C5 ROM

I wanted this lunch to be very special. My grandson, Alex, has worked so hard with his jazz studies this year. He just won a grant to make a new CD. All of the above called for a treat.

We were both expecting something special. The restaurant is on the 5th floor of the ROM and overlooks the city. Splendid view. The décor would win a prize but I did comment that it felt as if I was in the fine dining room across the road at the Gardiner Museum. The bar area is done in a modern sleek sophisticated manner. It is spacious and the black leather couches are comfy. The main dining room is very airy and light. The dishes are attractive in design.

Alex is a young man with a very large appetite. Trust me this was not the place for him. Bread was served from a basket that was passed around the tables by a server. That poor person had to return many times to help fill Alex’s appetite. The pieces of bread were small.

I had great difficulty selecting anything from the menu. I don’t eat meat or chicken but never seem to have a problem anywhere else. The choices were very limited for me.

Alex chose the Trout. & Chips. Two pieces of fish were nicely placed on the plate. Alex assured me that the fish was tasty but it certainly looked dry to me. It had obviously been lightly deep fried because there was a light crust on the fish. There were a few turnip chips on the plate .I was embarrassed. I don’t mind paying if the food is good and there is enough to satisfy your hunger. At $21.00 this was a laugh. Thank goodness for all the bread.

I ordered one of my favorite lunch dishes, Heirloom Beet Salad I asked the server if it was enough for lunch. He must have thought I was a mouse. A beautifully presented plate arrived with a few greens, a few pieces of colored beets and a lot of space on the plate.($12.00) I was starving. I then ordered a bowl of Red Pepper Soup with Rosemary.($12.00) Red Pepper has a delicate taste and can stand on its own. The rosemary was overpowering. I couldn’t even finish it. Alex was still hungry and finished the soup but commented that it was not satisfying to the palate.

Pink Peppercorn Linguini is served with guancale lardoons, brussel sprouts, sunchokes, chickpeas and Fontina cream.($20.00) Cassoulet is a dish of sausage, confit pork shoulder, braised duck leg with a baguette.($25.00) C5 Paella offers spot prawns, capellini, clams, mussels, chorizo and crispy kale.($24.00)

I thought that maybe I was in an irritated mood. (but I didn’t think so) So I looked at all the other plates being presented to the guests. Outrageous! The portions are a joke. I’m not even a big eater and I was hungry after ordering two dishes.

How did my bill get to be over $60.00? We were both hungry and vowed that this was the first and last time for us at C5. The place was crowded. The service was pleasant but a little slow.

I think I will get over this but I was sorry that my intended treat was a negative experience. I gave Alex money to go to Greg’s Ice Cream and at least have the finest of ice cream for his dessert. I will have to do more research before I venture to a top restaurant again. A satisfying dining experience can last a long time. This memory will unfortunately also last for a while.

Sorry Alex. I had good intentions.

The Soloist

I found the story fascinating especially when I realized it is a true story. There was much about this film I loved. The music throughout was wonderful. Jamie Foxx plays the part of, Nathaniel Ayers, a schizophrenic, homeless, amazing musician. He lives on the streets of Los Angeles. All his worldly possessions are carried in a shopping cart. His true love is his music and love for Beethoven.

Steve Lopez is a journalist who wants to write a story about this amazing unfortunate musician. The film is actually based on the book by Steve Lopez. The part of Steve is played by Robert Downey Jr. It was fascinating to see the extent that Steve went to in order to try and help Nathaniel. He bought him a new cello as his had only two strings. He arranged for Nathaniel to go to a community service area. He found him an apartment so that he could practice indoors. Steve arranged for Nathaniel to meet a symphony conductor and to have lessons. Of course many of his efforts did not meet with success.

Throughout the film we see the rage, anger and mood change faced by Nathaniel. Steve was always helpful even if he appeared to give up at times. When Nathaniel was in a good ‘frame of mind’ he was appreciative of his friendship with Steve.

In one segment Nathaniel is playing his cello. The audience sees the most beautiful colors swirling and dancing on the screen. This is what Nathaniel is seeing in his head.

I found the story to be very emotional. It was painful at times to see a talented musician unable to cope with himself and his environment. There were also moments of humor. Steve and Nathaniel arrive at a famous concert hall to see a performance. Nathaniel is pushing his shopping cart with an array of his possessions. His clothes are bizarre.

