Keep The Lights On

Keep The Lights On




I have just spent an afternoon with heavy manly sex. To be more accurate I saw a film with lots of raw emotion and sex. Ira Sachs is a gay documentary filmmaker. I think he knows what he is doing.



The story takes place over many years and portrays a relationship of two men. Erik is a film maker. He meets beautiful Paul. They are immediately attracted to one another. Their relationship covers all emotions. They truly love one another. Paul is addicted to drugs and that causes many problems. He tries rehab but can’t get himself clean.



The two men have other relationships when their union ‘goes sour.’ It is a real rip into the gay world and the story is well told. It is also beautifully filmed.



At one point Paul is having sex with another man and Eric sits on the bed holding his hand.



It is touching and believable. I could feel Eric’s pain as he wants so desperately to have a good relationship. He wants Paul to be well and he wants to live with him.



We meet some of their other friends and feel the closeness of the group. No doubt this film would not please everyone. It took me into a world I do not know. I liked the characters and felt their pain. The cinematography is superb.

Buca 604 King St West 416 855 1600


The hottest spot in town! Wow!



Walk up a dark lane to the front door. I felt I was in an old ruin that had been upgraded. It is a blend of old brick, wood wall siding and magnificent modern lighting. It is beautifully designed and outfitted. You walk down the stairs and face an elegant vibrant bar scene. Long narrow tables and many people happily sipping drinks make for a friendly greeting. There are dining rooms on either side of the open bar area. There are long communal tables as well as individual dining spots. The walk in bar is like a sculpture. To get to one of the dining rooms you walk through a semi dark tunnel. The word ‘buca’ means hole. This is no hole in the wall but it has a wonderful feeling of descending from the real world down into this magical dining space.



Executive Chef Rob Gentile, Chef de Cuisine Ryan Campbell and Sous Chef Yong Soo Do have developed a very eclectic menu. Two of us were dining here and exclaimed at every bite of this fine gourmet dining.



We shared the Parmigiana Di Melanzane. Preserved tomato and fried eggplant are layered with buffalo ricotta and burrata cheese. The fresh basil on top of this layered gastronomical delight added the final touch.($14.00) We could have shared another one and called it a fine dinner.



I love dining with this friend. She is fun and great company. She enjoys fine food and it is always an adventure to dine with her. She chose two appetizers rather than an entrée. The Barbabietola E Bufala was an exquisite salad of marinated Italian Buffalo mozzarella with Cookstown beets, preserved lemon, Tuscan pistachio and house made concord grape.($16.00) The plate was a visual delight. The flavor was exotic. This restaurant uses a lot of ‘designer cheeses.’ It is amazing.



My dining companion also enjoyed the Arrosticini. Grilled lamb’s meat skewers were served with salmoriglio, lemon and olive oil finished with ricotta salata.($10.00) My friend stated that she had never tasted such delicious perfectly cooked lamb.



I enjoyed my Cavatelli Al Pomodoro ($21.00) Fresh hand rolled pasta was prepared with seasonal ripe roma tomatoes finished with fermented ricotta, basil and ottobratico olive oil. Handmade pasta is the best. It is even better when prepared al dente.



This is a very unusual menu. How about Cervello? ($9.00) It is lamb’s brain alla saltimbocco with nipitella agliata. Orecchio di Maiale are plated pig’s ears with wild fennel salt.($8.00) Lingua di Amanzo is a house cured grass fed beef tongue rubbed with black pepper. A choice of three Salumi di Buca is offered for$18.00)



Not all the dishes are unusual gourmet delights. The Orata is a whole Butterflied Grilled Nova Scotia Sea Bream served with barile olives, preserved lemon and organic oil.(426.00) Tagliata Di Bisonte is a calabrese spiced bison, clod tender with Sicilian cicoria, spring onion, autumn berry and panetta.($36.00)



Save room for dessert. The Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato was so delicious. I enjoyed a sampling of one of the unbelievable cheese served with preserved strawberries. Gourmet food at its best. The well heeled crowd would agree.

The Words

The Words

Have you ever done something against your better judgment? I have just finished viewing many wonderful international films at the Toronto Film Festival. Why would I go to see a second rate American film that opened a week ago? This week was the first time I can remember that no new film opened on the Friday. Get ready for a burst of openers of the finest films from the festival. The season has now started.

This film does have flaws but I was intrigued with the basic premise. It held me captivated. A young man is passionately in love with his wife. He just cannot make it as a writer. He has written one good novel but the publisher cannot take it on because the economic situation wouldn’t allow it.  During his honeymoon in Paris he discovers an old briefcase in an antique shop. His loving wife purchases it for him. When he returns he finds a secret pocket with an even more fascinating secret. Inside is a manuscript. He becomes riveted while reading the script. The original writer had written about his love affair as an American soldier meeting his French wife while in Paris. It occupies his mind totally and he can think of nothing else. He copies the script word for word and submits it for publication. What a turnaround in his life. He becomes famous. He has finally won approval from his doubting father. He becomes the ‘talk of the town’. He is invited to readings and to talk shows. He even wins a prestigious prize. I loved all of the above moments.

