May 20, 2025 • 9 mins
Author and accomplished musician Nick Greenberg welcomes readers into the heart of Cincinnati, where pierogi slinging food truck chef Anton Cherny is about to make a series of bad decisions in the new book The Culinary Caper.
When readers meet Anton, he is up to his eyeballs in debt and desperate to find a way out of his dire situation. Enter Ricky, Anton’s old art school buddy, who has concocted a daring solution: art thievery.
The plan is straightforward. While catering parties for members of the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals teams, who are unknowingly buying priceless works of previously pilfered art, Anton and Ricky swap out the paintings with forgeries, then return the originals to the insurance company for the generous reward money. Easy-peasy, until Anton discovers that his new girlfriend is the daughter of a ruthless Russian mob boss.
Adding to his plateful of anxieties are the emotional and financial strains of supporting a son he’s never met, fielding threats from a Tolstoy-quoting loan shark, and mounting tension with his food truck partner. Will Chef Anton have to face the reality that his goose is cooked? Or can he employ his culinary expertise to prevail over the multifaceted morass in which he finds himself?
The Culinary Caper is part of a highly entertaining three-book series from Greenberg that blends equal measures of food, music, humor, crime and romance with eccentric characters and unlikely escapades.
The Culinary Caper
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
Release Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8-89022-303-6 (print)
ISBN-13: 979-8-89022-302-9 (eBook)
Available from BN.com, https://www.indiebound.org/ and Amazon.com
About the Author
Nick Greenberg is a versatile bassist, composer and author who has performed a wide variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, rock, Broadway shows and even the occasional polka gig. His music career has taken him to Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and international stages in Taiwan. Greenberg is also a former chocolatier, a current winemaker and an award-winning home brewer. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife and golden retriever.
For more information, please visit www.nickgreenberg-author.com, or connect with the author on Instagram (nickgreenbergauthor) and Facebook (Nick Greenberg-Author).
Get to Know Ash:
Imagine someone who just radiates good vibes and genuinely wants to see you shine – that's Ash Brown! This incredibly talented American wears many hats: she's a fantastic producer, a super engaging blogger, a captivating speaker, a natural media personality, and a fantastic host for events. Her energy is totally infectious, and you can tell she's truly passionate about helping everyone reach their full potential.
What's Ash Up To?
AshSaidit.com: Think of this as your VIP pass into Ash's world! Her blog is buzzing with exclusive invites to events, honest reviews of cool products, and all sorts of fun and informative stuff. It's the perfect place to stay in the loop and get a dose of Ash's personality.
The Ash Said It Show: Get ready to feel inspired! Ash's podcast is a powerhouse of motivation, with over 2,000 episodes already out there and a whopping half a million listens worldwide! She has amazing conversations with inspiring people and dives into topics that really matter.
Why We Love Ash:
Ash isn't just talking the talk; she's walking the walk! What makes her truly special is how real she is. She connects with her audience on a genuine level, offering advice and encouragement that feels like a chat with a good friend. She doesn't shy away from the tough stuff but instead gives you the tools to tackle it head-on.
Here's what makes Ash stand out:
Sunshine Personified: Ash is a total optimist! Her positive energy is contagious, and you can't help but feel more empowered and ready for anything after connecting with her.
Keeping It Real: Ash doesn't try to sugarcoat life. She gets that things can be tough and offers relatable advice that speaks to people from all walks of life.
Turning Inspiration into Action: This isn't just about feeling good for a moment. Ash gives you practical tips and strategies to actually make things happen and turn your dreams into reality.
So, if you're looking for a daily dose of inspiration, real-world advice, and someone who keeps it totally honest, Ash Brown is your go-to person! With her amazing positivity and genuine dedication to helping others, she's sure to become your favorite source for making the most out of life. ✨
► Goli Gummy Discounts Link: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}
When readers meet Anton, he is up to his eyeballs in debt and desperate to find a way out of his dire situation. Enter Ricky, Anton’s old art school buddy, who has concocted a daring solution: art thievery.
