Café Belong at the Evergreen Brick Works 550 Bayview Ave
416 901 8234
My dear friend is going back to South Africa and I wanted to show her one more part of town. Neither of us had been to the Brick Works so this was going to be an adventure. The Brick Works is on a forlorn bit of property on the Bayview Extension. It was the former operation of Toronto Brick Works but has long been a desolate piece of property. The Evergreen Foundation has developed this property in the most exciting environmentally possible way. On the weekend the place is bustling with a Farmer’s Market.
We opted to view the property on a quieter weekday. How exciting to see school groups wandering the property doing environmental studies.
Cafe Belong is a great discovery. As you enter the door there is a takeout café. We thought this was the whole restaurant and quickly ordered. We were unaware that table service was available at the actual café.
My friend had the Eggs, Greens and Biscuit. A buttermilk biscuit (delicious) was filled with a scrambled egg and fresh kale. My friend raved about it all the way home. The egg was cooked to perfection.
I opted for the Squash Soup with Apple. I enjoyed the distinctive curry flavor. It was hot and very tasty. The Blueberry Scone was the best I have ever eaten. With a drink the total bill was $17.80.
We took our food to a table and were told that this was the seating for the regular café and the take out had a different seating area. Frances a most pleasant server, insisted we stay at the table and in fact brought us cloth napkins and made sure we were happy.. He cared for the other clients and was kind and charming to us.
Café Belong is open 7 days a week all year from 7:00 am to 10 p.m.
It is visually very pleasant. The brick walls and unusual lighting make it distinctive. Colorful Creuset pots are lined up on shelves and can be purchased. The large windows look out onto the yard of this environmental site. Unfortunately no buss comes in this direction. It is a bit ironical to have to drive to an environmentally positive site. Make sure you look for the electric cars plugged into the station in the parking lot. While visiting the café go to the 5th floor of Better Place Centre on the grounds. A film and an explanation of the new electric cars are absolutely fascinating.
Back to Café Belong. All the fish is ocean wise. Chef Owner Brad Long has carefully planned his menu.
Lentil and Beet Salad is served with kale and preserved lemon dressing.($11.00)
St Lawrence Salad offers a combination of greens, grains, nuts, fruit and cheese with browned butter vinaigrette.($14.00) Frittata is served with a mixed salad.($13.00) Grilled Vinegar Chicken is served on a warm potato salad.($28.00) Vegan Cabbage Rolls are stuffed with almonds, apples, squash, beans and wild rice.($!8.00)
I can’t wait to try the Communal Dinner Special Each of the communal evening meals is served family style with appropriate accompaniments in a five course presentation. Frances explained it all to us. The chef prepares all the food and each course is a surprise created by the chef to be shared by the group at the table. Vegetarian is $60.00 per person. Fish is $80.00 and Red Meats is $80.00 per person. Check out the gift shop as well. The total concept shows vision, creativity and intelligence.
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Descendants
The Descendants
Get ready for the buzz about this excellent film. Whispers of Oscars can already be heard.
George Clooney is exceptional in his role of Matt King. Matt is a successful lawyer and a very wealthy man. He lives in Hawaii and is a descendant of a long line of wealthy family members.
His wife has a boating accident and is unconscious in the hospital. Matt now has to take over the parenting duties of his two daughters. They are a handful. They are rude and take advantage of Matt who simply doesn’t know how to handle them. Alex, the eldest is brought back from her wealthy private school to help with the younger sister and to visit with her dying mother. We learn that she had been in trouble with drugs and drinking.
Alex is angry with her mother and had argued with her when she had discovered her mother’s affair. Alex tells Matt. He was totally unaware and had promised himself that if his wife got better he was going to make the marriage better.
There is a lot of emotion in the film. I could understand how difficult it would be for a father to suddenly take over the responsibility of caring for two difficult children. He had always been too busy and unavailable.
There is also much humor to balance out the heavy duty ‘stuff’. The grandparents need to be told that Mom is not going to get better and the plugs have to be pulled. This could have been an emotional scene. It actually provided much humor.
The two girls are amazing in their roles. They come to love and respect their Dad and are supportive of him.
The family goes on a vacation to another Hawaiian island in search of Mom’s lover. Matt thinks he needs the opportunity to say goodbye to his wife.
The story line keeps you involved. Some of the plot is a little ‘over the top’ and strains your credibility. I had to remind myself that this is a film and not a documentary.
George Clooney is at his best in this film.
A secondary plot has Matt in control of a large family trust. The land trust is to be sold and he has to work with a large group of cousins. Matt takes the girls to see the site before it is potentially sold. The view is magnificent. I wanted to shout out,” Don’t sell.” I’m sure that is the feeling the director wanted the audience to experience.
Matt certainly has his hands full. He has to accept the news of his philandering wife. He has to come to grips with being the active parent. The land trust poses many problems especially when he learns who the real estate company is who is promoting the sale.
You won’t be bored. Overlook the issues that seem to be ‘over the top.’
I suggest you order your tickets in advance. The next show was already sold out.
Get ready for the buzz about this excellent film. Whispers of Oscars can already be heard.
George Clooney is exceptional in his role of Matt King. Matt is a successful lawyer and a very wealthy man. He lives in Hawaii and is a descendant of a long line of wealthy family members.
His wife has a boating accident and is unconscious in the hospital. Matt now has to take over the parenting duties of his two daughters. They are a handful. They are rude and take advantage of Matt who simply doesn’t know how to handle them. Alex, the eldest is brought back from her wealthy private school to help with the younger sister and to visit with her dying mother. We learn that she had been in trouble with drugs and drinking.
Alex is angry with her mother and had argued with her when she had discovered her mother’s affair. Alex tells Matt. He was totally unaware and had promised himself that if his wife got better he was going to make the marriage better.
There is a lot of emotion in the film. I could understand how difficult it would be for a father to suddenly take over the responsibility of caring for two difficult children. He had always been too busy and unavailable.
There is also much humor to balance out the heavy duty ‘stuff’. The grandparents need to be told that Mom is not going to get better and the plugs have to be pulled. This could have been an emotional scene. It actually provided much humor.
The two girls are amazing in their roles. They come to love and respect their Dad and are supportive of him.
The family goes on a vacation to another Hawaiian island in search of Mom’s lover. Matt thinks he needs the opportunity to say goodbye to his wife.
The story line keeps you involved. Some of the plot is a little ‘over the top’ and strains your credibility. I had to remind myself that this is a film and not a documentary.
George Clooney is at his best in this film.
A secondary plot has Matt in control of a large family trust. The land trust is to be sold and he has to work with a large group of cousins. Matt takes the girls to see the site before it is potentially sold. The view is magnificent. I wanted to shout out,” Don’t sell.” I’m sure that is the feeling the director wanted the audience to experience.
Matt certainly has his hands full. He has to accept the news of his philandering wife. He has to come to grips with being the active parent. The land trust poses many problems especially when he learns who the real estate company is who is promoting the sale.
You won’t be bored. Overlook the issues that seem to be ‘over the top.’
I suggest you order your tickets in advance. The next show was already sold out.
Margin Call
Margin Call
I had avoided this film because I am frankly tired of films and stories dealing with the evil doings of Wall Street. I can presume this story is based on the Lehman Bros. scandal.
A prominent financial company discovers that the numbers are pointing to a financial crisis. The story reports on what the characters do to stave off the crisis.
The film starts with the dismissal of a long time worker. He had done nothing wrong and was dismissed as part of a numbers game. It was sad to see him ushered out of his office with no notice. As he leaves he hands over a computer key to a worker and warns him about the power of the information. The worker then looks at the information and discovers that the financial numbers point to a collapse of the company.
It was very poignant and I saw several different points of view. The tough CEO (played by Jeremy Irons.) was determined to save himself and acted immorally. At one point everything is falling apart within the company. The CEO can be seen in the private dining room looking out on the fine lights of the city. He is dining on steak and drinking wine. He had the power and used it.
Those under him were ordered to sell useless stock in order to recoup some money for the company. The workers are blackmailed and told they will receive a substantial sum of money if they sell the useless stock.
What do you do? If you walk away from the situation you are guaranteed financial disaster and loss of everything. If you sell the useless stocks you are setting up a disaster for your clients?
Some of the young men had to make these difficult choices. I did empathize with the situation. One top manager is played by Kevin Spacey. You see his anguish. He wants to do the morally right thing but is pressured and afraid. He has been with the company for many years and has been a respected by his employees.
The film does get into the head of several of the workers. I was sad for some of the workers who felt pressured to do the wrong thing. I also felt anger that they made the wrong choice and ultimately were going to hurt innocent victims.
The performers were excellent in their roles. It was a good insight into one of the major scandals of Wall Street.
This was a fictionalized story but it portrayed how such events could have occurred. It played like a mystery story because I was never sure how the workers would respond. It made me question what my choices might have been.
The film keeps you in suspense and is well done. I can’t call it entertainment because it is painful but you will be absorbed,
I had avoided this film because I am frankly tired of films and stories dealing with the evil doings of Wall Street. I can presume this story is based on the Lehman Bros. scandal.
