Sunday, June 26, 2011

Tickets Available NOW! The Harder They Come Class - August 13th!

Time: Saturday August 13, 2011 · 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: Central Market North, 4001 North Lamar, Austin, TX
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE

For my seventh Chef du Cinema class I'll be demonstrating a palate-pleasing Jamaican meal paired with the 1973 classic The Harder They Come. Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff stars as an aspiring young singer who leaves his village for the city, hoping to make a name for himself. But soon he finds himself robbed and in the clutches of a corrupt music producer. He turns outlaw, and winds up topping both the pop music charts and the police most-wanted list. This gritty, groundbreaking film - and its timeless soundtrack - introduced Reggae music to America and the world. After the cooking demonstration, we’ll watch the movie and enjoy the meal.

THE MENU:
Hot Pepper Shrimp
Jerk Chicken
Baked Yams with Sweet Onions & Ginger
Caribbean Cole Slaw
Gizzada (Spiced Sweet Coconut Tart)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

TV Bites: Best in Show

THE SNACK:
Honey Roasted Mixed Nuts



You know that game people play where you are asked to pick six (or whatever number) people to a dinner party whom would you choose? Here's one answer I'd pick: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and Fred Willard. Of course, Ms. O'Hara would be sitting to my right, thank you.

I once had the pleasure of sort-of meeting Mr. McKean - I say sort of, because it was backstage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers/Meat Puppets show and McKean was invited to introduce the Peppers as David St. Hubbins. He was done up with the hair and outfit from his Spinal Tap persona and maintained the character even backstage, so when I met him, I actually met Mr. St. Hubbins, not Mr. McKean. I met Mr. Shearer several times when I lived in Los Angeles, including once being on air with him, when he used to open the phones to callers on his radio show, Le Show. But lady and gentlemen - dinner invitations are open to all six of you and just give me a couple of hours to whip up some food and you're all welcome to come over.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Class: Slumdog Millionaire

THE CLASS:
Pear-Apple Chutney w/Goat Cheese on Toasted Naan
Karahi Chicken w/ Tomatoes and Chiles
Shrimp Biryani
Coconut-Chai Sorbet



Once again, a great class. I'd like to thank everyone who came out and the staff at Central Market for their awesome work. After three classes in a row, I'm taking a litte summer break - though I'll be continuing to post on the blog. Next class will be on August 11 - The Harder They Come with a Jamaican menu. Stay tuned for tickets.

I feel very lucky to have gotten to see this film shortly before it was released at a screening during the Austin Film Festival. This was before all the hype, all the nominations, and all the pundits got to it. I was sitting with an old friend who teaches screenwriting at USC. I hadn't seen him for about 15 years and we didn't have much time to catch up before the movie began other than the usual recounting of our successes and missteps and in general being slightly wistful about our lives.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

one reason I love living in austin....

For those of you who don't live in Austin, I feel your pain. I fear going to movies anywhere outside of my zip code as a lovely couple just over a decade ago began with a small theater showing movies they love, serving food at that theater, and offering good times for movie lovers. The only rule they had was "to keep your big mouth shut during the movie." Eventually that rule evolved to including people who can't seem to understand that talking on your cell phone during a movie makes you an a$$hole. And finally, adding texting to that.