Rudo y Cursi

This delightful film is like a fable. I would say the lesson is; Beware of what you want. It may come back to haunt you. The story takes place in a small poor town in Mexico as well as Mexico City.

Rudo is the half brother of Cursi. Rudo is married and has several children. He is always losing whatever money he has with gambling. His poor wife tries to manage but keeps finding household items missing because of gambling debts.

Cursi wants to be a musician. He is a handsome looking dude but his voice certainly is lacking. Their main hobby is playing soccer on the local field.

They all live in very impoverished circumstances in a small village. The family lives in a few sheds in a compound like area. They all eat outdoors at a long table. The boys are very good to their mother and keep promising her a beautiful big house on the beach. Poor Mom loves her boys. She is currently living with a beast of a man.

A very sleazy talent scout sees the boys trying to play soccer. He is seen throughout the film with a series of sexy half dressed ‘bimbos.’ He offers Cursi a position on a team that plays in Mexico City. The scout gets payoffs from everybody to let Cursi play. Cursi becomes a big hero and is given a magnificent house beautifully furnished and a big van. He also tries to become a famous singer wearing outlandish outfits. He charms Maya the beautiful lady he has seen on TV. He thinks he has the world at his feet. And then everything seems to go wrong.

Rudo is also offered a position on an opposition team. He takes whatever money is left in the household and sneaks out at night to make his fortune in Mexico City. Later Rudo‘s wife comes to live in Mexico city. It turns out that has been doing well selling vitamins in her local village and now wants to continue making more contacts in Mexico City. His gambling debts become unmanageable and he is threatened with his life. He sells all the furniture in the fancy house owned by Cursi in order to pay off some of his debts.

Cursi begins to lose the ability to play well. A final big game is called and the boys are playing on opposite teams. The scout and others try to bribe Rudo. Bets are made on the game. One of the boys has to be the big loser. The crowds come out and cheer loudly. It was a lot of fun to watch this colorful scene.

The younger sister back home marries the big drug lord of the area. He builds them a fine house and treats the family well.

It is all too bizarre but a lot of fun. The pursuit of fame and wealth didn’t bring the brothers happiness for long.

I suppose many sportsmen go from rags to riches and then back to rags in pursuing a sport. This film told a story but the characters were not real in my mind. I could relax and have fun because I was being told a story that made sense through unreal characters.

The brothers were great in their performance. This is an unusual film and in my opinion was very successful.

The Brothers Bloom

Bizarre! Ridiculous! Funny! I would have thought the Brothers Coen had produced this entertaining film. Adrien Brody plays the part of Bloom and Mark Ruffalo is his brother, Stephen. The actors seem to have a great time and perform well in this film. The beautiful Rachel Weisz is also great as the ‘ditsy’, nutty Penelope.

Bloom and Stephen are poor orphans who learn at an early year to charm, bamboozle and scam the kids in the neighborhood. They need the money and want to live a good lifestyle.

As adults they continue to swindle anyone that they can. They carefully plan each operation. Stephen illustrates his plot in detailed webs of instructions including words and illustrations. The plans are actually very funny.

Stephen has a side kick, Bang Bang, who is the most bizarre character of all. She dresses in weird but wonderful outfits. She rarely speaks but her presence is most definitely seen and felt throughout the film. She is an expert on explosives and uses her talent throughout the film.

Bloom wants to retire to Montenegro but promises Stephen that he will do one more heist. The plan is scam the beautiful Penelope.

Now Penelope is one strange character. She lives in an oversized palatial mansion. Her hobby seems to be crashing her bright yellow sports car. She lives alone and passes her time playing a variety of musical instruments.

At times you feel she is aware that they are trying to scam her. At other times you think she is so fascinated with Bloom that that she doesn’t even care if he takes her money.

The Bloom brothers travel to Russia, Montenegro, Mexico and Prague as part of their scheming ways. I did like their life style and I loved the views of the various cities.

At times you wonder if you are seeing things. At one point a cat sitting in a skate rolled across the floor. In another scene a camel is seen walking down a street. I began to question the meaning of such absurdity but decided that it added to the frolicking fun of the zany characters.

Several times you think one of the brothers has been shot. I barely had time to get out the kleenex when the red blood turned out to be red paint hidden inside the white shirt. Each time they were shot I wondered if it was going to be another trick or the real thing.

You are kept guessing until the end of the film. I’m not known for having a sense of humor but I really loved this whacky film. I would not be surprised if any reader questions my sanity on my opinion of this film.

Act of God

This outstanding documentary was the opening film at the recent Hot Docs Festival in Toronto. If you are intrigued by lightning you will find the topic of great interest. The film was well documented and presented. The film has been showing now for a few weeks so I suggest you go rather quickly to see it if you have any interest. The writer was hit with lightening at the age of 14. He told us that the incident was scary, overwhelming and changed his whole life.

We are told that 1 in 700,000 have the chance of being hit with lightening. The writer waited 20 years to write this script. He tells us how it changed his life. He was unconscious for a long time and recuperation was lengthy. One of his young friends was killed.

We are taken to various countries and told stories of people hit with lightening. Some people are charred beyond recognition. Others have been knocked unconscious and later woke up and were able to continue their life.