A prominent financial company discovers that the numbers are pointing to a financial crisis. The story reports on what the characters do to stave off the crisis.
The film starts with the dismissal of a long time worker. He had done nothing wrong and was dismissed as part of a numbers game. It was sad to see him ushered out of his office with no notice. As he leaves he hands over a computer key to a worker and warns him about the power of the information. The worker then looks at the information and discovers that the financial numbers point to a collapse of the company.
It was very poignant and I saw several different points of view. The tough CEO (played by Jeremy Irons.) was determined to save himself and acted immorally. At one point everything is falling apart within the company. The CEO can be seen in the private dining room looking out on the fine lights of the city. He is dining on steak and drinking wine. He had the power and used it.
Those under him were ordered to sell useless stock in order to recoup some money for the company. The workers are blackmailed and told they will receive a substantial sum of money if they sell the useless stock.
What do you do? If you walk away from the situation you are guaranteed financial disaster and loss of everything. If you sell the useless stocks you are setting up a disaster for your clients?
Some of the young men had to make these difficult choices. I did empathize with the situation. One top manager is played by Kevin Spacey. You see his anguish. He wants to do the morally right thing but is pressured and afraid. He has been with the company for many years and has been a respected by his employees.
The film does get into the head of several of the workers. I was sad for some of the workers who felt pressured to do the wrong thing. I also felt anger that they made the wrong choice and ultimately were going to hurt innocent victims.
The performers were excellent in their roles. It was a good insight into one of the major scandals of Wall Street.
This was a fictionalized story but it portrayed how such events could have occurred. It played like a mystery story because I was never sure how the workers would respond. It made me question what my choices might have been.
The film keeps you in suspense and is well done. I can’t call it entertainment because it is painful but you will be absorbed,
Mysteries of Lisbon
Mysteries Of Lisbon
Do you have 4 ½ hours to spare? Originally Mysteries Of Lisbon was a 6 hour television series in Portugal. It is an adaptation of a 19th century novel by Portuguese author, Camilo Castelo. I do feel it could have been edited even further and maintained its dignity. Director Raul Ruiz was ill while making this epic and unfortunately never made it to the showing at the Toronto Film Festival.(2010)
I felt I needed a program to keep all the characters straight. At times I was confused. This is an epic historical story that follows the life of a young bastard, Joao. He is the narrator of this complicated mammoth tale. He is living in an orphanage under the tutelage of Father Dinis. He is teased by the other boys because he does not know his father. He has a head injury and loses consciousness. He is visited by a beautiful woman who leaves him a present. The mother gives her son a diorama with paper moving characters. Throughout his life he makes up stories using this set and telling stories to himself.
We learn the sad story of this woman who really is his mother. She was a noble woman in love with a handsome young man and became pregnant with Joao. Her father, a Marquis, forced her to marry a nobleman. The husband treated her brutally and kept her locked up for years. When the husband dies he leaves her money. She refuses to take his money and goes to a convent for the rest of her life. Once again Joao is abandoned.
As he gets older he meets many noblemen and some beautiful women. It seems as if each character has his/ her own tale. Each character has secrets and some even have different identities. There is intrigue, seduction and surprises with each event in is life. Sometimes the story goes back in time to explain certain events in his life. This can be confusing. Each character that he meets seems to have a tale to tell. It is complicated and some of the characters overlap in their stories. Always Joao is searching to discover the truth about his father.
For my part it was a long afternoon of viewing the most magnificent costumes. I wasn’t bored for a minute. The elegant estates were lavish and magnificent. The cinematography got into the heart of the characters. The countryside and the lavish estates showed artful detail. Magnificent murals on the walls, elegant furniture, and elaborate candelabra kept me in awe.
I loved listening to the Portuguese and trying to understand it. Of course there were English subtitles. When Joao gets older he goes to France. At this point French is spoken.
At the beginning of the film it is stated that this is not a work of fiction. It is a diary of sufferings. Indeed it is. Everyone has a painful story. Some survive. Many die
There is one 10 minute intermission. Everybody seems to be enthralled and nobody left before the ending.
This is truly a historical epic. Be prepared to sit for a long time.
Do you have 4 ½ hours to spare? Originally Mysteries Of Lisbon was a 6 hour television series in Portugal. It is an adaptation of a 19th century novel by Portuguese author, Camilo Castelo. I do feel it could have been edited even further and maintained its dignity. Director Raul Ruiz was ill while making this epic and unfortunately never made it to the showing at the Toronto Film Festival.(2010)
I felt I needed a program to keep all the characters straight. At times I was confused. This is an epic historical story that follows the life of a young bastard, Joao. He is the narrator of this complicated mammoth tale. He is living in an orphanage under the tutelage of Father Dinis. He is teased by the other boys because he does not know his father. He has a head injury and loses consciousness. He is visited by a beautiful woman who leaves him a present. The mother gives her son a diorama with paper moving characters. Throughout his life he makes up stories using this set and telling stories to himself.
We learn the sad story of this woman who really is his mother. She was a noble woman in love with a handsome young man and became pregnant with Joao. Her father, a Marquis, forced her to marry a nobleman. The husband treated her brutally and kept her locked up for years. When the husband dies he leaves her money. She refuses to take his money and goes to a convent for the rest of her life. Once again Joao is abandoned.
As he gets older he meets many noblemen and some beautiful women. It seems as if each character has his/ her own tale. Each character has secrets and some even have different identities. There is intrigue, seduction and surprises with each event in is life. Sometimes the story goes back in time to explain certain events in his life. This can be confusing. Each character that he meets seems to have a tale to tell. It is complicated and some of the characters overlap in their stories. Always Joao is searching to discover the truth about his father.
For my part it was a long afternoon of viewing the most magnificent costumes. I wasn’t bored for a minute. The elegant estates were lavish and magnificent. The cinematography got into the heart of the characters. The countryside and the lavish estates showed artful detail. Magnificent murals on the walls, elegant furniture, and elaborate candelabra kept me in awe.
I loved listening to the Portuguese and trying to understand it. Of course there were English subtitles. When Joao gets older he goes to France. At this point French is spoken.
At the beginning of the film it is stated that this is not a work of fiction. It is a diary of sufferings. Indeed it is. Everyone has a painful story. Some survive. Many die
There is one 10 minute intermission. Everybody seems to be enthralled and nobody left before the ending.
This is truly a historical epic. Be prepared to sit for a long time.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Mideastro
MIDEASTRO Yorkville 27 Yorkville Ave 4164772427
It may sound like the Leon and Benny show but it is the finest new happening in town. Leon Goldstein hails from Israel but has traveled and lived in many countries before becoming the owner /manager of this chic new establishment.
Benny Cohen is the creative chef behind the exotic food adding an Israeli twist to the gourmet specialties.
I liked everything about this place. Kudos to Leon for designing a functional aesthetic space. This is a huge restaurant. The tables are well spaced. There is room for large parties or tables for 2.The dark wood panels, dark tables and chairs give it a suave elegant look. The washrooms must be visited. State of the art plumbing makes one feel like a special guest. I loved the simplicity. The beautiful wood and décor speaks for itself. One cityscape mural is on the wall at the end of the restaurant. It was so refreshing to see bare walls giving warmth to the establishment.
Benny Cohen likes to cook with fusion spices and the presentations are creative and festive. The portions are very generous. Chef Cohen has even promised to prepare my favorite Israeli dish ‘shoshooka’ on my next visit. Get ready because I am returning.
Our adorable server was Felipe who hails from Columbia and has enjoyed Toronto now for 5 years. He looks like a teenager but was so well versed in the wine menu and the food. I would call this place an inspiration. That is exactly the intention of the management. They wanted to bring something new to the neighborhood.
The artisan bread and three delicious dips start you off with a plus. My friend and I had just been to a depressing film. We wanted an uplifting new experience. We opted for 3 appetizers to share.
The Burrata Salad was prepared with imported soft Italian cheese served with arugula in oregano balsamic vinaigrette. Shaved parmigiano reggiano, heirloom tomatoes and kalamata olives are included. Bruschetta salad glazed with a balsamic pomegranate honey reduction is part of this exotic creation.($25.00) It was a work of art and a delight for the palate. The Nicoise Salad was prepared with fresh tuna and Middle East spices. 6 minute eggs topped the creation.($14.00) We demolished both salads. Felipe insisted on bringing the salads first to enjoy and then we were presented with the hot Baladi Eggplant ($11.00) Grilled whole eggplant is topped with tomato heart salsa, Israeli feta, wild oregano roasted garlic and herb tahina. It looked too good to eat and it tasted too good to leave. Hot Portobello Mushroom and Goat Cheese Salad is prepared with layers of spring mix topped with warm Portobello mushrooms in a balsamic garlic olive oil and served with fried goat cheese puffs and cherry tomatoes.($11.00)
Main offerings are varied and creative. We enjoyed watching the works of art being handed to the hungry clients. Risotto is prepared with a mushroom medley, black truffle, asparagus and green pea.($31.00) Organic Grilled Chicken Breast is marinated in five fresh herbs and citrus and served with fingerling potatoes and grilled vegetable skewers in a chianti vinaigrette. A quick stew of black beluga lentils, spinach and concasse tomatoes completes the dish.($32.00)
Seafood Couscous offers a variety of seafood in white wine, saffron, and bisque sauce, served with homemade traditional couscous.($30.00)
The Israeli style Tiramisu completed our feast. We had such a good time.
