by Christina Waters | Jul 8, 2013 | Home |
Former Santa Cruzans Catherine and Brian Faris fell in love with southern Italy many years ago. Many of us have done the same. But few of us have followed through and actually pulled up stakes, moved to Puglia, purchased an olive orchard, and proceeded to create a line of organic olive oils that give new meaning to the phrase “extra virgin.”
Pascarosa is the brand name of the latest Faris adventure. Named for a small village adjacent to the estate olive orchard, the olive oils—two styles, one lighter and 100% certified organic, the other richer, more complex, and made from olives grown under organic conditions—they are irresistibly delicious.
A lively tasting party two weeks ago at Soif Wine Bar gave locals a chance to see Catherine and Brian after many years absence, and also to sample the new oils accompanied by a few choice Italian wines stocked by Soif. The results were many sales and lots of oleoginous gossip. The attractively packaged oils in 16 oz. cans come with ingenious fastenings and a $19 – $25 pricetag. Our house salads love Pascarosa—currently available at Soif.
by Christina Waters | Jul 8, 2013 | Art, Home |
Not the enigmatic companion of first century evangelist Jesus, but the woeful new opera by Mark Adamo, commissioned in a moment of cerebral lassitude by the usually stalwart San Francisco Opera. Adamo had six years to work on this so there is absolutely no excuse for the clueless visual and musical mishmash I endured last weekend.
Having waited all season for this operatic version of one of my favorite ancient sagas, I was dumbfounded to discover that Adamo had neither narrative insight nor compositional vision to apply to this opera. A few good singers had to endure the embarrassment of singing excruciatingly clunky lyrics (written by the hapless Adamo), and a set that can only be described as a construction site.
Standing on top of the site, or milling around (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jul 8, 2013 | Home |
Haven’t yet tried the Roman-style breakfast pizzas topped with fried eggs, but I plan to. Very soon. Pizzeria Avanti’s breakfast window of opportunity runs from Friday through Monday, and dinner of course happens nightly. Living on the Westside does have its perks.
by Christina Waters | Jul 6, 2013 | Art, Home |
Der Ring des Nibelungen—affectionately known to English-speakers as “the Ring,” is not only a transcendent marathon of four very long operas, but arguably one of the artistic masterworks of Western civilization. Hence, I can be forgiven for having saved up a chunk of change, flown to Milan two weeks ago and spent eight days in the fashion capital of the known world gearing up for a memorable musical experience. After feasting my eyes on gorgeous people (okay, men), imbibing my fair share of an alluring crimson liquid known as Campari, and sampling a few choice pastas—I made time to dress up, strap on some high heels and click, click, click my way across the cobblestones to Teatro alla Scala (two blocks from my hotel). There I joined smartly-dressed pilgrims from all over the globe for four nights of ravishing opera conducted by Daniel Barenboim and written 150 years ago by the controversial genius Richard Wagner.
Wagner did not disappoint. He simply cannot. Barenboim was not only superb in guiding a super-sized orchestra through 21 hours of difficult music, but his expansive phrasing—each opera ran at least 15 minutes longer than any versions I’d heard before—coaxed nuance upon nuance, and deepened meanings at every possible chromatic juncture. The master and his interpreter were without question the stars of La Scala’s 2013 production. So now I can remove the gloves.
High on the possibilities of digital special effects, postmodern visual concept and staging overkill, the Ring’s director Guy Cassiers almost ruined (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jun 13, 2013 | Home |
Well, okay, so far it has hit the stands only in the UK. So far. But local literaturista Lisa Jensen‘s latest foray into the wilds of fantasy historical fiction should prove a timber shivering experience.
Alias Hook tells the juicy, oft bloody, always action-packed “back story” of Captain James Hook, of Peter Pan fame.
I’m taking my copy to read on the plane to Milan—the perfect setting for an escapist bit of literature. You can find Lisa’s latest book on the internet via The Book Depository. Although located in the UK, they accept $US and provide FREE shipping worldwide.
Alias Hook can also be procured via Amazon (US). Or, if you’re lazy, you can wait for the US edition, coming soonish, from St. Martin’s Press. But why wait? Look for more details at Lisa’s Facebook site.
by Christina Waters | Jun 13, 2013 | Home |
A wine from Sicily is always something mysterious, suggesting volcanic minerality and citrus perfume. This beauty from Tascante offers all of that and more. Hints of Mediterranean herbs, burnt orange peel, pepper and gorgeous red tannins make a volatile flavor experience—there’s even an image of a smoking Mt. Etna on the label.
Currently on offer @ Soif, this lovely Sicilian Ghiaia Nera 2010, is 13% alcohol, very close to perfection. It does everything a light but nuanced Rhône can do, but does it with a splash of Sicilian alchemy. Go taste.
