Dinner w/Desjardins‏

After many months of anticipation the evening arrived for our 'Dinner w/Desjardins'.
André aka Mr. Patterson, the distinguished gentleman and his lovely wife, late 50s' but
they look late forties. I have known them almost as long as Bombshell (her aunt & uncle).
A very smart man, who runs a multinational... and found a way for it to work for him
rather than he work for it, like I said...very smart.

Montreal is not just a good eating town, but an opinionated one, too, with deep roots
and a culture all its own. There's always a debate about where to get the best rotisserie
chicken or the most authentic poutine, that classic Québécois belly buster of French fries,
gravy and squeaky cheese curds. Or whether to go to St.Viateur Bagel Shop or Fairmount
Bagel Bakery for sesame bagels that are baked in wood-burning ovens and put New York City's
fluffy bread bombs to shame.... and the best 'foie gras' will always be where David and
Fred apply their craft.

The name conjures up a steakhouse, but actually there's history behind 'Joe Beef'. The
name is in fact that of Charles McKiernan, a legendary 19th century Montreal innkeeper
and working-class hero who offered food and shelter at his Old Montreal tavern (the building
still stands at the corner of de la Commune and de Calière). Stragglers, longshoreman,
beggars and outcasts were admitted to Joe Beef's Canteen in exchange or a bit of light
labor. 'Joe Beef' was a man of the people.'
The place itself isn't 'tres chic' but the reason one goes, isn't for fancy decor, place
settings and cutlery, but it's for the gastronomic explosion. And our palettes exploded!
Dinner at Joe Beef is like being at a dinner party, so tight are the tables, so genial
is the vibe. You chit-chat with strangers in the next tables, very easily…swapping stories
and enjoying more than a few giggles with your friends, as you would at a dinner party...and
last this night was no exception.
We enjoyed great wine from their private cellar... and for our dessert, 'Tourte au chocolat', Frederic (Fred) Morin came to our table, sat with us and we reminisced and caught up just
like old friends do.


* From Where I Sit!
www.fromwhereisit.co

* Restaurant Joe Beef
2491, rue Notre Dame O. @ Atwater
Little Burgundy (514) 935-6504

Life's Journey Dinner @ OTTO

Ladies & Gentlemen,

'Enthusiasm, if fueled by inspiration and perseverance, travels with passion
and its destination is excellence.' ~ Napoleon Hill

Once again another succulent soiree... No surprise the W Hotel slogan is
'Welcome to Wonderland', and OTTO is a perfect feather in that cap...the
women and men... who came to be inspired left enlightened.

Designed by architect Miguel Cancio, the visionary behind the uber-trendy
Buddha Bar and Man Ray in Paris, 'Otto' is all eye candy. Multi-colour stripes,
black on blonde wood. Long, cone-shaped chandeliers hang in a row, leading
to curved banquettes framed in what looks like giant bubble paper. For our
enjoyment music, from Frank Sinatra and Diana Krall were beautifully pulsating
in the background. Votive candles flicker throughout the low-lit space, which
makes the room feel more like a nightclub than a high-end luxury restaurant.
In a restaurant this trendy I would expect nothing less. The hotel literature
describes the cuisine as Italian fusion, like the décor, Otto's menu is a fusion
of styles thanks to our old friend from Cavalli, chef extraordinaire, Frank
Gioffre.
There's a little Italian, some French, a dabble of Middle Eastern, with a
number of upscale ingredients assembled into wonderful dishes. The foodie in
me was in ecstasy from our juicy grilled baby lamb chops, to our Shrimp Tempura,
the Mini burgers, to the Arugula salad, Yellow fin tuna tartar, to our Cavatelli
in a tomato and basil sauce…licking the plate level of unbelievable delicious.
The meat, pan seared Angus tenderloin, rare and flavorful, was the highlight
of the plate. The other main course of grilled red snapper was a fitting finale
to a spectacular meal that lasted hours.
'Otto' may be one of those expensive restaurants in town... but they offer the
best food and service, and all this eye-candy to boot. Score one for the kitchen,
plate presentations are stunning. Score two, ingredients are topnotch. Score three,
service was courteous, professional, as expected, and our servers, beautiful and
very accommodating…are as hot as the patrons, was like that little bit extra. Bravo!

