A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime (Y)

By Joseph R. Gannascoli

Book Overview

Benny Lacoco is a "food fence". A load of frozen shrimp falls off of a truck, or perhaps a few cases of olive oil or some nice expensive wine with an unpronounceable name comes into your possession, Benny is the guy who can move it for you. No questions asked. He's well connected and a man of respect. But there is another side to Benny. He's a gourmet cook who once aspired to be a renowned restaurateur...but business (and other matters equally unsavory) got in the way. Now Benny has been summoned to cook a special meal for some of his associates on the occasion of the big man being sent up the river. This gives Benny the chance to prepare the meal of his life, A MEAL TO DIE FOR, because word has it that someone in their midst is a rat, and some things just can't be forgiven. From the abundant antipasto of chicken liver mousse, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, grilled sardines, and other delicacies to the creamy delight of crayfish bisque, three types of pasta, and main entrees of roasted lamb, baked snapper, and chicken with artichokes and sausage, we are treated to flashbacks of Benny's life in a novel that blends the best of Big Night with Goodfellas .

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765314444
• ISBN13: 9780765314444
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

You'll love this book more than you love Johnny Cakes

''l love you Johnny Cakes'' is what Joey G. is best known for. But after reading this book, you'll think you're on the 0rient Express chasing a killer than a bed & breakfast in New Hampshire chasing a hunky biker with a knack for making that special breakfast. Now that ''Fat Vito'' is dead, maybe Joey G. will become the next Mickey Spillane.

Wonderfully crafted, entertaining . . . and some amazing culinary delights!

I picked up a copy of 'A Meal To Die For' the other day while in route from Los Angeles to New York, having placed some great expectations on Joseph Gannascoli since I have eaten Joe's delightful cooking, and knowing Joseph, have always been engaged by his giant, inviting charisma. Well, to my delight (and to my appetites dismay . . . as I had a six hour flight on my hands), 'A Meal To Die For' delivered a fun and engaging read unique in the craft of storytelling since there were wonderful culinary delights to draw from in book. The idea of the plot line brought me back to the cult classic film 'The Chef, The Wife, The Thief, and The Lover . . . except my own visuals of the character movement were easily identifiable with as a New Yorker. Overall, Joe Gannascoli offers a delightful novel that readers will truly savor every little morsal of. If you're like me, and you love to eat and read at the same time, then open this book, turn through the pages to a dish you fancy, run to the nearest grocery store and buy all the necessary ingredients, get back to your house, open a nice bottle of wine, and then start cooking and eating till your heart (and stomach) is content!!!

A BOOK TO DIE FOR

I bought this for my husband because he is such a big Soprano fan, but I wound up reading it in two days, loved the food, and the story, I know he will too, as will other readers

A good read

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was filled with such excitement and anticipation that I couldn't put it down. The setting is present day Brooklyn with flashbacks of Brooklyn in the "good old days". In fact, many of the places mentioned in his book brought back fond memories of my childhood. It's an adventure filled with dreams, reality and the will to overcome adversity. I can't vouch for the recipes at the beginning of every chapter though, but I will try some of them. Pretty good effort for a first-time writer and a Sopranos star. I look forward to reading a second book!

a pleasure to read

book flowed well, interesting recipes , funny story, very sopranoish in the diologue, loved it, highly recommend it, enjoy