For a cozy and flavorful evening, pair the rich and aromatic 'Saucy Chicken Thighs' with Colson Whitehead's gripping novel, 'Harlem Shuffle'. This combination delights the senses with a dish that's as multifaceted and satisfying as the novel's intricate plot. Elevate the dining experience with a 'Classic Negroni', a cocktail renowned for its balance of bitterness and botanical notes that complements the savory and herby dish beautifully. Together, these selections promise a night of culinary and literary pleasure that lingers in memory.
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season and Sear the Chicken:
– Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs, skin side down, until golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for a few minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. - Sauté the Aromatics:
– In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant. - Make the Sauce:
– Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, oregano, and thyme to the skillet. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, stir in the heavy cream, and return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin side up. - Simmer and Serve:
– Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Harlem Shuffle
A gripping novel by Colson Whitehead, set in 1960s Harlem, where hustler and furniture salesman Ray Carney gets drawn into the violent world of organized crime while trying to support his family and maintain a semblance of respectability.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, this gloriously entertaining novel is “fast-paced, keen-eyed and very funny … about race, power and the history of Harlem all disguised as a thrill-ride crime novel" (San Francisco Chronicle). "Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked…" To his customers and neighbors on 125th street, Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably priced furniture, making a decent life for himself and his family. He and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child, and if her parents on Striver's Row don't approve of him or their cramped apartment across from the subway tracks, it's still home. Few people know he descends from a line of uptown hoods and crooks, and that his façade of normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger all the time. Cash is tight, especially with all those installment-plan sofas, so if his cousin Freddie occasionally drops off the odd ring or necklace, Ray doesn't ask where it comes from. He knows a discreet jeweler downtown who doesn't ask questions, either. Then Freddie falls in with a crew who plan to rob the Hotel Theresa—the "Waldorf of Harlem"—and volunteers Ray's services as the fence. The heist doesn't go as planned; they rarely do. Now Ray has a new clientele, one made up of shady cops, vicious local gangsters, two-bit pornographers, and other assorted Harlem lowlifes. Thus begins the internal tussle between Ray the striver and Ray the crook. As Ray navigates this double life, he begins to see who actually pulls the strings in Harlem. Can Ray avoid getting killed, save his cousin, and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs? Harlem Shuffle's ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It's a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem. But mostly, it's a joy to read, another dazzling novel from the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning Colson Whitehead. Look for Colson Whitehead’s new novel, Crook Manifesto!
Discussion Questions
- What does the novel say about the duality of human nature, particularly in Ray Carney?
- How does Colson Whitehead use historical events to ground the novel's narrative?
- Discuss the theme of family loyalty and its impact on Ray's decisions.
- How does 'Harlem Shuffle' depict race and identity in 1960s America?
- Examine the use of humor in the novel. How does it affect the overall tone?
- In what ways does the setting of Harlem function as a character in the novel?
- Discuss how Colson Whitehead combines elements of a crime thriller with literary fiction.
- How do secondary characters influence Ray Carney's journey throughout the novel?
- What moral dilemmas does Ray Carney face, and how do they drive the story?
- How does Whitehead's depiction of Harlem compare to modern narratives of the same setting?
Authors:
Colson Whitehead
ISBN: 0385545134
Publisher: Anchor
Published Date: 2021-09-14
Classic Negroni
A sophisticated Italian cocktail that perfectly balances bitterness, sweetness, and botanical notes, the Negroni offers a refreshing complement to the rich and creamy flavors of the saucy chicken dish.
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a mixing glass with ice.
- Add gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir well until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a twist of orange peel.