Cinequest 2008

Today is the opening day of the 18th annual Cinequest film festival in San Jose, CA. Each year, I watch and review all the Asian entries for ThingsAsian. This year there were seven Asian films: three from China, one from Hong Kong, one from Japan, one from India, and one from USA. All were excellent and two I think are worthy to feature on Chopstick Cinema if they make it into commercial distribution. My Cinequest 2008 Film Reviews are posted on ThingsAsian.

And in addition to the Cinequest project, I watched lots of other films this month, some wonderful, some ghastly:

Notes on a Scandal - What a delicious little gem of a film. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchette play Barbara and Sheba, two teachers at an East London school, where Sheba engages in an inappropriate sexual relationship with one of her students. While Sheba foolishly indulges her mid-life desires, Barbara has designs of her own on her alluring co-worker. Masterfully crafted with subtlety and finesse, this film is worth every frame of its 92 minute running time.

The Exorcist - While watching an episode of Good Eats on the Food Network, in which Alton Brown features green peas using a clever homage to The Exorcist, it came to my attention that my son Will had never seen it. So, being a firm believer that no culturally enlightened being can go through life never having seen The Exorcist, I put it at the top of my NetFlix list. And on a Saturday night, with a big bowl of popcorn, curled up on the sofa with Will to enjoy this old-school cult classic. Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair play mother and daughter, and when Satan himself rears his ugly head in the body of the innocent 12-year-old, the priestly Max von Sidow and Jason Miller come armed with crucifixes and holy water to drive out the forces of evil. And 35 years later, it's still the mother of all demonic possession films.

A Good Night to Die - The most pointless and self-indulgent piece of crap I have ever seen. But just for the record, Michael Rapaport and Gary Stretch play August and Ronnie, a couple of small time wannabe goodfellas who manage to botch even the simplest of jobs, all the while philosophizing on the business. Unless you're a glutton for punishment in the form of bad cinema, don't bother.

Ladron Que Roba a Ladron - This film was a delight from start to finish. What could have been just another heist movie is actually a cleverly plotted caper in which two Latino Robin Hoods go after a snake oil magnate who has duped millions of innocent and ignorant victims into believing the potions he sells can cure anything from a broken heart to terminal cancer. Smart and funny.

The Dead Girl - With a cast that features Brittany Murphy, Toni Collette, Piper Laurie, Mary Steenburgen, Marcia Gay Hardin, and Bruce Davison, how could you go wrong, right? Well not exactly. This film was unique in its presentation of a murder victim through the perspective of all the peripheral characters, but so heartless and dismal in its characterization and plotting that it managed to be at once both compelling and repellant. Watch it only if you don't mind a major buzz kill.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada - What an engaging and unusual film. Tommy Lee Jones plays a livestock rancher along the Tex-Mex border, and when his good friend Melquiades Estrada turns up dead from a gunshot wound, he takes on the dual tasks of solving and avenging his murder, and transporting his friend's corpse back across the border to bury him in his hometown. Story, plot, mystery, humor, characterization,casting...all excellent.

Octane - This oldie starring Madeline Stowe and Mischa Barton as a mother and daughter on their way back home from a weekend visit with the ex-husband/dad when things turn very strange on the turnpike. It starts with a surrealistic diner and an enigmatic backpacker chick, and soon evolves into a kidnapping by a cult convoy. Good for late night fodder, but not much else.

Holiday - Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet(Amanda and Iris) swap lives in this better-than-average romantic comedy. Both women are lovelorn to the point of extremes, and on a serendipitous whim, decide via internet home-swapping service to exchange Amanda's Los Angeles mansion for Iris's cozy Sussex cottage. Predictably, both women find the perfect man, with a few extra perq's along the way. Entertaining, and good fun if you're in that sort of mood.

The Brave One - Jody Foster is a public radio host gone vigilante after her her dog is stolen and her fiancee is murdered by a band of thugs in Central Park. With an unregistered gun, she walks the streets of New York, daring anyone who crosses her path to threaten her or her fellow citizens. Terrence Howard plays the detective assigned to the swath of street murders she has cut across the city. In a game of cat-and-mouse, the two play out their gambit to an unexpected conclusion. The plot has a few conspicuous holes, but they're forgiveable for the sake of a stylish and entertaining action thriller.

Emanuelle - This classic debuted in theaters while I was still in high school. And being a good Catholic girl from a conservative family in Mobile, Alabama, no way were my parents going to give their consent for me to see it. So, 34 years later, while browsing NetFlix for Thai-themed films, I came across the title, and being all grown up and the boss of me, I gave myself permission to see it at long last. Alas, after so many years, I wish I could say that it was worth the wait. Although it may have held a certain erotic mystique in 1974, it's basically just your better-than-average soft core porn. But at least I can finally say that I've seen Emanuelle.

