Category: Restaurants

Tidy Tidbits: Matters of the Heart (Mostly)

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With Valentine’s Day almost here, it seems appropriate to focus on love and romance and lighter fare.  Here are some notes on TV viewing, recent reading and a restaurant (new to us) that would fill the bill for a delicious meal.

ON THE SMALL SCREEN:  Love and Lust

Everyone learns early on that Henry VIII had six wives and that they all came to unpleasant or untimely ends.  Historian Lucy Worsley, both author and TV presenter, is our guide and expert host for a look at his queens, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr, from the women’s perspective.  Animated and knowledgeable, Worsley is ever present in this dramatization.  Her showing up as a lady-in-waiting with a wink to the at-home audience is a dramatic device I found more annoying than enlightening.  Nonetheless, this is an almost saucy take on the king’s roving eye and his desperate drive for a male heir.  Entitled, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, this three part series is on PBS.

ON THE PAGE:  Hearts & Flowers

Sometimes one craves chocolate or a bonbon.  And sometimes I need a break from more literary fiction to read a novel that is engaging, has a complement of romance, and requires no mental strain.  Novels like this present problems—tangled family relationships, secrets that are hurtful, failed marriages—but in the end, things slot into place for a happy ending.  Not a messy or twisted resolution like real life, but satisfying in a way that lets you, the reader, forget politics or the petty annoyances of your own life.

Susan Wiggs writes this kind of women’s fiction and her ongoing series, Lakeshore Chronicles, set in the Catskills, follows the trials and tribulations and loves of the various members of the extended Bellamy Family.  The most recent novel, Starlight on Willow Lake, deals with a widowed caregiver who, struggling to make a life for her two daughters, takes on the care of a prickly demanding quadriplegic whose son has been both physically and emotionally distant.  It’s a good read.  

ON THE PLATE:  Tampa Table

We went up to Tampa the other night for an alumni event at a local restaurant and were pleased to be introduced to Grille One Sixteen.  An attractive open space done in dark wood with white chair seats and a very long, white bar, this dining room delivered on the food.  The Chief Penguin sampled the shrimp and grits and I enjoyed the glazed salmon served on a bed of succotash.  The Caesar salad to start was a generous portion and nicely, but not overwhelmingly, garlicky.  Pre-dinner nibbles at the table included dumpling bites and long strips of Nueske bacon (my favorite!) in a tall glass.  Dessert was little glazed doughnuts, a house specialty.  The full menu also includes a range of steaks, baby back ribs, meatloaf, and burgers.  Based on this meal, I’d happily return!

Header photo:  Painting by Carmen Herrera photographed at the Whitney Museum.  Hearts are free clip art from the web.

 

Tidy Tidbits: Music, Books, Food

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MUSICAL NOTES

Did you ever realize that many of Richard Rodgers’ wonderful songs are waltzes?  At Music Monday, we were treated to conversation with Edward Alley (conductor) and Marcus DeLoach (baritone) along with DeLoach’s warm and luscious renditions of “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” and other songs from Showboat and South Pacific.  Kudos to June LeBell for the consistently high caliber of programming she presents!

I like that music director Anu Tali is expanding the Sarasota Orchestra’s repertoire beyond the usual standards and pushing the audience to listen outside its comfort zone.  This past week’s concert was nicely balanced between two Tchaikovsky works and Symphony No. 6 (Strata) by contemporary Estonian composer, Erkki-Sven Tuur.  Mr. Tuur was present and addressed the audience before the concert.  His advice to not try and understand the work, but rather to just immerse oneself in the music was helpful, and I found myself enjoying the wall of sound in the opening section (lots of vibrant percussion) and then appreciating the lighter, higher notes that followed.  It was not discordant and hard to listen to like some contemporary music.

Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 is a very familiar piece and one I’ve heard many times, but never quite like this performance.  Pianist Simon Trpceski’s rendition was robust, almost fierce at times, and watching his hands and feet, hands as they sped over the keys and feet as they stomped on the pedals and then retreated, added to the enjoyment.  He and the orchestra were well matched in the intensity of the playing and the audience responded with vigorous applause.

