Poppy Z Brite: Prime

Prime

Poppy Z. Brite

Backed silently by celebrity chef Lenny Duveteaux, two years ago John "call me" Rickey and Gary "G-man" Stubbs opened up Liquor in New Orleans with a menu containing expensive alcohol as a major ingredient in all their repasts. The reviews are favorable and the two young gay chefs gain a loyal following including tourists stopping for a meal.

Popularity takes a hit when Humphrey Wildblood writing in the free biweekly Cornet implies sinister criminal activity by Lenny. As Liquor loses patronage, the chef-owners want to buy out their silent partner to save their restaurant, but need cash accentuated by an equipment failure. With G-Man's urgings, Ricky accepts a menu consulting offer in Dallas. At the same time, G-Man learns that Wildblood is a pseudonym used by the son of District Attorney Placide Treat, who arrests Lenny; the DA wants to defuse any real opponent in his reelection bid with Lenny's attorney being the likely opposition and Liquor being a victim of political callous collateral damage.

PRIME is an interesting culinary thriller that takes the usual heterosexual family style dining approach and cleverly turns the sub-genre upside down by expanding the definition of family to be a lot more inclusive. The story line is wacky due to the interactions of the key cast members to include the lead couple, their silent partner, the DA and his son (talk of political incest), and the two Texans. Fans of the author will brighten up with this fun tale that shares much in common with her previous works in terms of zaniness and intriguing characters (gay and otherwise), but also recognize that the recipe is quite different.

Harriet Klausner