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Rickey and G-Man #4
Soul Kitchen
A sharp commentary on race relations in pre-Katrina New Orleans and a fast ride through the dark side of haute cuisine.
Liquor has become one of the hottest restaurants in town, thanks in part to chefs Rickey and G-man’s wildly creative, booze-laced food. At the tail end of a busy Mardi Gras, Milford Goodman walks into their kitchen—he’s spent the last ten years in Angola Prison for murdering his boss, a wealthy New Orleans restaurateur, but has recently been exonerated on new evidence and released. Rickey remembers him as an ingenious chef and hires him on the spot.
When a pill-pushing doctor and a Carnival scion talk Rickey into consulting at the restaurant they’re opening in one of the city’s “floating casinos,” Rickey recommends Milford for the head chef position and stays on to supervise. But soon Rickey finds himself medicating a kitchen injury with the doctor’s wares, and G-man grows tired of holding down the fort at Liquor alone. As the new restaurant moves toward its opening, Rickey learns that Milford’s past is inextricably linked with one of the project’s backers, a man whose intentions begin to seem more and more sinister.
Liquor has become one of the hottest restaurants in town, thanks in part to chefs Rickey and G-man’s wildly creative, booze-laced food. At the tail end of a busy Mardi Gras, Milford Goodman walks into their kitchen—he’s spent the last ten years in Angola Prison for murdering his boss, a wealthy New Orleans restaurateur, but has recently been exonerated on new evidence and released. Rickey remembers him as an ingenious chef and hires him on the spot.
When a pill-pushing doctor and a Carnival scion talk Rickey into consulting at the restaurant they’re opening in one of the city’s “floating casinos,” Rickey recommends Milford for the head chef position and stays on to supervise. But soon Rickey finds himself medicating a kitchen injury with the doctor’s wares, and G-man grows tired of holding down the fort at Liquor alone. As the new restaurant moves toward its opening, Rickey learns that Milford’s past is inextricably linked with one of the project’s backers, a man whose intentions begin to seem more and more sinister.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
20 people are currently reading
909 people want to read
About the author
Poppy Z. Brite
164 books3,614 followersPoppy Z. Brite (born Melissa Ann Brite, now going by Billy Martin) is an American author born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Born a biological female, Brite has written and talked much about his gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. He self-identifies almost completely as a homosexual male rather than female, and as of 2011 has started taking testosterone injections. His male name is Billy Martin.
He lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia prior to returning to New Orleans in 1993. He loves UNC basketball and is a sometime season ticket holder for the NBA, but he saves his greatest affection for his hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints.
Brite and husband Chris DeBarr, a chef, run a de facto cat rescue and have, at any given time, between fifteen and twenty cats. Photos of the various felines are available on the "Cats" page of Brite's website. They have been known to have a few dogs and perhaps a snake as well in the menagerie. They are no longer together.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brite at first opted to stay at home, but he eventually abandoned New Orleans and his cats and relocated 80 miles away to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans regarding the situation, including the unknown status of his house and many of his pets, and in October 2005 became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to begin repopulating the city.
In the following months, Brite has been an outspoken and sometimes harsh critic of those who are leaving New Orleans for good. He was quoted in the New York Times and elsewhere as saying, in reference to those considering leaving, "If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it just because it can kill you. There are things more valuable than life."
Born a biological female, Brite has written and talked much about his gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. He self-identifies almost completely as a homosexual male rather than female, and as of 2011 has started taking testosterone injections. His male name is Billy Martin.
He lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia prior to returning to New Orleans in 1993. He loves UNC basketball and is a sometime season ticket holder for the NBA, but he saves his greatest affection for his hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints.
Brite and husband Chris DeBarr, a chef, run a de facto cat rescue and have, at any given time, between fifteen and twenty cats. Photos of the various felines are available on the "Cats" page of Brite's website. They have been known to have a few dogs and perhaps a snake as well in the menagerie. They are no longer together.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brite at first opted to stay at home, but he eventually abandoned New Orleans and his cats and relocated 80 miles away to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans regarding the situation, including the unknown status of his house and many of his pets, and in October 2005 became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to begin repopulating the city.
