Eatrip

Life is just an eating trip.

That's the tagline for one of the most delightful documentaries I've seen in a long time. Eatrip explores the major role food plays in the lives of a few individuals in Japan who have made a commitment to engage with the food and drink they consume on a thoughtful, conscientious, and joyful level that is rare these days.

I liked the way the people talked about their beliefs in firm and minimal terms. Watching as they took such care, diligence, and fulfillment in preparing green tea or washing grain was really inspiring. It reminded me of my uncle in Kure who grows his own vegetables in his tiny backyard. I would be thrilled to share a meal with any of the people in Eatrip, especially because they espouse the same beliefs in food culture that I hold. I love being around people who are passionate about food as I am, but there are facets of "foodies" that turn me off - mainly when the emphasis is shifted to dining spots with cult status or "authentic" rather than on the food itself or the act of sharing a meal. Those attitudes take the simple joy of eating (community, sharing, nourishment, savoring the flavor and appreciating the food preparation) and drag it into a realm of elitism, which is such a turn-off. Whenever someone stresses authenticity as a barometer for the quality of the food at a restaurant, I can barely suppress an eye roll. Personally, my concerns are only that the meal tastes good and won't make me ill. Anyway, enough of my complaining. Eatrip is wonderfully pared down - no statistics or charts, no preaching, no "bad guys" - and it's joyful and celebratory, which is rare these days when most documentaries are full of doom and gloom.  It's just lovely in its simplicity.

Next up: photos of an "eatrip" with friends, during which I found this very film

The Brothers Bloom

While I couldn't help but think of Wes Anderson while watching The Brothers Bloom, this film still struck me as a movie with its own soul and story to tell. Like Penelope (another one of my favorites), it takes place in present day, yet is evocative of both an classic parable (in its structure and narration) and a 1940's comedy (in its tightly-styled costumes, dialogue, and mannerisms). I love a good caper flick and the fact that the story has its characters globe-trotting makes me love it even more.

Images by Yahoo Movies

A Mighty Wind

I'm not a "music person" by any stretch. Anything in my iTunes library that could be considered remotely cool was snuck in there by an ex-boyfriend. Even within the genres that I enjoy and discovered on my own - old jazzy standards, tango, and opera - I don't really make the effort to seek out new music. I'm much more of a "movie person", so it's soundtracks that take up the bulk of my iTunes library. The one album that I've been enjoying the hell out of is A Mighty Wind. I had seen the movie a few years ago and liked it well enough, but listening to each song in its entirety is really making me appreciate the movie on a whole different level. For those who haven't seen the movie, the songs might sound like cheesy, relentlessly-chipper folk songs. But within the context of the mockumentary, the journey the characters have gone through give each song so much more depth. It's impossible not to hear the pathos and undercurrent disappointment that finally had led to the quirky joy reflected in the songs. That makes each track all the more joyous and sweet to me. They remind me of that first hint of happiness experienced after a super long, massively difficult period, when you reach the other side and finally feel some semblance of balance again. Any positive feelings are felt on a deeper level and even if nothing in your situation has really changed, your perspective has shifted just enough so that you're simply content. Listening to this soundtrack reminds me that on some level, happiness is a choice.

I found these two You Tube videos to give you a preview, but left off my favorite song - "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" - so you can discover it for yourself within the movie. It's totally worth seeking out!

Mendocino and Fort Bragg

If the tango workshop I attended in December was inspirational, and the bed-and-breakfast I stayed in (and that hosted the workshop) was inspired, then I would have to describe my wander through the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg, which is where Weller House Inn is located, as restorative. The drive from the Bay Area to Fort Bragg was one of the most gorgeous drives I've ever been on. The unseasonably glorious weather only amplified the beauty of the landscape. A few times, I had to stop my car to jump out and take some photos; there was just too much beauty to resist.

I couldn't believe how quiet it was when I took the photos below. There was a hush and stillness among those trees that, while at first was unsettling, morphed into something soothing. I guess for someone as anxious and wound up as I can be, that kind of deep silence takes a while to get comfortable with. 

The photo below is the only one I took of Fort Bragg, and I wish I could have explored that town more.

On the second day of the workshop, we had a few hours before the last set of classes, so I used that time to explore the Mendocino headlands. Walking along the park reminded me of Mori Point in Pacifica, one of my favorite natural parks/walks/beaches. 

The workshop ended with just enough time for me to stop in Mendocino to catch the magic show below. 

Images by me

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Here are two snapshots of what my New Years' Eve looked like - fireworks at the Ferry Building followed by lovely drinks at Tosca (those glasses are not all mine!). I have a really wonderful feeling about 2012, a sense of optimism and excitement that I haven't felt in a long time. I wish all of you the same.

Images by me; taken with my iPhone's Shake It application

2011 helped me find my smile

2011 was a challenging year for me, but it's one I'll always feel affection for whenever I think back on it. I was pushed and pulled to places where I'd never thought I'd be able to stand with two solid legs. It was a year of discovery, harsh realities, acceptance, validation, growth, and, most importantly, forward momentum. All those lessons led me to be kinder to myself than I ever had been before, and that has made all the difference in the way I feel right now. I found a genuine way to be happy, and that's what I hold in my heart as I enter 2012. 2011 was a tricky bugger, but it made me find my smile. So with this year coming to a close, it's fun to remember all the things and experiences, both great and small,  that made me smile this year. 

