THE CATSKILLS COMES TO FLUSHING TOWN HALL

The Catskills Comes to Queens is a premiere food and wine tasting being held at Flushing Town Hall on August 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This one-of-a-kind tasting event is being produced by Joseph Distefano, owner of New York Epicurean Events that will take place both indoor and at the outdoor gardens.

“All of our chefs will be working with local meats - grass fed beef, heritage pork etc. - sourced from Carmen Valley Farms, Delancey, N.Y., and Larry's Custom Meats, Hartwick, N.Y.” Distefano said. “We've also partnered with AgriForaging, Margaretville, N.Y., which will be sourcing local produce. Some of the other farms they are working with include Straight Out of The Ground and Fossil Farms.

“While no Catskills products will be for sale,” Distefano continued, “all of our chefs will be working with products from the Catskills, including syrup from Brookside Maple, Delancey, N.Y., which Chef Natty Felder of The Astor Room will use in his maple cured Berkshire pork belly with grits and red pepper jelly. Danny Brown will be using foie gras from La Belle Farms in Ferndale, N.Y., in his terrine of foie gras and guinea fowl. Tastings of cheeses from Vulto Creamery, Walton, N.Y. will be available as will chocolate from Fruition, Shokan, N.Y.”    

Michelin-starred chef Hugue Dufour will be preparing a gigantic tagine of lamb and Michelin-starred Danny Brown will be preparing a terrine of foie gras and guinea fowl. Dufour and Brown are just two of the more than 20 chefs who will be cooking at the festivaI. I like to think of it as putting the best product in New York State in the hands of the best chefs at the city's best  venue.

Other confirmed dishes include: Beef tongue sliders with pickled green heirloom tomatoes and black birch bark mayo. FYI tongue is pickled then smoked over maple and oak. Will Horowitz, Ducks Eatery/Harry & Ida’s; Rabbit mortadella hot dogs from Ed Cotton of Sotto 13; Crispy beef tripe with Sichuan peppercorn and jalapeno from Landhaus; Cold smoked beef rib steaks from Fletcher's Brooklyn BBQ; Whole hog from Arrogant Swine; Galactic brisket from Alchemy/John Brown; Braised short rib with tamarind and fruit chutney from Alfonso Zhicay of Casa del Chef Bistro; and Maple cured pork belly with sour cream grits and red pepper jelly from Natty Felder of The Astor Room.

The event marks the rebirth of Josh Bowen's Alchemy Texas BBQ slated to open later this summer.  “Libations will be poured from our friends at Keegan Ales, Awestruck Ciders, and Roscoe Brewing Co.”, Stefano added.

WHAT: The Catskills Comes to Queens, a premiere farm-to-festival food and wine tasting featuring more than 20 chefs as well beer, wine, and cider, and live entertainment 

WHEN: August 1, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, New York 11354
WHO: More than 20 chefs and culinary artisans including, Chef Hugue Dufour of M. Wells Steak House, Chef Ric Orlando of New World Home Cooking, Chef Danny Brown of Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen, Chef Graziano Techie of Mint, Pitmaster Josh Bowen of John Brown Smokehouse, Pitmaster Big Lou Elrose of Charred, Fruition Chocolate, and Vulto Creamery, plus brewers, vintners, cider makers and live entertainment. TICKETS: $95/$76 members through www.flushingtownhall.org

Lincoln Center in the Park

The Lincoln Center Local: Free Screenings series, which offers streams of programs from Lincoln Center’s growing digital content collection to libraries and community centers, including world-class performances from Live From Lincoln Center and other previous live events, has expanding to new venues and new locations this summer. The series is part of Lincoln Center Education’s mission to bring high quality resources and programming options to communities beyond Lincoln Center’s campus in Manhattan.

Free Screenings will be shown on an outdoor screen this summer at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on each Tuesday in August at 8:00 p.m. Showings include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with Bryn Terfel, Emma Thompson and the New York Philharmonic on August 4, the Villalobos Brothers on August 11, Yo-Yo Ma with the New York Philharmonic (2013 Opening Night) on August 18, and the 2012 Richard Tucker Opera Gala featuring some of opera’s leading voices on August 25. In case of inclement weather, the screenings will be held at an indoor space at the Queens Theatre.

