Hello crime readers and food lovers! Welcome to Dining with the Dame for July and a collab with Jenny from Silver Screen Suppers.  We have been reading/watching Evil Under The Sun.  I loved this book.  It reminded me of both Triangle in Rhodes and Death on the Nile, books I also loved.  Maybe I just love an ill-fated love triangle.  I was very disappointed that there was no food mentioned in this one – it is set in the delightfully named Jolly Roger Hotel (based on the Burgh Island Hotel).  I would have thought that we might get the details of at least one meal in such a grand establishment but sadly that was not to be.  Enter Jenny to save the day with a recipe for not just any old Chinese Lemon Chicken but David Suchet’s Chinese Lemon Chicken!!! I almost feel like we have two special guests this time round, Jenny and David Suchet!  What an amazing dinner party that would be!

Evil Under The Sun -The Plot

Hercule Poirot is on holiday at the Jolly Roger Hotel in Devon.  The hotel, which as mentioned has a very real-life counterpart, is located on a causeway that is underwater during high tide, accessible only via boat (book) or sea tractor (real life).  One wonders why Hercule Poirot who, as we know suffers badly from “la mal de mer” would choose to holiday on an island remains unexplained in the book.  The Poirot episode of Evil Under The Sun, explains this by saying that the hotel is a wellness spa that Poirot must attend for his health. 

We have:

• Stephen Redfern and Arlena Marshall, both married, (not to each other) having a very public attraction to each other
• Two upset spouses
• Arlena strangled to death on the beach
• One of the other guests almost beaned by a bottle thrown out of a window
• An oddly timed bath
• A troubled teen buying candles
• Arlena’s husband and his childhood sweetheart both being lying liars who lie
• Drug smuggling in Pixy Cove
• A reverend obsessed with evil in general and evil women in particular

Good thing we have Poirot on hand to solve the mystery of whodunnit!

Evil Under The Sun – The Covers

Again, the Christie covers do not fail to disappoint.  Except maybe that Hawaiian Dancing Girl in Les Vacances D’Hercule Poirot…which…nice try French people but not really relevant!  The impressionist-style Russian title (top left) is gorgeous!  I also really like the second row far right which to me has a bleached-out California 1960s vibe.  It may be more Helter Skelter than Hercule Poirot but is very attractive all the same. I also really like bottom row, second from the right, which gives a nod to Arlena’s red hair, green Chinese hat and Linda’s foray into witchery.

The Recipe – Chinese Lemon Chicken

Chinese kimonos are optional but heartily recommended! 

I was feeling lazy the first night we ate this and served it with some bought fried rice and spring rolls.  The second night,  I stir-fried up some kale and cashew nuts to eat with the Chinese Lemon chicken.  Both worked really well.  

Emily Brewster said..”this isn’t the sort of place you’d get a body!”

Hercule Poirot stirred a little in his chair.  He protested.  He said:

“But why not Mademoiselle?  Why should there not be what you call a “body” here on Smuggler’s Island?”

Emily Brewster said:  “I don’t know. I suppose some places are more unlikley than others.  This isn’t the kind of spot –”  She broke off, finding it difficult to explain her meaning.

“It is romantic, yes, ” agreed Hercule Poirot.  “It is peaceful.  The sun shines.  The sea is blue.  But you forget Miss Brewster, there is evil everywhere under the sun:

Agatha Christie – Evil Under The Sun

A Slight Tangent on Poirot’s Attire

“There was one very important person (in his own estimation at least)  staying at the Jolly Roger.  Hercule Poirot, resplendent in a white duck suit , with a panama hat tilted over his eyes, his moustaches magnificently befurled, lay back in an improved type of deck char and surveyed the bathing beach”

Now, if like me, you are not 100% familiar with male couture of the late 1930’s and have only a  limited idea of what a duck suit is…let me give you some advice.  Unless you specify 1930’s duck suit in your search, you are more likely to get a whole heap of this:

And not a lot of this!

Also, speaking of costumes, I have not seen the Peter Ustinov version of Evil Under The Sun but I will pay good money for it, just to see this scene!

Magnifique, as Poirot himself might say!  (Peter Ustinov also looks like je might be about to tuck into a place of Chinese Lemon Chicken in that kimono!)

And on Casting…

I know that the Poirot version of Evil Under The Sun is not held in high regard by many people.  However, I think Michael Higgs is perfectly cast as Patrick Redmond.  He is undeniably handsome but also has a slightly dissolute air about him – a combination the French would call louche and good girls everywhere who love a bad boy call hot!   (Also louche is one of my favourite words and finally after 11 years I get to use it on the blog!)

Equally Tamzin Malleson is perfect as Christine Redmond:

Links to The Christieverse

Mrs Gardner mentions “That business in Egypt when Linet Ridgeway was killed” referring to Death on The Nile (and also possibly setting the scene for another love triangle?)

When Colonel Weston talks of “that affair at St Loo”  he is referring to Three Act Tragedy

Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in Evil Inder The Sun

• Strawberry Jam
• Dry Martini
• Bacon and Eggs (of course)
• Cup of Tea x 2
• Poisoned Chocolates
• Devonshire cream
• Sandwiches

Thanks to Jenny for providing the David Suchet recipe, I hope you enjoyed your foray into the world of Agatha Christie!  For everyone else, please pop over to Silver Screen Suppers to see Jenny’s take on the recipe.  (I will link to it when it is up).

August’s read will be N or M.  I finished reading it today and it is a super Tommy and Tuppence World War 2 Thriller!  I am reading ahead because I am on holiday for part of August so need to be super organised to make sure I can get that post out before I leave. 

Have a great week!