It may sound like the Leon and Benny show but it is the finest new happening in town. Leon Goldstein hails from Israel but has traveled and lived in many countries before becoming the owner /manager of this chic new establishment.
Benny Cohen is the creative chef behind the exotic food adding an Israeli twist to the gourmet specialties.
I liked everything about this place. Kudos to Leon for designing a functional aesthetic space. This is a huge restaurant. The tables are well spaced. There is room for large parties or tables for 2.The dark wood panels, dark tables and chairs give it a suave elegant look. The washrooms must be visited. State of the art plumbing makes one feel like a special guest. I loved the simplicity. The beautiful wood and décor speaks for itself. One cityscape mural is on the wall at the end of the restaurant. It was so refreshing to see bare walls giving warmth to the establishment.
Benny Cohen likes to cook with fusion spices and the presentations are creative and festive. The portions are very generous. Chef Cohen has even promised to prepare my favorite Israeli dish ‘shoshooka’ on my next visit. Get ready because I am returning.
Our adorable server was Felipe who hails from Columbia and has enjoyed Toronto now for 5 years. He looks like a teenager but was so well versed in the wine menu and the food. I would call this place an inspiration. That is exactly the intention of the management. They wanted to bring something new to the neighborhood.
The artisan bread and three delicious dips start you off with a plus. My friend and I had just been to a depressing film. We wanted an uplifting new experience. We opted for 3 appetizers to share.
The Burrata Salad was prepared with imported soft Italian cheese served with arugula in oregano balsamic vinaigrette. Shaved parmigiano reggiano, heirloom tomatoes and kalamata olives are included. Bruschetta salad glazed with a balsamic pomegranate honey reduction is part of this exotic creation.($25.00) It was a work of art and a delight for the palate. The Nicoise Salad was prepared with fresh tuna and Middle East spices. 6 minute eggs topped the creation.($14.00) We demolished both salads. Felipe insisted on bringing the salads first to enjoy and then we were presented with the hot Baladi Eggplant ($11.00) Grilled whole eggplant is topped with tomato heart salsa, Israeli feta, wild oregano roasted garlic and herb tahina. It looked too good to eat and it tasted too good to leave. Hot Portobello Mushroom and Goat Cheese Salad is prepared with layers of spring mix topped with warm Portobello mushrooms in a balsamic garlic olive oil and served with fried goat cheese puffs and cherry tomatoes.($11.00)
Main offerings are varied and creative. We enjoyed watching the works of art being handed to the hungry clients. Risotto is prepared with a mushroom medley, black truffle, asparagus and green pea.($31.00) Organic Grilled Chicken Breast is marinated in five fresh herbs and citrus and served with fingerling potatoes and grilled vegetable skewers in a chianti vinaigrette. A quick stew of black beluga lentils, spinach and concasse tomatoes completes the dish.($32.00)
Seafood Couscous offers a variety of seafood in white wine, saffron, and bisque sauce, served with homemade traditional couscous.($30.00)
The Israeli style Tiramisu completed our feast. We had such a good time.
Melancholia
Melancholia
My friend and I thoroughly disliked the film. I had to hold her down from leaving. Unfortunately we even made too many nasty comments and the couple in front shushed us up. I did apologize.
Melancholia refers to the state of mind of main character Justine.(Kirsten Dunst) I was not aware that Kirsten Dunst was such a fine actor. We meet her on her wedding day. At first she is gorgeous and all smiling. She and her husband arrive 2 hours late for the reception and everything goes down hill from there. She goes into a melancholic mood and acts very strange. She leaves the reception and wanders around the massive grounds of the castle like estate (her brother-in-law’s home) She drives his golf art around the golf course. She ‘humps’ a young guest on the grounds of the estate. Her new husband even packs his bags and leaves that very evening.
Melancholia also refers to a previously undiscovered planet that is moving into the earth’s radius. The brother-in-law purchases an enormous telescope and also purchases goods to prepare for a disaster.
Justine keeps looking up to the sky and sees a red star. Is this a premonition of disaster? Is her behavior controlled by the terrestrial phenomenon?
The wedding does provide some humor. The father is an older gentleman surrounded by two younger women. The mother is an angry person who shouts out at the reception,” Enjoy it while it lasts. I hate weddings.”
The best man is also Justine’s boss. At one point during the reception she yells at him, “I hate you and your firm. You are a despicable power hungry man.”
Her brother-in-law tries to calm her down and reminds her they had a deal. He paid for all the wedding festivities and she had promised to be happy.
I thought the film was finished until I saw Part 2 appear on the screen. The title was ‘Claire’. (the sister of the bride) The second chapter shows Claire in two ways. She was so loving and attentive to her depressed sister. She went beyond what anyone else would do. We also see her degenerating mentally as the planet Melancholia comes closer to earth. The ending was unexpected and startling.
The saving grace for the film is the magnificent cinematography. Many of the scenes are spectacular in vision. The camera lingers for a long time over the beautiful landscape. The house is like a castle and the grounds are exceptional. The camera shows it all in a slow methodical artistic manner.
The beginning of the film shows many shots that are still like. The camera lingers forever on each character. We see the bride, Justine, in the woods dragging branches that are attached to her gown? Obviously it was a metaphor for what was about to happen. The lengthy pictures were annoying rather than increasing my curiosity of what was to come.
There was one scene of Justine sprawled over a river bank completely nude. I wanted to capture that beautiful image and frame it. The lush greenery behind her emphasized the beauty of her naked body.
Lars von Trier is the controversial director and writer. I needed to talk with him following the film. You may recall he made some pro Nazi comments at the Cannes Film festival. He likes controversy and would probably be happy that many do not like his film. I am not a fan of fantasy.
I didn’t want to see this film about the end of the world. I just wanted the film to end.
My friend and I thoroughly disliked the film. I had to hold her down from leaving. Unfortunately we even made too many nasty comments and the couple in front shushed us up. I did apologize.
Melancholia refers to the state of mind of main character Justine.(Kirsten Dunst) I was not aware that Kirsten Dunst was such a fine actor. We meet her on her wedding day. At first she is gorgeous and all smiling. She and her husband arrive 2 hours late for the reception and everything goes down hill from there. She goes into a melancholic mood and acts very strange. She leaves the reception and wanders around the massive grounds of the castle like estate (her brother-in-law’s home) She drives his golf art around the golf course. She ‘humps’ a young guest on the grounds of the estate. Her new husband even packs his bags and leaves that very evening.
Melancholia also refers to a previously undiscovered planet that is moving into the earth’s radius. The brother-in-law purchases an enormous telescope and also purchases goods to prepare for a disaster.
Justine keeps looking up to the sky and sees a red star. Is this a premonition of disaster? Is her behavior controlled by the terrestrial phenomenon?
The wedding does provide some humor. The father is an older gentleman surrounded by two younger women. The mother is an angry person who shouts out at the reception,” Enjoy it while it lasts. I hate weddings.”
The best man is also Justine’s boss. At one point during the reception she yells at him, “I hate you and your firm. You are a despicable power hungry man.”
Her brother-in-law tries to calm her down and reminds her they had a deal. He paid for all the wedding festivities and she had promised to be happy.
I thought the film was finished until I saw Part 2 appear on the screen. The title was ‘Claire’. (the sister of the bride) The second chapter shows Claire in two ways. She was so loving and attentive to her depressed sister. She went beyond what anyone else would do. We also see her degenerating mentally as the planet Melancholia comes closer to earth. The ending was unexpected and startling.
The saving grace for the film is the magnificent cinematography. Many of the scenes are spectacular in vision. The camera lingers for a long time over the beautiful landscape. The house is like a castle and the grounds are exceptional. The camera shows it all in a slow methodical artistic manner.
The beginning of the film shows many shots that are still like. The camera lingers forever on each character. We see the bride, Justine, in the woods dragging branches that are attached to her gown? Obviously it was a metaphor for what was about to happen. The lengthy pictures were annoying rather than increasing my curiosity of what was to come.
There was one scene of Justine sprawled over a river bank completely nude. I wanted to capture that beautiful image and frame it. The lush greenery behind her emphasized the beauty of her naked body.
Lars von Trier is the controversial director and writer. I needed to talk with him following the film. You may recall he made some pro Nazi comments at the Cannes Film festival. He likes controversy and would probably be happy that many do not like his film. I am not a fan of fantasy.
I didn’t want to see this film about the end of the world. I just wanted the film to end.
Le Havre
Le Havre
Refreshing!. Unusual! Well Performed! Great Cinematography!
Every moment of this film was totally enjoyed. The audience obviously felt the same way. No wonder the film won an Ecumenical Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Aki Kaukismaki is the brilliant director.
The action takes place in Le Havre, France. Every frame is a cinematic delight. The shots of the city are mostly in muted tones to make you feel as well as see the poor living conditions. The camera lingers on the well worn faces of the characters involved. Nobody is ‘beautiful’ but the people in the area become beautiful in their soul.
