Love, Danger, Homecomings & Heart — Your June Reading Escape Starts Here

Capturing the Texas Rancher's Heart

A mystery for the holiday!

A Culinary Novel of Crime

Forge
January 2006
Featuring: Benny Lacoco
272 pages
ISBN: 0765314444
EAN: 9780765314444
Hardcover
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Joseph R. Gannascoli

Joseph R. Gannascoli
Author Book List

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.