Lurking in the background is an old man. Who is he? We soon learn that he was the original author of the book, The Words. The two men have a confrontation. We begin to learn his real story. It was actually very touching. The script had been lost on a train ride. The wife was coming back to Paris to patch up their break up. She was bringing the script with her. The loss of the script causes further problems in the marriage.

Bradley Cooper plays the role of the desperate young writer. Jeremy Irons plays the role of the old man who was  the original author. The story gets convoluted and mushy at times. The basic concept makes for good discussion. In the past many books have been plagiarized. Should the original writer get credit? In this case Cooper’s character does offer to right the wrong and to pay the Irons character for the injustice. I didn’t find it too believable that he doesn’t accept. If someone has written something that is acclaimed as fine literature I can’t imagine allowing someone else to claim the rewards. (financial and otherwise) One could have a good discussion on the idea of walking away from his deserved reward.

There are several minor sub plots but the main theme is what kept my interest. It wasn’t so bad after all.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan Bistro                373 Queen St West                            416 593 0917

You know the wonderful feeling when you return home after being away from so many familiar people and things. I have been visiting Peter Pan Restaurant for over 30 years. It has always been a favorite. It has been far too long since I have returned. I remember it as the first re-furbished diner in Toronto. Crazy art work hung on the walls and the servers were usually dressed in black leather and worked between their acting and art jobs. Over the years the place has become more gentrified. The stylish tin ceiling remains. The banquettes still are my favorite. White table cloths and little vases of fresh flowers have been added to the other tables along the wall. The paintings are a different caliber and are more serene and elegant. One thing has remained constant. The food was always creative and beautifully presented. It is one of the few restaurants in this city where there are so many beckoning suggestions I have trouble deciding what to enjoy.

How happy I was to greet Jeff Berg once again.(Obviously he has not been managing for over 30 years but is has been many years that I have appreciated his outstanding service) He remains as friendly and welcoming as ever and has maintained the superb quality of food. This is a reasonable place to enjoy exquisite cuisine. The presentation of the food deserves a gold medal. You would think you were dining in the high end restaurants of town. I plan to return soon for the $15.00  3 course lunch offered daily.

I must mention the bread. It is actually made in house. It is so delicious and the dipping sauce

of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar was wiped up with this tasty bread.

My friend and I had just come from a film at the Toronto International Film Festival. We were starving.  In the evening a $25.00 Prix Fixe offers 3 courses. The regular daily menu is extensive. The Prix Fixe was too good to refuse.

The Vegetable Spring Roll was presented in 2 rather large sections. They were served with an Asian dipping sauce and some fresh arugula salad. Amazing. The Herb Crusted Salmon was a very generous portion placed on top of roasted baby potatoes, sautéed red peppers and spinach. The fish was moist and tender. The flavors were incredible. The plate looked like it should be photographed for Gourmet Magazine (even if it doesn’t exist anymore) and the taste was appreciated bite by bite. The Prix Fixe included the best Tiramisu. It wasn’t too sweet. The chocolate and other flavors melded together for a tasty conclusion to our perfect meal.

On many occasions at lunch or dinner I have enjoyed the Roasted Beet Salad with poached pear, spiced walnuts, chevre and mixed greens.($12.00)

The Peter Pan Burger served with a mixed green salad or hand cut fries is a house favorite.($14.75) I also love the Quesadillas.($14.95) The chef has a way with using spices and herbs to enhance the natural flavor of the food being prepared.
I have enjoyed many Pasta dishes here. The Linguine Primavera offers al dente pasta with garden fresh vegetables in a light cream sauce. ($17.50) There are always several options offered each evening.

I never know what to choose because everything is so delicious. At these prices you can come many times and enjoy a variety of gourmet prepared meals. It is such a friendly place. I was so happy to be back home.

The Queen of Versaille

The Queen of Versailles
Funny! Pathetic! Bizarre! Extravagant! Sumptuous Greed! Gauche!

This is a documentary so of course it is true. It is so ‘over the top’ that I heard several people ask if it was for real. My friend and I couldn’t stop talking about this bizarre family long after the film was over. Jackie and David Segal were amazingly rich. He owned 28 time sharing properties in 10 states. They lived a life of extreme wealth. Jacqueline is 30 years younger than her husband. She was a former model. He had been married a few times before.  They had 8 children. Their home was enormous and there was a staff of cooks, chauffeurs and nannies. They owned a private plane. Pictures of Jackie were posted all over their gigantic house. She really did seem to care for her husband and had a lot of patience when everything seemed to tumble in front of them. I had a love/hate relationship with her. We learn that she was a university graduate but she dressed and acted like a ‘bimbo.’ She always had a smile on her face and I had to admire that. Jackie had been married before in an abusive relationship. She stated that she felt adored by David. He stated that she had a good heart and was a good mother.

I had quite a laugh when one (of the many dogs) was playing with a cockroach in the sumptuous house. Jackie just laughed. Did she realize that the camera was making a film to be seen by many?