In the following months, Brite has been an outspoken and sometimes harsh critic of those who are leaving New Orleans for good. He was quoted in the New York Times and elsewhere as saying, in reference to those considering leaving, "If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it just because it can kill you. There are things more valuable than life."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 23, 2021
I never thought I'd see the day Brite wrote about conservadurism, monogamy and routine. But here we are.
February 8, 2024
love my two guys who are constantly involved in new orleans headlines against their will
March 27, 2023
Found this book in a list of best books about New Orleans as I prepared for spring break trip there. Enjoyed the characters and the setting in restaurants, fun quick read
Read
July 29, 2025DNF je m'ennuie trop et je sens que ça va me créer une panne de lecture si je force
Read
December 28, 2023Based in the restaurant scene in New Orleans. Good characters and an interesting story that covers race tension, haute cuisine and relationships.
September 4, 2012
I read this third installment in the Liquor series in just three days and found it to be the best of the series. The scene that takes place in the Polonius Room, a restaurant with a Netherlands chef who has decided to introduce New Orleans to "molecular gastronomy", are hilarious and pretty much echo my views on the level of ridiculous some restaurants have taken "cooking", if such a label can even be applied to that type of theatre. Beyond this laugh-til-you-cry scene, Poppy Z. Brite takes on a new level of complexity in her writing, tackling issues of infidelity, prescription drug addiction, and the multi-layered relationships we have with loved ones, family, and co-workers. Set against the background of New Orleans politics and culture, the story becomes an intricately woven and delightfully detailed world that left me wanting even more. Brilliant!
June 12, 2007
Excellent. Fun, interesting, not mushy. We connect back with Rickey and G-Man and their lives running a successful restaurant, Liquor, while trying to have a life, enjoy it and be good to each other and others. The plot is mostly about Rickey helping out an old work friend to get back on his feet and getting the short end of the stick for doing something good. It's as good as the first two in the series with us getting to know the characters better (I especially liked how Lenny has grown since the last book or something looking like having matured a bit) I like the food stuff, the recipes, the behind the scenes kitchen drama.
January 27, 2013
I've read this book because I'd also read the other 2 books of this series. I like the writing style, but after already have read 2 of these books, the 3rd one was just one too many. The thing is, the books are about the daily life's of two chefs and their restaurant. Nothing overly exciting happens or only for like a few pages. There is only so much of this a person can read, even when the writing style is wonderful.
January 30, 2008
I've enjoyed every book in this series -- an oddly engaging mix of literary fiction, crime and romance.
January 23, 2012
I dread reading this. There are apparently some Rickey and G-man short stories available, but this is (or will be, for me) the last novel/novella. I can't stand the thought of it. Kid you not.
January 8, 2014
Warm, fuzzy comfort blanket books.
February 4, 2024
Cette échappée dans les paysages de la Nouvelle-Orléans m’a fait passer par toutes les émotions possibles et imaginables…
Le destin de ces trois amis, unis par l’amour de la grande cuisine est décrit avec une telle sensibilité, une telle véracité dans les émotions… J’avais l’impression de faire partie de cette brigade. J’avais envie d’être là, de faire partie de l’aventure, d’apporter mes créations, mon inspiration, mon soutien, mon énergie… Et surtout, faire partie d’un groupe uni, passionné et solidaire.
Malheureusement, les aléas de la vie mettent bien souvent à mal la destinée que l’on s’est permise en rêve… C’est d’autant plus cruel lorsque la réalité était sur le point de nous l’offrir… Le désenchantement, la chute, sont d’une violence sans pareil… Cette descente aux Enfers, c’est Milford qui a dû la subir de plein fouet. Accusé à tort d’un crime odieux et condamné à de nombreuses années de réclusion, dans quel état se retrouve-t-on après une telle injustice ?
Le destin semble toutefois ne pas l’abandonner totalement et paraît se rappeler le talent incroyable de Milford derrière les fourneaux… Ainsi, à sa sortie de prison, il retrouve Rickey et G-man, ses anciens amis et ceux-ci s’empressent de lui venir en aide et lui proposent illico un poste dans leur restaurant à succès.
