Eating Healthy at Wheatberry

Getting a good breakfast is very important for your health. We visited this place that serves breakfast all day. It's called Wheatberry Bakery and Cafe. It has a wide selection of freshly baked breads and pastries. They serve breakfast all day, too!

We went there as early as 9am and they already have customers dining. Arlo and I tried there breakfast platter which has 2 pancakes, sausage, egg, and hash browns. We also tried out the bacon and beans which was featured in The Sweet Life on QTV 11.

I especially liked the bacon and beans which is basically pork and beans. I like how I can taste the flavor of fresh tomatoes as the base of the soup. The beans have the right texture, not too soggy.

Arnold, the restaurant's chef, invited us for dinner. He asks us to try out their entree. For starters, we had chili con carne served with buttered baguette, nachos and pita bread. It was served with a cheese sauce that made it really special. The appetizer just had the right amount of heat and it blends well with the cheese sauce.

When you visit Wheatberry, you have got to try their calamari en tinta negra. The challenge with preparing squid is how to manage its texture from being rubbery. Its sauce was very savory with the help of garlic. You won't help it but ask for another cup of rice. Korean beef stew is served with kimchi. They used beef tendons instead of ribs.

Arnold wanted us to try his new dish called Poached fish with mushrooms. He used cream dory for this entree which serves as a canvass for the palate. To add flavor and aroma, it was blanched by olive and sesame oil. Mushrooms adds relish to it.

Wheatberry serves healthy food and their service is fast. Groups can dine together and they even offer a conference rooms for meetings. After dinner, you can check out their cakes and pastries and order freshly brewed coffee, too.

Re-discovering Desire

I remember borrowing the book, A Street Car Named Desire, from CJ when I was in high school. It was not because it was a literary classic written by Tennessee Williams but because of the cover, the young Marlon Brando. I didn’t know he can look that gorgeous because I know him as the fat guy from the Island of Dr. Moreau. Ok, I’m mortified to admit that it was only the cover that made the major impression during my adolescence.

To redeem myself, I was thrilled to see it once I learned that it will be mounted on stage this year. Though still interested in Marlon Brando’s role, I want to find out more why Blanche Dubois depended on the kindness of strangers. And of course, what the hell is a street car named Desire?

Three’s a company

Blanche Dubois, an English teacher from Laurel, came down to New Orleans to visit her sister Stella. She tells her about losing their ancestral property, Belle Reve. Stanley Kowalski, Stella’s husband, was surprised with the visit of his fussy sister-in-law. Learning about the family’s misfortune, he starts to distrust Blanche.

Stella was caught in between her sister and husband’s daily bickering. She tries her best to take care of her sister while being a good wife. Stanley’s suspicion leads him to investigate about Blanche. He learns how Blanche was despised by the people of Laurel, the town where she practices teaching. He told Stella about the lies told to them by Blanche. He also discloses this to Harold Mitchell, his friend who proposed to Blanche, to save him from embarrassment.

Blanche finally broke down after Stanley coerced her to confess the truth. She was sent to a mental asylum by her sister.

Women of substance

Tanghalang Pilipino mounts “A Street Car named Desire” for it’s 23 rd season. Floy Quintos directs both English and Filipino production. The English production which premiered on October 9, 2009; the Filipino version “Flores para los Muertos” will open next weekend.

Ana Abad Santos plays the capricious Blanche Dubois complete with old Hollywood glamour and southern accent. Mailes Kanapi essayed the role of the devoted wife and sister, Stella Kowalski. Marlon Brando’s role was taken by Reuben Uy.

The audience was brought into the Kowalski’s household and observe how stressful the environment was for Stella, Stanley and Blanche. Ana gives out a very powerful performance as a woman who’s trying to hide something from her sister. Her nuances shows that she’s scared that Stella would find out what really happened, why they lost Belle Reve.

Citing the Napoleonic code, Stanley was very much intrigued with his wife’s family’s misfortune. Reuben was very effective in taunting Blanche to reveal her secrets. He portrayed the role with so much machismo. You really could see him as a blue collar worker, sweating and smelling the part.

Stella (Mailes Kanapi) defends her sister against her husband who is skeptical about her person while trying to be a faithful wife. Her role is very important to keep the peace in the Kowalski household. For me, it is actually Stella who stands as a woman of substance because she remains to be dutiful to her relationships.

The relationship between Stella and Blanche was actually very strong. Stella could have been easily swayed by the suspicion of Stanley against her sister. Despite being blamed for leaving her the gargantuan task of governing their family’s estate, Stella showed understanding of her sisters pain.

As the story progress, I am doubting if Stanley really loved Stella. He was so curious to find out on how Belle Reve was lost from mortgage. Is he really concerned about the family’s welfare or he just wants to get a share from the sales of the property?

These were the questions left to me after watching the show. It’s not a bad thing that there questions left hanging in my mind after seeing the play. In life, we don’t really get to answer the questions right away. There are things that you get to figure out later on in life. You look back and you re-discover things as you experience more.

At least now, I have a deeper understanding of Desire. And I can say it’s beyond Marlon Brando’s photo.