The plan is straightforward. While catering parties for members of the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals teams, who are unknowingly buying priceless works of previously pilfered art, Anton and Ricky swap out the paintings with forgeries, then return the originals to the insurance company for the generous reward money. Easy-peasy, until Anton discovers that his new girlfriend is the daughter of a ruthless Russian mob boss.
Adding to his plateful of anxieties are the emotional and financial strains of supporting a son he’s never met, fielding threats from a Tolstoy-quoting loan shark, and mounting tension with his food truck partner. Will Chef Anton have to face the reality that his goose is cooked? Or can he employ his culinary expertise to prevail over the multifaceted morass in which he finds himself?
The Culinary Caper is part of a highly entertaining three-book series from Greenberg that blends equal measures of food, music, humor, crime and romance with eccentric characters and unlikely escapades.
The Culinary Caper
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
Release Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8-89022-303-6 (print)
ISBN-13: 979-8-89022-302-9 (eBook)
Available from BN.com, https://www.indiebound.org/ and Amazon.com
About the Author
Nick Greenberg is a versatile bassist, composer and author who has performed a wide variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, rock, Broadway shows and even the occasional polka gig. His music career has taken him to Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and international stages in Taiwan. Greenberg is also a former chocolatier, a current winemaker and an award-winning home brewer. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife and golden retriever.
For more information, please visit www.nickgreenberg-author.com, or connect with the author on Instagram (nickgreenbergauthor) and Facebook (Nick Greenberg-Author).
Get to Know Ash:
Imagine someone who just radiates good vibes and genuinely wants to see you shine – that's Ash Brown! This incredibly talented American wears many hats: she's a fantastic producer, a super engaging blogger, a captivating speaker, a natural media personality, and a fantastic host for events. Her energy is totally infectious, and you can tell she's truly passionate about helping everyone reach their full potential.
What's Ash Up To?
AshSaidit.com: Think of this as your VIP pass into Ash's world! Her blog is buzzing with exclusive invites to events, honest reviews of cool products, and all sorts of fun and informative stuff. It's the perfect place to stay in the loop and get a dose of Ash's personality.
The Ash Said It Show: Get ready to feel inspired! Ash's podcast is a powerhouse of motivation, with over 2,000 episodes already out there and a whopping half a million listens worldwide! She has amazing conversations with inspiring people and dives into topics that really matter.
Why We Love Ash:
Ash isn't just talking the talk; she's walking the walk! What makes her truly special is how real she is. She connects with her audience on a genuine level, offering advice and encouragement that feels like a chat with a good friend. She doesn't shy away from the tough stuff but instead gives you the tools to tackle it head-on.
Here's what makes Ash stand out:
Sunshine Personified: Ash is a total optimist! Her positive energy is contagious, and you can't help but feel more empowered and ready for anything after connecting with her.
Keeping It Real: Ash doesn't try to sugarcoat life. She gets that things can be tough and offers relatable advice that speaks to people from all walks of life.
Turning Inspiration into Action: This isn't just about feeling good for a moment. Ash gives you practical tips and strategies to actually make things happen and turn your dreams into reality.
So, if you're looking for a daily dose of inspiration, real-world advice, and someone who keeps it totally honest, Ash Brown is your go-to person! With her amazing positivity and genuine dedication to helping others, she's sure to become your favorite source for making the most out of life. ✨
► Goli Gummy Discounts Link: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
What it is, what a do a Bible world.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It is your girl, the one and only Ash Brown,
and this is the Ash said It show over two
thousand episodes since twenty fourteen, half a million streams around
the world. None of this is possible without you, guys,
So thank you, so so very much. Today we are
joined by the author of the new book which is
(00:27):
out today May the twentieth, The Culinary Caper, and we've
got Nick Greenberg with us today. Hey.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Nick, Hey, that's how you're doing tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I am great. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I'm fantastic, awesome, awesome.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
All right, So we're gonna get into this new book. Nick, Now,
where did you pull inspiration for this project?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
No? I think people think, well, is a cliche to
say you write what you know? Possibly, but I think
in the end that's what writers do because they draw
from different aspects of their life, and this certainly does.
