by Christina Waters | Jan 8, 2010 | Food, Home |
Tikka Masala from Seeds of Change – is serious flavor in a jar. All the labor-intensive work of grinding, roasting, mincing, and simmering has been done for you – all you need to do is get a jar of this wonderfully aromatic simmer sauce ($6 @ New Leaf) and let its heady perfume turn something ordinary into a spice trip.
Confession: I am not a mistress of Indian cuisine. I don’t have a wildly successful curry recipe up my sleeve. But I adore (adore) the extreme spices of Mother India. So I’m always grateful for high-wattage shortcuts.
We had roast chicken the other night. Chicken can always use a little extra kick, no? This tikka masala worked transformative magic. I like my Indian flavors on the hot side, so we also applied a few hefty dollops of “hot” mango chutney to the chicken, along with tons of the tikka masala.
Fabulous. (I know all of you spice purists are probably rolling your eyes. But some of us gotta work for a living and don’t have tons of leisure time to watch the Food Channel and whip up a respectable masala from scratch.)
by Christina Waters | Jan 6, 2010 | Home, Movies |
This one goes out for all you gals out there who ever lost your head over a man with long hair and a guitar. Crazy Heart.
Jeff Bridges has been nominated four times for an Oscar. But never won. In a way that’s the story of Bad Blake, a broken-down, still-defiant C&W singer who drinks, swears, smokes and drives his way through Crazy Heart, the Scott Cooper film starring Bridges.
Imagine if the Dude of Big Lebowski fame had talent and still burned for something he hadn’t quite gotten to. That would be close to the character Bridges burns into the screen in this gem of a performance.
Oh the film itself isn’t much, although it gives generously of burnished southwest scenery and foot-stompin’ country rock music. Not enough tension or plot to really give cinephiliacs something substantial to chew on. But I didn’t care. Bridges was quite enough to keep me in that seat. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jan 6, 2010 | Home, Wine |
That would be the 2007 Billy K Estate Merlot – from Alfaro Family Vineyards.
A tasty tipple indeed (I can’t believe I am recommending a merlot!), this is an enlightened wine with enough macho moves to please cab drinkers, and enough finesse to play hide ‘n’ seek with your favorite pinot.
The initial nose yielded apple, leather and plum, turning to sassafras and bacon – substantial and crying out for bbq chicken or pulled pork. We found it interesting in its own right, with a complex central core, and perfect for partnering most entrees this side of scallops.
Named for Richard Alfaro’s late father-in-law Billy Kempker, the wine is all estate, a beautiful ruby color and balanced to drink now, or age for a few years. At 14.5% alcohol this makes for a well-spent $30.
by Christina Waters | Dec 22, 2009 | Food, Home |
Consider the prospect of succulent Mexican bay scallops, with tender local squid atop a pool of gigante and ceci beans.
You know you want this dish.
You’ll find it in the soothingly cozy dining room of Gabriella Cafe.
by Christina Waters | Dec 16, 2009 | Home, Movies |
And between those five-inch heels on Penelope Cruz’ feet and a kitchen table strewn with ripe tomatoes, Spanish cine-maestro Pedro Almodovar literally invents the color red.
The film is Broken Embraces, a virtuoso homage to great film masters past, as well as a ripping great mystery yarn that spans the genres from Almodovar’s early gender-morphing camp to indelible Liebestod.
In Almodovar’s hands, Cruz is visually addictive, to say the least. Think Hitchcock with exuberant sexuality. Now change Kim Novak’s grey suit into lipstick red, her platinum blonde hair to black and her placid English to sensuous Spanish. You have the picture. Almodovar’s latest film is a tightly-wound masterpiece, serving up a brilliant collage of film styles — even a film or two within a film — all to unfold the back-story of a mysterious tycoon obsessed with a sweet sultry call girl. Somehow they become involved with a film maker, and the obsessions multiply.
Super-saturated images are used (more…)
by Christina Waters | Dec 11, 2009 | Home |
Winemaker Jeff Emery may not know if you’ve been bad or good, but he has the perfect stocking stuffer either way.
Fans of Emery’s vintage skill can take their pick of at least eight different varietals, available in half-sized splits, perfect for sharing with your very special someone. These bottles are priced to move directly from the Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard tasting room, in the Ingalls Street Surf City Vintners complex, into stocking or under the Christmas tree. I’m thinking they would be perfect to take along on that New Year’s picnic as well.
Tempranillo, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Verdelho, you have the picture. Santa might even like his very own split.