Rickey et G-man sont amis, collègues, mais surtout, ils forment un couple. Et l’homosexualité n’est clairement pas du goût de tout le monde. Des relents nauséabonds de racisme et d’homophobie empuantissent toujours jusqu’aux moindres recoins de la Terre. Les thèmes du racisme et de l’homophobie sont abordés âprement, violemment… Le passage durant lequel un des personnages noirs déblatère des propos homophobes est tellement choquant, tellement violent, qu’une vague de haine et de colère s’est emparée de moi. Comment un individu qui connaît l’horreur du racisme, de l’intolérance, de la haine, du harcèlement, des coups, des insultes, des crachats, de la pendaison, peut-il tenir un discours aussi indécent, aussi irrespectueux et aussi cruel ? Sa justification ne l’a enfoncée que davantage dans la fange…
Poppy Z. Brite m’a complètement embarquée dans ce roman engagé, empli de sagesse, d’empathie et d’amour. L’intelligence émotionnelle est admirable et presque palpable.
Ces contrées, ces gens, je voulais les rencontrer, leur parler, les soutenir ou leur demander pourquoi… Je voulais m’imprégner des lieux, des odeurs, des habitudes, de ce Mardi Gras, de ces défilés de camions colorés, de ces mystérieuses confréries, de ces parties de pêche, de ces cabanes…
Tout est réussi dans ce roman. L’intrigue, les enjeux, les personnages, l’engagement social, l’écriture, l’atmosphère… Je n’avais pas envie de repartir…
Il s’agit-là de mon premier livre de cet auteur et je peux vous dire que ce ne sera pas le dernier !
Le destin de ces trois amis, unis par l’amour de la grande cuisine est décrit avec une telle sensibilité, une telle véracité dans les émotions… J’avais l’impression de faire partie de cette brigade. J’avais envie d’être là, de faire partie de l’aventure, d’apporter mes créations, mon inspiration, mon soutien, mon énergie… Et surtout, faire partie d’un groupe uni, passionné et solidaire.
Malheureusement, les aléas de la vie mettent bien souvent à mal la destinée que l’on s’est permise en rêve… C’est d’autant plus cruel lorsque la réalité était sur le point de nous l’offrir… Le désenchantement, la chute, sont d’une violence sans pareil… Cette descente aux Enfers, c’est Milford qui a dû la subir de plein fouet. Accusé à tort d’un crime odieux et condamné à de nombreuses années de réclusion, dans quel état se retrouve-t-on après une telle injustice ?
Le destin semble toutefois ne pas l’abandonner totalement et paraît se rappeler le talent incroyable de Milford derrière les fourneaux… Ainsi, à sa sortie de prison, il retrouve Rickey et G-man, ses anciens amis et ceux-ci s’empressent de lui venir en aide et lui proposent illico un poste dans leur restaurant à succès.
Rickey et G-man sont amis, collègues, mais surtout, ils forment un couple. Et l’homosexualité n’est clairement pas du goût de tout le monde. Des relents nauséabonds de racisme et d’homophobie empuantissent toujours jusqu’aux moindres recoins de la Terre. Les thèmes du racisme et de l’homophobie sont abordés âprement, violemment… Le passage durant lequel un des personnages noirs déblatère des propos homophobes est tellement choquant, tellement violent, qu’une vague de haine et de colère s’est emparée de moi. Comment un individu qui connaît l’horreur du racisme, de l’intolérance, de la haine, du harcèlement, des coups, des insultes, des crachats, de la pendaison, peut-il tenir un discours aussi indécent, aussi irrespectueux et aussi cruel ? Sa justification ne l’a enfoncée que davantage dans la fange…
Poppy Z. Brite m’a complètement embarquée dans ce roman engagé, empli de sagesse, d’empathie et d’amour. L’intelligence émotionnelle est admirable et presque palpable.
Ces contrées, ces gens, je voulais les rencontrer, leur parler, les soutenir ou leur demander pourquoi… Je voulais m’imprégner des lieux, des odeurs, des habitudes, de ce Mardi Gras, de ces défilés de camions colorés, de ces mystérieuses confréries, de ces parties de pêche, de ces cabanes…
Tout est réussi dans ce roman. L’intrigue, les enjeux, les personnages, l’engagement social, l’écriture, l’atmosphère… Je n’avais pas envie de repartir…
Il s’agit-là de mon premier livre de cet auteur et je peux vous dire que ce ne sera pas le dernier !
August 7, 2019
I feel like a lot of a person's enjoyment of this book comes from what they like about the Rickey and G-man series. If you're reading it for the crime, the kitchen talk, the food? You'll enjoy this one. If you're reading it for Rickey and G-man's relationship, you may not love it. Here's why:
*spoilers*
I'm going to preface this by saying it was arguably my least favorite book of the Rickey and G-man series. The book was still great, but to me it marked a clear turning point for Brite, one that showed they were ready to be done with the series.