A young refugee boy from Africa arrives in town. The police are after him.
A 60sh year old shoe shiner, Marcel, tries to help him. He leaves him food and then takes him into his house. He fools the police and stands up for this young boy.
Several other people in the town join in to help. The lady in the bake shop and the bartender in the local bar are characters in themselves. They band together and plan a musical concert to raise money for the boat transportation to take the young man to freedom.
The concert is a riot but all the people in the town show up and a lot of money is raised.
The police continue to be foiled at every attempt.
The police inspector wears dark clothes, sun glasses and leather gloves. He is supposed to look menacing. He ends up being a ‘good guy’
Every scene was delightful. The acting is amazing. The shoeshine man has a wife. I wanted to laugh every time she appeared on the screen. She had a doer look, no makeup and never showed any animation. Yet she cared for her husband.
The film is like a fairy tale. The unusual characters work together in the most positive way to help the young refugee.
There are political overtones that enhance the film. Racial problems and unrest are known to be problems in France. Apparently Le Havre was having economical problems and many people were out of work. Aki Kaukismaki works these themes into the story. It is all so enjoyable because the plot is not heavy handed. It is almost like a farce.
Andre Wilms plays the part of Marcel. He is so perfect for the role. This film is a must. It is currently at my favorite TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Refreshing!. Unusual! Well Performed! Great Cinematography!
Every moment of this film was totally enjoyed. The audience obviously felt the same way. No wonder the film won an Ecumenical Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Aki Kaukismaki is the brilliant director.
The action takes place in Le Havre, France. Every frame is a cinematic delight. The shots of the city are mostly in muted tones to make you feel as well as see the poor living conditions. The camera lingers on the well worn faces of the characters involved. Nobody is ‘beautiful’ but the people in the area become beautiful in their soul.
A young refugee boy from Africa arrives in town. The police are after him.
A 60sh year old shoe shiner, Marcel, tries to help him. He leaves him food and then takes him into his house. He fools the police and stands up for this young boy.
Several other people in the town join in to help. The lady in the bake shop and the bartender in the local bar are characters in themselves. They band together and plan a musical concert to raise money for the boat transportation to take the young man to freedom.
The concert is a riot but all the people in the town show up and a lot of money is raised.
The police continue to be foiled at every attempt.
The police inspector wears dark clothes, sun glasses and leather gloves. He is supposed to look menacing. He ends up being a ‘good guy’
Every scene was delightful. The acting is amazing. The shoeshine man has a wife. I wanted to laugh every time she appeared on the screen. She had a doer look, no makeup and never showed any animation. Yet she cared for her husband.
The film is like a fairy tale. The unusual characters work together in the most positive way to help the young refugee.
There are political overtones that enhance the film. Racial problems and unrest are known to be problems in France. Apparently Le Havre was having economical problems and many people were out of work. Aki Kaukismaki works these themes into the story. It is all so enjoyable because the plot is not heavy handed. It is almost like a farce.
Andre Wilms plays the part of Marcel. He is so perfect for the role. This film is a must. It is currently at my favorite TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Like Crazy
Like Crazy
This was a touching, emotional and believable tale. Jacob and Anna meet at college in the States. They fall madly in love. This is a simpatico team. They laugh. They discuss everything. He loves to hear her reading her essays. The problem is that Anna is from England and her visa is running out. She wants to stay with Jacob but ultimately is forced to leave the country. My heart wept for her.
They tried a long distance relationship but that obviously is almost impossible. She wasn’t allowed back into the States for a long time because of her violation.
In the meantime she gets a good job and promotions start happening.
Jacob is running a successful furniture designing business. He begins a relationship with his attractive assistant.
They do keep in touch and love does seem to find a way or does it. The conclusion is open ended and I would love to hear what the audience presumes will happen.
Felicity Jones is superb in the role of Anna. She is perky and quiet and serene at the right time. Jacob is beautifully portrayed by Anton Yelchin. Those two were meant for each other and fate had such a nasty way of intervening.
Anna’s parents add some humor to the story. They were always so supportive of Anna when she was with Jacob and later with another chap.
The story is so possible and I found it heartbreaking that geography had to split up such a wonderful couple. But then I am such a romantic soul at heart.
This is a refreshing story well told.
This was a touching, emotional and believable tale. Jacob and Anna meet at college in the States. They fall madly in love. This is a simpatico team. They laugh. They discuss everything. He loves to hear her reading her essays. The problem is that Anna is from England and her visa is running out. She wants to stay with Jacob but ultimately is forced to leave the country. My heart wept for her.
They tried a long distance relationship but that obviously is almost impossible. She wasn’t allowed back into the States for a long time because of her violation.
In the meantime she gets a good job and promotions start happening.
Jacob is running a successful furniture designing business. He begins a relationship with his attractive assistant.
They do keep in touch and love does seem to find a way or does it. The conclusion is open ended and I would love to hear what the audience presumes will happen.
Felicity Jones is superb in the role of Anna. She is perky and quiet and serene at the right time. Jacob is beautifully portrayed by Anton Yelchin. Those two were meant for each other and fate had such a nasty way of intervening.
Anna’s parents add some humor to the story. They were always so supportive of Anna when she was with Jacob and later with another chap.
The story is so possible and I found it heartbreaking that geography had to split up such a wonderful couple. But then I am such a romantic soul at heart.
This is a refreshing story well told.
Crepes A GoGo
Crepes A GoGo north west corner of Bloor and Spadina
The actual address is on Spadina and is therefore confusing. Crepes A GoGo is on Bloor St a few doors west of Spadina on the south west corner of Spadina and Bloor.
I have watched this restaurant taking form. Every day I would walk by to see if it was open. Veronique, the magical entrepreneur gave me a sneak preview several weeks ago. Each day I would peek in the window to see if it was ready to open.
This week I was excited to see the lace curtains in the window and the door open. Veronique has brought a touch of France to this busy corner. The servers and the chef all speak French. The small paper Eiffel Tower in the corner is also a reminder that this is like being in French territory. The design of the restaurant is elegant. This is a tiny place. There are a few tables and bar stools. I opted to take my rolled crepe and eat it on my way home. All the crepes are presented in a paper bag. There is no cutlery.
I think Veronique is amazing. She has taken this crepe concept to new heights. This is her third establishment. It is open late and will no doubt be a busy addition to this bustling annex location.
Rolled Crepes are Veronique’s creation. The crepe is removed from the creperie and filled. It is rolled and then cut before serving. The rolled crepes are served cool. Savoury and Sweet Crepes are available. I opted for Crepe Monsieur.($10.00) Tuna, mayonnaise, parsley, lettuce and tomatoes are included in this tasty delight.
Crepe Madame offers cream cheese, dill and red onion, smoked salmon and lemon.($10.00)
If you prefer a sweeter taste you might ask for the Martinique, a crepe filled with sugar, lemon, cinnamon and fresh slices of banana.($6.00) P’tit Ben is a cream cheese and raspberry jam delight.($7.00)
On my next visit I intend t try a Folded Crepe. It is finished on the creperie and served hot. St-Tropez offers a goat cheese & baby spinach filling with a sprinkle of olive oil.($8.50) Parisienne is prepared with Swiss cheese, mushrooms, threads of red onion and filaments of dill.($9.00)
Sweet Folded Crepes are also popular. Imagine Dark Chocolate sticks enclosed in a folded crepe.($5.00)
Crepe A GoGo has several signature crepe offerings. Veronique is a brie, strawberry, baby spinach and maple syrup wonder.($9.50)
The doors have just opened. There was already a line up. Many take the crepes out. Others enjoy the inside facilities.
Crepe A GoGo is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. The French flavor brings an international touch to a vibrant neighborhood. This type of food is great any time of the day. It can be a meal or a delicious snack.
Whatever you eat you must try the Limonana, a specialty lemon drink. You can even purchase some to take home.
The actual address is on Spadina and is therefore confusing. Crepes A GoGo is on Bloor St a few doors west of Spadina on the south west corner of Spadina and Bloor.
I have watched this restaurant taking form. Every day I would walk by to see if it was open. Veronique, the magical entrepreneur gave me a sneak preview several weeks ago. Each day I would peek in the window to see if it was ready to open.
This week I was excited to see the lace curtains in the window and the door open. Veronique has brought a touch of France to this busy corner. The servers and the chef all speak French. The small paper Eiffel Tower in the corner is also a reminder that this is like being in French territory. The design of the restaurant is elegant. This is a tiny place. There are a few tables and bar stools. I opted to take my rolled crepe and eat it on my way home. All the crepes are presented in a paper bag. There is no cutlery.
I think Veronique is amazing. She has taken this crepe concept to new heights. This is her third establishment. It is open late and will no doubt be a busy addition to this bustling annex location.
Rolled Crepes are Veronique’s creation. The crepe is removed from the creperie and filled. It is rolled and then cut before serving. The rolled crepes are served cool. Savoury and Sweet Crepes are available. I opted for Crepe Monsieur.($10.00) Tuna, mayonnaise, parsley, lettuce and tomatoes are included in this tasty delight.