'Remember tonight... for it's the beginning of forever.' ~ Dante Alighieri

Your Cruise Director
Food is my Compass
www.fromwhereisit.co
April 26, 2014

* Ristorante OTTO @ W Montreal
901 Square Victoria
Viger & St.Antoine & McGill
(514) 395-3180 Pasquale Ruffolo
www.ristoranteotto.com

Queen Latifah

Behind the moniker of hip-hop's first lady, Queen Latifah, is Dana Owens,
who was born on March 18th, 1970 in East Orange, New Jersey. She came
from a police family--both her father and older brother were cops, which
would later influence her rhyming style and life philosophy. Owens is of
both African American and Native American... and witnessed both sides
of Black urban life in the USA while growing up.

After a brief stint in a mediocre job, she soon found herself making
waves in the hip-hop music scene alongside 'Ladies Fresh'. At 18 she broke
through in the late 1980s with a style that picked selectively from jazz,
reggae, and soul traditions, from beats produced by 'D.J. Mark the 45 King'.
Her debut single, 'Wrath of My Madness', was released in 1988. A year later,
her debut long-player, 'All Hail the Queen', enjoyed favored reviews: an
old, wise head was evident on the top of her young shoulders.

She was nicknamed 'Latifah' by a cousin while she was in her teens, which
is Arabic for delicate and sensitive, but she has often been anything but
in her rhymes and the messages she sends out through them. One of the most
prominent female hip-hop artists on the scene for over a decade, Queen has
also made tremendous inroads in movies, television, and artist management,
with her company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, alongside her business partner
Shakim Compere.

Miss Latifah is the first female rapper to be nominated for an Academy
Award. Became the first hip-hop artist honored with a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame on January 4th, 2006. Of all her roles to date, her personal
favorite is Cleopatra Sims from 'Set It Off' (1996). My favorites are...
'The Dilemma' (2011) w/Vince Vaughn & Kevin James + 'Just Wright' (2010)
w/Common + 'Living Out Loud' (1998) w/Holly Hunter & Danny DeVito.

* Movie Trivia: Queen was set to star in 'Monster's Ball' (2001) alongside
Robert De Niro with Sean Penn directing. Unfortunately, due to scheduling
conflict, because producers could not set up the film in time... it was
delayed and recast. Her role went to Halle Berry and DeNiro's to Billy
Bob Thornton.



* From Where I Sit!
www.fromwhereisit.co
February 15, 2014

Marcello Mastroianni : Italian Style

'Marcello Mastroianni is the epitome of Italian style. Thanks to his
devotion to basic black suits, French-cuffed dress shirts, and uncomplicated
black ties… he holds the unique honor of proving that breaking boundaries
can be done while adhering to simplicity and tradition.
He knew that the key to style wasn't wearing the most elite labels or most
expensive fabrics. For him, it was all about the fit… and didn't try to
make waves with outrageous colors or excessive detailing, but instead
focused on the cut of his garments. He proved that when the fit is right,
everything else falls into place, and his lasting legacy is an important
lesson: it doesn't matter what you wear, only how you wear it.
That is why his incomparable style doesn't stop at his wardrobe. He
crafted a complete look to ensure that he always wore the clothes and
that the clothes never wore him. His style was in his smile, his stare,
the tip of his sunglasses, the way he crossed his legs, his poise and
posture. No detail was left out, and his commitment to creating a look
that was truly all his own has made Marcello Mastroianni one of the most
difficult style icons to replicate.' ~ ©Frank Borsellino

Movie Review - 'Random Hearts' (1999)