“At present, there are just over 30 options of past performance arts events that we offer in the Lincoln Center Local: Free Screenings series”, said Eric Gewirtz, Associate Director, Public Relations. “They range from classical, to world music, to theater, to jazz, and more. Queens Theatre is the only outdoor venue in New York City to present these events.”

Marketing Manager, Thibuld Courtois approached Lincoln Center Education for this project. “With several showings to choose from I selected these particular movies to portray the diversity of the borough”.  Violinists Villalobos Brothers, for instance, have been acclaimed as one of today’s leading Contemporary Mexican ensembles. Their original compositions and arrangements masterfully blend and celebrate the richness of Mexican folk music with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music.

“We will be setting up a 25’ x15’ screen on the festival lawn located behind the theatre and requesting that people bring chairs, blankets as well as their own picnic baskets”, Courtois remarked. “In case of inclement weather, the movies will be shown inside at the 472-seat theatre.” 

In addition screenings will take place in 19 new locations across the five boroughs of New York City. Details about screenings, locations, and times throughout the summer are available at LincolnCenter.org/Local and LincolnCenterEducation.org.

MOVIES TO VIEW

I received another movie screener called HARD DAY, a Korean movie with English subtitles.  Homicide detective Geon-soo Go is having a hard day: in less than 24 hours, he receives a divorce notice from his wife, his mother passes away, and along with his coworkers, he becomes the focus of a police investigation over alleged embezzlement.


Making things worse, on his way to his mother's funeral, Geon-soo commits a fatal hit and run and then, desperately tries to hide the accident by hiding the man's corpse in his deceased mother's coffin. But when Geon-soo gets a mysterious call from a person claiming to be the sole witness of the crime, he realizes that someone has been watching him all along.

Would recommend for its action, mystery and humor.  What would be the next to go wrong with Go’s life?  Keeps you waiting for the next scene.  Fighting? Of course. Nothing really spectacular. 

WOMAN IN GOLD is the remarkable true story of one woman's journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt's famous painting “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, her aunt being the subject. Together with her inexperienced but delving young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.

Shoenberg’s grandfather was the famous composer and coincidentally born in Austria.  As for his life, he had given up his own practice to join a firm who first rejected the pursuit until he found that the painting was worth 100 million dollars.  

There are just enough flashback scenes of Altmann’s life, as well as the holocaust happenings on the streets and in the homes to get it all.  Tatiana Maslany portrays Altmann during the war.  Mirren’s acting is always a winner! 

The Rape of Europa (2206) is a must see precursor  to this movie in the form of a documentary that uses interviews with eyewitnesses and historians and newsreel footage to show how heroic Europeans, Russians, and Americans worked to save the art of Europe during WWII.

The Nazis stole thousands of pieces of art and destroyed many others. But many individuals evacuated art and the American "Monuments Men" helped map out air strikes to avoid the destruction of many masterpieces. It is harrowing and moving to see art restored to the families of Jewish victims of the Holocaust.  Here you will meet the actual people such as Maria Altmann and E. Randol Schoenberg.  You can get this well done documentary via PBS. 

Getting away from the topic of movies to television.  I like to watch cooking competitions to see what the contestants create.  Nine out of ten times the first to be booted is a female.  Nineteen  out of twenty times, if the competition comes down to a male and female, the male is the winner.  What puzzles me is that when the cooks talk about their background, they tend to mention how their mother or grandmother taught them how to cook.  It’s all about what the producers choose.  Judges critique based on their own taste.  My favorite line is “There’s not enough salt”.  I would love to get the count on these judges’ blood pressure. 

Master Chef.  They choose the best dish in the beginning and it’s a guy who wins.  He gets to choose one other person to not have to compete in the next cooking challenge and he opts for guy.  In the end a female goes home.  

I enjoy watching Major Crimes, Rizzoli and Isles and Devious Maids.  Proof follows Rizzoli and that’s pretty good.  It stars Jennifer Beal. 

Got hooked on watching Doogie Howser from 2 to 3 am.  Interesting to see what commercials come up.  A perfect way for women to relax in bed…a coloring book and coloring pencils.   Yes, that’s right.  People who stay up late at night are obviously old.  Commercials for knee pain, back pain, falling and can’t get up.  Don’t they think that younger people fall? 