In Cuba there is a mixture of African beliefs mixed in with Catholicism. Many believe in Shango and perform primitive rites to keep Shango away. Shango means lightning and thunder.

Throughout the film we see creative photos of the magnificence of lightning in the sky. It truly is majestic but can be deadly. The writer states that his goal was to tell stories. He offers no theories. They certainly are unbelievable stories.

Madras Masala

796 Bloor St West ( at Crawford)

416 342 4359

I love dining with my friend Elaine. She has great suggestions for dining. I think she has eaten in every restaurant in Toronto. The conversation is always stimulating. We seem to cover every international and national topic. I loved every morsel at this tasty restaurant. I have often dined at Banjara. It is physically attached to Madras Masala and shares the same owner. Banjara features northern Indian food. Madras Masala prepares South Indian cuisine. Northern is generally more spicy but Madras will cook to your specification.

Madras is smaller and feels more intimate. A small outdoor patio is great in this fine weather. Both restaurants are set back a bit from Bloor St and free parking is available in front of both restaurants. I think both restaurants offer excellent Indian food at a very reasonable price.

We were thrilled with the tasty selections. We shared three dishes plus a rice selection. It was a perfect amount to satisfy our hunger.

Prawn Saag ($13.99) was my favorite. Prawns are cooked in pureed spinach. The spices were so flavorful and we both loved every bite. Alu Channa offers chick peas and potatoes cooked in aromatic spices.($7.95) The aroma was tantalizing and the flavor was even more satisfying. Bagara Baingan offers garden fresh eggplant cooked in a peanut sauce.($8.99) The Steamed Rice ($2.99) was perfect to complete a wonderful dinner.

There are so many selections possible. Meat Entrees feature many lamb selections. Madras Masala Lamb Curry prepares tender lamb cooked in ginger and pepper.($10.99) Chicken Xacutti prepares tender chicken pieces simmered with a blend of roasted coconut, onion and spices.($10.99) Chettinadu Fish Curry is offered at $12.99.

The food arrives promptly. Our server was as delicious as the food. His wide smile and good service was most appreciated.

Both Banjara and Madras Masala offer excellent Indian food.

The Chef's House

What fun! What exquisite food! The Chef’s House is a chef and hospitality school affiliated with George Brown College. This is a fully functioning restaurant. The servers are young students bent on acquiring skills in the hospitality field. The young chefs are under the tutelage of fine chefs. I have now dined here three times. The food is absolutely exquisite. The flavor, the presentation and the variety makes for a guaranteed fine dining experience. We had such fun chatting with the young servers and wishing them well. This was the first day of a new session and I was prepared for inexperience and possible confusion.

I was entertaining cousin B.K. (for her birthday) and my sister. I wanted it to be special. The mandate of the school is to offer excellence in hospitality and culinary training. They do it so well. The restaurant itself is high tech great design. The young chefs are all dressed in white with the large tall hats. The servers seem nervous but so anxious to please.

The menu is a prix fixe. At lunch you can choose 2 courses for $18.00; 3 courses for $22.00 or 4 courses for $25.00. Dinner is more expensive. There are options in every category.

The birthday girl and my sister opted for the House Cured Salmon Gravlox with fennel slaw and honey mustard sauce. I have had this dish on two other occasions. The presentation is lovely. The taste is exquisite. My guests both loved every bite. I wanted to try something new and opted for the Asparagus, Quinoa Tomato Cucumber Salad with Guacamole. The plate looked like a photo from Gourmet Magazine. The flavors melded in my mouth and I was a completely satisfied diner.

Soup of the Day was Fire Roasted Red onion Soup with red fife Blue Cheese crouton.

The birthday girl and my sister ordered Pan Roasted Chicken with Roasted Vegetables with shallot reduction. B. K wondered how it was possible to have the chicken so moist. The vegetable presentation on the plate made for a creative and tasty presentation.

I chose the Parsley Frittata with Garlic Sauteed Shrimps and tossed greens. Oh my! I’ve run out of superlatives. The garlic shrimp were perfectly prepared. The frittata was so moist. A frittata dish can so easily be overcooked. The fresh parsley on top added to the color presentation and the flavor.

I was considering the Spaetzle with Spinach, mushrooms, almond and Parmesan. The lady at the next table was obviously enjoying this dish. Georgian Bay Whitefish was served with spring vegetables and a miso broth.

We splurged by sharing one dessert because we had eaten so much. The Rhubarb Crumble was so satisfying and the ice cream was tasty, refreshing and probably very fattening.

Every bite was great. By the time we finished lunch the young chefs were huddled around the cooking area getting ready for the evening crowd. I actually wished I was coming back. The food is outstanding and I find it enjoyable to be able to help young students to practice their trade.

There is an attempt to be environmentally friendly with the choices of food and the preparation. I was pleased to hear that they do not offer bottled water. They have a filtering process and offer their own still or flat water. The glasses were constantly refilled and we were asked many times if all was to our satisfaction. Yes it was.