David and Jackie were realizing their dream by building the largest house in America. It was to have 30 bathrooms and was 90,000 square feet. It was inspired by French architecture. There were 10 kitchens and 2 tennis courts. The baseball field would also serve as a parking lot for big parties. The children’s playroom had a stage. Jackie was showing the structure to a friend. The friend commented on the bedroom. Jackie stated,” That is not my room. That is the closet.” David was asked why he would build such a large house. He answered, “Because I could.”

The house never did get completed and when the fortune crumbled the house went on the market but did not sell.

We witness staff meetings and the ‘super selling’ of the time shares. David’s eldest son by another marriage was in charge of the time share selling. It was humorous but annoying to see how they pressured clients into buying. No wonder the economy went on a downward spiral. People were almost forced to buy shares beyond their means.

When the market began to implode David lost a lot of money. They began to cut back on staff at home and in business. They were down to 1 cook and one nanny as well as the chauffeur. The house was a mess. Dog feces were all over the house. Jackie laughed when her son stepped in some dirt. The big unfinished house went up for sale for $100,000,000. It did not sell.

One of the nanny’s was from the Philippines. She was so loyal and loving. My heart broke when she spoke of her own son who was 7 when she left her home country. He was 26 when the film was made. It sounds as if she had not been home. She thought of the Siegel children as her own and was caring and loving with them.

When they were forced to take a commercial plane one of the daughters asked, “Why are all these people coming on our plane? Even when things were financially bad Jackie went to Wal-Mart and purchased 3 carts of toys for the children. She also went for a Botox injection.

Love them or hate them they were a colorful family.

Darwin

Darwin

Darwin is possibly the strangest town in the world. Thanks to this documentary I have been able to meet the unusual people (all 35) who live in this little village in the midst of the desert in California. I was surprised that they allowed themselves to be so exposed and to tell their stories. The town is very remote. From the sky it looks like a few dotted huts placed in the middle of dry barren rolling land. Darwin has been known as a haven for anti establishment characters.

Many of the habitants tell their story. We learn a bit about their past and why they came to Darwin. What a diverse group. They seek to live in harmony in the town.

The post office is a trailer that opens at 11:00 am in the morning. The lady who acts as the postmistress thinks she has the best job in town. She talks as if she is drugged. Her plain face and long straight hair make her feel as if she is an ‘oddity’. Her story about her son is actually very sad.

Molly and Hank are also plain folk who think that Darwin is the best place to live. Hank tells us of his past bad boy life. She looks as if she hasn’t had a hair cut in years and of course lipstick doesn’t exist. Her daughter who sees herself/himself as a male lives there with his girlfriend. The town is accepting and there is no problem.

One of the residents has the potential for being a fine sculptor. In front of his small house there are two giant Buddhas. He has also made many pictures and sculptures. He claims he has never had an art lesson.

I saw no sign of a store anywhere. Most of the people seemed to drive but there was no sense of where the nearest town might be.

One gentleman laughs when he said there is no mayor. Years ago a lady appointed herself as a mayor but she had died. The cemetery is small and parched but could probably tell a few good stories. The history of the town throughout the years is fascinating. For years it was a lawless town where even the police feared to go.

These people are different but absolutely fascinating. Truth is stranger than fiction. I almost want to go to see this place for real.

Hope Springs

Hope Springs

I have been breathlessly waiting for this newest Meryl Streep film. She does not disappoint. Streep plays the role of Kay, an unhappily married woman for over 30 years. Life is a routine. She makes the bacon and eggs in the morning. Her husband, Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones)    dutifully kisses her goodbye on the way to work and that is the extent of their intimacy. They do not have meaningful conversations. He sleeps in the spare room. When she did try to suggest sex by coming into his bedroom in a negligee he ‘sends her packing’. They don’t even exchange gifts on their anniversary.

Good for Kay. She spends her own money to book a ‘working holiday’ in Maine at a clinic to improve her marriage. It was touch and go if Arnold would even attend. He grudgingly goes along and is obviously humiliated and embarrassed at having to talk about the dysfunctional relationship. At first they sit on opposite ends of the couch. He looks grumpy and she has pursed lips. At one point she runs out of the room and goes to a bar. It is sad and funny at the same time. It is a Hollywood film so nobody will be surprised that the sessions help to make for a more meaningful satisfying relationship. The sex counselor is aptly played by Steve Carrel.

Dare I state that more women will relate to this film than men. This is a different type of role for Tommy Lee Jones. He is so believable as the insensitive, unknowing and unfeeling husband. Meryl Streep plays the part to perfection. She tries so hard and gets nothing back in return. It is a story told by many. After 30 years of marriage it is easy to get into bad habits and forget the ‘niceties’ of a bonding relationship.

The sessions with the sex counselor were humorous and touching. The re-incarnation of Arnold was delightful and very satisfying. It probably is a little over the top to believe he could do a 360 degree change but the audience loved it. The title has a double meaning. The name of the town in Maine was Hope Springs. The central theme of the film is for hope in restoring the relationship of Kay and Arnold.