There were definite strengths in Soul Kitchen, don't get me wrong. Realistic depictions of addiction and important talks on race relations shined through an otherwise less thrilling story. Rickey's descent into Vicodin dependency was painful, but hit close to home, and it was incredibly well-done (pun intended). It was also, as always, wonderful to see the unending, unconditional love that Rickey and G-man have for each other, regardless of the struggles they face. It's part of why I love them so much.
That said, if you primarily read this series for Rickey and G-man's banter, you'll find it missing through most of the story. On the one hand, that's because this goes to show how isolating addiction and dependency can be, but on the other, their missing banter was hard to go without. I found myself missing it, and as a result, this book took me a lot longer to finish reading than anything else in the series.
Good book, but missing the charm of what makes the series so great to read.
*spoilers*
I'm going to preface this by saying it was arguably my least favorite book of the Rickey and G-man series. The book was still great, but to me it marked a clear turning point for Brite, one that showed they were ready to be done with the series.
There were definite strengths in Soul Kitchen, don't get me wrong. Realistic depictions of addiction and important talks on race relations shined through an otherwise less thrilling story. Rickey's descent into Vicodin dependency was painful, but hit close to home, and it was incredibly well-done (pun intended). It was also, as always, wonderful to see the unending, unconditional love that Rickey and G-man have for each other, regardless of the struggles they face. It's part of why I love them so much.
That said, if you primarily read this series for Rickey and G-man's banter, you'll find it missing through most of the story. On the one hand, that's because this goes to show how isolating addiction and dependency can be, but on the other, their missing banter was hard to go without. I found myself missing it, and as a result, this book took me a lot longer to finish reading than anything else in the series.
Good book, but missing the charm of what makes the series so great to read.
February 2, 2024
“In every long-term relationship are a few pockets of deep and dangerous water into which one can step unaware if not careful.”
Poppy Z Brite’s Soul Kitchen continues the story of the success of Rickey and G-Man’s restaurant Liquor. At the tail end of a busy Mardi Gras, Milford Goodman walks into their kitchen, having spent the last ten years in Angola Prison for murdering his boss, a wealthy New Orleans restaurateur, Rickey remembers him as an amazing chef and hires him on the spot. A pill-pushing doctor approaches Rickey for a consulting gig for one of the city’s “floating casinos,” Rickey recommends Milford for the head chef position. As he takes on the project he realises Milford’s past is linked with one of the project’s backers, a man whose intentions begin to seem more and more sinister.
Soul Kitchen was another great look into the many successes and trials Rickey and G-man have had to face since opening up Liquor. Old acquaintances make an appearance and although Rickey’s intentions are good, not everyone is like him. Tension builds as the project takes Rickey away from Liquor and all the pressure is on G-Man to keep it afloat.
There are many comedic moments in this story as well as some brutal ones. The unique characters from the previous books make an appearance and it’s great to see them in this part of Rickey and G-Man’s life story.
As always there was drama, drugs, alcohol, thugs and a lot more to deal with. The true sense of New Orleans is woven in the imagery and the dishes the cooks made as well as the language.
This was a fun read in the series.
Poppy Z Brite’s Soul Kitchen continues the story of the success of Rickey and G-Man’s restaurant Liquor. At the tail end of a busy Mardi Gras, Milford Goodman walks into their kitchen, having spent the last ten years in Angola Prison for murdering his boss, a wealthy New Orleans restaurateur, Rickey remembers him as an amazing chef and hires him on the spot. A pill-pushing doctor approaches Rickey for a consulting gig for one of the city’s “floating casinos,” Rickey recommends Milford for the head chef position. As he takes on the project he realises Milford’s past is linked with one of the project’s backers, a man whose intentions begin to seem more and more sinister.
Soul Kitchen was another great look into the many successes and trials Rickey and G-man have had to face since opening up Liquor. Old acquaintances make an appearance and although Rickey’s intentions are good, not everyone is like him. Tension builds as the project takes Rickey away from Liquor and all the pressure is on G-Man to keep it afloat.
There are many comedic moments in this story as well as some brutal ones. The unique characters from the previous books make an appearance and it’s great to see them in this part of Rickey and G-Man’s life story.
