Friday, April 20, 2018

Death by Dumpling and the Fortuitous Sling



Vivien Chien combines two of my favorite things in the whole wide world in her novels, Chinese take out and mysteries, and today she's prepared a fabulous beverage to match all of this goodness on today's Drinks with Reads. 

Vivien Chien lives and writes in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the third book in her Noodle Shop series. The second book, Dim Sum of All Fears, will release in August 2018. When she’s not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. 

The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that helping wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband. 

Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead―after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng’s severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy? Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder and the local media in a feeding frenzy―to say nothing of the gorgeous police detective who keeps turning up for take-out―it’s up to Lana to find out who is behind Feng’s killer order. . . before her own number is up.

The Fortuitous Sling is the perfect complement to Death by Dumpling not only because its tarty flavor matches the sassy attitude of Lana Lee, but much like the story, this drink is guaranteed to sneak up on you. Enjoy the subtle notes of cherry, lime and ginger orange as you delve further into the mystery of who killed Thomas Feng. But, beware, both will have your head spinning by the end of the evening!

To enjoy, follow the recipe below:
The Fortuitous Sling

.75oz London Dry Gin (Tanqueray, Brokers)
.75 Blended Japanese Whiskey (Toki) 
.75 Cherry Heering
.5 Benedictine
.25 Grenadine
.75 Fresh Lime Juice
.5 Ginger Orange Syrup*
3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
2 oz Ginger Beer

Add all ingredients and ginger beer to a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake well
Strain over fresh ice in Collins glass
Top with Ginger Beer.
Garnish with orange slice & cherry

*Ginger Orange Syrup
2:2:1 ginger:sugar: water by weight.

2lbs ginger, peeled and grated
2lb sugar
1lb water
2 oranges zested
Simmer on low/medium heat until fully incorporated, try not to boil. Has other uses for delicious Mules!

*Thank you to John Gibian at LBM Bar in Lakewood, OH for putting together this drink. For more information on this amazing establishment, check out http://www.lbmbar.com/




You can find Vivien on Facebook, on Twitter @vivien_chien and on Instagram: vivien_chien_author.


5 comments:

  1. Thank you for a great post, Vivien. Now I have to get take out tonight!

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  2. Another great series to add to the TBR pile.

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  3. I read this over a weekend and it was fabulous. I can't wait for the next one.

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  4. I can imagine myself with this drink, just kicking back reading this book, under the covers because it’s cold. ;p

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  5. I don't know which sounds better, the mystery or the drink!

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