There was some progress when Steve was able to get Nathaniel to come indoors. At the end of the film we are told the state of art of the two main characters today. I thought the acting was great. The story certainly was compelling.

Obsessed

I think that Beyonce Knowles is one talented young lady. She can sing like nobody else and those sexy moves are really something. When she sang ‘At Last’ for Barack and Michelle Obama at the inaugural ball I had tears in my eyes. She has now shown that she can be a serious actress. It is interesting that members of her family were involved with the production.

I really liked the suspense and the story until the last half hour. The fighting at that time was ‘over the top’ and I just wanted it to end.

Derek is a handsome successful business man. He has it all. His beautiful wife, Sharon, (Beyonce Knowles) his young child and his gorgeous new house are all perfect.

A young beautiful temp, Lisa, comes to work in the office and everything goes wrong. She insinuates herself into his life. She throws herself at Derek and seems to be omnipresent. She stalks him and harasses him and practically rapes him at times.

Derek does his best to get rid of her but things go from bad to worse. His lovely wife doesn’t know what to believe. His biggest mistake was not telling his wife about the problem. When she does discover the problems with Lisa he almost looks suspicious.

Are we dealing with a lying husband or a psychotic young lady? There is a lot of suspense and surprising episodes. I was sitting on the edge of my seat at times. Lisa is very beautiful and sexy. She makes all the moves. You wonder how Derek is able to shrug her aside. She is bold and unrelenting. She puts Derek’s family and his work in jeopardy.

This is not my usual type of picture. I don’t like thrillers. Except for the last 20 minutes I liked the pace. I actually almost laughed at some of the fight scenes between Lisa and Sharon. They were overdone and went on too long. It took the police too long to come to the rescue.

Vittorio's on Avenue

Thank you Chico for now opening your fine restaurant for the lunch trade. I have followed you at every new direction. Your former restaurant on Yonge St at Davisville was always a favorite. I loved the warmth of your personal greeting for everyone. The food is always delectable. I was one of the first patrons to your new establishment on Dupont at Avenue Rd. The upstairs patio will be packed now that spring is here. The inside interior is thoughtfully decorated. This week we enjoyed sitting on the first floor patio catching a glimpse of the passing trade and feeling the warmth of the sun. Above all, Chico you make the place work. I don’t know where you get your energy but it is a delight to dine at your restaurant. The trademark loaf of bread will bring anyone back to Vittorio’s. The bread is warm and covered with good quality olive oil and fresh rosemary. Yolanda and I ate the whole loaf. We decided that we would work it off later. (I walked home) Once you take a bite you are hooked.

Yolanda and I dine together frequently because we like to chat about our working days together. We also love good food, fine wine and each others company.

Caprese Salad ($12.55) is always a great opener. The vinaigrette was so delicious. Apparently a combination of arrugula, honey and orange juice is combined to enhance the flavor of the fresh tomatoes and buffalo Mozzarella cheese. I’m still licking my lips.

The Fungo Di Portobello offers a baked Portobello mushroom topped with goat cheese on a bed of assorted greens.($11.95) I have had that dish many times in the past and highly recommend it as a starter salad or for a lunch. Several other salads are listed on the daily menu.

Cozze in Padella is a plate of the tenderest juicy mussels prepared in fresh basil and served in a marinara sauce. You will want to use some of that delicious bread to soak up the rest of the sauce.($10.95) Asparagi Gratinati is a plate of delicious baked asparagus in melted Parmesan cheese toped with proscuitto di Parma.($12.95)

You can’t come to Vittorio’s and not try his pasta. Capellini Di Cico is an offering of angel hair pasta with artichoke hearts, black olives and drizzled with garlic oil sauce.($7.95)

Linguini Alle Primavera serves assorted vegetables sautéed in a light tomato sauce.($7.95) Raviolacci Di Cico is prepared with stuffed homemade pasta with beef, veal, ricotta cheese in a light wild mushroom cream sauce.($12.95)

There is a pasta dish for everyone.

A lunchtime treat is a Frittata Vittorio cooked with asparagus, bufalo Mozzarella, and proscuitto di Parma.($12.95) The Frittata Contadina is prepared with wild mushrooms, baby spinach, smoked mozzarella and fresh basil.($11.95)

Risotto is always a guaranteed delight. Gamberi e Asparagi is a combination of the finest risotto cooked with asparagus and tiger shrimps in a fresh herb white wine sauce.($14.95) There are three different offerings of risotto.

