is written. I'm sure that's why, at times, I found the book a little silly and/or had to suspend disbelief. I once read that kids books are usually written for a slightly younger age than that of the main character (that kids like to read about characters slightly older than themselves)--so I would guess this is written for 8-13 year old age group.

The story is told by Nacho, Zin's friend. Nacho relates stories from Zin's childhood on up through the time he met Zin (when Zin was 10) and they moved to California and opened Zin's restaurant when Zin was 13.

The big "mystery" seems to be where Zin's father came from--a secret held by Mrs. Pirogi whose memory is failing. We do get a peek into that at the end of this book.

I do think there are people who have innate talents even from a young age. I'm not sure that Zin's family could get away with not registering him for school or home school until he was age 10. I liked Zin's loyalty to his coworkers from his first job.

One wonders though:
*How did they not see through Cornelius sooner?
*Did they throw out the kitchen utensils Cornelius used in unsanitary ways? (Or at least, I hope, sterilize them as best they could before using them on food again?)
*What will happen with Smokie and the restaurant team? Will Smokie keep undermining them (especially in light of the snub on opening night)?
*How did they deal with the laxative Smokie laced his food with? (I guess the restaurant critic couldn't blame it on Zin since she didn't get in for opening night, but how about the rest of the guests? I mean if your entire guest list, less a homeless man, falls ill after eating in your restaurant, I would expect a visit from the health department.) I half suspected that Zin would have some plan for a way to counteract it using some ingredient(s). For that matter, how did the notoriously thrify/cheap Smokie come up with a laxative that strong? Is it sold on the streets? It sounds like it might be an expensive medication--did Smokie hate Zin so much that he'd part with hard earned cash just to do that?

[Smita Jalaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! I watch Masterchef regularly and I love cooking and visiting fine dining restaurants. Initially, this concept was made for me! It’s fine dining combined with a historic secret society, lots of comedy and a precious family secret. So the book is about a young cooking prodigy Zin. He has humble beginnings in Brooklyn and his Dad runs a deli. While his Dad doesn’t make refined dishes and tends to cook on the cheap, Zin still loves him as he teaches him humility. His mom on the other hand is a materialistic, unrealistic and ungrateful woman. However, she is entertaining and reminds me of a shrewd child manager type character. So Zin’s Dad has a secret Russian Rye recipe which he stresses must be kept secret. In this book we learn how Zin became a top chef and opens a restaurant in LA. This journey is full of laughs and nefarious characters who try to stop Zin in his culinary quest. I love the character of Nacho who is Zin’s friend and narrates the book. I liked how zin develops close relationships with a number of people and then ensures those people benefit from his success. Including mentions of real life celebs like Dwayne Johnson made this book a treat! The book is fast paced and I wasn’t bored at all. I liked the comedy, the rag to riches story and all the mystery around the Russian Rye recipe. Can’t wait to start book 2 and 3!

I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers only for my honest review.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Voracious Readers Only free review copy]

A well paced story about best-chef-ever Zin Mignon, thirteen, told from the point of view of his best friend Nacho, twenty-one. Great for kids who love to cook, master-chefs in the making, or anyone who wants to get hungry while reading. The book is full of food on every page, yet it never feels repetitive.

The yelp reviews at the start of each chapter are funny (though a bit hard to read on Kindle).

Zin has not had the easiest life. There is tragedy, hardship, and adults not listening to what he has to say even though he's right. Probably because he can be overly-confident and pretty arrogant. He gets his chef training in an unconventional setting, and then has to make a choice. One his mom - eager to spend all Zin's money on the latest fashion - does not agree with. He is the only kid in the midst of a lot of adults, so I'm glad his mom eventually found some common sense and implemented a "be a kid day"!

Major points deducted (would have definitely been 4 stars otherwise) for teasing the big mystery in the title, the blurb and throughout the whole book, and then NOT revealing it. And for no one bothering to get poor old Mrs. Pirogi some much needed assistance.

[Sammithenerd Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer - I was given a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a honest review

Zin Mignon is a great little read that's quite easy and relaxing. I liked reading about all the different foods and the way Zin was cooking them.
It was Abit frustrating to get to the end of the book and still not know about how Zin is so talented but I guess that's the set up for the second book.
The reason for one of the lost stars is that I struggled to like Zin. Sure, he helped the homeless people and was loyal to his crew but he was also very arrogant and giving away his money when his mother was starving was just cruel and foolish.