READING

The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.  This slender novel by the late Fitzgerald was first published in 1978 and recently recommended to me by Elsie at Bookstore 1.  Widow Florence Green decides her small town should have a bookstore and that she should create one.  She opens her small shop, adds a lending library as well, and assumes that all will be well.  With economical sentences that pack much into a few words, Fitzgerald captures the personalities and often small-mindedness of a town set in its ways.  Short on action, this is a slice of life in England in the late 1950’s.

The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien.  O’Brien is a noted Irish author of novels, short stories, plays, and poetry and has been much praised.  This is her most recent novel and I’m reading it for my book group.  The main character, Dr. Vlad, is a charismatic healer and teacher who comes from away to take up residence in a small village.  Some of the chapters seem to stand alone and the characters don’t yet seem to have jelled.  I’m not sure what to make of it, but will definitely finish it.

LOCAL DINING—CASUAL & ELEGANT

Cedar Reef Fish Camp.  This casual restaurant off Route 70 in Bradenton near I-75 is a good choice for lunch.  We met Pennsylvania friends traveling south (a repeat of last year) and again found it tasty and reasonably priced.  Their cedar planked salmon is excellent, the French fries too temptingly good, and the regular fish and chips good also.  The special Alaskan Pollock fried fish was skimpy, but then it was one of the cheapest items on offer.  For non-seafood lovers, there are burgers and chicken.  Seating is at booths or tables and the dining room staff were all most welcoming.  They also have two locations in Venice and do take reservations.

Bijou Café.  With white tablecloths, this softly lit dining room always feels and looks elegant, the service is gracious, and the food delicious.  We connected with quasi-local friends here for lunch and appreciated the wide range of menu choices.  The Chief Penguin tucked into the short rib sandwich, the chicken paillard was excellent as always (a larger portion for those hungry at noon), and the crab salad special a hit.  For a leisurely, relaxed meal in downtown Sarasota, this is the place. Reservations recommended as it is popular at all times.

Photos copyright JWFarrington (some rights reserved)

Food for Mind & Body

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HIGH NOTES

Last weekend, friends introduced us to one more of the musical gems that grace our cultural landscape.  In 2004, Toby Perlman, wife of famed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, founded the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast.  This residency program in Sarasota brings together more than 30 young performers (ages 12-24) for about two weeks of classes, concerts and recitals.  We attended the last public event, a recital by some of the students, and were awed and impressed by the level of talent we heard.  So much so that we may need to add these events to our ever growing calendar!

Several friends have been recommending the Amazon series, Mozart in the Jungle, about life in a symphony orchestra, but we haven’t yet watched it.  At Music Monday, June LeBell interviewed Blair Tindall, oboist and author of the book on which it is based.  We saw several clips from the series, learned from Blair that all the actor musicians have to learn to play a little bit, and were treated to her playing.  Now we must watch the series!

  

UNEXAMINED LIFE

Be Near Me by Andrew O’Hagan.  This is a beautiful novel, one that will stay with you.  It’s an exquisitely crafted portrayal of a Catholic priest assigned to an insular Scottish town in the early 2000’s.  You know early on it will not end happily.  Father David Anderton is a man out of touch with himself and completely oblivious to how he is perceived by his flock.  In his 50’s, lonely, and aching for the affections and good times of his youth, he socializes with a pair of wayward teens, Mark and Lisa, and events unfold in the most inappropriate way.  Anderton’s plight is heartrending even though he brings it upon himself.

The depictions of his housekeeper (and friend) Mrs. Poole, his slightly wacky romance writing mother, his superior Bishop Gerard, and even the townspeople who destroy him are multi-faceted, even tender at points.  There is a fair bit of dialect and a few references to local culture that might not be familiar to all American readers.  First published in 2006, it was named a Best Book of the Year by Newsday, San Francisco Chronicle, and Plain Dealer (Cleveland).  Finally, I think my friends Joan and Bruce, in particular, would find it a satisfying and worthwhile read.

LOCAL EATS

Recently we sampled the cuisine at three area restaurants, one owned by a couple whose previous restaurant we really liked, one totally new to us, and the last one we may have visited some years ago.  All were good and all three rate return visits.

Elodie is a small attractive French restaurant created by the Flocards, Elodie and her husband chef, Bertrand, from Aix en Provence.  Their previous restaurant, French Table, on Anna Maria Island was tiny and parking was an issue.  Elodie, located in a shopping center on Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton, has indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of parking.  I thought their red snapper with lime and grilled vegetables was excellent and the chicken forester is one of my favorites.  Only open for dinner.

Flavors of India is on U.S. 41 in Bradenton and a tasty place for lunch or dinner. We dined there at noon and were pleased with the variety on the small appealing buffet.  Two kinds of rice, chicken vindaloo and butter chicken plus several vegetable dishes, goat curry, and green salad with two dessert choices rounding out the selection.  Add in tangy pickles and chutneys and life is spicy.  At lunch, the buffet is a modest $9.99.

Thai Palace.  Popular locally, as they say.  We had to wait for a table for dinner on a Saturday night, but the wait was short and definitely worth it!  Wait staff is friendly and I satisfied my curry craving with a very nice red curry with chicken.  The Chief Penguin ordered his standard test, pad Thai, and pronounced it excellent.  Lots of menu choices and all reasonably priced—we’ll go back!  It’s on Cortez Road also in Bradenton.

Note: Header photo from the restaurant’s website.

More Manhattan: Movies & Meals

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More gorging on films and satisfying meals.  We saw three more movies, the best being Hidden Figures, and returned to a recent restaurant find on W. 13th Street called Gradisca.

Things to Come. While the Chief Penguin saw Neruda, I settled myself in for Isabelle Huppert in L’Avenir, The Future. I much prefer the French title for this film about a professor whose husband of 25 years leaves her for another woman. It’s both an intellectual film, and to me, very French. Both Nathalie and her husband, Heinz, are philosophy professors.  She exposes her students to Rousseau and has had a successful track record of publication, including several widely used textbooks. Nathalie has two almost-adult children and a mother who is both ill and demanding.

When her husband departs and her responsibilities for children and mother cease, she must figure out how to live her life now that she has no ties and is free. Her closest relationship apart from her children is with Fabien, a former student and a radical who has moved to the mountains. The film employs none of the plot devices (an affair, e.g.) one might expect from an American version of this situation. Rather it’s Nathalie’s slowly unfolding journey from resignation coupled with grief and loneliness to a subdued acceptance of life as it is now. It’s subtitled with bits of English and German and an occasionally haunting soundtrack that ranges from classical to American popular music.

Patriots’ Day.  Some might wonder why we would go see a film about a catastrophic event, but we did and it was mostly an uplifting experience. This film about the Boston Marathon explosions of 2013 is a sensitive depiction of the events of that tumultuous week. The scenes of the actual event are graphic and horrifying, but most of the focus of the film is on the city and law enforcement’s race to find the bombers. Local and state politicians, FBI, and police officers are all portrayed along with the lead, Tommy Saunders, a police sergeant played by Mark Wahlberg.  Saunders is a composite of several real individuals.

I had forgotten some of the particulars of the ferocious gun battle in Watertown and that it took almost a week before the two brothers were located and dealt with. While one critic thought the coda was unnecessary and too long, I found seeing and hearing from some of the individuals injured or involved further testament to the spirit of a city that became Boston Strong. Director Peter Berg also directed Deepwater Horizon, released earlier this year.

Hidden Figures. Off all the films we’ve seen in New York this trip, this was the best! It deals with the long overlooked achievements of three extremely smart and feisty black women. They worked for NASA in Virginia in the early 1960’s when overt racism was the norm. There were separate restrooms and separate coffee pots for black people and, heaven forbid, if women thought they could become engineers or anything other than seemingly low level calculators. The NASA team at Langley is working hard to prepare for John Glenn’s launch.  There’s a key scene when he visits and is being introduced to some of the staff.  The black women are standing off separately and he’s being hurried along past them.  But Glenn slows down and insists on greeting them and shaking hands with several, a wonderful moment of human inclusiveness.

The audience was about two-thirds black and at the end of the film there was a spontaneous round of applause. After photos of the real pioneers appeared on the screen receiving awards including one given by President Obama, a black man in the back of the theater quietly intoned, “our president.” This is a seriously good film with notes of humor as you get pieces of the private lives of Catherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. See it!

Gradisca.  A small Italian restaurant where grandmother makes the tortellini by hand at a small table at the side of the dining room.  Pastas are excellent and the main dishes, especially the veal with fungi, very tasty.  Wait staff are gracious and helpful.

Header photo:  www.cinemablend.com