If you are really hungry at lunch time you can enjoy a Scaloppine Sorrentina. Pan seared veal is topped with eggplant, bufala mozzarella and tomato sauce.($16.95) Salmon del Atlantico is a grilled salmon served with vegetables and potatoes.($14.95)

The evening meal offers the same type of food. You have two choices to make. Do you want the patio, terrace or indoors? What would you like to eat? The rest is taken care of. You will be wined and dined in fine Cico style.

The Education of Charlie Banks

I was surprised that I liked this film. It isn’t the type of movie that I usually enjoy. There were only three people in the audience. That may also mean something. I chose to enjoy the film for psychological reasons. I was trying to understand the characters and their motives for their action.

Charlie Banks is a plain every day kid. He doesn’t excel in anything. His looks are average and he seems to be a follower rather than a leader.

We first meet him as a young kid on a school bus. We get an idea as to his character type. Charlie is the son of a middle class father who owns a book store. The two have a good relationship and you sense that the father has good values.

Charlie witnesses a friend, Mick, ruthlessly beating up another pal. Charlie tells the police about the beating. The other boys are terrified of ‘squealing’ on Mick. Mick doesn’t have roots and seems like a street kid in many ways. He acts like a bully and has a violent temper. The other boys seem to tolerate his behavior.

Charlie goes off to a college of upper class kids. He has a crush on a charming girl and he does all the usual rituals of a college kid. He drinks. He parties and he also does his school work. He is accepted by his peers and has friends but comes across as awkward.

Mick shows up at the college and bunks in with Charlie and his roommate. In true character Mick becomes the leader and ingratiates himself into college life even though he is not a student.

Mick gets into more trouble and news stories point out a violent action in the nearby past.

I was intrigued with Mick. He was one good looking young man. I also felt sorry for him. I felt as if he wanted to have some of the qualities of the good students. It was as if he made up for his lacking by acting out in a brutal manner.

I waited for the boys to turn on Mick. It was devastating to see the charming Mary take up with Mick and become infatuated with his charm. She later realized her foolishness.

So often young people are charmed by the ‘good looker’ and also overlook negative qualities.

One rich young college student thought he could buy friendship. He took the group home to his estate for a wild weekend. He thought nothing of buying a huge yacht. He was always drunk. It wasn’t hard to figure out his future path. We never even met his parents.

Charlie wasn’t really appreciated because he was so ‘ordinary.’

I found it fascinating to see the different characters playing off one another often for the wrong reasons. Kids of this age are so vulnerable and this came across.

The actors performed well. It was a painful story but I was glad I stayed until the end.

Apparently this film won an award at the Tribeca Film Festival 2007.

State of Play

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this film. It started out with a dark, bleak scene with lots of noise and people being hurt. The story developed into a thriller that had me compelled to stay until the last credit had been shown on the screen. The acting makes this film well worth the price. If you like suspense and thrillers you will not be disappointed. Russell Crowe plays the part of Cal, a rugged journalist. His hair is long and his face needs a shave. He takes notes with a pen and pad and exists on junk food. He is persistent in pursuing clues to write his story.

His editor is brilliantly played by Helen Mirren. She is an amazing actor and I hung on every word she said. She is tough and speaks her mind. Della Frye is a young new cub reporter hired by the editor. Cal isn’t too impressed with this young rookie. Della is played by Rachel McAdams. She is so adorable, delightful and Canadian. Della and Cal learn to work together and in fact to respect one another.

Ben Affleck plays the part of the congressman, Stephen Collins. He apparently had been having an affair with a young woman who is found dead. Revelations about his work fighting a corporation dealing with wartime defense contracts become a central focus. His world seems to be falling apart around him. His mistress has been murdered. Her role with the corporation becomes suspect. His affair becomes known. His wife is furious. His wife is played by the beautiful Robin Wright Penn.

Cal and Della try to solve the riddle of several deaths. The plot thickens and leaves you in suspense.

The pace is fast. The mood is dark. There are twists and turns to the plot. Fortunately it was not a gory frightful film. All the scenes are not necessarily believable but it all works in this film. Perhaps it is the time that is represented but the reporter certainly oversteps the mark in trying to find clues to solve the problems. There are several big issues. Political corruption is always a fascinating topic. The marital infidelity has serious ramifications. The mature journalist learns to work with the young ingénue. I loved watching the journalists coping with the tough editor.