Mocha Mocha Cafe

I am not too familiar with the restaurants on the Danforth. I do love visiting this part of the city. Every block has numerous restaurants. Most offer Greek food and I know many are very good. I was meeting my friend Wendy for a light lunch. We wanted a cafe atmosphere and light food. Mocha Mocha is a popular neighborhood spot offering tasty and nutritious food. I liked the casual warm atmosphere. You place your order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table. Everything looked so appealing and fresh. Wendy opted for a bowl of fresh Fruit with Yogurt. It looked so good and she obviously enjoyed her choice. I ordered Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon.($8.99) The eggs were perfectly cooked. There was a lot of smoked salmon and was delicious. It was a delightful brunch and kept me full until dinner time.

There are many salads listed. Avocado Salad Plate offers half an avocado, mixed greens, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and egg.($7.95) Warm Brown Rice Salad is a healthy combination of brown rice, black eyed peas, black mushrooms and ginger on a bed of mixed greens, carrots, cabbage and tomato.($8.35)

Many of the patrons were enjoying a sandwich. They certainly looked tasty. Bagel with Cream Cheese and Lox is served with capers and onions.($7.75) Spicy chick Pea-guacamole is served in a pita with mixed greens and vegetables.($6.80)

Crepes offer a delightful nutritious lunch. Vegetable Mozzarella is a crepe filled with eggplant, mushrooms, green onions, peppers, zucchini, mozzarella and tomato sauce.($8.95) Ham, Cheese tomato Avocado is $9.25.

If you want something a little more substantial there are several entrees on the menu. Vegetarian Lasagna is served with a salad and organic toast.($10.25) Tuna Potato Cake is prepared with spicy tuna, potato and vegetable patty with sour cream.($7.50) The East African Chicken Stew is served with rice and salad.($11.50)

The Cookies and Squares are on display at the counter. They looked very appealing. Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt is also popular for dessert.

The restaurant is open from 9:00a.m. until 9:00p.m. It was so refreshing to visit a restaurant with so many choices of healthy lighter fare. We arrived early and the place was comfortably filled. By the time we left it was completely filled. There were Moms with their carriages, business people and good friends like us just enjoying good food and great company.

Is Anybody There?

This is a delightful story. One minute you are sad and the next scene finds you laughing. It is a little treasure thanks to the fine performance of Michael Caine.

Michael Caine plays the part of Clarence. He is one angry sourpuss. He was a former magician with happy memories of his dead wife. He is now old and beginning to ‘lose it.’ He comes to stay at a family run seniors’ home.

Some of the humor comes from the scenes in this home. In reality it is sad but I found myself laughing. There was the senior who loved his booze. Another would doze off all the time. Yes, it is a stereotype of a senior’s home but it is done tastefully and with a lot of humor. All of them together make for quite a picture.

The lady who runs the home is loving and caring to all her boarders. At the beginning of the film her husband is a pathetic character. He does help to fix the house and keep it in shape. He spends a lot of time staring at the very young girl who comes in to help. He has a ridiculous haircut that points out that he wants to different. As the picture develops we see the couple becoming more communicative and it is very sweet.

The owners of the senior’s house have a 10 year old son Edward. He is feisty and outspoken. He also is a loner. It is kind of sad to see this young boy surrounded by so many old people. His mother tries to tell him that he is fortunate and can learn from these seniors. He has an obsession to find out about death. Edward tries to tape all the old folks as they are about to’ depart from this world.’ He has a need to know what they are experiencing. The part of Edward is played by Bill Milner. He is absolutely wonderful in his performance.

At first Edward and Clarence do not hit it off. In fact the old man is cantankerous and outspoken. Edward gives it all back to him.

A beautiful relationship develops and Clarence teaches Edward some of his magic tricks. He also teaches him a lot about life. At one point he states,” Your life changes and not always for the best.” One of my favorite scenes was of Edward and Clarence driving down the dirt road in Clarence’s old battered, wildly painted van. The two were singing. I found the film to be magical and entertaining.

Adoration

I will see any film directed by Atom Egoyan. He is brilliant and creative. This film was written, produced and directed by this talented man. His wife Arsinee Khanjian appears in all his films. She is exotic looking and a very fine actor. Many of the scenes are in Toronto. It was entertaining to see many scenes on the Gardiner. I especially enjoyed the scene in the old Canary Restaurant on Eastern Ave. This restaurant is a relic from the past and still operates today. Many of the cast are Canadian and I think the film is amazing. At times the plot does become a little ‘over the top.’ But I put that down to the creative mind of Atom Egoyan. He likes to use playbacks and often confuses the audience with reality and fantasy.

Simon is a young teenager living with his uncle, Tom. Tom is a tow truck driver who is trying his best to be a guardian to Simon. Tom’s parents are dead and this is part of the controversy.

Simon writes an essay at school telling the tale of his father being a terrorist who planted a bomb in his mother’s suitcase. You view scenes of his mother at the airport being questioned by security. Was this real or a fantasy of Simon? We are then told that his parents died in a car crash.

Simon’s teacher wants to present the story as a play in the school. The teacher is played by Arsinee Khanjian. Her relationship with Scott becomes a central focus in the convoluted plot.

The film goes back and forth from the present time to the past. We see Simon’s mother as a child who loved to play the violin. In later years she meets her husband of Middle East descent. They obviously love each other but at the same time we are led to be a bit suspicious of him. Simon’s fantasies seem real and we question what the real story is. Throughout Simon is trying to find himself through the past.