Crepe Madame offers cream cheese, dill and red onion, smoked salmon and lemon.($10.00)
If you prefer a sweeter taste you might ask for the Martinique, a crepe filled with sugar, lemon, cinnamon and fresh slices of banana.($6.00) P’tit Ben is a cream cheese and raspberry jam delight.($7.00)
On my next visit I intend t try a Folded Crepe. It is finished on the creperie and served hot. St-Tropez offers a goat cheese & baby spinach filling with a sprinkle of olive oil.($8.50) Parisienne is prepared with Swiss cheese, mushrooms, threads of red onion and filaments of dill.($9.00)
Sweet Folded Crepes are also popular. Imagine Dark Chocolate sticks enclosed in a folded crepe.($5.00)
Crepe A GoGo has several signature crepe offerings. Veronique is a brie, strawberry, baby spinach and maple syrup wonder.($9.50)
The doors have just opened. There was already a line up. Many take the crepes out. Others enjoy the inside facilities.
Crepe A GoGo is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. The French flavor brings an international touch to a vibrant neighborhood. This type of food is great any time of the day. It can be a meal or a delicious snack.
Whatever you eat you must try the Limonana, a specialty lemon drink. You can even purchase some to take home.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Late Bloomers
Late Bloomers playing in Tel Aviv Israel
I don’t know if this film has played in Toronto or will even come here. I hope it will. It was a rainy day in Tel Aviv. This is not a pretty site. The water doesn’t drain because the city is below sea level. The water stays in the street and it is like walking in a lake to cross the road. I was alone on this day and decided to see a film. The films are listed in Hebrew so I really didn’t know what I was about to see. I noticed that William Hurt and Isabelle Rosellini were in the film. There were Hebrew sub titles but the spoken language was English.
The William Hurt character is a successful architect married to a very attractive woman played by Isabelle Rosellini. She is worried about memory loss and seeks out a doctor’s advice. He tells her to keep busy and find activities to occupy her time. She goes to an aqua fit class but discovers she is not coordinated and can’t follow the activities like the other members of the class. She does get involved with some volunteer work in a school program.
The children are concerned and care about her.
The architect is seduced by a young female worker in his office. You can see how he was mildly tempted but really not into it.
He discusses this affair with a good friend. There was much humor with the friend. He was wishing he could have an affair but was limited in activities due to bad health. He had a hearing aid, suffered from heart problems and bad knees.
The audience obviously related to the story and found a lot of humor.
The wife goes to her daughter to discuss her situation.
The ending is predictable but I enjoyed it all. There was humor and it was well done. It seemed to be a story about middle age crisis and coping with aging problems. They were a good family and cared for one another but things seemed to happen and the couple briefly drifted.
The grandmother is an important family member. We discover that she has cancer and will not live very long. I guess you could say that her death helped the family to see issues more clearly.
Predictable but well worth seeing. What a great cast.
I don’t know if this film has played in Toronto or will even come here. I hope it will. It was a rainy day in Tel Aviv. This is not a pretty site. The water doesn’t drain because the city is below sea level. The water stays in the street and it is like walking in a lake to cross the road. I was alone on this day and decided to see a film. The films are listed in Hebrew so I really didn’t know what I was about to see. I noticed that William Hurt and Isabelle Rosellini were in the film. There were Hebrew sub titles but the spoken language was English.
The William Hurt character is a successful architect married to a very attractive woman played by Isabelle Rosellini. She is worried about memory loss and seeks out a doctor’s advice. He tells her to keep busy and find activities to occupy her time. She goes to an aqua fit class but discovers she is not coordinated and can’t follow the activities like the other members of the class. She does get involved with some volunteer work in a school program.
The children are concerned and care about her.
The architect is seduced by a young female worker in his office. You can see how he was mildly tempted but really not into it.
He discusses this affair with a good friend. There was much humor with the friend. He was wishing he could have an affair but was limited in activities due to bad health. He had a hearing aid, suffered from heart problems and bad knees.
The audience obviously related to the story and found a lot of humor.
The wife goes to her daughter to discuss her situation.
The ending is predictable but I enjoyed it all. There was humor and it was well done. It seemed to be a story about middle age crisis and coping with aging problems. They were a good family and cared for one another but things seemed to happen and the couple briefly drifted.
The grandmother is an important family member. We discover that she has cancer and will not live very long. I guess you could say that her death helped the family to see issues more clearly.
Predictable but well worth seeing. What a great cast.
Cafe Mizrahi/Pasta Basta
Café Mizrahi 12 Hashezif St Jerusalem, Israel
972 2 624219
My son and I were in Jerusalem for my granddaughter’s wedding. It was a most joyous occasion. The singing and dancing at the wedding was a memorable experience. The wandering violinist played music from Fiddler On The Roof during the reception. The klezmer band had the young men and ladies dancing and stomping their feet while whirling around in circles. I will never forget it all.
My son and I also explored the wonders of this magnificent city. Our hotel was close to the enormous market (shuk) The fruits and vegetables are so fresh and colorful. Other stalls sell breads, olive oils, olives and cheese. It is enormous and the produce is so tempting. The fresh dates were the size of my small finger and the nuts, candy, and breads were all beckoning.
In the evening the stalls were all closed and the place had a forlorn appearance. Go to the south eastern corner of the market. Walk west two lanes and go north one lane. In this area you will discover several restaurants that are buzzing at night with young folk. We were so excited to discover this café. There are only a few tables outdoors and also inside. It has an atmosphere that is different from the fancy cafes on the street. We found it exciting to be sitting in this little café in a closed market.
Joni was our server and made us feel welcome. I was not surprised to hear he is a graphic designer. He charmed us. Joni told us this was the first restaurant in the market started 8 years ago.
Jerusalem is a kosher city so you will find separate dairy restaurants and meat restaurants.
For a tiny spot we were amazed at the possible choices. Ray ordered the Pasta Special. Fresh Pasta with Jerusalem Artichoke, leek, hyssop and cram was declared to be outstanding. (48 shekels) This translates to less than $16.00. Fish Kebab was also offered. It is wrapped in a market’s laffa with yogurt, ray tahini, parsley, tomato, radish, red onion, rocket, green chili and preserved lemons (64 shekels or about $22.) Whenever I go to Israel I have to have a daily feed of my favorite Shashooka. It is made from fresh market vegetables with two poached eggs and served in a hot casserole. It is very much like Mexican eggs.(44 shekels) Hand Made Gnocchi is prepared with asparagus, chestnuts, cream and truffle paste.(62 shekels)
Israelis love salads and you can see them enjoying enormous salads any time of the day or evening. Yaya’s Salad is composed of spinach and bok choy leaves, julienne of kohirabi, apple, beet root, carrot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, cranberries, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon, yogurt and raw tahini.(53 shekels)
Sandwiches are always an option. The breads in Israel are so delicious. Camembert & Warm Mushroom Sandwich is a specialty.(38 shekels) Russel’s ‘Flut’ is prepared with olive oil and grated tomato, brinza cheese and olives.(24 shekels.)
The olive oil, fresh vegetables and fruits are so delicious and obviously purchased right in the market. The flavors burst on the palate.
The Chocolate Pie was the crowning glory. It was silken smooth and very chocolate tasting. We crawled back to our hotel satisfied with a stunning day in Jerusalem topped off by our meal at this tiny café.
Pasta Basta in the Jerusalem Market
My son and I ventured back to the Jerusalem Market for a second time for dinner. Pasta Basta had been recommended by my granddaughter who lives in Jerusalem. It is the busiest spot in town and the pasta is fresh and absolutely fantastic. Once again there are very few tables and the hustle and bustle around this place is such fun. The title in Hebrew is translated to mean a lot of pasta or sufficient pasta.
You choose Penne, Fettuccini or Whole Wheat Fettuccini.
One group of sauces is 19 shekels. That translates to around $6.00. Tomatoes, cream, butter and parmesan and ali olio is available.
More exotic sauces are 23 shekels and include pesto, red pesto, 4 cheeses or thick beetroot sauce.
Now add any of your favorite ingredients. We both chose some grilled aubergine. ($1.50) Spinach, olives, mushrooms and sweet potato are some of the additional choices.
Every pasta dish is topped with parmesan cheese.
It is such fun to watch the pasta being prepared. The young server was rushed off her feet delivering the orders to the table. The pasta was al dente and so fresh. The sauces were fantastic. It all seemed to melt in my mouth.
The Tomato Soup and Lentil Soup (16 shekels) were very popular on this evening. A Green Salad was being enjoyed by many of the clients.
Desserts included Panna Cotta, Tiramisu. Fabrizio’s Chocoalte Cake and Sorbet.
We enjoyed some delicious Israeli wine.
The food was as authentic as any café in Italy. It was such a wonderful experience to travel with my son. I was totally rejuvenated. The food was a feast and I will have happy memories of this visit for a long time.
The total meal including wine was no more than $30.00 for 2 people. How could you ever top that?
972 2 624219
My son and I were in Jerusalem for my granddaughter’s wedding. It was a most joyous occasion. The singing and dancing at the wedding was a memorable experience. The wandering violinist played music from Fiddler On The Roof during the reception. The klezmer band had the young men and ladies dancing and stomping their feet while whirling around in circles. I will never forget it all.
