Tag: Lobstah

A New England Clambake

A menu to accompany “Hit, Run and Homicide”

The Tale of the New England Clambake: Good Eats, Bad Romance?

The romantic origins of the New England clambake are more myth than reality.  The narrative that indigenous people introduced early colonial settlers to the clambake as an ancient foodway is not historically accurate.  The clambake originated in 19th century Rhode Island, and was widely incorporated into the United States’ evolving national identity following the Civil War.  (For scholarly rigor and more details, please refer to The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink.) 

Continue reading “A New England Clambake”

Hit, Run and Homicide

Fair Warning

Hello, and welcome back to Cabot Cove for another cozy murder mystery. Before reading further, please watch the episode, there will be spoilers! If you’ve got a beach nearby, this episode pairs nicely with a New England Clambake.

There are four parts to this episode guide:

  • This is Part 1, an introduction including the setting, characters, and context of the episode.
  • Part 2 is a detailed timeline of the episode’s events.
  • Part 3 is my analysis of the episode.
  • Part 4 is a collection of fun extras that I like to call Bonus Features.

A Crash Course in Road Safety

Welcome back to Cabot Cove for Jessica’s second collaboration with Sheriff Tupper. Or is it? Either way, there’s an absolute fleet of autos that make this episode go. Even the famously non-driving Jessica gets her turn behind the wheel.

Continue reading “Hit, Run and Homicide”

Hooray for Homicide

Fair Warning

Hello, and welcome to this installment of MSWSW.  What follows is a detailed, somewhat meandering look at “Hooray for Homicide.”  There will be spoilers.  I recommend watching the entire episode first, possibly with a light beverage and nosh, before proceeding.

Hooray?

This episode appears to have everything one could want in a great episode of MSW: a glamorous locale, plenty of camp, the oeuvre of J.B. Fletcher… and yet, perhaps much like Tinseltown itself, the allure quickly fades. 

Well, we’re here, so let’s do this thing.

Continue reading “Hooray for Homicide”

Birds of a Feather

Fair Warning

What follows is a detailed discussion of Murder She Wrote S1 E3, “Birds of a Feather.”  The plot will be spoiled, and the tea will be spilled.  I recommend you watch the episode before reading further, and maybe make it dinner theater.

A Feathery Farce

MSW S1 E3 “Birds of a Feather” was inspired by the 1978 film La Cage aux Folles, which was also released as Birds of a Feather.  Like the film, this episode concerns a drag club, although no one in 1984 San Francisco seems to know the colloquial term for “female impersonation.”  More on that later.  MSW’s “Birds” combines romantic farce and murder mystery.  Will it lay an egg?

Continue reading “Birds of a Feather”

The Murder of Sherlock Holmes

Move over, Sherlock. We’re in Jessica’s world now.

Fair Warning

This is a discussion of a murder mystery. It will contain many, many spoilers. If you have not yet had the pleasure of watching the entire episode, I suggest you make an evening of it and then return here to pick over the bones with me.

Hello and Welcome

“The Murder of Sherlock Holmes” is the premiere episode of the Murder, She Wrote series.  It is double length, which allows time to introduce Jessica Fletcher as she embarks on a new and unexpected chapter in her life.

Continue reading “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”

A Masquerade Buffet

A menu to accompany “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”

 

My Lobstah

A Menu to Accompany

“THE MURDER OF SHERLOCK HOLMES”

A Toast

To Mrs. Fletcher’s rare gift for murder, and to her continued success

Sparkling Wine

The Soup

Fit for New York’s Chowder King

Manhattan Clam Chowder

The Fish Course

Featuring the only claws in Cabot Cove

Steamed Lobster with Drawn Butter

The Main Course

For our gracious host

Monte Cristo Sandwiches

Apples

Dessert

Provided by the PTA Refreshment Committee

Brownies & Macaroons

Punch

 

Recipe links are suggestions only.
Please remember, here at MSWSW: