A Thai Surprise

To break the habit, I was made to choose a place where Arlo and I will have our dinner before our scheduled screening of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes. Since we usually enjoy Asian fares, I thought of trying Chef Choi or Jatujak; obviously, I chose Jatujak since I haven’t tried it before and it would be nice to try it out with my partner.

Thai food can be too spicy for the Filipino taste so the waiters ask us how they will prepare the dishes we chose. Arlo is not a big fan of spicy food so we specifically asked to go mild on the spices. For starters, we had the crunchy catfish and mango salad. I really enjoyed this dish because of the play on texture and flavour. The catfish meat was like pork floss that we had at Su Zhou Dim sum. The green mangos were cut like thin noodles and it gives the salad a sweet and sour taste. Nuts, red chilli and cilantro blended together this light salad that would whet your appetite.

If you haven’t had Tom Yum other than the cup noodles version. You’d be surprised with how much flavour there is in this soup than just salt and MSG. Leeks, galangal, cilantro were the prominent herbs and spices infused in this soup. Arlo mentioned his minimal tolerance for sour taste, too; however, he chose this dish. He loved it but I can see his tears well up his eyes as he sips the soup. The fish, squid and shrimp were cooked just right and complement the strong flavor of the consomme.

Red curry beef was good but it might have worked if the flavor was more intense. I have to say that beef was tender and the sauce has the right creaminess in it. It worked well with the other dish and the plain Jasmine rice we had with it.

Their service is good and the waiters were accommodating. The ambiance is very youthful and made Thai more pop than exotic. Presentation was made modern yet still has the home-cooked meal feel into it. We’ll surely be back to try their other dishes.

Avatar

Recently, Mother Nature has been making her presence felt through tremors, volcanic eruptions, rising sea level and melting icebergs. You can't help but think that the world may be coming to an end. Recent research are done to find a new home for man. This is the premise of James Cameron's latest film, Avatar.

Avatar stars Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington. The film brings us to the planet Pandora where humans are exploring to extract unobtanium, which will help resolve Earth's energy crisis. In order to this, a group of scientists lead by Dr. Grace Augustine (Weaver) uses Avatars to diplomatically mine these minerals. But, they have to befriend them first by establishing diplomatic relations with the natives. Jake Sully (Worthington) works with Dr. Augustine while taking orders from Col. Quartich (Stephen Lang).

I won't spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it. But to give you an idea, it's like a re-telling of Pocahontas in a more modern setting. She's been given a new look using technology. Pocahontas was made edgier and sexier. Science gave John Smith (Jake Sully) an armor using a human-Na'vi hybrid body that masks his real identity.

Advance special effects were employed to make Pandora come to life. They made the planet like earth under the depth of the sea. The plants and animals have bioluminescence that emits its own light at night. They also have their own rhinoceros, wolves and panthers. Connection to nature has never been real as the natives of Pandora can literally connect to their roots and to nature.

Politics and environmental issues are related to the audience through a very entertaining medium such as this. I only hope that the people will see beyond the 3D images that the movie wants to impart to its audience.

Suzhou Dimsum

They say that good things come in small packages as this obscure Chinese restaurant we dined in last Sunday. It was away from the chaotic mall nor along the busy highway. Hidden from the streets of Shaw Blvd and away from Greenhills, San Juan, you'll find Suzhou Dimsum.

Arlo recommended the place so we tried it though we really have to drive around the area. It's just a small restaurant among the residential area. It was not too busy though it is a Sunday afternoon, just after lunch time.

We had Xiao Long Pao, dimsum with broth inside. The soup tastes similar to a milder sukang Ilocano. For appetizer, we had tofu with century egg and pork floss. The delicate bean curd was seasoned with salty pork floss without overpowering it. Sauteed broccoli with garlic was another dish we tried out. We also had the fish fillet with tofu cubes cooked like agadeshi tofu.

I read in Spot.ph that it is nominated in their annual foodie awards. Try out their selection of Chinese dishes and judge for yourself.

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.

What's in your vanity kit?

Here's what you'll find in my vanity kit:

Moisturizer
Hand and Nail cream
Body mist
Baby powder
Body splash
Shave
After shave lotion
Alcohol
Facial Mask with zinc
Toothpaste
Toothbrush

What can I find on your kit? Tell me about it.

Life is a Trap

The Cultural Center of the Philippines opened the fifth year of Virgin Labfest. This event sponsored by the Writers’ Bloc and the Japan Foundation gives opportunity to stage new plays. Fifteen new materials will be performed at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute from June 23 to July 5, 2009.

There are five sets that consist of three plays each. Last Saturday, I was able to see “Life is a Trap” which were all about in search of escapes. Truths stirred by humor can make one sit through three amusing plays in a Saturday night. First in the three plays was Paigan. It brings us to the US-Filipino War when the US Government sent African-American troops to fight against the guerrillas. David Fagen defected from the US Government and fought side-by-side with the Filipinos. Liza Magtoto, the writer, presents the dilemma to the audience to identify who your enemy is. Filipinos are still in a war against poverty and money will be our way out of it.

Hate Restaurant is a work by an Australian, David Finnegan. Toby, a chef who works in a local diner, came to work to find her employer Lucille unfit to work for the day. She needs to cook for 70 guests for a breakfast conference. She juggled between minding the demanding guests and her crazy waiters. Light yet tragic, something like Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell in theater.

Nick Pichay’s Isang Araw sa Karnabal closes the night with a political drama set today. The play gives us a chance to eavesdrop to a lover’s date in the perya. Despite the festive mood of the carnival, they just cannot escape their grief over the loss of loved ones. Gripping from their painful past, they cannot see beyond building a family in society filled with injustice and political harassment.

IMAX boasts of its images and Dolby surround sound. Theater gives you better because the actors show you tears and feel their anguish as they throw their lines. Audiences elicit their immediate response from the performance on stage. This set of plays apparently used real knives as props. Personally, I was scared that there might be an accident waiting to happen that night with bolos and chopping knife were used in the set. Audience can make a successful performance. But sometimes, it can spoil it too. Last Saturday, my laughter was pre-empted by the audience. The punch line was not yet delivered but they already were laughing. I don’t know if they were the performers or any of the writers’ guests. Other than that, I enjoyed the plays and I’m looking forward to watch the others.

Life is an obstacle course but there’s a way to go through it. Never be afraid to solve its puzzle. You may commit mistakes but you can always correct it. Don’t take life’s problem too seriously and leave some space for laughter. Before you know it, you’ve unraveled something marvelous and you can write about it on the next Virgin Labfest.