I loved the Toronto scenes. The acting by a mainly Canadian cast is excellent. Atom Egoyan has his own style. Some like it. I am one of those.

The Queen and I

I have always been fascinated with the former Shah of Iran and his exotic looking wife. Farah Palevi. This does not mean that I agreed with his philosophy or manner of running the country.

I couldn’t help but recall an enormous extravagant party that he once held. All the foreign guests were flown to Iran on private planes. They were housed in magnificent tents with all the possible luxuries. All the magazines of the day were filled with photos of this event. I remember being disgusted by the lavish display of wealth knowing that so many were lingering in poverty.

The documentary was created by Nahid Persson Sarvestani. She had been a former member of the communist party and also had to flee the country after her own brother was executed by the new regime. Nahid was always an anti-monarchist and in fact many of her friends were tortured under the Shah’s regime. Nahid was in trouble with the Iranian government and was actually jailed for a while. She had to promise never to make a film about Iran again. She escaped from Iran and now lives in Sweden.

At first Farah Palavi was wary of the journalist. After all she was an anti-monarchist and had been a communist. Nahid was not sure she would be able to do justice to the film because she had been against the regime of the Shah.

Farah agreed to a meeting because she was interested in meeting this journalist who was against the new regime. Initially she liked the work done by Nahid and agreed to continue with the film.

Throughout the film we see news clippings of the Shah. We saw pictures from his wedding. We saw the splendor of his dress and his housing. We also saw the beginnings of the riots that eventually forced the royal couple to flee from Iran. They went to the United States. They lived for a while in Mexico, Panama and the Bahamas. Sadat loaned them a palatial house in Egypt and made them most welcome.

The Shah died of cancer and his wife, Farah went to live in Paris. She constantly has body guards with her and continues to live quite a lavish life style.

We are introduced to the life that Farah now leads. Every year on the anniversary of the death of the Shah a group of Iranians meet in Egypt. The film shows one of these meetings. It is the only time we see Farah’s son who is considered the as the monarch in waiting.

The two women seemed to develop a respect for one another and were able to talk freely about their past.

A daughter died of anorexia and we see her grave. The other children are never mentioned. I am very curious about this and wonder if there is family communication. We were never told where they live or what they are doing. I can’t help but wonder if that was an agreement in making the film as a security issue.

I quite liked Farah. The journalist was able to show her in a positive light. Farah seemed to understand some of the negative issues of her husband’s regime. Both Nahid and Farah agreed that Khomeni fooled the people. He promised the people that everyone would have a voice and then brought in such tight fundamental rules that have led to today’s catastrophe in Iran.

The film was fascinating and very educational. I congratulate Nahid on being able to meet with Farah and create this work.

Lolo

I have just had a perfect evening. My loving family took me out to celebrate Mother’s Day. I always love their company. We all enjoy fine dining and good discussion. After tonight’s excellent cuisine I have two more men in my life.

Louis Ourique and Ricardo Sousa are the brains, brawn and creativity behind this restaurant. They were formerly located on Mt Pleasant Rd and now are situated on Yonge St north of Eglinton Ave. Louis and Ricardo deserve success. Tonight’s crowd was a tribute to their hard work. All tables were filled. Guests were being turned away without a reservation. Everyone was warmly greeted. The $25.00 Prix Fixe for 3 courses is a brilliant idea in these times. There is no greater value in this town. Often a fixed menu offers unpopular dishes or lesser fair. Not in this case. I can honestly say that every bite was perfection. We all agreed that our dining was superb. Imagine! 3 courses for $25.00 of delicious mouth watering food.

Kathy, Ray and Alex opted for the Soup of the Day, Carrot Soup. They cleaned their bowl as if they hadn’t eaten all day. They loved every morsel. I opted for the Mushroom Crostini. Sautéed mushrooms were placed on fresh greens over a crostini. I loved this dish. It was such a large portion and I couldn’t stop eating it.

Main courses kept up the fine standard. Alex loved the Penne with Spicy Sausage. There were also roasted peppers and a tomato sauce. Kathy enjoyed the Roasted Cornish Hen with citrus-basil glaze. Ray and I were pleased we had ordered the Seared Atlantic Salmon. I have had a lot of salmon over the years. This was absolutely marvelous, moist, tasty and cooked to perfection. The roasted potatoes were excellent. A little pyramid of roasted vegetables completed a creative presentation and a wondrous dining experience.

I don’t usually eat dessert but this going to change on this occasion. Kathy and Ray enjoyed the Flourless Chocolate Cake. The presentation was so artistic and the slices were very generous. Ray enjoyed an Apple Dessert with caramel sauce and ice cream. I had the most perfect slice of Lemon Tart. All the plates were beautifully garnished. We all tasted each other’s dessert. Every bite of every dessert was so delicious. All the desserts are made on the premises.

I recommend the Prix Fixe menu. It is an outstanding value of gourmet quality. Regular menu listings also appeal. Grilled Tiger Shrimp with roasted cherry tomato salsa is offered at $25.00 Braised Lamb Shank au Jus is a popular choice at $20.00 Tuscan Seafood Soup with crostini is listed at $28.00. The menu offerings are varied.

