Street Food Revolution

Food trucks have been around in the U.S. for a while, but they're usually cheap, convenient lunch eats, offering burritos, hoagie sandwiches, and the like. 7-11 type food on wheels and that's already heated. Something you eat because you have no time or money, and you're tired of the vending machine. Nothing exciting.

For the last few years, a new breed of food trucks, food carts, and pop-up food places have been springing up around town in San Francisco. Fusian foodie stuff that creatively mixes all kinds of International flavors—French tacos with seared foie gras, Filipino Sisig wrapped in seaweed like a handroll, handmade organic ramen, creme brulees, pies, chai tea, etc. One of Aaron and my favorites is Chairman Bao, especially their melt-in-your-mouth pork belly in a Chinese bun. They also have the most creative-looking truck! And, well, our good friend Claire worked on it too ;-)

This new breed of digitally-savvy food vendors often use Twitter to let you know where they are. So when you're out and about town, tipsy after happy hour and hungry, you can check out who's nearby from your Twitter feed.

Also, these trucks sometimes gather in one location, to attract more customers with their collective variety. One of these gatherings, Off the Grid, is now happening regularly on Friday nights at Fort Mason. Last Friday was one of those super-wintry San Francisco summer nights, but it didn't stop us or the other people in the crowd from going to check it out!

I miss the late night "dai pai dong" hawkers in Asia, but this is quite a nice substitution.

Vanilla, lingerie and tea

I want to share three blogs I really like.

Vanilla & Lace is a new discovery through a friend's Facebook post. When I saw these bloomers, I felt inspired to take the sewing machine out of storage! I decided to subscribe because I like her photos, and enjoy reading about the things that this blogger has made.

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The way some women obsess about shoes, I do about lingerie! La Petite Coquette satisfies and stokes that obsession. I love being teased by the latest designs from my favorite designers, being introduced to new designers I didn't know, and tempted with news of sales and promotions.

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Stephane at Tea Master's inspires me with his beautiful photography and thoughtful tea rituals. I love seeing what tea ware he has decided to pair with his tea choice, and how he creates the perfect environment to enjoy it. He alternates between writing in French and in English.

Whisky on my mind...

I have fallen in love with whisky. A particular one, to be precise.


The Glenrothes 1985 Single Speyside Malt

We first met at the Nihon Whisky Lounge in San Francisco. We have had dinner upstairs in their restaurant area with some friends. I was ready to venture beyond the Glenmorangie whiskies, and asked the bartender, Amanda, for her recommendation. I don't even remember what it was I had, because it didn't matter.

I had a sip of the creamy golden nectar that Amanda had poured for my friend, and was so enchanted that I ordered one for myself. And then another. That was the beginning of my love affair with the Glenrothes 1985.

Good news is that the vintage is not yet sold out, and there are 7 bottles still at K&L San Francisco. Bad news is that, even at a discount, it's U.S.$100 for a bottle. Not the kind of money that a novice whisky drinker and struggling filmmaker should spend.

So, to satisfy my burning desire, I've watched the videos and read the history of making Glenrothes whisky on their website. I've searched the web for tasting notes and reviews. And, I went to K&L, to admire and appreciate the beautiful bottle of 1985 that they have locked behind their "rare whiskies" glass case.


I think of this as a long courtship. I learn everything I can about my whisky during the long wait, which will make the consummation so much more delightful when the time comes.

Nadekifuda

This is an event done every year at the district where I live. The district chairman will go knocking at everyone's door to ask if you will like to have a 'Nadekifuda'. This little piece of wood called 'Nadeki' (short form) cost around 200yen, where you will write down your age and name on it, and then wipe around your body with it. The district chairman will then come back to collect them and have them burnt in the shrines. So as to bless you for safe driving. Some shrines have them for good health to take away your illness or to fulfill your wishes.

I love this word called 'Tsunagu' (繋ぐ), which means to pass it on. It's always so nice to know that some traditional customs are still going on so as to bring the history to the next generation. I know its a shame that I might not be that fascinated in chinese culture (not that I don't like it), but I love japanese culture very much. And sometimes it is very sad to see so many traditional techniques extinguish away. How I hope this high quality techniques from the pass will pass on to the next generation - Tsunagu

(I will try to introduce some techniques later!)

Two Silent Stars Still Enchant 80 Years Later

If there is a decent silent film community or festival near you, I highly recommend attending a few screenings, with live music preferably. Watching a classic silent film on a huge screen, accompanied by great musicians, is an amazing experience.

That's what I did last week. Saw G.W. Pabst's "Diary of a Lost Girl," starring Louise Brooks, and Bu Wancang's "A Spray of Plum Blossoms" (一剪梅), starring Ruan Lingyu (阮玲玉). I first learnt of Ruan when I saw the movie about her starring Hong Kong movie star Maggie Cheung. They had clips of the original Ruan in the film. But I've never had a chance to actually see one of her films, so this was a treat.

A Snapshot in Time

I find it fascinating that almost all silent films come from this narrow period of time, roughly 1915 to 1930. The roaring 20s in Berlin, and the height of old Shanghai's "Paris of the Orient" heyday. People wanted to forget the horrors of WWI. There was a powerful sense of stepping away from the past into modernity. It was the period of the Dada movement, Art Deco, and Bauhaus design. The image of the Modern Woman was being created and celebrated. No more corsets or long, dowdy skirts! The short bob haircut was popularized by Louise Brooks, and in Shanghai, screen sensations like Ruan Lingyu modernized the cheongsam and turned it into a fashion trend in the East.

Crossing Borders

It is also interesting to see how international culture was around the world. Louise Brooks' character wore a robe with Japanese characters at some point. In "A Spray of Plum Blossoms," English intertitles followed the Chinese ones. And they weren't just bland subtitles—they were designed to fit the plot. For example, the intertitles for a "wanted" notice was done to look like a real "wanted" poster, like in a Western film.

Great Storytelling is Timeless

The best part of these films is that, for all their artistry, they do not fail to captivate and move you with great storytelling. For me, that's what films are all about—a great story that pulls you in, you become immersed in the characters' world, and you feel their struggles and hopes and dreams. And the best films can do that across time!

Shinboru (Symbol) by Hitoshi Matsumoto

Curious movie by a Japanese comedian. Saw it yesterday with my Asian Cinephiles Meetup Group. I enjoyed it. Although I can see myself hating it on a different day!

By the way, it was my first MeetUp event. Loved it. Great way to find and make new friends around similar passions.

Askinosie—Authentic Single Origin Chocolate

It's not often that you see the picture of the farmer on your chocolate package. That's why these chocolate bars from Askinosie Chocolate caught my eye the other day.

It's not just a pretty picture of farmers in the generic "oh isn't it charming?" style. It is THE picture of THE farmer who grew THE cacao beans that went into THE chocolate bar you see right in front of you.

This is for folks who care to appreciate chocolate the way wine lovers care about wine. Rather than generic chocolate, you can find out whether you prefer Arriba Nacional 70% dark chocolate grown by Vitaliono Saravia in Ecuador, or Trinitario 77% dark chocolate grown by Peter Cruz in the Philippines. And for the chocolate snob, you can distinguish between the different "choc-o-lots" much like wine snobs can tell you what vintage years are the best.