Food and film, entertaining in the time of quarantine
JUST A THOUGHT:
“I’m just someone who likes cooking and for whom sharing food is a form of expression.” – Maya Angelou
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FOOD AND FILM: There are hundreds of films with food or cooking as background listed on the internet.
Some of them, we are familiar with, or have seen in the cinema, allowing us a vicarious thrill in partaking of excellent food while watching everything roll out in a good film. Some even date back to the early years of cinema.
Titles like “Eat Pray Love,” “No Reservations,” “Julie and Julia” and “Chocolat” come to mind, tease the taste buds.
There are also “Babette’s Feast,” “Like Water for Chocolate,” “Eat Drink Man Woman” and “Ratatouille.”
Locally, there’s Olivia Lamasan’s “Kailangan Kita,” which presented Bicolano cooking, and, from long ago and far away, back in the 70s, Ishmael Bernal’s Walang Katapusang Tag-araw, which extolled our well-loved carinderia culture.
These films capture in one fell swoop two of man’s basic interests: eating and entertaining, food and film. ***
CINEMA MENU: In the days prior to COVID-19, an experience at the cinema is made complete with munch food.
In an earlier timeline, moviegoers, including our grandparents, simply munched on either boiled or roasted peanuts. Even good old hopia.
The easy choice among today’s young, however, is the popcorn and soda combo, a habit we picked up from Americans.
From them, we also patterned our Cineplexes, sets of four or more movie screens housed under one roof, usually a mall.
These days, the cinema menu has expanded to include hot dog, burger, potato fries, nachos, and other sandwiches. Plus an array of various other drinks, milk tea, fruit shake, café latte, mocha.
Under whatever form of quarantine, enjoying these visual and gustatory treats will have to wait for a while, pending arrest of the wild, wild virus, and the coming of a much anticipated great vaccine.
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INSTANT COOKS: Over three months of quarantine have made instant cooks out of many. Strictly homebound and restricted from going out, “inmates’’ turn to all sorts of activities to fill up the smallest hours of lockdown.
Easily the most popular pastime enjoyed by many as I see them on social media (we used to source rumors from the grapevine, but not anymore) is cooking. My own family is no exception.
While many of us rejoice over our small victories at the kitchen, there’s nothing like eating our favorite dishes from their original sources in their natural settings. Good thing many restaurants have reopened, though on takeout basis only.
That seems better than craving forever and a day, my children say.
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TAKE-OUT IS IN: Because our favorite Botejyu (and the rest of the boutique restaurants under Viva International Food and Restaurants, Inc.) has been the first to feed me new info on their current status, allow me to dwell on the subject and to go foodie today.
Viva, better known as a content provider of movies, music and TV programs, has been in the food business for
at least 20 years.
One of its divisions ran restaurants and music bars. Another handles food catering during shoots.
The Viva conglomerate has partnered recently with leading Japanese restaurant groups to introduce them in Manila.
Here are some of their new tastier choices:
BOTEJYU BUNS: Osaka’s premier specialty restaurant provides a box of assorted hot buns.
To quote: Bite into soft Japanese rice buns, get through that crispy layer of fried chicken karaage and fill your mouth with that satisfying sweet and savory marinated soft meat or just get right into that juicy piece of grilled bbq pork bun. WINGZONE YOUR HOME: Wingzone, one of the fastest growing global chicken and burger chains from the US, has made available ready-to-cook favorites of chicken wings, drumsticks and strips packed with their secret breading mix. Plus 2 flavors or dips of your choice (Sweet with No Heat, Sweet and Spicy).
RAINBOW OVER PAPERMOON: Papermoon Café brings color to your celebrations with its signature millecrepe cake made special with layers of rainbow colors. Match this with milk tea goodness.