As always there was drama, drugs, alcohol, thugs and a lot more to deal with. The true sense of New Orleans is woven in the imagery and the dishes the cooks made as well as the language.
This was a fun read in the series.
August 9, 2024
New Orleans Chef Rickey has gotten himself mired in a heap of fresh problems. Hiring recently exonerated convict Milford Goodman to work with him and his co-chef and life partner G-man sees their popular restaurant Liquor the recipient of anonymous threats. Rickey is soon given the opportunity to maneuver Milford, a talented chef in his own right, into a head chef position at a proposed riverboat casino, but only if he (Rickey) agrees to lend his reputation as a consultant. Already spreading himself thin, Rickey also finds himself addicted to Vicodin after a kitchen related back injury, which exacerbates the strain on his relationship with G-man.
This fourth and final book in the Rickey and G-man series is another entertaining look at the restaurant business, with a satisfying dose of New Orleans flavor. It's also looks a little closer at race and class relations in the city, and the underlying prejudices against an openly gay couple in the early aughts in the normally macho environment of a restaurant kitchen. Brite (now William Joseph Martin) has a talent for writing fully realized characters and finding a balance between lighthearted and reflective in the story's tone. I thoroughly enjoyed these books and I'm sorry there aren't more of them. If The Bear wasn't already so popular, I'd say it would make an excellent basis for a new series.
This fourth and final book in the Rickey and G-man series is another entertaining look at the restaurant business, with a satisfying dose of New Orleans flavor. It's also looks a little closer at race and class relations in the city, and the underlying prejudices against an openly gay couple in the early aughts in the normally macho environment of a restaurant kitchen. Brite (now William Joseph Martin) has a talent for writing fully realized characters and finding a balance between lighthearted and reflective in the story's tone. I thoroughly enjoyed these books and I'm sorry there aren't more of them. If The Bear wasn't already so popular, I'd say it would make an excellent basis for a new series.
May 7, 2019
This was arguably my least favorite book of the Rickey and G-Man series. It was still great, but it seemed to mark a clear lead into Brite's readiness to be done with the series.
The strengths? Good talks on race relations and an accurate depiction of addiction. Rickey's descent into vicodin use was painful to read about and hit close to home, so that was incredibly well-done. Also, the unending love between Rickey and G-Man, no matter what struggles they face, is heartwarming and part of why I adore those two so much.
The weaknesses? It was obvious Rickey and G-Man's relationship here represented addiction well, and how isolating it can be, but the near-complete loss of their banter and love through a good chunk of this story made it hard to get through. As someone who reads the series primarily for their relationship, with all of the crime and drama as a secondary thing, I found myself missing them (and taking a lot longer to read this one than the others in the series).
It's still a wonderful book, a great addition to the series, and well worth reading, and still earns the 4 stars I'm giving it.
The strengths? Good talks on race relations and an accurate depiction of addiction. Rickey's descent into vicodin use was painful to read about and hit close to home, so that was incredibly well-done. Also, the unending love between Rickey and G-Man, no matter what struggles they face, is heartwarming and part of why I adore those two so much.
The weaknesses? It was obvious Rickey and G-Man's relationship here represented addiction well, and how isolating it can be, but the near-complete loss of their banter and love through a good chunk of this story made it hard to get through. As someone who reads the series primarily for their relationship, with all of the crime and drama as a secondary thing, I found myself missing them (and taking a lot longer to read this one than the others in the series).
It's still a wonderful book, a great addition to the series, and well worth reading, and still earns the 4 stars I'm giving it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2020
It was light on plot, but I didn't care. I was saving this book since Billy Martin has stopped writing fiction and I always wanted there to be a PZB book I hadn't read, and then, while in self isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, I read it. It was a 300-page homecoming and having the opportunity to roll around in Billy Martin's created world for a while, and given that this is my favourite author, that was more than enough. Maybe one day, we'll have a new Billy Martin work of fiction. I really, really hope that day comes. I will read it and buy it and roll around in that world some more.
One note: There's a scene where Rickey recalls hitting a server on the back of the head so hard that her gum pops out. I know when we're writing, sometimes we just throw shit in there. Not every phrase or sentence gets intense "what does this say about the character?" scrutiny. So I discarded that. I'm not into Rickey being the type to hit his workers, and I don't think he is.