I highly recommend this restaurant. I am so grateful to my wonderful family for a great evening and for introducing me to this establishment. I congratulate Louis and Ricardo. They work so hard running around and trying to make sure everyone is satisfied.

Thank you to my family and to the new men in my life for a great evening.

Miller Tavern

This restaurant is historical. I am sure there are many stories that could be told about the former inn. It later became a favorite watering hole for the folk in North Toronto. Several years ago it had a transformation to its present day fine restaurant. The restaurant has maintained the feeling of an old inn. It tends to be a little dark and old world in atmosphere. This is one popular place. It was packed on a Wednesday at lunch time. The first floor level is less formal and is mostly bar area. The winding staircase leads to the dining area. There is ample parking at the back of the restaurant. Service was a little slow but most pleasant. This is top end fare and suitable for a special occasion. My sister and I were entertaining a special aunt who had just turned 85. My aunt and cousin live in Thornhill. I live at the south end of the city. This seemed like a good compromise. The menu is extensive and expensive) and destined to please anyone’s taste.

The Seafood Pad Thai was enjoyed by our cousin.($20.95) It was a large portion served on a most attractive white platter. My sister and aunt opted for The Miller Burger.($17.95) All burgers are crafted from Kerr Farms Angus Beef. No antibiotics are used. There are no added hormones and the beef is raised on pasture. All the burgers are served with russet potato fries, homemade coleslaw and are topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and a dill pickle. The portion was large and the plating was most attractive on giant sized white platters. It must have been good because there was nothing left on anyone’s plate. I enjoyed the Double Cheese Vegetarian Burger.($16.95) A handcrafted soy-protein patty is topped with 2 year old cheddar cheese. I looked at the wonderful creation and wanted to take a picture. I didn’t think there was a chance I could demolish this work of art. I started in and didn’t stop until it was all finished. My late dinner that night was a dish of probiotic yogurt.

We had all been interested in the Seafood Platter.($19.95) I have promised myself that next time I am going to enjoy this dish. The plate consists of blue crab cake, house smoked salmon, chilled shrimp, sesame seared ahi tuna on Cookstown greens with a special vinaigrette.

I was happy to see that Grilled Ahi Tuna was on the menu.($24.95) All fresh seafood is served with vegetable and sesame fried rice, seasonal vegetables and a sweet and sour sauce.

Five types of Steak are listed on the menu. You can order it cooked to your specifications. Kerr Farms Small Beef Tenderloin is considered the perfect steak for a lighter appetite.($28.95) All steaks come with a choice of potato preparation, seasonal vegetables and sautéed field mushrooms.

There are so many sections to this wonderful menu and everything sounds so tempting. Ravioli Di Portobello is served in a rosemary and wild mushroom cream sauce topped with white and green asparagus and truffled grape tomatoes.($18.95) The Lobster Quesadilla is prepared from a fresh Nova Scotian lobster and prepared with boursin cheese, tomato and bell peppers and served with sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole.($27.95) It is suggested as a starter for two or a dinner for one.

This is not an inexpensive restaurant. The food is definitely quality and prepared with finesse. The plating is artistic. It is definitely a place for an occasion. My sister and I were so happy to be celebrating our aunt’s 85^th birthday.

Lymelife

When there is too much dysfunction I find myself pulling away from the drama. I don’t care about the characters and at times I wanted to laugh. At its best it is a story of coming of age of a young adolescent. It certainly points out various methods of acting to cope with dysfunction. I believe the film would have worked better if one aspect of the story was developed and became the central theme. In this film every member of two families is unsatisfied with life. The lives are intertwined and it is all too much.

We have the pleasure of meeting two families that live close by in a Long Island pastoral suburb. The time is the late 70’s.

Mickey Bartlett is a financially secure developer. That seems to be enough for him because he is totally lacking in sensitivity to the needs of his wife and two sons. He even goes about purchasing a large house in the area without telling his wife. One son joined the services to get away from the family and is about to be shipped off to the Falklands. The other son, Scott, is the key character. He is very slight and appears as an immature, weak and sulky kid. Some of the tougher kids in the school call him names, extort money and beat him up. His best friend is the gorgeous young girl, Adriana which leads me into the other family.

The Braggs are closely involved with the Bartletts. Charlie, the father, has lyme disease which means he is unwell and cannot work. He wears the same suit all the time even when he is out walking in the woods. To me he is a dangerous character because he walks in the woods with his rifle and even target practices in the woods which are right behind the homes of the Braggs and the Bartletts. His beautiful wife is quite a temptress. Obviously she is frustrated and upset with her husband’s condition. She works for Mickey Bartlett. You can guess the connection there. To make it worse everybody in the two families knows about the liaison. At times the daughter Adriana is sweet and attentive to Scott. She can also be a temptress beyond her years and just plain mean.

At the very end I had the feeling that there was some hope and perhaps one of the families was going to be able to work it out. Guess again. The ending was shocking and surprising. Too much! Maybe some of the aspects of their lives are believable. There were too many problems and I just didn’t care about these characters. Thank goodness I don’t live near such unhappy folk.

