Bonus Episode with Spilling Wine & Spoilers: Assistant to the Villain

Bonus Episode! Normally we’re two friends eating and drinking their waythrough fantasy books, theories, wingspans and more! But today, we are starting to talk about another book series called Assistant to the Villain AND we have bonus guests, Tori and Emily from Spilling Wine and Spoilers!Recipes for food and cocktails mentioned in this episode:Dark Chocolate Dagger BarkIngredients:12 oz semi-sweet chocolate (good quality bars or chips, 60–70% cocoa)4 oz white chocolate (for swirling)½ cup dried or freeze-dried red fruit (strawberries, cranberries, cherries, or raspberries)¼ cup slivered almonds or pistachios (optional, for crunch)Sea salt flakes (for a villainous bite)Instructions:Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Melt the chocolates:Place the dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, heat in 30-second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth. Do the same for the white chocolate in a separate bowl.Spread the base:Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the parchment and spread into a ¼-inch thick rectangle.Swirl for drama:Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the dark in thin streaks. Use a toothpick or butter knife to swirl patterns — think jagged, dagger-like lines.Add the wicked toppings:Scatter dried red fruit across the top (for that “bloodied dagger” aesthetic). Sprinkle nuts if using and finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt.Set & break:Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes until firm. Break into sharp, uneven shards (the more dagger-like, the better). Wine/Cocktail Pairing: Thievery Sauvignon BlancDescription: It’s a Sauvignon Blanc from California —really light, crisp, and easy to drink. You get a little citrus, a little tropical fruit, and it goes down way too smooth. Basically, it’s the kind of wine that sneaks up on you — just like Evie’s questionable life choices.The label says “some things are worth stealing,” which… yeah, that’s absolutely the Villain’s entire personality in one sentence. Sweet, charming, mildly concerning. Join our Corks and Cauldron Patreon to enjoy all ourcontent: patreon.com/corksandcauldron Follow us on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@corksandcauldronTikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@corks.and.cauldronYoutube: @corksandcauldronFacebook: @corksandcauldron If you have any book recommendations or comments about this book or questions, email us at: [email protected] Listen to the Corks and Cauldron Podcast on your favoritepodcast platform:Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/05V5Phlkc2n0AdwSLdLRkt?si=3404ad78f0b94d69Amazon- https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6376cc94-9ac8-407a-8e23-b40c0b8e2d8b/corks-and-cauldronApple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/corks-and-cauldron/id1790775715  Don't forget to send this podcast to your fellow fantasy/romantasy readers!