The newest release in the Dinner Club Mystery series by Linda Wiken, ROUX THE DAY, brings the reader back to the table for a delicious second installment! The protagonist, J.J. Tanner, has gained confidence both in her job working as an event planner at Make It Happen, and cooking for the dinner club, Culinary Capers, that she belongs to. I liked the premise of the story with J.J. working at a casino fund-raising event for a non-profit charity aboard a cruise boat on Champlain Lake. The setting provides a glamorous backdrop for the murder along with a limited pool of suspects…of which J.J. finds herself in. The beginning felt a bit slow to me with the author cautiously doling out clues. However, it wasn’t long before twists and turns in the plot had me turning pages to read “just one more chapter” late into the night.
The book also captures the spirit of friendship J.J. has with her friends, especially with Connor Mac. Though she had dated him a few times, J.J. believes in him and wants to clear his name when he becomes a murder suspect. Even after finding out that he has been hiding several things from her, she remains loyal. J.J. also is quick to help out her friends when they need assistance and the author creates a nice subplot within the story involving thievery at her good friend’s cafe, Cups ‘N’ Roses.
Linda Wiken also creates a close bond between the members of the Culinary Capers group along with some amazing dishes that they share! A specific cookbook is chosen each month by the host of that particular month’s get-together. The cookbook highlighted in ROUX THE DAY is The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook… I’ll admit, I’m feeling the need to purchase it now! Linda has included several recipes at the back of her book; some of them are her own and others are shared by the authors who contributed to The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Linda Wiken and Sara Paretsky (whose newest VI Warshawski novel is Fallout) have graciously allowed me to share Sara’s recipe for Chicken Gabriella. The chicken is flambéed with Armagnac, then braised in a flavorful wine-based broth and finished with a handful of Calimyrna figs. The resulting dish is tender, moist chicken. I served it over wide egg noodles to soak up the super flavorful sauce.
Amazon Synopsis
In the latest mystery from the author of Toasting Up Trouble, the Culinary Capers dinner club is back in business when a charity casino event makes a real killing…
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner is planning a cruise ship casino night—and she’s really going overboard. She even arranged for radio DJ Connor Mac and TV personality Miranda Myers to help the good times roll. But the party comes to a screeching halt when Miranda is found dead on the main deck…
With a boatload of suspects, the police focus in on J.J., who, though recently linked with Connor, never knew he was once engaged—to Miranda. With Half Moon Bay’s gossip mill running full tilt, J.J. turns to her fellow dinner club members to help fish for clues and keep herself out of hot water…
A special thanks to Linda Wiken, for providing a copy of ROUX THE DAY for one lucky winner! Contest ends Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST, and is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Ingredients
- Enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a skillet, plus 1 tablespoon
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 fryer chicken, cut into pieces
- 1/4 cup Armagnac
- 1 cup pinot grigio (or other dry white wine)
- 6 Calimyrna figs, cut into quarters
Instructions
- Coat the bottom of a skillet with olive oil and heat for about 30 seconds.
- Add garlic and sauté until golden brown, stirring constantly.
- Remove garlic and reserve.
- Add the additional 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet.
- Turn heat to high, quickly add chicken, and sear each piece on both sides.
- Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Pour the Armagnac into the skillet and flame it with a match. (Light the Armagnac the instant you put it in the pan or it will not flame.)
- Return the pan to the heat.
- Once the Armagnac has cooked off, add the pinot grigio and simmer the chicken, covered on low heat until tender, approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
- Add the figs and sautéed garlic for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve with a green salad and a crisp, cold white wine.
- Yield: 4 servings
- If you can't find Armagnac, you can substitute Cognac.
- After cooking chicken, remove from skillet and keep warm. If the sauce seems too thin, mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 teaspoons cold water in a small cup. Whisk the mixture into the sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat. Serve with the chicken.
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I received a copy of this book and willingly provided a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wonderful review thanks for the recipe I have to try it
Penney
There is something so marvelous about setting fire to food! Love it!
Great review, and thanks for a yummy chicken recipe. Congratulations Linda, on the release of Roux the Day!
I love culinary mysteries!!
Thanks for the great review. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and am really looking forward to this next one!