La Ceneretola

Ceneretola was the last of this year’s presentations of opera live from the Met. You have the opportunity of seeing the encore presentation on May 25. Don’t miss it. I get such a rush when I hear the announcer say,” Maestro to the pit.” It is such a thrill. You are sitting in a theatre in Toronto and the camera takes you back stage as close as if you are standing there. The audience is shown the backstage sets and then it is time for the opera to begin.

I loved the simple set used for this production of Ceneretola. The musicians were all great. Not only did they have magnificent voices they were called upon to be fine actors. The two sisters, Clorinda and Tisbe were so funny. Their funny facial looks and body antics must have been difficult considering they were also singing arias.

During the intermission we had the pleasure of meeting Elina Garanca who played the role of Angelina. She is so beautiful and every note was perfection.

The story is the fairytale of Cinderella. The delightful story and Rossini’s fantastic music made for a perfect afternoon. The opera does differ from the traditional tale. There is no glass slipper. There is no coach. Yet, the story is very familiar. The poor Ceneretola is forced to do all the drudgery in the household of her father and step sisters. The father has spent all of her inheritance and keeps her in poverty while he and the step sisters live a pretend life of finery. The father tries to marry his two other daughters to the prince. Meanwhile the prince sets his valet up to pretend to be the prince so that he can observe the stepsisters to see if he should marry one of them.

The stepsisters compete for the love of the valet who they think is the prince. Meanwhile the prince acts as the valet and falls in love with Ceneretola.

We all know how the story ends. In this case Ceneretola makes up with her family and they all attend the fancy wedding.

How privileged we are to have this wonderful opportunity. The Met opera is brought to you live. The quality of the sound and pictures is excellent. You have a close up view that isn’t even possible at the Met.

I can’t wait for next year’s productions. Tickets will probably go on sale in August. Many people purchase their tickets for the whole season at that time. Most productions are sold out well in advance. You also need to arrive over an hour before the production. At 10:30 a.m. yesterday I was not the first in line. The film began at 12:30 p.m. It is always worth the wait.

L'Espresso

This was a good week for me. I ate at this favorite spot twice this week. Earlier in the week I was rushing to a film in the Hot Docs Film Festival. My friend and I wanted to grab a quick bite before the first film. In the morning L’Espresso has a menu available at the front desk. The order took only a few minutes and it was delivered with a smile to our table. We actually shared a delicious sandwich of tomato and three cheeses on wonderful artistry bread.

Today is Mother’s Day. My sister, a friend and I were out for an early brunch before all the Mother’s Day festivities later in the day. By 11:00 a.m. the place was packed. I couldn’t believe it. It was so wonderful to see all the families, couples, friends enjoying this bright spot. There is an energy here that I love. Part of it is because I always feel so welcome. Everyone is greeted at the door. The servers are delightful. For breakfast the food is ordered at the front desk and delivered to the table. Sunday Brunch and in the evening full table service is available. There were so many choices from which to choose. My sister opted for the Poached Eggs on Spinach. A fruit salad was also on the plate. Our friend ordered the Classic Tuna Panini. In my opinion this is the best of all. Seared yellow fin tuna with spinach, onions, tuscan bean spread, brie cheese and balsamic vinegar melt in your mouth. A lovely green salad of fresh arugula was on the plate. I enjoyed my favorite Nicoise Salad. The fresh arugula and vinaigrette blended so well. The green French beans were perfectly cooked. Fingerling potatoes also graced the salad. I loved every bite. I felt satiated but knew that I would be ready for my Mother’s Day dinner later in the day.

During the week at lunch the food is ordered by checking your option on a list and the food is delivered to the table. In my opinion the Paninis are the specialty. The Vegetarian Club Panini is filled with bocconccini, zucchini, spinach and roasted peppers. The artisan ciabatta bread is the best.($9.95) Crab Club Panini offers crab and shrimp cake, avocado, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and scallions on artisan baguette.($11.95)

The Nicoise Salad is featured daily and is the best in town.($12.95) Caesar Salad is prepared with heart of romaine lettuce with a classic house dressing.($7.95)

Soup, Crepes and Entrees are listed daily. If you are not counting calories you will be tempted by the desserts at the counter. The cakes are so tantalizing. I still love good biscotti. Purchase some sweets to take home for another time.

My ambition is to invite 10 people for dinner in the quiet charming private room. At this time of year the outdoor patio is always filled and is away from the noise of the street. Most important is the quality of the food. It is always guaranteed that it will be fresh, appealing, tasty and beautifully presented. I feel the expertise of the managers when I enter this restaurant. It makes the guests have confidence. It is obvious that all involved love good food. That is why I keep coming back.

For a change of pace I am also addicted to the wonderful food at Bar Mercurio across the street. These are both owned and run by the same family.

Mogette Bistro

I knew I would love this new hot restaurant. My friends Max and Sybil have been raving about this establishment. Max told me that the brownies are the best in the city (maybe the world) I promised them I would try it.

Yolanda and I dine out each month. She told me she had found a new restaurant, Mogette. Now I knew I had to go. I was thrilled from the moment I arrived until we finally had to leave. This charming restaurant is a new one on the scene. The very handsome and charming Gino makes all the guests happy at the front of the restaurant. It was like being at a party. He seemed to know all the patrons. No wonder. Once you have been there you will want to go back. Gino’s wife Rachele does all the baking. I was so upset that they were out of those fantastic brownies on this evening. I will definitely go back for the brownies and more of that delicious food. Their son, Daniel is the chef in the kitchen. I could tell you he was trained in France or some other gourmet training facility. I think it is even more amazing that he trained himself. Phillipe is the other chef in the kitchen.