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

01:36 PM PST Permalink |

And...ACTION! Pajun

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

My Chopstick Cinema New Year's resolution was to add a monthly video clip to my blog and learn to shoot and edit cooking videos. But because I have so many projects in the works, I have to take it one step at a time. Last month, I learned how to compress a video down to a small enough size to upload to YouTube. This month, I learned how to splice and trim the sequential clips for better continuity. And on this month's video, you'll hear my son Will talking about creating audio voice-overs and sound tracks, but that's the task I've designated for next month's installment. I figure by the end of the year, I should be able to turn out something worth watching. But the Pajun pancakes were a delicious success and you can see how they're made in my humble video.

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

11:23 PM PST Permalink |

Pajun

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

These light and lovely vegetable pancakes are yet another of Korea's most common and popular dishes. They can be made with a variety of ingredients, both vegetable and seafood. I made mine with grated carrots, chopped scallions, sliced mushrooms, and julienne red and green peppers. The vegetables are mixed into a simple batter of flour, egg and water. They fry up quick and are served with a soy and rice vinegar dipping sauce.

The recipe will be posted at the end of the month, along with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' film review

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

12:01 AM PST Permalink |

Bibim Bap

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean:

This dish is one of Korea's most popular and common. Its elements are prepared separately and assembled on top of a generous portion of rice. The beef and vegetables are individually stir-fried and served over the rice with a generous scoop of spicy chili paste and a quick-fried egg with a soft yolk that can be stirred into the contents of the bowl.

In Korea, bibim bap is traditionally prepared and served in a sizzling stone dish, however, lacking such a specialized cooking utensil, I prepared mine in a wok and assembled it in a celadon china bowl. The creamy texture of the egg yolk combined with the spice of the chili paste make for a rich, flavorful variation on a classic Asian stir-fry.

The recipe will be posted at the end of the month, along with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' film review

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

12:15 AM PST Permalink |

Bulgogi Beef Ribs

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

Bulgogi is the classic Korean barbeque technique. The meat is marinated in a spicy mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, scallions, and chili paste. For this menu, I chose beef short ribs, which were quite large and meaty, and instead of grilling on an open brazier according to Korean tradition, I slow-roasted them in the oven until they were tender and charred to a deep mahogany.

The recipe will be posted at the end of the month, along with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' film review

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

12:01 AM PST Permalink |

Kimbap

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

Kimbap is similar in style to Japanese futomaki. However, the Korean interpretation of these tasty seaweed rolls calls for sesame oil instead of rice vinegar as a dressing for the rice, and instead of fish for the filling, kimbap may feature beef, ham, canned tuna, imitation crab, or even spam. Other fillings include steamed spinach, egg omelet, carrots, cucumbers, and daikon pickles. The result is a hardy, flavorful and very satisfying maki roll. Although I served mine with soy sauce because I like the way it tastes, kimbap is not typically served with soy sauce, but might be accompanied by the spicy brine of kimchi.

The recipe will be posted at the end of the month, along with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' film review

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

12:41 AM PST Permalink |

Daikon Pickles

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

For my 'Harmonium in My Memory' Korean menu, the kimbap Korean sushi recipe called for daikon pickles, which I had no success in finding locally. So I made my own. Simple salt and vinegar pickling is easy.

First I cut the daikon radish into half-inch spears. Next I placed them in a bowl with a generous sprinkling of coarse salt and allowed them to cure for about two hours. Once the daikon spears were softened and rubbery, I rinsed away the salt and placed them in a jar filled with rice vinegar, sugar, and a little turmeric for color. The result was a crunchy, tasty batch of bright yellow daikon pickles, perfect for rolling up in my kimbap.

The recipe will be posted at the end of the month, along with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' film review

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

10:09 AM PST Permalink |

Homemade Kimchi

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

I have made several batches of kimchi over the past four years that I've been creating menus for Chopstick Cinema, including a quick & easy recipe for a classic nappa cabbage version, an interpretation of my own made from brussels sprouts, and this time, one made with a head of garden variety white cabbage, which turned out quite tasty, if I do say so myself.

I chopped a hearty head of cabbage into generous chunks, cured it with salt, blanched it in boiling water, and pickled it in rice vinegar spiced with scallions, garlic, ginger, and a potent chili garlic paste. Perhaps not an authentic representation of true Korean kimchi, but a feisty side dish nonetheless.

The recipe will be posted at the end of the month, along with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' film review

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

09:58 AM PST Permalink |

Spotlight on Spice: Kimchi

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

It comes in many forms, and hate it or love it, kimchi is the soul of Korean cuisine. The kimchi-making process begins with salt curing. Red pepper powder and other flavoring agents such as ginger, garlic and various vegetables are added, and the kimchi is then fermented in earthenware jars. Each season and region has its own distinctive kimchi.

