Liquor by Poppy Z Brite, Recipe by Susannah Constantine.
Here’s a little about our November Read, Liquor and the author Poppy Z Brite.
Billy Martin formerly Poppy Z. Brite, was born in Kentucky in 1967.
He is a gay transman and has written and talked extensively about transgender issues and his own gender dysphoria.
"Ever since I was old enough to know what gay men were, I've considered myself a gay man that happens to have been born in a female body, and that's the perspective I'm coming from." He said
“An early starter , by age 5, he was making booklets and writing stories about mud monsters but became serious about writing at about age 12, sending out stories in a hope to get published and putting together a newspaper for his school called The Glass Goblin.”
Selling his first story at age 18, he decided to drop out of collage to concentrate on writing a novel.
While writing he had myriad jobs including artist model, candy maker and even a mouse caretaker. Yup, that’s what I said ha ha!
His books are typically stand-alone books, but may feature recurring characters from previous novels and short stories.
He says that writing his first novel was coming very slowly, so changing course, he decided to write a fun book which turned out to be the critically acclaimed Liquor novels - Liquor (2004), Prime (2005), and Soul Kitchen (2006) which are dark comedies set in the New Orleans restaurant world.
Poppy Z Brite
Book
Our November read, Liquor, is set in New Orleans, natives Rickey and G-man are lifetime friends and down-and-out line cooks desperate to make a quick buck.
When Rickey concocts the idea of opening a restaurant in their alcohol-loving hometown where every dish packs a spirited punch, they know they're on their way to the bank.
With some wheeling and dealing, a slew of great recipes, and a few lucky breaks, Rickey and G-man are soon on their way to opening Liquor, their very own restaurant. But first they need to pacify a local crank who doesn't want to see his neighbourhood disturbed, sidestep Rickey's deranged ex-boss, rein in their big-mouth silent partner before he runs amok, and stay afloat in a stew of corruption in a town well known for its bottom feeders.
A manic, spicy romp through the kitchens, back alleys, dive bars, and drug deals of the country's most sublimely ridiculous city, author Poppy Z. Brite masterfully shakes equal parts ambition, scandal, cocaine, and murder, and serves Liquor straight up, with a twist. Book description taken from Amazon and other on-line sources
I give it 3 eggs
Liquor by Poppy Z Brite
I give it a good 3 egg rating
A little bit about the person who gifted us this months recipe, Susannah Constantine
Susannah Constantine
A big treat for me, with Novembers gifted recipe coming from Susannah Constantine.
If you’ve not listened to her podcast “My Wardrobe Malfunction” you definitely should (click this link to listen) or you might know her from her T.V appearances with her best friend Trinny Woodhall.
As if those things aren’t enough, her fiction books – After the Snow, Ready for Absolutely Nothing and Summer in Mayfair have been huge successes for her
Susannah writes on her website:
“I began my career as a teacher, then went into PR, fashion and finally journalism.
After a regular makeover slot on Richard & Judy, Trinny and I signed with the BBC to host our first own show, What Not to Wear, which ran for five years
My passion was always to help women learn to love themselves from the outside in - to look better in order to feel empowered.
Through experience, I have come to understand that in mid-life, if you support the inside, the outside will shine.
I believe that there is no such thing as perfection (except in nature) and women being told they ‘..can have it all’ is a bullshit sentiment, that leaves us feeling inadequate.
I have countless flaws and fall way short of being the perfect mum/wife/writer/friend, but I try my best and that’s just fine.
The overriding purpose of this website is to encourage you to give yourselves permission to screw up, to occasionally put yourselves at the top of the list and discover a power that is deserved and earned after decades of ups and downs.
Time to kick back and kick ass.
Fat kiss
Susannah xx “
Find out more about Susannah on Instagram here, her website here, and twitter here
Susannah gifted this super easy recipe saying
“My kids love this! S xx”
And I believe her!
This is a recipe that’s perfect for those nights when you’ve had a day from hell but still want to cook something delicious.
The 30 minutes it takes to cook, just enough time to take a hot shower, put your PJs on and pour yourself a tall glass of something!
Susannah sent me a very brief over view of the recipe, so I’m going to show you my additions (these might help or hinder the recipe) in the parentheses.
I’ve made this dish myself, so the photos are from my attempt.
It was a raging success and the lovely Mr G gobble it up.
I’ll certainly be making this again soon
A good sign!
Pizza Chicken.
Pizza Chicken by Susannah Constantine.
Ingredients
Tin of chopped tomatoes – (1 Tin)
4 chicken breasts
Seasoning – (Salt, Pepper, Your Favourite Dried Herb)
Mozzarella – (Sliced, and enough to cover all the chicken breasts)
Fresh Basil leaves – (Handful)
Olive oil – (to drizzle)
Ready for the oven
Method
Set oven to 180c
Chuck chicken breasts in an oven proof dish and season well. – (Season the chicken breasts with the salt, pepper and dried herbs)
Pour over the tomatoes, and top with sliced mozzarella and fresh basil.
Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the top and bake at 180 for 30 mins
Ho and bubbly, ready for the table