The restaurant has a warm sophisticated atmosphere. The lines are clean and simple. The wooden floors and dark furniture are balanced with the pictures on the light colored walls. There is a wonderful ambiance.

Our charming servers were Chris and Adam. I felt as if I was their friend by the time we left. Chris placed a small thimble sized white object on our plate. He poured some hot water with lemon on the object. It began to bubble and expand until we had a lovely wet cloth to wipe our hands. What fun! How creative! How sanitary and useful!

The bread was warm and delicious. I loved the white bean dip with sun dried tomatoes. I should be ashamed to say that we asked for more bread. Tomorrow would be soon enough to think about dieting.

Yolanda ordered her favorite dish Moules Bleu Mariniere.($18.00)The mussels were the largest I have seen. There was an enormous quantity. The sauce was a white wine Roquefort sauce with parsley. Yolanda said they were the best in town. I hope she doesn’t mind me saying that she enjoyed dipping the bread in the exotic sauce at the bottom of the plate. A side order of frites was absolutely scrumptious. I never eat fries but couldn’t control myself from sharing these minute crispy frites.

I started with the Dungeness Crab Cake.($11.00) Four small crab cakes were artistically placed on the plate. A delicious arugula salad with a perfect vinaigrette complimented the taste of the crab cakes. The sweet corn and roasted red pepper salsa was perfect. I loved every bite. I then opted for the Fricasee of Mushrooms.($10.00) I must try to duplicate this recipe at home. A circle of sautéed mushrooms was served with reduced balsamic vinegar. It was topped with a baby arugula salad and oven-dried tomatoes. Every bite was wondrous.

Pan-seared Rainbow Trout Amandine is served with haricot vert salad, brown butter and fingerling potatoes. ($24.00) Noisettes of Lamb with Merguez Sausage is prepared with a ragout of mogette beans.(25.00)

This restaurant was bustling. At no time were we rushed. Our servers always had time to chat and make sure we were content.

Yolanda and I were more than content. This is one fine restaurant in mid town. I love the idea that a family is working together and each member is providing the best of their skills.

Three Monkeys

Bleak! Dark! Well worth seeing! This film is co-produced with Italian, French and Turkish assistance. Turkish is spoken with English sub-titles.

You are reminded of the well known picture of the three monkeys representing; see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. I think this film better represents the phrase; the monkey on my back.

All the characters do indeed have ‘a monkey on their back.’ Nobody is happy and the black and white cinematography captures the mood. There is no color throughout the whole film. The camera often lingers on a character’s face in a close up so that you literally see every hair and every pore. Even more important the emotion expressed on the face is very powerful so that you know their inner most feelings. The only relief seems to be the pastoral scene from the window of the apartment of the main characters.

Eyup lives with his wife, Hacer and son Ismail. Their apartment is very small and in a poor area. Eyup is a driver for an aspiring politician. One night the politician is driving late at night. His eyes are closing as he drives. He hits someone on the road. He can’t take a chance of being caught because of his aspirations in politics. He convinces Eyup to take the rap and promises to pay him.

Eyup’s life goes from bad to worse as a result of these events. He does indeed go to jail. His wife becomes involved with the politician. She is a fascinating person to watch. At times she is very beautiful. Other times she is stern and plain. Throughout she performs well. The son becomes aware and it takes a toll on his life. When Eyup returns from prison he also becomes aware of what has transpired. His son has a car and his wife wears a decorative negligee. He quizzes them about the source of the income.

The film takes twists and turns in the plot. Nobody escapes high drama.

When I left the theatre one woman commented,” That certainly made me very depressed.” I replied that I felt good because this was not my life.

The film did win the Director’s Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2008. It would not have surprised me to learn that it had won an award for the cinematography or for the fine acting. It seemed so appropriate that I left the theatre into a heavy rain storm.

Lemon Tree

I found this film to be very emotional. Maybe because I have family living in Israel I saw it from a personal perspective. I was surprised that it was an Israeli made film and it surely will cause some embarrassment to Israel.

Salma Zidane lives in her 50 year old lemon grove. Her house is modest and she works with an older Arab to keep the grove going. It has been in her family for years and she has an emotional attachment to the grove. The problem is that she is on the Palestinian side of the green line at the Gaza border.

The Defense Minister of Israel builds a modern magnificent house on the other side of the barbed wire fence. His security men worry about his safety and want the lemon grove demolished. They are afraid it will provide access for terrorists. There is no attempt to understand Salma’s predicament. There is no discussion or meeting. She is promised some retribution but her Arab neighbors forbid her from accepting money from Israel. The beautiful wife of the Defense Minister shows some empathy and wishes she could be a better neighbor but is thwarted from any attempt at meeting with her neighbor by the secret police.

The relationship of the Defense Minister and his beautiful wife provides an interesting sub plot. She is so lovely and he doesn’t give her enough attention.