One of my resolutions for 2011 was to read the written word more (and that does not include magazines). True to my promise, I've devoured a selection of books with an enthusiasm that had been dormant since my bookworm days in high school. I've been keeping a ongoing reading list, but below are my 2011 selections:

• In the Skin of a Lion / M. Ondaatje (in the middle of this right now)
• Auberge of the Flowering Hearth / R. de Groot
• One Day / D. Nicholls
• A Moveable Feast / E. Hemingway
• Dickens on France / ed. by J. Edmondson (1/2)
• Anna Karenina / L. Tolstoy
• Never Let Me Go / K. Ishiguro (1/2)
• Not Under Forty / W. Cather 
• Sake: a modern guide / B. Timken

Maybe it was because of the forced break my broken ankle forced me to take, but I don't think I've consumed as many movies in one year as I have in 2011. It seemed like every month, there was always a new release to be enthusiastic about or I would find something on television or Netflix that I absolutely adored. As with my reading list, I also keep a movie list, but here are the titles that I saw in 2011 that got my heart beat faster:

• A Letter to Three Wives
• Drive
• Attack the Block
• In the City of Sylvia
• Midnight in Paris
• Super 8
• Hugo
• I am Love
• The Italian
• Beginners
• Jane Eyre
• Shame
• Get Low
• Animal Kingdom
• Piranha
• Joe Versus the Volcano
• The Guard
• Certified Copy
• Network
• City Island
• The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover
• Bridesmaids
• Being Elmo
• Le Cercle Rouge
• The Amateurs
• 13 Assassins
• Go
• White Material
• Fish Tank
• The Secret in Their Eyes
• Un Prophet
• In a Day
• Restrepo
• Joan Rivers: a Piece of Work
• Captain America: the First Avenger
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
• Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

This year I was fortunate to seek out and find some extraordinary places and record those experiences with my trusty sidekick (a.k.a. my camera). 

• Central Coast Day 1 | Day 2|  Day 3
• Pie Ranch Farm
• Collins Lake
• Macarons class
• Corn Maze
• Addendum
• Cornerstone Gardens
• Hakone Gardens
• Montalvo Arboretum
• Tango Weekend in Fort Bragg and Mendocino (photos come soon!)

Wow, writing all this out has made me appreciate 2011 even more. I packed a lot into 1 year. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012! And thank you from the very bottom of my heart for reading my little blog!

Image of Mendocino by me

Happy Holidays!

I hope this holiday season is filled with lots of warmth, love, and yummy snacks for you all!

Image by me

Weller House Inn

I had written about the tango workshop I attended a few weeks ago, but I haven't shown you the charming bed-and-breakfast I stayed at and that also hosted the tango workshop - the Weller House Inn. Built in 1886, Weller House Inn is included in the National Register of Historic Places. I love the delicate balance that Weller House Inn achieves in its decor. As soon as you enter the lobby the antique furniture and details help you appreciate the rich history of the building, but the decor is restrained enough so that the ambiance is more charming than spooky. 

The tango classes and milonga were held in a beautiful redwood-panelled ballroom on the top floor. The views from the three windows were so distracting during class. The entire weekend had gorgeous winter sunlight flooding the ballroom that made both the couples indoor dancing look dreamy and elegant and the outside views spectacular. It was hard not to draw my gaze outside and start daydreaming (just like I used to do all the time in grade school). I absolutely loved my room; you can see a small corner of it in the second photo from the top, on the left. With sunlight pouring in from both windows, it felt warm and welcoming after a long drive. It was also nice to have a private room to retreat to after a few hours of dancing. One of my favorite moments was taking off my dance sneakers after the milonga and feeling the warmth from the radiant heating through the floor boards. Another welcome sight was the giant, white clawfoot bathtub in the bathroom, which was decorated with charming floor tiles and a beautiful stained glass window. Taking a long soak in that big tub felt like heaven at the end of the night. I've also got some photos of beautiful Mendocino and Fort Bragg, which I'll share with you soon.

Images by me

Winter Potluck

I just got back from a fun and cozy winter potluck. Before I ran out the door, I snapped a photo of my contribution - an apple, pear, and raspberry crumble. The photo above shows my dessert in its pre-baked state; I thought it would be better to bake it at the hosts' home, so we could enjoy it fresh from the oven. I used Ina's Plum and Raspberry Crumble recipe, but substituted the plums for pears and apples. With a scoop of Three Twins Madagascar Vanilla ice cream on top, I think my variation was a success :) 

Image from me

Tango weekend

Ever since I first saw the trailer for Sally Potter's The Tango Lesson, I've been a fool for Argentine tango. I love the music, I love dancing the tango, and I love watching people dance. I had resolved earlier this year to attend more classes, but then I broke my ankle, so my dancing aspirations had to be put on hold. Earlier this month, I found the perfect event to help me ease back into dancing in the form of a retreat in beautiful Fort Bragg. I was a bit nervous about attending on account of my ankle, but my doctor and physical therapists gave me the "okay" and I substituted my high heels for a pair of unglamorous, yet hyper-comfy dance sneakers (my friend calls them submarines, which made me laugh. It's so true!).

Included in the retreat is a milonga, which was kicked off by an impromptu performance by our awesome instructors.  Watching them glide around the dance floor with so much skill and elegance brought to my mind the line from Singin' in the Rain: "She's so refined, I think I'll kill myself." They just ooze old-school class and glamour and remind me why I love the dance so much.

Images by me