The cast is fantastic in all their roles.

Jerichow

This film has had success at several film festivals. I loved it for several reasons. There was suspense. It was a good story and it was well told.

Ali is a successful Turkish business man now living in Germany. He owns several roadside stands in the town of Jerichow. His willowy gorgeous wife, Laura, works along with him .I had the feeling at the beginning that all was not well with the couple. She had the ability to look sultry and firmly give a look of disinterest. He would get drunk and as a result lost his license to drive. Ali obviously loves his wife but you have the feeling that she is putting up with him. As the film develops we learn more about her past and her relationship with Ali.

The other main character, Thomas, is a gorgeous sexy looking ex vet. He is out of money and wants a job. He has returned to his mother’s house and intends to renovate it and live in the house. He initially takes a job picking cucumbers. It is hard work and a strain. Ali offers him a job as his driver. Ali is a good worker and follows all his boss’s orders.

Of course it is obvious that Thomas and Laura will be attracted to each other. They sneak moments in cupboards and at the beach. They certainly look good together.

The last part of the film takes twists and turns in the plot. I was sitting on the edge of my seat. The director leads you to think that the plot is moving in one direction and then it takes a twist and a turn. I found the ending very dramatic and surprising. I loved the film.

Two Lovers

What is this about Joachin Phoenix giving up acting forever? It must not happen. He plays the part of Leonard, a bi polar man. The film opens as we see him trying to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. He is saved and goes home as nonchalant as if nothing happened.

His father runs a dry cleaning establishment and his mother is loving and kind. Leonard helps his father in the business but also pursues his hobby of photography.

The Cohen family comes for a visit hoping to discuss a business merger. The other reason is to introduce their beautiful daughter, Sandra, to Leonard. Sandra is immediately smitten with Leonard. It looks as if the relationship is going to take off.

The problem arises when Leonard notices a beautiful woman from his bedroom window. His window faces her room. Michelle, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is having a relationship with a married man. She enjoys Leonard as a friend. She actually uses him to help her whenever she has a problem. Her married boyfriend is not always available and poor Leonard gets the job of comforting her and taking her to the hospital when she is ill. Leonard is sensitive and loving. Perhaps too loving.

He falls for Michelle even though Sandra is waiting for him.

Sandra is kind ands sweet and certainly more stable than Michelle. She is also forgiving. Sandra is erratic in her behavior.

Which one does he end up with? I guess you will have to see the film. I must say I don’t think he would really be a good catch for anyone. He is unsettled in business. He is bi-polar and needs his pills.

Joachim Phoenix is an excellent actor. I felt his pain and could believe that this situation could really happen.

We just saw it in real life at the end of the last Bachelor Program. The bachelor had two choose from the last two bachelorettes. He chose one and promised her the moon. Many months later he decided he had made a mistake and on public television told her he had made a mistake. He wanted to have another chance with the runner up. It will be interesting to see how that little tale works itself out. We probably will never know.

Duplicity

I vowed I would not see this film. I have never been a fan of Julia Roberts with that enormous grin from ear to ear. I had just had all my couches and chairs cleaned and was unable to sit in my condo for 24 hours while all the cushions dried properly. I had no place to sit. The cinema across the road was my salvation for a few hours. I was prepared to even sit through this film on my ‘don’t need to see list.”

If you like spy stories, intrigue and lots of confusion you may find this film to your taste. I was totally confused as to who was spying on whom.

The saving grace was the part played by Clive Owen. I could have watched him all day. Clive plays the part of ray, a spy. He meets up with Claire, played by Julia Roberts. She also is a spy. They naturally fall for each other but there is always that feeling of distrust. Are they spying on each other? Can they work together and become a team?

The film takes us to Dubai in July of 2003. In a subsequent scene we learn it is 5 years later. Before we know it we are in London dated 18 months ago. Now it is off to Miami 14 months ago. We then are transported to a scene taking place 9 months ago. Maybe I was thinking of my chairs drying and missed the minute details. I was lost and confused. I never knew who was good or bad and who anyone was working for.

I did find amusement in the scene where Claire has to interview a woman who recently had sex with Ray, her current lover.

One minute Claire and Rays seem to be at odds with one another and completely not trusting any word or action. The next moment the twosome is locked in each other’s arms.

Yes, there is suspense. It is fast paced but you have to ask yourself if you really cared. I was more concerned about my newly cleaned chairs. It was worth it. They look fantastic.