Finally, the dating online sites.  Christian Mingle says that God is guiding you.  So what happens when the date goes bad or a guy winds up raping the woman?  Does he automatically get forgiven?  Now there is Farmers Only.  What happens if you are black, Jewish and raise cattle? 

How about IAM Broke.com?  First meetings held at a McDonald’s or Wendy’s where you are only allowed to choose two items, the most, from the one dollar menu.  Dates take place by going to places with free admission such as museums on certain days.  Subjects of dates are talking about how you went broke supporting all of those $19 a month causes as well as being in debt because you were forced to buy that $1000 iphone for you and the members of your family.

Gotta go now. Weather on the news says that due to the heat and saving energy, we need to turn off the air conditioner but should be in an air conditioned place.   

WHAT’S HAPPENING

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP COMMUNITY THEATRE Musicals, Musicals, tried and true Musicals.  That’s the scene with Community Theatre in Queens as we start this weekend with Guys and Dolls at the Rockaway Theatre Company.  It appears that they did this production 14 years ago and now with the same director, John Gilleece, bringing it back with a double cast (Just couldn’t turn down all that talent). 

You can see Guys and Dolls July 10, 11, 12 or the last weekend of July 16, 17, 18 and 19.  RTC is located in the Post Building at Fort Tilden.  For tickets and further information go to www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org 

Oklahoma! is the first musical written by the team of composer Richard Rogers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Maggie’s Little Theatre will be presenting this famed production for two weekends beginning on July 18^th.  This one is being performed in the Parish Hall of St. Margaret’s Church in Middle Village, located at 66-05 79th Place (between Metropolitan Ave. and Juniper Valley Rd.).  Performance dates are: Saturday, July 18^th, 8p.m, Sunday, July19^th, 2:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, July 24^th and 25^th, 8p.m. and Sunday, July 26^th at 2:30 p.m.  For tickets and further information call 917-579-5389.

IN STEREO

Movie coming to your local theatre.  IN STEREO centers on David (Micah Hauptman) and Brenda (Beau Garrett), who are perfect for each other and everyone knows it…except David and Brenda.  After they break up, their lives spiral out of control. David self-destructs as an artist while dating an immature woman who sleeps with his best friend. Brenda endues a failing acting career, an eviction notice, and a boyfriend who just doesn’t do it for her.  Brenda’s agent is portrayed by Mario Cantone.

And then chance brings Brenda and David back together on the streets of New York at the worst possible time. 

I saw the screener.  The best part about being able to view a movie either online or a disc is that you can go back to scenes or even the whole movie.  You can’t do that in a movie theatre.  I really had to concentrate on the plot and characters but still had to go back.  I don’t think this one would be up for an award as I did not feel that anything or anyone really stood out enough to deserve one.  Maybe others might appreciate this more than I.  I understand that it was written by someone who had gone through this experience.   The movie is done well and does hold my attention but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it. 

CHOMPING IN WOODHAVEN

I don’t mind cooking.  There are just times that I want to order lunch from the area.  I never order Chinese food as it’s not authentic.  With Hispanic restaurants gone amok, I have found a few that I particularly like on the “cheap but good” factor.  One is Caridad (Dominican) on the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 91^st St.  They make by far the best Cuban Sandwich going.  Large enough to have half for two meals while adding my own salad.  It’s a panini with roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese and pickles and only one of their $7 specials. 

On the other side of Woodhaven Blvd we have a Colombian restaurant called Mi Ranchito on Jamaica Avenue and 96^th St.  They also have daily $7 specials that include soup and entrée.  On Sunday I send out for their oxtail.  Oxtail soup and oxtail entrée…more oxtail, rice and salad. 

Hmmm….it’s lunchtime.  The question is…if you order from Subway, can you get a side order of porn? 

THIS JUST IN!

Peanut Butter & Co., the once cozy little sandwich shop in Greenwich Village, has introduced Mighty Nut – the delicious peanut butter taste people love, with added protein, less fat, and fewer calories. Peanut Butter & Co. is the first natural peanut butter brand to enter the powdered peanut butter segment, which is the fastest growing segment in the peanut butter category.

