The Maltese Falcon
A classic film noir and Sam Spade's Lamb Chops...
Discover the classic film noir, The Maltese Falcon. Written and directed by John Huston, this masterpiece follows private investigator Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) on a dangerous quest for a valuable falcon statue. With a seductive client (Mary Astor) and ruthless antagonists (Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet), this film follows a perilous journey to acquire a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette in the streets of San Francisco. Premiering in New York City on October 3, 1941, it has captured audiences for decades.
This movie is one that my husband and I watch quite often. It's such a classic film noir and as many times as I've seen it, there is always something new that I discover. One of my favourite discoveries from this film is the cigarette lighter on Sam Spade's desk. It was an art deco Touch Tip lighter made by Ronson that I found fascinating. Spade would just tap the cigarette and like magic it was lit!
If you watch this film while having dinner, I would suggest lamb chops with a baked potato and sliced tomatoes. That is what Sam Spade had at his favourite restaurant in San Francisco called John's Grill. This was the end scene in the novel. Spade orders his food and says to the waiter "make it quick". The restaurant also has a plaque over the door to commemorate the connection.
From John's Grill website:
John’s Grill is widely known for its carefully curated menu of salads, steak, seafood, pasta, and sandwiches, all at reasonable prices. The restaurant’s signature dish is the Sam Spade’s Lamb Chops, named for author Dashiell Hammett’s famed private eye. Hammett, a frequent customer of John’s Grill, had Spade wolfing down a plate of John’s “chops, baked potato, and sliced tomatoes.” The restaurant has a subtle motif adapted from the Hammett classic, “The Maltese Falcon,” and there’s a statue of the infamous black bird in a case on the second floor.
https://www.johnsgrill.com/menus/
From the menu at John's Grill:
Sam Spade’s Lamb Chops
Served with Baked Potato and Sliced Tomatoes. Sam Spade went to John’s Grill, asked the waiter to hurry his order of chops, baked potato, sliced tomatoes...and was smoking a cigarette with his coffee when...” -The Maltese Falcon
$48.95
https://www.johnsgrill.com/menus/#dinner-copy
My recipe for Sam Spade’s Lamb Chops
Ingredients:
1 kg (2lb) Lamb chops
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1/4 teaspoon oregano
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt to taste
splash of Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:
Pat the lamb chops dry with paper towels.
Make the marinade my mixing the lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, rosemary, oregano, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
Add the lamb chops and marinade to a bowl or ziplock bag. Massage the marinade in cover and put it in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes up to 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 400F/200C. Arrange the lamb chops in a baking dish or an oven tray and put the tray in the oven.
Bake at 400F/200C for 10 minutes or until cooked to your desired doneness. It will register 135F for medium, and 145F and above for well-done when checked with an instant meat thermometer.
Bring out the lamb chops and rest them for 6-8m minutes.
Serve and enjoy with a baked potato and sliced tomatoes!
Movie Notes:
Directed by John Huston. Based on the book written by Dashiell Hammett.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, and Sydney Greenstreet
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Enjoy the film,
Jill