One note: There's a scene where Rickey recalls hitting a server on the back of the head so hard that her gum pops out. I know when we're writing, sometimes we just throw shit in there. Not every phrase or sentence gets intense "what does this say about the character?" scrutiny. So I discarded that. I'm not into Rickey being the type to hit his workers, and I don't think he is.
August 6, 2020
Well, a couple of years after consulting for a restaurant in Dallas Tx to mixed good and bad results Rickey does it again. This time a local casino wanting to establish itself as a fine dining establishment. This divides his time between his own restaurant and the client restaurant because it is in town. That turns out to have good and bad points as well.
In the meantime, he and G-man are dealing with relationship concerns and the time apart is a new experience for both of them that they have to adjust to. The story takes a good look at what relationships are like as well as some of the scandals that are similar to things that I have heard have really happened in the unique city of New Orleans where drinking is almost required and a person doesn't really fit in unless they are drunk at least a few times.
Well written as all her other books have been and Poppy tells a great story.
In the meantime, he and G-man are dealing with relationship concerns and the time apart is a new experience for both of them that they have to adjust to. The story takes a good look at what relationships are like as well as some of the scandals that are similar to things that I have heard have really happened in the unique city of New Orleans where drinking is almost required and a person doesn't really fit in unless they are drunk at least a few times.
Well written as all her other books have been and Poppy tells a great story.
February 23, 2023
I know this question is kind of irrelevant, but do women *ever* show up in Brite’s books? I don’t think they’d ever pass the Bechdel test, but as far as I can tell they’d never even be in the running because there are never two women characters in the same room in these stories, let alone having *any* kind of conversation. It’s honestly really retrograde and weird.
As for the G-man and Rickey books on their own merits… I don’t know, the two I’ve read strike me as “the world’s most exhaustively (and annoyingly) researched Restaurant!AU fanfic.” Maybe it’s because of my chosen career, but I’m not really impressed.
As for the G-man and Rickey books on their own merits… I don’t know, the two I’ve read strike me as “the world’s most exhaustively (and annoyingly) researched Restaurant!AU fanfic.” Maybe it’s because of my chosen career, but I’m not really impressed.
May 1, 2019
Great fun
This is not a literary masterpiece. Instead it is exquisite entertainment. The author.apparently has some experience in a commercial kitchen. Obviously she has no experience as a man, gay or otherwise. Wisely, unlike other female authors, she neither avoids the sexual part of this relationship nor takes the steamy and the improbability of a romance novel. I love that she knows New Orleans But doesn’t treat it like a tour guide.
This is not a literary masterpiece. Instead it is exquisite entertainment. The author.apparently has some experience in a commercial kitchen. Obviously she has no experience as a man, gay or otherwise. Wisely, unlike other female authors, she neither avoids the sexual part of this relationship nor takes the steamy and the improbability of a romance novel. I love that she knows New Orleans But doesn’t treat it like a tour guide.
March 18, 2024
Milford realized he had forgotten the caviar to be spooned atop the little islands of crème fraiche in the cold borscht.
i get that this was published in 2006, positively ages before the war, but i nearly threw up i got so angry. god, russian borscht... 🤮
also, who serves it cold with caviar?! VILE
A good book overall, if not for things like these.
i get that this was published in 2006, positively ages before the war, but i nearly threw up i got so angry. god, russian borscht... 🤮
also, who serves it cold with caviar?! VILE
A good book overall, if not for things like these.
December 20, 2018
Another fun title
This one was a little sadder than the last ones but the romantic element was cooler and it was nice to see the restaurant hitting a tough patch but getting better.
This one was a little sadder than the last ones but the romantic element was cooler and it was nice to see the restaurant hitting a tough patch but getting better.
June 25, 2025
I just love this series; I'm fully in at this point: I just want to hang out in New Orleans, eating and drinking and cooking with Rickey and G-Man (though hopefully ducking to the bathroom before the inevitable murder, just like one side character did this book).
December 17, 2019
Soul kitchen was my first Poppy Z Brite book, and is probably my favorite to reread.
February 26, 2021
This was in the horror section. Definitely not horror .
January 21, 2025
bourgeouse, middle class point of view. kind of like a book version of Murder She Wrote.
September 10, 2025
El ratatouille gringo con platos raros: en vez de ratas hay absenta
May 9, 2014
I enjoyed the hell out of this book. I didn't want to stop reading it. The first two were fun but lacking. This one was really fun and less lacking. I found I liked reading about Rickey and G-man. Maybe I've finally gotten to know them enough to enjoy reading about them and their life. Also, Brite seems to get a little out of control when there is excessive plot, so I liked that this one just meandered along.
There were some plots, but the whole book wasn't focused on one hackneyed idea. Milford's plot involved racial profiling and murder and just terrible luck. Tanker's plot involved him getting pissed off and going to work somewhere else, with him and Rickey being stubborn and ridiculous about the whole thing. Then Rickey and G-man had their plot with Rickey's pill dependency and the strain on their relationship.
For some reason this one just worked for me in a way the other two didn't. The relationship between Rickey and G-man seemed more believable, they seemed more complex as characters, and I enjoyed reading about their daily life. There's many lesser characters that are pretty much cardboard, but Rickey and G-man, as well as Lenny and Milford were pretty well done. Tanker was pretty much a mystery, and who knows about the people that work in their kitchen.
The ending to Milford's plot seemed abrupt, though. I was just meandering happily along when BAM! plot over. It was alarming and unexpectedly gruesome. And I don't understand how someone does something like that and gets away with it. I don't care WHO you are. And it was an odd contrast to the rest of the ending, which was a hilarious look at the food Tanker was having to serve up at his new restaurant, known as molecular gastronomy. The scene with G-man and the kitchen guy when G-man was vulnerable and his relationship with Rickey was most strained would have worked better if we had ever seen this guy before, but he just dropped into the book out of nowhere.
But in the end this book was an enjoyable read, and I regret waiting so long to finally read it...ALSO, this was the second book where Brite mentions Advocaat. If anyone knows where I can get some let me know, I really want to try it..
There were some plots, but the whole book wasn't focused on one hackneyed idea. Milford's plot involved racial profiling and murder and just terrible luck. Tanker's plot involved him getting pissed off and going to work somewhere else, with him and Rickey being stubborn and ridiculous about the whole thing. Then Rickey and G-man had their plot with Rickey's pill dependency and the strain on their relationship.
For some reason this one just worked for me in a way the other two didn't. The relationship between Rickey and G-man seemed more believable, they seemed more complex as characters, and I enjoyed reading about their daily life. There's many lesser characters that are pretty much cardboard, but Rickey and G-man, as well as Lenny and Milford were pretty well done. Tanker was pretty much a mystery, and who knows about the people that work in their kitchen.
The ending to Milford's plot seemed abrupt, though. I was just meandering happily along when BAM! plot over. It was alarming and unexpectedly gruesome. And I don't understand how someone does something like that and gets away with it. I don't care WHO you are. And it was an odd contrast to the rest of the ending, which was a hilarious look at the food Tanker was having to serve up at his new restaurant, known as molecular gastronomy. The scene with G-man and the kitchen guy when G-man was vulnerable and his relationship with Rickey was most strained would have worked better if we had ever seen this guy before, but he just dropped into the book out of nowhere.
But in the end this book was an enjoyable read, and I regret waiting so long to finally read it...ALSO, this was the second book where Brite mentions Advocaat. If anyone knows where I can get some let me know, I really want to try it..
April 26, 2013
Man, I devoured this book... pun intended. More like a snack than a full meal, "Soul Kitchen" is a fast read, but by no means a "casual" read. Brite throws plenty of problems at partners-in-every-way-possible Rickey and G-man, owners and head chefs of trendy restaurant Liquor.
Much like in the first two books, the dark undercurrent of danger saves the book from seeming a little too precious about the New Orleans restaurant scene. I'm not even sure what I mean by that statement, but I understand what I'm getting at, which is helpful. When an element in a series becomes more of a crutch than an effective plot device, the reader smells the failure. Brite never falls into this pit; yes, occasionally two wheels flirt with the pit's edge, but the book survives.
This time Brite ramps up Rickey's tradmark "assholishness" to the point where you almost hope something bad happens to him. But he redeems himself in the end. G-man has a surprising crisis of romantic faith, brought on by, yes, Rickey's assholishness. A ten year-old murder, nasty blue-blood scum, and a wronged chef who never catches a break round out the culinary drama.
