As much as I hate it in real life, I love toxic masculinity and problematic male characters in books and media. They drive the story in compelling ways, especially when written by women and gay men. This led me to select “Paradais” written by Fernanda Melchor and translated by Sophie Hughes and “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk, for today’s book-inspired menu.
“Paradais” doesn’t shy away from the violence plaguing young men’s experiences and behavior. Teenage protagonists Polo and Franco come from two different backgrounds, but their paths cross at Paradais, a gated community. Upper-class Franco lives at Paradais, while Polo tends the gardens and cleans up after the residents. The boys bond over their dissatisfaction with their own lots in life and share a passion for getting drunk. During their drunken exploits, they hatch a violent plan to assault and rob another wealthy Paradais resident.
The first rule of fight club is you don’t talk about fight club. “Fight Club” highlights how fragile masculinity can be and the pressure men are under to portray themselves a certain way. The unnamed narrator struggles with insomnia and an inability to process his emotions. This all shifts when he encounters Marla, a woman fixated on death; and Tyler, a soap salesman with a penchant for toxicity, leading to a violent form of self-expression — Fight Club. As the club grows in popularity, it morphs into something completely out of the narrator’s control, and the narrator is left to deal with the ramifications.
Whether you’re hungry for a protein heavy meal or starved from all the gaslighting you’ve been doing, this meal will satisfy. It is best enjoyed when prepared by a woman in your life. If you don’t have one, the instructions are simple enough for any man to follow.
Food and Beverage Pairings
Appetizers
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Pat dry the chicken wings. Combine baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss chicken wings in the mixture. Heat a pot of oil to 350 degrees. Fry wings a few at a time until they are brown and crispy. In a pan, melt down a few tablespoons of butter, mix in a splash of vinegar, and your favorite hot sauce. Coat the crispy wings in the sauce.
Dinner
T-Bone Steak and Mashed Potatoes
In a pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add in peeled and quartered potatoes and 4-5 cloves of garlic. Boil until soft, for at least 15 minutes. Drain the water from the potatoes, then return them to the pot. Mash the potatoes until they reach desired consistency. Add in milk, sour cream, and butter, then mix well.
Pat the steak dry. Season generously with salt on both sides. In a cast-iron pan, melt butter with a bit of olive oil. Then, over high heat, sear the steak on both sides. Just before the steak reaches the desired temperature, take it off the heat and set it on a plate to rest.
Dessert
Pack of Cigarettes and a Knifeful of Peanut Butter
Head to the corner store and buy yourself a pack of Marlboro Reds. Chain-smoke them in the light of your open refrigerator. Grab your jar of peanut butter and the closest knife you have. Stab the peanut butter a few times before scooping some out with your knife. Enjoy.
Beverage
Black Coffee
Brew it strong and dark. Adding anything ruins the experience.
21+ Pairings
Alcohol
Shotgun a Natty
Hold the can sideways, angled almost upside down, so that an air pocket forms. This is where you will stab the can with a key or other sharp object. Bring the can to your mouth, covering the hole with your lips. Tilt the can so it’s right-side up. Pop the tab, and drink the beer as fast as you can.
Cannabis
Handrolled Joint
If cannabis is legal in your area of residency, grab your favorite strain and smoking papers. Tear off a piece of hardened paper, like cardstock or a business card; even the little box the smoking paper comes in will suffice. Roll it into a filter for your joint, folding it over three times first to make the “W.” Place the paper on a flat surface with the sticky side facing up and away from you. Spread the ground-up weed evenly on the paper. Then, grab hold of the filled paper and roll it in your fingers to shape the joint. Add the filter tip to the right side of the joint. Then, roll the paper so the weed is near the edge closest to you. Tuck in the edge behind the weed and roll up, continuing to tuck in the edges. When you reach the sticky strip, moisten it with your tongue and seal the joint. Grab hold of the end without the filter, pinch it closed, and give the joint a small shake to pack it down. Then, twist the edge closed. Light it up with a lighter you’ve stolen from an unsuspecting victim.