Tongbaechu kimchi, made with Chinese (nappa) cabbage, is the most common variety, and is an important element of every Korean meal. Nabak, a spring kimchi, is composed of both cabbage and radishes. Baek kimchi, also called white kimchi, does not feature the powdered red pepper used in other varieties, but rather relies on salt as its flavoring and pickling agent. Oisobagi is a seasoned cucumber dish. Dongchimi is made with salted radishes. Chonggak kimchi is made from turnips heavily seasoned with red pepper. Bossam kimchi contains mussels, pears, dates and chestnuts wrapped in cabbage leaves. Kkakdugi is a diced and peppered white radish kimchi.

Since commercially packed kimchi is a volatile product, it can be found in vacuum sealed jars in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. Kimchi should be opened carefully over the sink to catch the overflow when the contents are released.

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

02:00 PM PST Permalink |

Shopping for My "Harmonium in My Memory" Menu

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

When time came to shop for my 'Harmonium in My Memory' Korean menu, I took inventory of my pantry and found that I already had many of the ingredients I needed, including nori wrappers, sesame oil, garlic paste, rice vinegar, rice wine, and soy sauce. However, I did not have kimchi or daikon pickles. So when I shopped for fresh ingredients, I bought a head of cabbage and a daikon radish and made my own. Fresh ingredients included beef ribs, carrots, cucumbers, scallions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and Asian pears. And for basics, rice, milk, eggs, flour, and sugar.

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

05:08 PM PST Permalink |

Sources for Korean Ingredients

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

Depending upon where you live, Korean ingredients may not be easy to find. If you live in a cosmopolitan city, chances are you have either an Asian market that carries a selection of Korean items, or perhaps even a family-owned market dedicated exclusively to Korean products. If not, there are a couple of good sources online:

KGrocer

KoaMart

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

10:00 PM PST Permalink |

Korean Serving Dishes

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

Korea is known for its lovely celadon pottery, of which I have only a few pieces. But I have recently added a few new items to my tableware collection that I found in our local thrift shops. And I also have a few other Asian piece which are not technically Korean, but they have a certain rustic quality about them that seems appropriate for serving Korean cuisine.

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

12:04 AM PST Permalink |

Special Korean Cooking Utensils

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

To prepare the menu for my 'Harmonium in My Memory' Korean dinner, I will need a wok, a rice cooker and a grill, plus several items from my garden variety cookware. Since I have an electric stove, my stove-top grill pan is out of the question, and outdoor grills are not allowed in the apartment complex where I live. So I will be using my little George Foreman electric grill. Although it is pretty much the 'Easy-Bake Oven' of grilling, I find that it works fine for small dinners. It's efficient, simple to use, non-stick and easy to clean.

To subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

11:33 PM PST Permalink |

Beverages to Go With a Korean Meal

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

Although I have yet to find any of Korea's native beers at our local markets, which include Hite, OB and Ponghak, and since I don't have time to go in search of it farther afield, I will nonetheless be serving some kind of Asian beer with my 'Harmonium in My Memory' Korean dinner, most likely the ubiquitous Chinese brew TsingTao, or perhaps a nice cold Sapporo, given the Japanese/Korean historic and cultural connection.

Korea also produces several types of spirits, including yakju, a liquor fermented from rice; soju, a clear, strong distilled liquor made from sweet potatoes; takju, a thick, unfiltered liquor fermented from grain; a variety of fruit wines made from plums, cherries, and pomegranates, and certain types of medicinal spirits distilled from herbs, seeds and roots such as ginseng.

Drinking etiquette in Korea requires pouring beverages for each other. Younger people pour for their elders, and those with lower rank pour for their superiors. When pouring, the right sleeve should be held in place with the left hand, and glasses should never be allowed to run dry.

A popular Korean hangover cure called baejangguk is a broth made from beef bone and marrow, cabbage leaves and clotted ox blood. Baejangguk is often served by pubs in the early hours of the business day.

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

12:31 AM PST Permalink |

Deciding on My 'Harmonium in My Memory' Korean Menu

This Month's Film: The Harmonium in My Memory
Cuisine: Korean

As usual, after much research and deliberation, for my 'Harmonium in My Memory' Korean menu I have decided upon:

Easy Kimchi
Kimbap (Korean Sushi)
Pajun (Vegetable Pancakes)
Bulgogi Ribs
Bibim Bap
Nut-Filled Hodduk Pancakes with Spiced Asian Pears

For questions, comments, or to subscribe to Chopstick Cinema's monthly menu and film review, send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com

01:10 AM PST Permalink |