That's the reason I knocked this book down to a four; Brite wrapped up matters a little too quickly. It's lovely to be concise, but there needed to be a little more fleshing out of the "Soul Kitchen" crisis. The "toss and stab" finish to the drama seemed a bit much.
But the chapter near the end detailing the hilarious tasting menu at The Polonius Room is priceless. I never knew Brite could write such fantastic comedy. And the happy epilogue, well, Rickey and G-man deserve it.
I put off reading this book because after the novella "Duck", which I'll read sooner than later, that's it for Rickey and G-man, which makes me sad.
Much like in the first two books, the dark undercurrent of danger saves the book from seeming a little too precious about the New Orleans restaurant scene. I'm not even sure what I mean by that statement, but I understand what I'm getting at, which is helpful. When an element in a series becomes more of a crutch than an effective plot device, the reader smells the failure. Brite never falls into this pit; yes, occasionally two wheels flirt with the pit's edge, but the book survives.
This time Brite ramps up Rickey's tradmark "assholishness" to the point where you almost hope something bad happens to him. But he redeems himself in the end. G-man has a surprising crisis of romantic faith, brought on by, yes, Rickey's assholishness. A ten year-old murder, nasty blue-blood scum, and a wronged chef who never catches a break round out the culinary drama.
That's the reason I knocked this book down to a four; Brite wrapped up matters a little too quickly. It's lovely to be concise, but there needed to be a little more fleshing out of the "Soul Kitchen" crisis. The "toss and stab" finish to the drama seemed a bit much.
But the chapter near the end detailing the hilarious tasting menu at The Polonius Room is priceless. I never knew Brite could write such fantastic comedy. And the happy epilogue, well, Rickey and G-man deserve it.
I put off reading this book because after the novella "Duck", which I'll read sooner than later, that's it for Rickey and G-man, which makes me sad.
September 8, 2014
This was my first encounter with Rickey and G-Man. I read this book on a recommendation from a family member and to be honest I didn't know what to expect (I was unsure if my aunt and I had similar tastes in fiction). After reading the back cover and saw that the book accumulated to less than 300 pages, I figured why not give it a shot.
Soul Kitchen is unlike anything I've read up to this point, and it has opened my eyes to the importance of character development. Many of my previous reads are mystery, science fiction or horror, so Author Poppy Brite's Soul Kitchen was new territory for me.
Rickey and G-Man are co owners of a successful restaurant in New Orleans named Liqueur. With the backing of a celebrity chef named Lenny, Rickey and G-Man have established themselves as a prime dining experience for locals and tourists alike. After "tweaking" his back attempting to lift a sack of oysters, Rickey finds himself in the throws of an addiction and forced into a consulting job by the prescribing doctor.
In this book, we meet some interesting characters. A chef with an amazing talent in the kitchen who is unable to get a good job because he was recently released from prison after 10 years for a crime he did not commit. A pastry chef who wants to experiment with different types of cooking. Oh and did I mention that the two main protagonists are not only co owners in their business but also a married couple in their personal life.
Its been a long time since I've become so attached to a character. I simply couldn't put this book down.
I give it 4 stars instead of five simply because of its size. It is a summer read and one of the best I've ever read, however I can't give 5 stars to a summer read. I just can't, don't ask me to.
Soul Kitchen is unlike anything I've read up to this point, and it has opened my eyes to the importance of character development. Many of my previous reads are mystery, science fiction or horror, so Author Poppy Brite's Soul Kitchen was new territory for me.
Rickey and G-Man are co owners of a successful restaurant in New Orleans named Liqueur. With the backing of a celebrity chef named Lenny, Rickey and G-Man have established themselves as a prime dining experience for locals and tourists alike. After "tweaking" his back attempting to lift a sack of oysters, Rickey finds himself in the throws of an addiction and forced into a consulting job by the prescribing doctor.
In this book, we meet some interesting characters. A chef with an amazing talent in the kitchen who is unable to get a good job because he was recently released from prison after 10 years for a crime he did not commit. A pastry chef who wants to experiment with different types of cooking. Oh and did I mention that the two main protagonists are not only co owners in their business but also a married couple in their personal life.
Its been a long time since I've become so attached to a character. I simply couldn't put this book down.
I give it 4 stars instead of five simply because of its size. It is a summer read and one of the best I've ever read, however I can't give 5 stars to a summer read. I just can't, don't ask me to.
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