I'm a big fan of food, as we all are,
(01:16):
and music plays into this and I can't say that
the illegal app activities are things I have knowledge of,
but I think they make a good plot for the
overall book.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yes, I would agree on that one. And the blend
of food, music, humor crime and romance are quite unique,
I have to say, So, how did you weave these
these different elements together seemingly seamlessly.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Well, thank you for saying that. It seemed like I
didn't want to make it a one dimensional story, and
I did have this idea going in that I wanted
to focus on the main character as a food truck chef.
And I knew just if we just saw him like
(02:14):
slinging food all night, that wasn't going to make a story.
So I, you know, you never go wrong with throwing
a little romance in there. I read a fair amount
of mysteries and some crime fiction, so I thought, well,
that's the perfect thing. This guy ends up doing things
he shouldn't do, and then I make this guy as
(02:35):
his side hustle is playing a little music.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Gotcha, gotcha? So and on Journey he's a food truck
chef thrust into the world of art thievery. What aspects
of his culinary background, if any, inform his approach to
this criminal endeavor.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I love that. So he brings and there's one thing
that is not mentioned right away in the book, but
he before he became a food truck chef, he went
to art school, and which he ended up dropping out
of because that just wasn't his thing. But he when
he started cooking, he wanted to bring art to the food,
(03:21):
to the presentation and the balance, the balance on the
plate symmetry, and so those same things that when he
went about committing these crimes with his buddy, which he
met in art school, sort of kind of played into it.
His cooking gets them in the door of these places
(03:43):
where the art steel is stolen, and so I think, yeah,
I think all of that informs each other, the food
in the art.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Gotcha, gotcha? Cincinnati serves as more than just a backdrop
for this book. How did the city's specific culture influence
the narrative of the story?
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, I think the food culture here is great, and
it's changed so much over the last decade or so.
There's so many food opportunities, not just food trucks, but
pop ups and restaurants going on, and just the different
kinds of food that are being served, and I love
the idea. There's a couple of places in the OTR
neighborhood downtown Cincinnati that served late night progi and that's
(04:33):
the main ingredient that Anton serves up on the food truck.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yes, Wow, the premise involves a series of increasingly complicated
bad decisions. What was your intention in putting Anton through
all these different situations?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Well, I felt like, you know, if a lot of
us go through life, we deal with situations that possibly
get more and more complicated, and hopefully we get smart
enough to deal with each one. Although considering that he's
putting himself into more complicated situations, maybe he's not learning
as quickly as he should, because yeah, they are becoming
(05:19):
increasingly more difficult and things start to go awry during
these these burglaries. So I just thought it ramped up
the excitement of the book and you wondering the reader
wondering what's going to happen next, When is he going
to get arrested, what's going to go wrong next? And
I thought that built a nice bit attention.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yes, The Culinary Caper is the first book in this
three books series. Without giving away too much and without
giving any spoilers necessarily, Nick, you know, what can readers
anticipate seeing in the next book.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So several things happen as the books progress, Relationships they change.
So he in the first book he starts going out
with this with Trina, who is the daughter of a
Russian mom boss in Cincinnati, and that relationship kind of
(06:23):
evolves as not just the fevery, which she doesn't at
first know about, but she becomes involved in the actual
process of it. But that's not the only thing that's changing.
His cooking changes. I won't, like you said, without getting
too much away, he's a food trug chef, but before
(06:45):
that he worked in restaurant kitchens and all that, and
so his culinary journey will continue in each novel. I
just I'm reluctant to say too much.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, we definitely want to keep some things under wrap,
so you know, let people enjoy the first book and
then you know, waiting anticipation of the next too. So
I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Exactly that.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Last, but certainly not Lee s Nick. What advice would
you get to the next generation of authors?