I would recommend to anyone wanting a quick little afternoon read that they don't have to think too much about

[Sara Jamieson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the storyline/plot, it had what I feel is the right amount of over exaggerating that appeals to school aged kids. It seemed original and had a lot of hooks/ foreshadowing that left you curious to know more. Unfortunately the point of view it was told from - a person telling about a person and that second person sometimes speaking first hand about their own experiences etc was not my style. Also some of the older characters were given characteristics that Seemed somewhat unrealistically young/ naive and inexperienced.

All in all it was a fun read but I was to distracted from the style to get pulled in.

I received this book to read/review from Voracious Readers Only.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm about to start on the second, so that's always a good sign. Zin Mignon is a funny, wholesome escapade that travels from Brooklyn to France, Switzerland (possibly) and California, with our young chef beating the odds, fighting against prejudice and learning everywhere he goes. He creates amazing food for everyone he meets, from celebrities to down-and-outs, because he believes that everyone deserves wonderful food. It left me with a smile on my face, and a hankering for something tasty to eat ;)

[Shushan · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Got this book as a freebie through voraciousreadersonly.com***

This was an easy and fun read about a young chef trying to figure out who he is while wowing everyone with his skills.

Pro: it was fun to imagine a young person kicking some adult butt in the culinary world while also practicing empathy and moving through the world with an open heart.

Con: while it is believable that kids can do anything some of the stuff was too over the top. Also, I didn't like Millie, Zin's mom, she seemed narcissistic and took advantage of Zin for material gain.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was a lot of fun to read. )barring a few spelling/grammar issues, nothing a good stiff bout of editing wouldn't cure).
the pace of the book is great, lots of excitement and action. There were sad bits, evil antagonists, yummy-sounding food, lots of ageist remarks. it does end on a cliffhanger, so be forewarned!

[Kate Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through Voracious Reader I received a complimentary copy of Zin Mignon. This YA book reminded me of Homer Price. With few exceptions the characters are likable and Zin develops over the read. His development could be speeded up. The humor and adventures are great for hesitant readers and early readers. Cooking as a topic is just quirky enough.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in the series and the first time reading this author. The main characters are Nacho and Zin. Nacho is telling the story of the beginning of Zin's trip to be the greatest chef in the world from about the time he was 3. It tells of his Dad's deli, bad as it was, and how he started changed that. It is quite a story and I can't wait to read more about Zin.

[Alisha Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of the book and am giving my honest review. As someone that is part of the food industry, I can see how the story is relatable. Almost everything is exaggerated, but the bottom line is that you start at the bottom and work your way up. It was definitely a book that is different from anything else I've read and the ending leave room for wanting to know more.

[Carol Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a young master chef who finds success cooking in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the world, much to the chagrin of older 'Master Chefs." Zig is a likeable character and is surrounded by similar fun people. Add some magical and mystical elements makes for a delightful read. Enjoy!

[Bart O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting book following the main character aim to be a chef , lots of mysteries along the way. The book has a fun title that makes it stands out







received copy for Honest review

[Jody Chalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Voracious Reader. This book was a fun read and would be great for any kid who is interested in cooking. They would enjoy many of the references to current celebrities and the mysterious plot.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little book which is easy to read. I’m not a big fan of cooking shows or eating out so some of the content went over my head but I like the mystery playing out in the background. I’m sure the character have much more to give in the coming sequels

[C.W. Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book for middle school students. I didn't care for Zin's mom throughout the book, but Zin and Nacho were great to read about and the story flowed nicely.

[Ramona Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of promise. I chose it as a light break from other things with which I had been busy. It was pretty good and an interesting concept so I plan to continue the series.

[John Rasmussen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Inanity

An absurd storyline taken to the extreme. Disappointment was my watchword as I waded through this story. I hope the sequel is better, but I won't know.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved, it. I think i might order a hard copy and the second one!! Zin reminded me alot of myself. The Nerd. Loved what he did, and would stop at nothing. From a small town, to the big city, Zin captured by heart, I found myself routing along with him. I enjoyed this to no end! I can not wait to get my hands on the second one to see what happens! But alas I must wait until next pay day. ❤Jo

[Janine Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this in one sitting. I really enjoyed reading about Zin's journey towards getting his own restaurant.
I would've liked more questions answered in the first book but I understand the author wants people to buy more of the series.
It is a fun read and had me hooked because I really wanted to find out how Zin's cooking skills develop and where they led him, even more than I actually wanted answers to the questions about his past and the secret of the pickled pigs' feet.

[Kim Daswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anybody who loves to cook. Children, Moms and Dad will love this funny heartfelt story of a genius chef and his Mom and his rise to fortune and fame. Any fan of the Food Network will adore this series! Can’t wait for the second book cause Zin left us hanging in this one! If you love to cook or just love food you will love this book!