My son and I also explored the wonders of this magnificent city. Our hotel was close to the enormous market (shuk) The fruits and vegetables are so fresh and colorful. Other stalls sell breads, olive oils, olives and cheese. It is enormous and the produce is so tempting. The fresh dates were the size of my small finger and the nuts, candy, and breads were all beckoning.
In the evening the stalls were all closed and the place had a forlorn appearance. Go to the south eastern corner of the market. Walk west two lanes and go north one lane. In this area you will discover several restaurants that are buzzing at night with young folk. We were so excited to discover this café. There are only a few tables outdoors and also inside. It has an atmosphere that is different from the fancy cafes on the street. We found it exciting to be sitting in this little café in a closed market.
Joni was our server and made us feel welcome. I was not surprised to hear he is a graphic designer. He charmed us. Joni told us this was the first restaurant in the market started 8 years ago.
Jerusalem is a kosher city so you will find separate dairy restaurants and meat restaurants.
For a tiny spot we were amazed at the possible choices. Ray ordered the Pasta Special. Fresh Pasta with Jerusalem Artichoke, leek, hyssop and cram was declared to be outstanding. (48 shekels) This translates to less than $16.00. Fish Kebab was also offered. It is wrapped in a market’s laffa with yogurt, ray tahini, parsley, tomato, radish, red onion, rocket, green chili and preserved lemons (64 shekels or about $22.) Whenever I go to Israel I have to have a daily feed of my favorite Shashooka. It is made from fresh market vegetables with two poached eggs and served in a hot casserole. It is very much like Mexican eggs.(44 shekels) Hand Made Gnocchi is prepared with asparagus, chestnuts, cream and truffle paste.(62 shekels)
Israelis love salads and you can see them enjoying enormous salads any time of the day or evening. Yaya’s Salad is composed of spinach and bok choy leaves, julienne of kohirabi, apple, beet root, carrot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, cranberries, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon, yogurt and raw tahini.(53 shekels)
Sandwiches are always an option. The breads in Israel are so delicious. Camembert & Warm Mushroom Sandwich is a specialty.(38 shekels) Russel’s ‘Flut’ is prepared with olive oil and grated tomato, brinza cheese and olives.(24 shekels.)
The olive oil, fresh vegetables and fruits are so delicious and obviously purchased right in the market. The flavors burst on the palate.
The Chocolate Pie was the crowning glory. It was silken smooth and very chocolate tasting. We crawled back to our hotel satisfied with a stunning day in Jerusalem topped off by our meal at this tiny café.
Pasta Basta in the Jerusalem Market
My son and I ventured back to the Jerusalem Market for a second time for dinner. Pasta Basta had been recommended by my granddaughter who lives in Jerusalem. It is the busiest spot in town and the pasta is fresh and absolutely fantastic. Once again there are very few tables and the hustle and bustle around this place is such fun. The title in Hebrew is translated to mean a lot of pasta or sufficient pasta.
You choose Penne, Fettuccini or Whole Wheat Fettuccini.
One group of sauces is 19 shekels. That translates to around $6.00. Tomatoes, cream, butter and parmesan and ali olio is available.
More exotic sauces are 23 shekels and include pesto, red pesto, 4 cheeses or thick beetroot sauce.
Now add any of your favorite ingredients. We both chose some grilled aubergine. ($1.50) Spinach, olives, mushrooms and sweet potato are some of the additional choices.
Every pasta dish is topped with parmesan cheese.
It is such fun to watch the pasta being prepared. The young server was rushed off her feet delivering the orders to the table. The pasta was al dente and so fresh. The sauces were fantastic. It all seemed to melt in my mouth.
The Tomato Soup and Lentil Soup (16 shekels) were very popular on this evening. A Green Salad was being enjoyed by many of the clients.
Desserts included Panna Cotta, Tiramisu. Fabrizio’s Chocoalte Cake and Sorbet.
We enjoyed some delicious Israeli wine.
The food was as authentic as any café in Italy. It was such a wonderful experience to travel with my son. I was totally rejuvenated. The food was a feast and I will have happy memories of this visit for a long time.
The total meal including wine was no more than $30.00 for 2 people. How could you ever top that?
Cafe Landwer
Café Landwer Tel Aviv Israel
I can’t even give you an address because it is in a park. Everyone knows the dog park (Meir Park) on King George Street between the Dizengoff Centre and the Market. The park is large and quite beautiful. A small section of the park is for dogs and any time of the day you can see hundreds of dogs running around. There is a path that takes you on a scenic route through the park. On the path just off King George there is a delightful cafe. You can sit on the large terrace or indoors. The only thing that disturbed us was when a loud siren went off in the middle of our meal. Nobody knew what to make of it. We had not been made aware that Tel Aviv was having some practice military sessions. That was an experience. My son and I were meeting a good friend of mine who lives up in the Galilee. She came by train to meet us and we were thrilled.
Apparently the Landwer family went into the coffee business as soon as they arrived in Israel. They also have several other cafes in Tel Aviv. This café is well situated to give you the splendor of the park as well as the flavors of the food.
We enjoyed speaking with Emily, our server. She is also an actor. I would love to see her on the stage. She was adorable and added to the positive experience.
We were meeting for breakfast so didn’t want anything too heavy. The Focaccia Bread is baked in a taboon oven. Several special Focaccia specials are offered and served with a green salad. Napolitana offers tomato sauce, mozzarella and oregano for 42 shekels. (About $14.00) The Grilled Vegetables and Goat Cheese is topped with a selection of grilled vegetables, garlic confit, spring onions and basil (47 shekels) The Goat Cheese and Eggplant is a combination of goat cheese, grilled pepper, grilled eggplant, cucumber, spring onion, tomato, lettuce and balsamic vinegar.(45 shekels)
The Health Salad is just what it states. Cherry Tomatoes, carrot, quinoa, green mix, red cabbage, broccoli, sweet pepper, Tsfatit cheese, mint, green onion and sunflower seeds are mixed with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil dressing. It is served with a raw sesame paste. (47 shekels) Delicious.
My guest enjoyed an enormous bowl of Landwer’s Mueseli. Delicious yogurt was served with granola, seasonal fruit and honey.(35 shekels)
My most favorite Shashooka is served with chopped vegetable salad, bread basket and spicy tahini.(45 shekels) Eggs are cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. The portion is usually served in a hot casserole dish.
Rustic Vegetable Frittata is an Italian omelette with fresh vegetables and herbs prepared in the brick oven. It is served with a ‘morning’ salad of cucumbers, mint yogurt, roasted peppers, tahini, bread and butter. Fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee is included.(56 shekels)
Café Landwer also has different locations in Tel Aviv. I like this spot in the park. Every time I go to Tel Aviv I discover new hidden spots. This is a gem.
I can’t even give you an address because it is in a park. Everyone knows the dog park (Meir Park) on King George Street between the Dizengoff Centre and the Market. The park is large and quite beautiful. A small section of the park is for dogs and any time of the day you can see hundreds of dogs running around. There is a path that takes you on a scenic route through the park. On the path just off King George there is a delightful cafe. You can sit on the large terrace or indoors. The only thing that disturbed us was when a loud siren went off in the middle of our meal. Nobody knew what to make of it. We had not been made aware that Tel Aviv was having some practice military sessions. That was an experience. My son and I were meeting a good friend of mine who lives up in the Galilee. She came by train to meet us and we were thrilled.
Apparently the Landwer family went into the coffee business as soon as they arrived in Israel. They also have several other cafes in Tel Aviv. This café is well situated to give you the splendor of the park as well as the flavors of the food.
We enjoyed speaking with Emily, our server. She is also an actor. I would love to see her on the stage. She was adorable and added to the positive experience.
We were meeting for breakfast so didn’t want anything too heavy. The Focaccia Bread is baked in a taboon oven. Several special Focaccia specials are offered and served with a green salad. Napolitana offers tomato sauce, mozzarella and oregano for 42 shekels. (About $14.00) The Grilled Vegetables and Goat Cheese is topped with a selection of grilled vegetables, garlic confit, spring onions and basil (47 shekels) The Goat Cheese and Eggplant is a combination of goat cheese, grilled pepper, grilled eggplant, cucumber, spring onion, tomato, lettuce and balsamic vinegar.(45 shekels)
The Health Salad is just what it states. Cherry Tomatoes, carrot, quinoa, green mix, red cabbage, broccoli, sweet pepper, Tsfatit cheese, mint, green onion and sunflower seeds are mixed with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil dressing. It is served with a raw sesame paste. (47 shekels) Delicious.
My guest enjoyed an enormous bowl of Landwer’s Mueseli. Delicious yogurt was served with granola, seasonal fruit and honey.(35 shekels)
My most favorite Shashooka is served with chopped vegetable salad, bread basket and spicy tahini.(45 shekels) Eggs are cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. The portion is usually served in a hot casserole dish.
Rustic Vegetable Frittata is an Italian omelette with fresh vegetables and herbs prepared in the brick oven. It is served with a ‘morning’ salad of cucumbers, mint yogurt, roasted peppers, tahini, bread and butter. Fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee is included.(56 shekels)
Café Landwer also has different locations in Tel Aviv. I like this spot in the park. Every time I go to Tel Aviv I discover new hidden spots. This is a gem.