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Well, I'm glad you asked that today. In fact, earlier today,
I spoke to the next generation of authors. One of
the things I do at my only job as a musician,
I teach at a performing arts school in Dayanon, Ohio.
And today I went in and spoke to their creative
writing class, and they had so many excellent questions about
(07:47):
not just the process, but finding their voice and you know,
not trying and finding a community of writers. And I
think that's that was kind of the overall theme is
find people that you can share your you know, your
creativity with and then they can share yours and I
(08:08):
think you grow as a writer, your writing improves, and
also you get a lot of ideas from a community
of other writers.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
This is true, This is good and the book again
it is the Culinary Caper. Nick. Let everyone know the
best way to get their copy.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
So it is available on Amazon of course, both as
an e book and a paperback, and also at Barnes
and Noble online booths as an e book and a paperback,
and it will also be in Cincinnati any way, available
in a handful of local independent bookstores in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Awesome, awesome, Well, keep on, keep on track and forward, Nick,
I know that this is going to be a great,
great release for you. And you know we've got you know,
two more books to look forward to in the next
year and some change maybe maybe possibly sat Absolutely well, Nick,
(09:11):
thank you so much for coming through. We certainly appreciate
you and your team and everyone that is pushing this
project to the forefront. I definitely want to say that
we certainly appreciate you coming, definitely.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
And thank you so much cash for this opportunity.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
To share no problem, and I appreciate each and every
one of you guys. Thank you so much for your
love and support. Keeping in mind. Anyone to tell you
that you can't do what you want to do, you
look them square in the face, you tell them, don't
believe me. Just watch watch what I do. Watch me
make it happen, watch me make history. That's what we're
(09:47):
doing this for the history books. Social media is nice,
but real life is so much better. Until next time,
you guys,
What it is, what a do a Bible world.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It is your girl, the one and only Ash Brown,
and this is the Ash said It show over two
thousand episodes since twenty fourteen, half a million streams around
the world. None of this is possible without you, guys,
So thank you, so so very much. Today we are
joined by the author of the new book which is
(00:27):
out today May the twentieth, The Culinary Caper, and we've
got Nick Greenberg with us today. Hey.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Nick, Hey, that's how you're doing tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I am great. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I'm fantastic, awesome, awesome.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
All right, So we're gonna get into this new book. Nick, Now,
where did you pull inspiration for this project?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
No? I think people think, well, is a cliche to
say you write what you know? Possibly, but I think
in the end that's what writers do because they draw
from different aspects of their life, and this certainly does.
I'm a big fan of food, as we all are,
(01:16):
and music plays into this and I can't say that
the illegal app activities are things I have knowledge of,
but I think they make a good plot for the
overall book.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yes, I would agree on that one. And the blend
of food, music, humor crime and romance are quite unique,
I have to say, So, how did you weave these
these different elements together seemingly seamlessly.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Well, thank you for saying that. It seemed like I
didn't want to make it a one dimensional story, and
I did have this idea going in that I wanted
to focus on the main character as a food truck chef.
And I knew just if we just saw him like
(02:14):
slinging food all night, that wasn't going to make a story.
So I, you know, you never go wrong with throwing
a little romance in there. I read a fair amount
of mysteries and some crime fiction, so I thought, well,
that's the perfect thing. This guy ends up doing things
he shouldn't do, and then I make this guy as
(02:35):
his side hustle is playing a little music.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Gotcha, gotcha? So and on Journey he's a food truck
chef thrust into the world of art thievery. What aspects
of his culinary background, if any, inform his approach to
this criminal endeavor.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I love that. So he brings and there's one thing
that is not mentioned right away in the book, but
he before he became a food truck chef, he went
to art school, and which he ended up dropping out
of because that just wasn't his thing. But he when
he started cooking, he wanted to bring art to the food,
(03:21):
to the presentation and the balance, the balance on the
plate symmetry, and so those same things that when he
went about committing these crimes with his buddy, which he
met in art school, sort of kind of played into it.