I did attend one. But ages ago. Lovely post, especially the part of catching the spirit of friendship. Without real friends where would we be. Something, sadly, my younger sister never understood. We all tried to encourage and appeal to a better course of conduct. Something she never accepted. But it was her choice. She never did understand that her constant denigration of others is what kept her from having friends. Love the chicken recipe. . Thanks for a chance to get the book
I have never been to a casino night fundraiser. Sounds great
Nope, never attended a casino night fundraiser.
I have attended a casino night fund raiser. I had a great time. I was with the presenting organization so I was working!
I have attended a casino night fundraiser and it was so much fun! I spent a lot of time at the blackjack table where Elvis was the dealer — he was a hoot! Thanks for posting the delicious recipe and video and for your review of Roux the Day ( I love making roux — it reminds me of Justin Wilson, the Cajun cook). I definitely need to add the Dinner Club Mysteries to my TBR list!
No I haven’t. The book sounds so good. Can’t wait to read it. The recipe sounds yummy. Thank you
No, I’ve never attended a casino night fundraiser.
Yes I have not only attended a casino night fundraiser used to work for a casino outlet that would have parties on Fri and Sat so I would go at night and deal roulette and also blackjack my deceased husband and i did it for many years. I also had a fundraiser for a private Kindergarten class and we did a good job on raising money. I loved going as you met so many diff people and also went to so many cities in the bay area. We went from Napa to San Jose you just never knew where they were going to send you and who the party was for. I love the chicken recipe and will give it to my hubby to make for us. Thank you for also offering a print book!
Sounds like a fun event but I’ve never attended a casino night fundraiser.
I have never attended a casino night fundraiser. I bet they are fun.
I’ve never attended a Casino night fun raiser as I’m the official baby sitter so my son and DIL can go.I found the recipe very interesting as I do one close to it but no figs. My kids have a fig tree, hum.
read the first book in the series & can’t wait to read the second one. I have never attended a casino night fund raiser before but it sounds like fun.
I have never attended a casino night fund raiser. Thanks for a chance to win a signed copy of your book.
I have never attended a casino night fund raiser, I’ve never heard of one going on any place that I have lived. Thank you for the recipe, it sounds yummy.
I’ve never been to a casino night fund raiser but I hear they’re fun. Thanks for the chance on the giveaway! Would love to win.
I’ve never been to a casino night fund raiser but I been to a casino. Thank you for a chance to win a signed copy Roux The Day.
Yes, I have been to a casino night fundraiser and it was a great time.
I haven’t been to a casino fundraiser but it sounds like as bunch of fun. This book sounds like one I have to have in my library!
I’ve never been to a casino night fundraiser. In fact, I never even heard of them until I read about them in books. It sounds fun. I wish someone would hold one in my area sometime. This is another book I can hardly wait to read!
I’ve never been to a casino night fundraiser. They sound like they could be a lot of fun! Roux the Day sounds like a wonderfully charming cozy mystery, just up my alley! 🙂
I went to a Casino Night for a local hospital. It was a blast. You bought a ticket which earned you a number of chips to use at the various tables. The chips you won could be used to enter raffles for various prizes. I won a basket of wine and cheese.
the books sounds great – love the recipe
I’ve never attended a casino night fundraiser. I enjoyed the first in this series and think I will like this one as well. 🙂
No. Since I don’t gamble.
I have never had the pleasure of attending a casino night fundraiser but I would love to.
Yes, once!
I’ve never attended a casino fundraiser but it sounds like a blast!
I’ve never attended that kind of fundraiser.
What an amazing recipe! I’ve never attended a casino night fundraiser.
I’ve never attended a casino night fundraiser.
Sounds like an excellent event. And a great new series
Have you ever attended a casino night fundraiser?
During college – I was actually a black jack dealer for a casino where there were many casino night fundraisers!!!
I have not even been in a casino or attended a fund raiser.
I’ve never attended a casino night fundraiser but it does sound like a lot of fun!
This sounds like a great series. I’ve added it to my goodreads and bookbub to make sure I don’t miss it.
I have never been to casino fundraiser night but it sounds like fun! Thanks for the chance.
I have never been to a casino night fundraiser. Love these recipes & your mystery books, Thanks for this generous chance.
Dish sounds great. Have to try it out. Thanks for real recipes.