Manta Ray
Manta Ray situated on the Alma Beach near the Dan Panorama Hotel
Tel Aviv 03 517 4773
I wish I could be more definitive about the address but all my information was in Hebrew. It is a large pavilion on the sea. Any cab will know this place and when you make a reservation you will be given better instructions. It was my last night in Israel. My friend is a bassoon player with the Tel Aviv Philharmonic. She invited me to dinner and I was delighted to meet her very handsome charming husband. We agreed to meet early on a Friday because my friend had played in a concert and needed to unwind and dine before calling it an evening. They wanted me to experience one of their favorite restaurants. Apparently it is considered one of the top 10 restaurants in the city. A window by the sea side was booked. We arrived at 5:00 p.m. to find the place fully packed. Apparently from 9:00 a.m. it is always busy. You must have a reservation. We had the last table and sure enough it overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. It was raining and the surf was crashing ashore. We did manage to see a red sunset. It was quite wonderful
The restaurant is known for its outstanding food. David looked after us in style. At dinner time a large platter with 12 different appetizers is presented to the table. You choose whatever you like. This is such a wonderful idea because you can see what is offered.
We shared a Marinated Eggplant dish, Tzazicki, Tuna Carpaccio, Beets and wonderful Foccaccia bread.
I was elated to see Tuna on the menu. It is my favorite food. The fish was grilled to perfection and sat on a sauce that was fruity and tasty. The shaved asparagus was a wonderful.addition to the plate.
My friends each had Sea food dishes with Shrimp and Scallops.
Tel Aviv 03 517 4773
I wish I could be more definitive about the address but all my information was in Hebrew. It is a large pavilion on the sea. Any cab will know this place and when you make a reservation you will be given better instructions. It was my last night in Israel. My friend is a bassoon player with the Tel Aviv Philharmonic. She invited me to dinner and I was delighted to meet her very handsome charming husband. We agreed to meet early on a Friday because my friend had played in a concert and needed to unwind and dine before calling it an evening. They wanted me to experience one of their favorite restaurants. Apparently it is considered one of the top 10 restaurants in the city. A window by the sea side was booked. We arrived at 5:00 p.m. to find the place fully packed. Apparently from 9:00 a.m. it is always busy. You must have a reservation. We had the last table and sure enough it overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. It was raining and the surf was crashing ashore. We did manage to see a red sunset. It was quite wonderful
The restaurant is known for its outstanding food. David looked after us in style. At dinner time a large platter with 12 different appetizers is presented to the table. You choose whatever you like. This is such a wonderful idea because you can see what is offered.
We shared a Marinated Eggplant dish, Tzazicki, Tuna Carpaccio, Beets and wonderful Foccaccia bread.
I was elated to see Tuna on the menu. It is my favorite food. The fish was grilled to perfection and sat on a sauce that was fruity and tasty. The shaved asparagus was a wonderful.addition to the plate.
My friends each had Sea food dishes with Shrimp and Scallops.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Martha Marcy May Marlene
I was leaving the next day for Israel and wanted a little film to pass the time. I had not counted on a thriller that kept me anxious and agitated throughout. The film has already won awards at Sundance and Cannes. It is extremely well done and the actors are superb but I was sitting on the edge of my seat wishing it would all be over. When it did end I was very surprised with the abruptness that left you wondering what really was going to happen.
Elizabeth Olsen plays the part of Martha. She is the younger sister of the Olsen twins and it would seem as if she might have all the talent. Her beautiful face looks troubled and sullen throughout this shocking film.
Martha has been living in a cult. The initiation rites were disturbing. The new women are drugged and raped. The women sit in the background while the horrible men eat at the table. After the men are finished the women are allowed to eat. The women sleep on the floor in one large room. Needless to say their life is not a happy one. They rob fancy houses in the neighborhood.
Martha runs away and contacts her sister Lucy. Lucy is living a wonderful middle class life style. She is married to a wealthy English architect. They live in style and are happy with one another.
Martha’s arrival in the household unsettles the tranquility and the happy relationship of the couple. Martha leads her sister to believe she has left an abusive boyfriend. She won’t talk about her last two years when she was totally out of contact with her sister.
Martha is morbid and confused. She lashes out at a bartender during a big party given by Lucy and her husband.
The film takes you back and forth from her cult life to the present time when Martha is trying to adjust to a new life style.
Her mental health deteriorates until her sister and husband fear for her and themselves. The movie ends abruptly and you can imagine whatever you like as to what might happen.
I was leaving the next day for Israel and wanted a little film to pass the time. I had not counted on a thriller that kept me anxious and agitated throughout. The film has already won awards at Sundance and Cannes. It is extremely well done and the actors are superb but I was sitting on the edge of my seat wishing it would all be over. When it did end I was very surprised with the abruptness that left you wondering what really was going to happen.
Elizabeth Olsen plays the part of Martha. She is the younger sister of the Olsen twins and it would seem as if she might have all the talent. Her beautiful face looks troubled and sullen throughout this shocking film.
Martha has been living in a cult. The initiation rites were disturbing. The new women are drugged and raped. The women sit in the background while the horrible men eat at the table. After the men are finished the women are allowed to eat. The women sleep on the floor in one large room. Needless to say their life is not a happy one. They rob fancy houses in the neighborhood.
Martha runs away and contacts her sister Lucy. Lucy is living a wonderful middle class life style. She is married to a wealthy English architect. They live in style and are happy with one another.
Martha’s arrival in the household unsettles the tranquility and the happy relationship of the couple. Martha leads her sister to believe she has left an abusive boyfriend. She won’t talk about her last two years when she was totally out of contact with her sister.
Martha is morbid and confused. She lashes out at a bartender during a big party given by Lucy and her husband.
The film takes you back and forth from her cult life to the present time when Martha is trying to adjust to a new life style.
Her mental health deteriorates until her sister and husband fear for her and themselves. The movie ends abruptly and you can imagine whatever you like as to what might happen.
Om
Om 1438 corner of Jameson and Queen St West
416 532 3901
After the final Om has been chanted from your yoga class head out to this ethereal low key wondrous restaurant. The Indian and Tibetan food is freshly prepared and superb in flavor.
The dark brown walls and brown tablecloths add to the serene atmosphere. One server managed to look after everyone with a smile on his face. I can’t imagine how he did it. The place was full. It was obvious they were all regulars and nobody had a reservation. Our server actually chuckled and asked if I was the person who had the reservation.
This is low key in atmosphere but the highest quality of food. It was also very busy with take outs. We traveled a long way to get there and would do it again at the first opportunity. We were fascinated to hear the owner tell us about his arrival here from Tibet to India and then Canada. This is a small family operation doing a big business. I wish them the best.
The Indian bread arrived at our table as soon as we did. It was so thin and actually melted in my mouth. My friend and I devoured it all before we even had ordered.
The Tandoori Fish was boneless salmon marinated in yogurt and ground spices cooked in a tandoori oven.($11.99) It was served with sizzling vegetables on a hot iron plate. The fish was flavorful and totally enjoyed.
We were tempted with the Tandoori Shrimp.($12.99) They will be saved for our next visit.
The Aloo Gobi was spectacular.($7.99) Cauliflower and potatoes are cooked in aromatic spices. The cauliflower still had some crunch to it and the aromatic spices had just a little zing on the palate.
My dining companion and I laughed at the thought that we were getting ecstatic over the Vegetable Biryani Rice.($7.99) After all it is only cooked rice. Every grain of rice was firm yet cooked. The flavor burst on the palate.
This is first rate Indian food prepared by a knowledgeable skillful chef.
Tibet Food is also available on the menu. Phingsha offers sliced beef sautéed with black mushrooms, bean thread noodles and potato.($8.99)
Shaptak offers sliced beef sautéed in green chilli, onion and tomato in a hot sauce.($8.99)
The menu is extensive. There are many suggestions in each category of food. The menu states it all,” We’re better…We’re fresher…We’re tastier”
Om is the satisfying ending to a yoga practice. It was our satisfying evening of fine Indian food in a small informal restaurant. The prices are so economical you could afford to dine here on a daily basis.
416 532 3901
After the final Om has been chanted from your yoga class head out to this ethereal low key wondrous restaurant. The Indian and Tibetan food is freshly prepared and superb in flavor.
The dark brown walls and brown tablecloths add to the serene atmosphere. One server managed to look after everyone with a smile on his face. I can’t imagine how he did it. The place was full. It was obvious they were all regulars and nobody had a reservation. Our server actually chuckled and asked if I was the person who had the reservation.
This is low key in atmosphere but the highest quality of food. It was also very busy with take outs. We traveled a long way to get there and would do it again at the first opportunity. We were fascinated to hear the owner tell us about his arrival here from Tibet to India and then Canada. This is a small family operation doing a big business. I wish them the best.
The Indian bread arrived at our table as soon as we did. It was so thin and actually melted in my mouth. My friend and I devoured it all before we even had ordered.