His cooking gets them in the door of these places
(03:43):
where the art steel is stolen, and so I think, yeah,
I think all of that informs each other, the food
in the art.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Gotcha, gotcha? Cincinnati serves as more than just a backdrop
for this book. How did the city's specific culture influence
the narrative of the story?
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, I think the food culture here is great, and
it's changed so much over the last decade or so.
There's so many food opportunities, not just food trucks, but
pop ups and restaurants going on, and just the different
kinds of food that are being served, and I love
the idea. There's a couple of places in the OTR
neighborhood downtown Cincinnati that served late night progi and that's
(04:33):
the main ingredient that Anton serves up on the food truck.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yes, Wow, the premise involves a series of increasingly complicated
bad decisions. What was your intention in putting Anton through
all these different situations?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Well, I felt like, you know, if a lot of
us go through life, we deal with situations that possibly
get more and more complicated, and hopefully we get smart
enough to deal with each one. Although considering that he's
putting himself into more complicated situations, maybe he's not learning
as quickly as he should, because yeah, they are becoming
(05:19):
increasingly more difficult and things start to go awry during
these these burglaries. So I just thought it ramped up
the excitement of the book and you wondering the reader
wondering what's going to happen next, When is he going
to get arrested, what's going to go wrong next? And
I thought that built a nice bit attention.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yes, The Culinary Caper is the first book in this
three books series. Without giving away too much and without
giving any spoilers necessarily, Nick, you know, what can readers
anticipate seeing in the next book.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So several things happen as the books progress, Relationships they change.
So he in the first book he starts going out
with this with Trina, who is the daughter of a
Russian mom boss in Cincinnati, and that relationship kind of
(06:23):
evolves as not just the fevery, which she doesn't at
first know about, but she becomes involved in the actual
process of it. But that's not the only thing that's changing.
His cooking changes. I won't, like you said, without getting
too much away, he's a food trug chef, but before
(06:45):
that he worked in restaurant kitchens and all that, and
so his culinary journey will continue in each novel. I
just I'm reluctant to say too much.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, we definitely want to keep some things under wrap,
so you know, let people enjoy the first book and
then you know, waiting anticipation of the next too. So
I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Exactly that.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Last, but certainly not Lee s Nick. What advice would
you get to the next generation of authors?
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Well, I'm glad you asked that today. In fact, earlier today,
I spoke to the next generation of authors. One of
the things I do at my only job as a musician,
I teach at a performing arts school in Dayanon, Ohio.
And today I went in and spoke to their creative
writing class, and they had so many excellent questions about
(07:47):
not just the process, but finding their voice and you know,
not trying and finding a community of writers. And I
think that's that was kind of the overall theme is
find people that you can share your you know, your
creativity with and then they can share yours and I
(08:08):
think you grow as a writer, your writing improves, and
also you get a lot of ideas from a community
of other writers.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
This is true, This is good and the book again
it is the Culinary Caper. Nick. Let everyone know the
best way to get their copy.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
So it is available on Amazon of course, both as
an e book and a paperback, and also at Barnes
and Noble online booths as an e book and a paperback,
and it will also be in Cincinnati any way, available
in a handful of local independent bookstores in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Awesome, awesome, Well, keep on, keep on track and forward, Nick,
I know that this is going to be a great,
great release for you. And you know we've got you know,
two more books to look forward to in the next
year and some change maybe maybe possibly sat Absolutely well, Nick,
(09:11):
thank you so much for coming through. We certainly appreciate
you and your team and everyone that is pushing this
project to the forefront. I definitely want to say that
we certainly appreciate you coming, definitely.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
And thank you so much cash for this opportunity.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
To share no problem, and I appreciate each and every
one of you guys. Thank you so much for your
love and support. Keeping in mind. Anyone to tell you
that you can't do what you want to do, you
look them square in the face, you tell them, don't
believe me. Just watch watch what I do. Watch me
make it happen, watch me make history. That's what we're
(09:47):
doing this for the history books. Social media is nice,
but real life is so much better. Until next time,
you guys,
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