Poppy Z. Brite's Soul Kitchen

Just finished this last night while half-watching Dreamgirls. You may be familiar with Mr. Brite's work from her early short stories in the long-lamented Horror Show magazine, or more likely, the trio of Deep South goth/vampire novels written in the early-90's that singlehandedly ensorcelled a cult of Poppy that persists to this day much to the author's chagrin. Then she out-Cooper'd Dennis with Exquisite Corpse her grand guignol meditation on AIDS as viewed through the lenses of two serial killers both based on contemporary real-life miscreants.

For the past several years she's gone in a different direction while keeping the details and characters of her New Orleans vibrant: less
defenestration, more delectation. She's been writing about food.

Well, kitchen kulltur, really.

The Value of X
Liquor
Prime
Soul Kitchen
and the soon to be published, Dead Shrimp Blues

When reading Poppy's later works I'm reminded of Armistead Maupin (a reference she might despise) both for how easy her narratives
go down and this golden thread of hospitality, of welcome when you enter the world of Rickey and G Man, two New Orleans chefs, their restaurant Liquor, and the travails of homelife and business in the city itself.

Poppy also maintains a blog at Livejournal where for the past year or so her readers have been offered an often-harrowing inside look at life post-Katrina, specifically, the obstacles her and her partner, a notable New Orleans chef in his own right, have faced rescuing their cats, finding housing, rehabilitating their beloved city.

All of which is to say that much of what Mr. Brite's detailed in her blog resonates within the pages of Soul Kitchen: also, her love for Moto and Alinea, her disdain of culinary gimmicry/fakery, and, above all, her relationship with her city, it's parishes, it's people, it's neighborhoods.

It's a shame that Brite's Liquor novels aren't readily-referenced when the topic of contemporary food writing comes up.

The Liquor books are great beach reads with all the entertainment value and languid, leisurely pleasure that entails.

Soul Kitchen's forward mentions that the novel was finished the night before Katrina hit. The follow-up Dead Shrimp Blues promises to evoke what came after.

What in the Wide Wide World of Sports are you talking about? Is there food involved?

stevez wrote:What in the Wide Wide World of Sports are you talking about? Is there food involved?

Exactly what, pray tell, are you confused about?

Poppy Z. Brite=author
Soul Kitchen=book by the above

Christopher Gordon wrote:

stevez wrote:What in the Wide Wide World of Sports are you talking about? Is there food involved?

Exactly what, pray tell, are you confused about?

Poppy Z. Brite=author
Soul Kitchen=book by the above

How do you prepare those? I would imagine they take quite a bit of tenderizing and/or seasoning. Do you braise or grill?

Poppy Z. Brite is also the onetime (and perhaps still) Chowhound poster Doc, frequently of the New Orleans board, often of Texas, if you're interested in some of her other food writings.

I don't believe you can search Chowhound by poster, though.

Aaron Deacon wrote:Poppy Z. Brite is also the onetime (and perhaps still) Chowhound poster Doc, frequently of the New Orleans board, often of Texas, if you're interested in some of her other food writings.

I don't believe you can search Chowhound by poster, though.

I'm well aware of her goings-on internets-wise. Unfortunately, it's difficult to praise or recommend Brite in mixed company *because* of her cultish fandom. I happen to have liked her work from the beginning(I was an early subscriber to The Horror Show). I lost track of her later on...had a bf introduce me to the novels which made her rep...then lost track again and now enjoy her culinary works.

Yes, she comes out of "genre" publishing, but in my mind, anyone that has problem with "genre fiction" might as well be illiterate.

A similar argument might be invoked for the supposed dichotomies of highbrow and lowbrow cuisine.



point being...Brite's latest novel in the Liquor series, Soul Kitchen oughta by rights entertain many of those who frequent this site...

I really loved Liquor. I read it when it came out and while I was familar with Poppy Z Brite's name from perusing in the horror section, I hadn't read any of her darker, vampire stuff. To me, it just sounded kinda fun.

And it was fun but it was more than fun. In fact, I remember being quite surprised by it and really loving it. Which is always a great thing to happen when you pick up a new author.

I think I read it around the same time I read Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential and i was on a tear to read culinary stuff for awhile -- I read that and the Making of a Chef by Ruhlmann (another great book in this genre).

I believe i read the follow up but I don't recall liking it as much as the first one -- i just don't remember it as vividly as I remember Liquor.

I like CG's likening it to Armistead Maupin -- his books in San Fran have always been very evocative for me -- such a time and a place, you know? In fact, I think I'll have to go looking for Soul Kitchen tonight and see what's going on with Ricky and G Man.

earthlydesire wrote:I really loved Liquor. I read it when it came out and while I was familar with Poppy Z Brite's name from perusing in the horror section, I hadn't read any of her darker, vampire stuff. To me, it just sounded kinda fun.

And it was fun but it was more than fun. In fact, I remember being quite surprised by it and really loving it. Which is always a great thing to happen when you pick up a new author.

I think I read it around the same time I read Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential and i was on a tear to read culinary stuff for awhile -- I read that and the Making of a Chef by Ruhlmann (another great book in this genre).

I believe i read the follow up but I don't recall liking it as much as the first one -- i just don't remember it as vividly as I remember Liquor.

I like CG's likening it to Armistead Maupin -- his books in San Fran have always been very evocative for me -- such a time and a place, you know? In fact, I think I'll have to go looking for Soul Kitchen tonight and see what's going on with Ricky and G Man.

ahhh...at least I got one bite

I haven't read Value of X(which...I believe she doesn't consider part of the Liquor series...tho' it follows the same characters)...and I haven't read Prime(the novel you're referencing?)...so...my perusal's lackadaisicle, but I very much enjoyed Liquor and Soul Kitchen. I could be wrong about Dead Shrimp Blues...she might yet be writing it...not on the verge of publication. I do know from reading the blog that she was immediately-confronted with how to handle and reinvigorate her characters post-Katrina.

I have no problem recommending the Liquor series to anyone who likes novels. I picked up Liquor because some of the publicity made it sound like it was a mystery. There is some crime but that's not a major focus. Just very solid characters and stories-- and great fun to read.

I, too, have been following her blog. Compulsively, in fact.