The Tandoori Fish was boneless salmon marinated in yogurt and ground spices cooked in a tandoori oven.($11.99) It was served with sizzling vegetables on a hot iron plate. The fish was flavorful and totally enjoyed.
We were tempted with the Tandoori Shrimp.($12.99) They will be saved for our next visit.
The Aloo Gobi was spectacular.($7.99) Cauliflower and potatoes are cooked in aromatic spices. The cauliflower still had some crunch to it and the aromatic spices had just a little zing on the palate.
My dining companion and I laughed at the thought that we were getting ecstatic over the Vegetable Biryani Rice.($7.99) After all it is only cooked rice. Every grain of rice was firm yet cooked. The flavor burst on the palate.
This is first rate Indian food prepared by a knowledgeable skillful chef.
Tibet Food is also available on the menu. Phingsha offers sliced beef sautéed with black mushrooms, bean thread noodles and potato.($8.99)
Shaptak offers sliced beef sautéed in green chilli, onion and tomato in a hot sauce.($8.99)
The menu is extensive. There are many suggestions in each category of food. The menu states it all,” We’re better…We’re fresher…We’re tastier”
Om is the satisfying ending to a yoga practice. It was our satisfying evening of fine Indian food in a small informal restaurant. The prices are so economical you could afford to dine here on a daily basis.
Bar Mercurio
Bar Mercurio 270 Bloor St West 416 960 3877
It is such a thrill to be able to take a 5 minute walk to this wonderful establishment and enjoy a great meal. I love the fact it is family owned and operated. Nona is always there to greet the guests and to make you welcome. She is a sweet lady who always has a smile. She also is a talented chef who used to prepare the sauces and do the baking. Today her son Giuseppe or daughter Theresa are the managers. They run around and make sure that all the clientele is satisfied. The food is of exceptional quality and taste. The service is always warm and welcoming. I come away with a big smile and satisfied stomach.
The ambiance is authentic Italian café. Seats at the bar provide a quick meal and the chance to chat with the servers and watch the cooking action.
I was dining with a very special friend. Her son is recuperating from an operation and I thought she needed a little attention. This is a favorite long standing restaurant for her. We love being together and appreciated the little window table that provided the opportunity to have a lengthy quiet conversation while devouring our sumptuous food. I’m surprised we weren’t gently nudged out because we overstayed our visit chatting long after a reasonable time.
The fish of the day was a Baked Salmon.($15.00) I am not exaggerating when I say it was the best piece of salmon I have tasted. It had a peppery topping and the flesh melted in my mouth. The steamed broccoli was crunchy and the fresh flavor lingered on my palate.($15.00) I may even go back for dinner and have another portion. The foccacia bread on the side of the plate is home made and delicious.
My dear friend opted for two appetizers. She thought the Carpaccio Al Modo Toscana($12.00) was fantastic. Thinly sliced beef filet is served on a bed of arugula topped with Parmeggiano chards and honey roasted walnuts.($12.00) The Insalata with beets was presented in a large white bowl with pieces of foccacia bread. The only problem was that she had ordered a large amount of good food and was having trouble consuming it all. What a problem!
The Wood Fired Pizzas are thin and offered with a variety of toppings. They are baked in a wood fired oven. Pizzas vary from $11.99 to $18.00. Pizza Yuppie is a pomodoro, mozzarella, in house smoked salmon with sun-dried tomatoes and chevre cheese.
There are several Omelettes listed on the menu. You can’t go wrong with any one. The eggs are cooked to a creamy light perfection. It is a tasty generous portion.
Pasta is even available in a gluten free rice linguine. Also gluten free rice crust pizza is available .The Pasta suggestions are mouth watering. Delicious.
This is Italian food at its best. The restaurant has been a winner for over 30 years in this location.
I have dined here for many years and there is a reason I keep coming back. For lighter fare try the sister restaurant L’Espresso bar Mercurio across the road.
It is such a thrill to be able to take a 5 minute walk to this wonderful establishment and enjoy a great meal. I love the fact it is family owned and operated. Nona is always there to greet the guests and to make you welcome. She is a sweet lady who always has a smile. She also is a talented chef who used to prepare the sauces and do the baking. Today her son Giuseppe or daughter Theresa are the managers. They run around and make sure that all the clientele is satisfied. The food is of exceptional quality and taste. The service is always warm and welcoming. I come away with a big smile and satisfied stomach.
The ambiance is authentic Italian café. Seats at the bar provide a quick meal and the chance to chat with the servers and watch the cooking action.
I was dining with a very special friend. Her son is recuperating from an operation and I thought she needed a little attention. This is a favorite long standing restaurant for her. We love being together and appreciated the little window table that provided the opportunity to have a lengthy quiet conversation while devouring our sumptuous food. I’m surprised we weren’t gently nudged out because we overstayed our visit chatting long after a reasonable time.
The fish of the day was a Baked Salmon.($15.00) I am not exaggerating when I say it was the best piece of salmon I have tasted. It had a peppery topping and the flesh melted in my mouth. The steamed broccoli was crunchy and the fresh flavor lingered on my palate.($15.00) I may even go back for dinner and have another portion. The foccacia bread on the side of the plate is home made and delicious.
My dear friend opted for two appetizers. She thought the Carpaccio Al Modo Toscana($12.00) was fantastic. Thinly sliced beef filet is served on a bed of arugula topped with Parmeggiano chards and honey roasted walnuts.($12.00) The Insalata with beets was presented in a large white bowl with pieces of foccacia bread. The only problem was that she had ordered a large amount of good food and was having trouble consuming it all. What a problem!
The Wood Fired Pizzas are thin and offered with a variety of toppings. They are baked in a wood fired oven. Pizzas vary from $11.99 to $18.00. Pizza Yuppie is a pomodoro, mozzarella, in house smoked salmon with sun-dried tomatoes and chevre cheese.
There are several Omelettes listed on the menu. You can’t go wrong with any one. The eggs are cooked to a creamy light perfection. It is a tasty generous portion.
Pasta is even available in a gluten free rice linguine. Also gluten free rice crust pizza is available .The Pasta suggestions are mouth watering. Delicious.
This is Italian food at its best. The restaurant has been a winner for over 30 years in this location.
I have dined here for many years and there is a reason I keep coming back. For lighter fare try the sister restaurant L’Espresso bar Mercurio across the road.
Benda Bilili
Benda Bilili
I am off to Israel this weekend and wanted one more film under my belt before I go into withdrawal for a week. This film has been playing at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. I didn’t know much about it but I have always stated that if it plays at that venue it is a prize film. Indeed it was.
Benda Bilili is the leader of a group of musicians in the Congo. Many have had polio and most are in a type of wheel chair or moveable vehicle. They perform on the street and practice in a dusty lot near the local zoo.
Benda plays the guitar and sings. Other instruments are crude but produce magnificent music. One instrument is old milk can with strings. It was amazing to hear the rich quality of the music. Percussion was provided by tapping on a half filled bottle of water. We learn much about the living standards in this part of the Congo. Many of the young kids steal anything in sight. Smoking and drinking are common place.
In the midst of all this poverty this outstanding musical group plays music, sings and dances. The songs are about their life style. They sing about sleeping on cardboard boxes and being poor. Many do not have the full use of their legs and they get on the ground and are able to move around in a break dance type of action.
The filmmaker is amazed with the quality of their music and arranges for them to record. A trip to France and other European countries follows. It is amazing how they were able to travel in their condition. The group has become a world wide phenomenon.
The concerts were big hits. The turnout was tremendous and the audience loved it all.
This is a remarkable group.
Documentaries allow us to learn about extraordinary people.
The film has already played for several weeks so do plan to see it as soon as possible. It is uplifting to see how this ‘raggle taggle’ group was able to accomplish so much. It also gives an insight into the dreadful living conditions of the people living there.
I am off to Israel this weekend and wanted one more film under my belt before I go into withdrawal for a week. This film has been playing at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. I didn’t know much about it but I have always stated that if it plays at that venue it is a prize film. Indeed it was.
Benda Bilili is the leader of a group of musicians in the Congo. Many have had polio and most are in a type of wheel chair or moveable vehicle. They perform on the street and practice in a dusty lot near the local zoo.
Benda plays the guitar and sings. Other instruments are crude but produce magnificent music. One instrument is old milk can with strings. It was amazing to hear the rich quality of the music. Percussion was provided by tapping on a half filled bottle of water. We learn much about the living standards in this part of the Congo. Many of the young kids steal anything in sight. Smoking and drinking are common place.
In the midst of all this poverty this outstanding musical group plays music, sings and dances. The songs are about their life style. They sing about sleeping on cardboard boxes and being poor. Many do not have the full use of their legs and they get on the ground and are able to move around in a break dance type of action.
The filmmaker is amazed with the quality of their music and arranges for them to record. A trip to France and other European countries follows. It is amazing how they were able to travel in their condition. The group has become a world wide phenomenon.
The concerts were big hits. The turnout was tremendous and the audience loved it all.
This is a remarkable group.
Documentaries allow us to learn about extraordinary people.
The film has already played for several weeks so do plan to see it as soon as possible. It is uplifting to see how this ‘raggle taggle’ group was able to accomplish so much. It also gives an insight into the dreadful living conditions of the people living there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