Salma decides to fight the order. This is a David and Goliath story. She virtually takes on the Israeli government. Media builds up the issue to high drama.

I did find that her young lawyer provided the one unbelievable part of the plot. He is much younger than Salma. They seem to be attracted to one another. They do kiss a few times but it doesn’t develop into an affair. She is warned by the local men of authority that she must not shame the memory of her dead husband. In my opinion this part of the plot ruins the rest of the story and is distracting. I can’t imagine the young lawyer kissing the older Arab woman. She dresses in traditional garb and always has her head covered. This distraction would have been better left out.

The court case becomes very dramatic as the young lawyer pleads her case. It seems as if the safety of the Defense Minister and his beautiful house are more important than human rights.

The Defense Minister throws a large party when his new home is completed. The fashionably dressed people at the party, the excess of food and liquor and the loud music provides a contrast to Salma trying to relax in her quiet little run down house on the other side of the barbed wire fence.

At one point a large sturdy high wall is built to separate the properties. That wall makes quite an impact on the viewer.

Both sides of the argument were presented and it did leave me with an understanding of the tense situation of living on a border. I did find myself cheering on Salma who you know is fighting a losing battle.

The ending can be interpreted in several ways. You will want to discuss the film after viewing it.

Le Pain Quotidien

I am so grateful to the JCC member who recommended this new spot. I get a real rush from trying a new establishment and finding it in favor. This is as close as you can get to a French café without leaving town. The servers have that delightful French accent. When you enter the establishment the counter with the cookies, cakes, bread and tarts calls out to you. The restaurant is on a corner so one side is all windows. There are shelves within the restaurant filled with goodies for sale; olives, jams and other French food products.

The tables, chairs and floor are all wooden. One large communal table is in the midst of the dining area. Other tables are well situated so that nobody is crowded. I was most impressed with the quality of the salt and pepper placed on the table in glass jars. I have just become interested in using fine salts with my food. A touch of a good granular salt can enhance the flavor of the food so much. On other tables I noticed bottles of fine balsamic vinegar and jars of quality jam. I felt as if I was on holiday the minute I walked in. Apparently they do a large take out and catering as well. I had not heard about this place and discovered that they have three other locations as well. I like this spot looking out on Yonge St.

All the soups and salads are served with organic bread. I had one slice of French bread and another was an olive bread that almost brought tears to my eyes it was so good.

I ordered a Nicoise Salad. ($13.50) The fingerling potatoes and thin green beans were perfectly cooked. A large scoop of tuna was placed on a mixed bed of fresh organic greens.

The restaurant strives to use organic and local ingredients whenever possible. The Goat Cheese Arugula Salad is served with parmesan, pine nuts, olive oil and lemon.($15.25) The Atlantic Shrimp Salad offers avocado, mango and salsa over organic mesclun.($14.95) All the salads are listed on a blackboard as well as presented on a menu.

The Tartines (sandwiches) are also listed on the blackboard and offer an extensive list of choices. I intend to make that my decision on my next visit.(hopefully very soon)

Tuna Salad with Olive Tapenade and roasted peppers sounds great to me.($8.95) Aged Gruyere with 3 Mustards is offered at $9.95. Atlantic Smoked Salmon with dill and scallions is a popular choice at $12.95.

There are plenty of choices. Several breakfast selections such as yogurt, fruits, cheese and charcuterie are available all day.

This is a charming busy café. I loved the atmosphere. The food is fresh and tasty. I want to go back. Let me know if you are interested.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

The AMC Young and Dundas is my least favorite cinema in town. It looked like rain and I felt the need for a walk. I headed north to the theatre and then up for 4 flights on an escalator to reach the auditorium. When you see me please thank me for saving you from wasted time and money. I do have to admit that Mathew McConaughey is adorable and Jennifer Garner is a beauty.

McConaughey plays the part of Connor. He comes home for his younger brother’s wedding. Connor is one lousy brute. He has only one thing on his mind. He has seduced all the bridesmaids in the past years. He even makes a play for the mother of the bride. He is afraid of any commitment and leaves all the girls after a short fling. His oldest friend Jenny is one of the bridesmaids.

We learn that Connor and Jenny (Garner) were childhood friends. They were always attracted to one another. Throughout the years they had met, tried a liaison and separated because of his lack of commitment. He says that marriage is an archaic, oppressive institution. He states that love is a myth.

The bride is a silly young thing that got on my nerves. I suppose it was supposed to be humorous that her father was a military man and did nothing but tell about his battles and used army talk all the time. What a bore!

Connor’s actions threaten to ruin the wedding. He flirts with all the girls. He drinks too much scotch and even knocks the wedding cake over the night before the wedding. Jenny seems to be always there to try and put things back in place.

Connor and his brother had been brought up by a wealthy playboy uncle. Uncle Wayne is played by Michael Douglas and you can almost believe that he is playing a part he himself lived a few years ago.

The night before the wedding Connor is visited by a series of ghosts that show him past wrongs. He is revisited with his youth and high school days. It is pointed out to him why he acts the way he does. He wakes up in the morning a new person. He becomes loving and thoughtful and responsible.

Of course all of this is a play on the plot of A Christmas Carol. Frankly I found it offensive to parody a fine piece of literature with this trashy little film.