To create each batch of Mighty Nut, Peanut Butter & Co. starts with quality USA grown peanuts, roasts them, and presses them to remove most of the fat. What remains is protein, fiber, and delicious peanut buttery taste. Each serving of Mighty Nut has 85% fewer fat calories than traditional peanut butter, and with five to six grams of protein per serving, Mighty Nut powdered peanut butter is an easy and tasty way to add protein to any meal or snack. Mighty Nut can be rehydrated and used as a spread or dip, or as an ingredient in baking, cooking, or smoothies. It is available in four delightful varieties: Original, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Flax and Chia. Vanilla and Flax & Chia are both new flavors to the category. Mighty Nut products are Non-GMO Project verified, gluten free, certified vegan, and kosher.

“Peanut butter is a delicious food that is beloved by so many people,” said Lee Zalben, Founder & President of Peanut Butter & Co.  “We’re so glad to be able to offer the delicious flavor of peanut butter with a fraction of the calories.”

I have rehydrated the chocolate and spread on Dave’s Killer White Bread. Need to find some cherry preserves to compliment. Otherwise, it was fine as is. Kind of like having a Reese’s cup spread on bread. Was cooking up some chicken thighs with ginger and scallions. Rehydrated original to a more watery consistency and threw it in. Yummy! Smoothie time! Flax and chia used with Ronnybrook Farms yogurt and a bit of Ronnybrook Farms Creamline milk. I later tried the chocolate powdered peanut butter with some of the Ronnybrook Crème Fraiche as a dessert. Froze it!  OMG! Okay, I just mixed some of the chocolate one into their chocolate chip ice cream.  Hey, it’s vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips and I need my chocolate fix! www.ilovepeanutbutter.com 

I saw a few screeners, one of which was The Big Sky.  Hazel (Bella Thorne), a teenage girl, suffers from a crippling case of agoraphobia. Open spaces to be exact.  So much so that it causes a rift between her and her mother, Dee (Kyra Sedgwick). Hazel and her mother decide to go on a road trip to a desert located treatment facility to help Hazel deal with her fear.  On the way, masked gunmen and brothers Jesse (Frank Grillo) and Pru (Aaron Tveit) attack everyone in the van.  Jesse is donned in a Sheriff outfit.  However, Hazel has been riding in what appears to be a cage.  Hazel now has to battle her fears so she and her mother can survive.  

One of the other female passengers is kidnapped by the gunmen, who later realize that they have not killed everyone.  You now have a time battle between Hazel finding help and the gunmen finding Hazel. 

There certainly is a lot of action and mystery.  It probably does better on the big screen. I found that too many things were predictable.  Pru portrays a typical young brother taking cues and scolding from the elder brother.  Why is it that, in movies, every time a female runs, she trips and falls?  The kidnapping of the girl is being coordinated by someone who kept communicating with Jesse, although I was never clear at the end, who it was.  Although Kyra Sedgewick was great, I did not find her character to be believable with her being shot, heavily bleeding. The movie will not be out until next month. 

Another movie opening this month, the other screener, Frank the Bastard. Synopsis. The film centers around Clair Defina (Rachel Miner), a 33-year old New Yorker who returns to the childhood home she and her father fled after her mother’s tragic and mysterious death.  Arriving in the seemingly quaint town in Maine, Clair encounters and undercurrent of secrecy and hostility, most of it linked to the local bigwig, Cyrus Gast (William Sadler), whose latest land development scheme promises to revitalize the community but is not what it appears to be. 

Most of the town is intimidated by Cyrus, and when Clair starts delving into events, both present and past, she finds herself in jeopardy. As she comes face to face with a dark legacy that has been buried, literally and figuratively, for decades, she also has a series of strange encounters with the enigmatic Frank Byron (Andy Comeau), Cyrus’ bastard son.  In Frank, Clair ultimately finds her only ally in a battle to redeem the crimes of the past.

I found that it took a great deal for me to figure out who is who and who did what to whom.  Gripping, mysterious, and full of action.  OMG…Clair is running through the woods and guess what?  I went hysterical!  The movie is written and directed by Brad Coley. Get a grip, Brad!  This is becoming more than a cliché.  Good ending.  See it on the big screen.