Soul Kitchen: A Novel (Rickey and G-Man Series)

Some people classify Poppy Z. Brite's recent novels as mysteries, but that's not exactly right. Though her "Liquor" books (Soul Kitchen is the third installment) contain crimes, the stories aren't driven by a need to solve crimes or bring perpetrators to justice. The wrongdoings prevalent in these books are of the type that seems to be part and parcel of doing business and living in the Crescent City. Grift, money laundering, blackmail, political influence-for-sale, protection, gambling and the like.In Soul Kitchen, protagonists Ricky and G-man are riding the wave of accomplishment generated by their liquor-themed restaurant. Liquor is one of New Orleans' success stories in a city where eating establishments tend to erupt like flames and flicker out just as quickly. The life-long friends are, perhaps, resting on their laurels and soon learn how fast a restaurant's reputation can be dulled or tarnished. A simple chain of events imperils their prestige.Ricky wrenches his back wrestling with a fifty-pound bag of oysters, an injury that informs the rest of the novel. Since he and G-man have no health insurance, he relies on the medical advice of a regular customer and business associate who finds it to his advantage to get Ricky hooked on Vicodin. Pain, lack of sleep and his increasing dependence upon the drugs interferes with his relationship with G-man and leads him to badger Tanker, the restaurant's desert specialist, into quitting. Pride keeps teh men from seeking reconciliation, even after Ricky and G-man discover that no one else knows how to recreate some of their signature deserts.Ricky becomes an absentee partner when he agrees to another consulting job, this time helping set up a "destination" restaurant at a casino on Lake Pontchartrain. He and G-man hire Milford Goodman, fresh out of a lengthy stint in prison after being wrongly convicted for the murder of his previous (white female) restaurant partner, to fill in the gaps at Liquor. No one else wants anything to do with Milford, and Ricky and G-man take some heat for hiring him.Milford was a highly esteemed chef before his incarceration, so Ricky enlists his help in coming up with the theme for the casino restaurant. They decide on Soul Kitchen, which will serve ethnic home-style cooking from around the world. Ricky isn't particularly fond of his business partners in this endeavor, but he and Ricky are trying to save up enough money to buy out their original Liquor financier, Lenny, who still owns twenty-five percent of the restaurant. Ricky's side job leads to an explosive, unexpected confrontation and, in the aftermath, it's unlikely that Ricky will be eager to hire himself out as a consultant any time soon.The power and strength of this series of books comes from the long-term relationship between Ricky and G-man. Their faithfulness and loyalty is occasionally tested, almost to the breaking point, but readers believe in them and in their future together. They don't spend a lot of time analyzing their relationship, nor do they devote much energy defending it to people who are less than supportive of their lifestyle. They just do like most other people: continue to stay together and support each other day after day after day.Brite knows the New Orleans tradition and the restaurant business. Her husband is a chef and she frequently posts on her blog about some of the exotic meals she has in that city. She knows that, outside of work, chefs rarely cook gourmet meals for themselves or for their loved ones. She knows how a kitchen works, and the ways in which it can go badly wrong. She understands the pompous self-importance of some of the industry's auteurs. And she also understands chronic pain and the allure of certain drugs to hold it at bay.Since Katrina, Brite has become one of New Orleans' strongest advocates, writing at length about the city's recover on her blog and penning opinion pieces for the local newspaper and for national publications. Soul Kitchen was completed the night before the storm struck the city. The next installment, Dead Shrimp Blues, will reportedly deal, in part, with the hurricane and its aftermath.

Soul Kitchen holds its own with Brite's previous works Liquor and Prime, reuniting readers with Rickey, G-man, Lenny, and the staff of Liquor, as well as introducing new characters who bring their own stories to this book - with interesting twists and turns along the way. There are several layers of story going on here, so don't make the error of focusing on one and think that's where all the action is or you'll be cheating yourself. Readers get to see a side of Lenny that's really not been shown before; issues of race, class and the degree to which they determine one's life are interwoven throughout; and there is a realistic, non-moralistic but non-glamourous look at drug addiction. Anyone who has worked in a restaurant will be familiar with the issues that cause a battle of egos - but no spoilers here. You'll have to read to see how / if they resolve. As someone who doesn't live in New Orleans, I enjoyed the local perspective on Mardi Gras and the extra tidbits and history that I'd not been aware of before. The characters in these stories feel real, not the least bit of stiff caricature is present. In reading this book, it felt that the Lenny/Rickey/G-man Liquor partnership had moved from being strictly business to more in the direction of friendly colleagues, and Rickey and G-man continue to deepen the bond they share while growing in new directions. The staff are prevented from becoming just convenient props by having lives and issues of their own that spill over into the main story lines. If you've not read the other books, you will not be lost here, but anyone reading others (Liquor, Prime, The Value of X) will see growth and progression in the characters. These stories hold up well for a re-read too.

Poppy Z. Brite is back with a new installment in the Liquor series. Rickey and G-Man are making a success of their New Orleans restaurant, Liquor, despite some turnover in the kitchen. Rickey hires Milton Goodman who has just been released from prison after serving ten years for a murder he did not commit. Rickey hurts his back and sees a quack who overprescribes Vicodin in a bizarre attempt to lure Rickey into consulting for a new restaurant, Soul Kitchen, on a casino boat. The story follows two tracks: what all of this does to the relationship between Rickey and G-Man (which includes a lot more sex than in the previous installment -- thank you!) and the dirty dealings on the casino boat, leading to a nasty surprise for poor Milton. Poppy is at her very best. As noted in a review for a previous book in the series, it is a mark of the skill of her writing that a straight women can so beautifully capture the life and love of two gay men. The dialogue between the characters also reaches new levels of reality and humor. The plot has been kept simpler and cleaner, making even the nefarious dealings easier to follow. And, correcting what was notably absent in the previous books in the series, Poppy actually has G-Man spending nearly two pages questioning the ethics and morality of some of the New Orleans shenanigans. In the introduction the author tells us that Soul Kitchen was completed the night before Katrina blew away and/or drowned New Orleans. As we have come to love these characters, we hope that Poppy will let us know how they and their restaurant have fared ever since.

I came across Poppy Brite's novel LIQUOR a few months ago and fell in love with the characters and most of all the setting - I've always wanted to go to New Orleans and now I know I definitely will as soon as I can. In LIQUOR, Ricky and G Man set up a restaurant with the idea that all the food will have some alcohol in - great concept. As a big fan of eating out I loved all the behind the scenes in the kitchens action. Anyway, moving on to Soul Kitchen - well I won't put any spoilers, will just say it continues the story of their adventures, the characters on the chef/restaurant scene - its totally brilliant fun, easy to read and gives the flavour of the city, if you'll forgive the pun. Incidentally, the two protaganists are gay....but this is kind of incidental, which I love....not a big deal. Recommend to all foodies, and anyone.

Une histoire originale, un langage savoureux. Des personnage mijotés aux petits oignons, bien gratinés, croquants et fondants à la fois. Des sujets bien relevés à la sauce Louisiane, sur un lit de problématiques solides (racisme, homophobie, religion, corruption etc..). C'est un livre qui surprend par son goût et ses odeurs, on sent la sueur, la cuisine, la détresse, l'amour, la joie, la vie, on salive et je n'ai plus qu'une envie : lire encore Poppy Z. Brite

I love that series of novels about New Orleans, cooking and love between 2 very endearing men. All the other characters are fascinating as well. It makes me want to go and live there for a while. GREAT BOOK.