The other night, on one of those pay channels… a movie about to commence... checked
the guide to see it was 'Random Hearts' (1999) starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott
Thomas. I hadn't seen it since it was released... it seemed a lifetime ago... so long
in fact I had no more recollection of the subject, plot or finale. I made myself
comfortable and proceeded to be enveloped by and reminded why Sydney Pollack was a quiet
master of cinema romance. He was brilliant at taking the love particles down the alleys
of timelessness, 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?' (1969)... suspense, 'Three Days of
the Condor' (1975), 'Absence of Malice' (1981) and 'The Firm' (1993)... absurdity,
'The Electric Horseman' (1979) & 'Tootsie' (1982)... and the epics 'The Way We Were'(1973)
& 'Out of Africa' (1985). He's had his misfires… I'm sure, but irrelevant to my
review... all in all, an impressive track record.
'Random Hearts' is based on a 1984 novel of the same name by American author Warren
Adler, who wrote the novel after being moved by the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 disaster.
Our hero, Dutch Van Den Broeck (Harrison Ford - loving the diamond stud earring) is
an appealingly earnest police sergeant who works in internal affairs for the Washington
D.C. police. Our heroine, Kay Chandler (Kristin Scott Thomas, dressed and styled à la
Armani, is so incredibly beautiful) is a brisk, efficient New England, Republican
congresswoman who isn't taken seriously even by those working for her. In part, due to
the fact that she was grandfathered in the seat when her dad, a much-respected, long
standing congressman suddenly passed away. Their two lives and natures are as opposite
as day and night, but what they have in common is a horribly brutal plane crash in which
each loses a spouse. Problem is… neither knows why their partners were flying to Miami—or
if there might be any reason why they were seated next to one another. For a romantic
drama, 'Random Hearts' sure doesn't begin the way you would expect. The film eases us
into the worlds of its two principal characters a Washington D.C. internal affairs cop
and a New Hampshire Congresswoman, with a campaign and a teenage daughter to manage.
Their lives run parallel for nearly an hour of screen time, with Dutch investigating
a pair of crooked cops and Kay preparing for a tough re-election campaign. Drifting
through the background is the event that will bring them together: an airline crash that
claims the lives of Dutch's wife Peyton (Susanna Thompson) and Kay's husband Cullen
(Peter Coyote). With a languid silkiness, director Sydney Pollack lets the characters
develop independently before Dutch's suspicion that Peyton and Cullen were having an
affair sets Dutch and Kay on a collision course.
The pacing may be slow, but the set-up is engrossing and effective. The hint of
mystery behind the deaths sets all the gears of tangled intrigue into motion... the
machinery sharpened with the director's felicity with enthralling narratives. Pollack
and screenwriter Kurt Luedtke, a frequent collaborator, shuttle the charming stars
between a host of locations—the power curves of Washington D.C., the shimmering pastels
of Miami, the golden-brown autumn glow of New England. Then, something surprising
happens:
After a day together in Miami exploring the possible scene of their spouses' infidelity,
Dutch and Kay return home exchanging portentous glances throughout their plane trip.
Finally, in Kay's car at the airport, they surrender to their wanton desires... Harrison
and Kristin generate chemistry when they abruptly hurl themselves at one another. Doomed
liaisons between wounded, grieving souls in dramatic cinema -- case in point: 'Last
Tango in Paris' (1972)-- such films generally focus on the essential emptiness at the
center of the relationship. 'Random Hearts' delves into that kind of psychological pain...
keeps suggesting the potential for genuine affection between Dutch and Kay... something
besides the mutual despair and betrayal that connected them in the first place. As a
result, it feels like a 1940's weeper in the body of a European art film. Two things
I enjoy the most.

* From Where I Sit
www.fromwhereisit.co
December 26, 2013

'Bad Boys'

'The baddest of the 'Bad Boys', the guy who goes all the way back to before the beginning,
has been called many things: the Prince of Darkness, the Tempter, the Bringer of Light. As
portrayed in John Milton's 'Paradise Lost', he was the most beautiful of the Angels before he
rebelled...also the most arrogant. "Better to reign in Hell," he taunts, "than serve in Heaven."
Charisma incarnate, he gets all the good lines and almost all the girls. This fallen Angel,
a primal archetype, is undying: whenever men misbehave we think of him. Robert Lovelace
in 'Clarissa', the Vicomte de Valmont in 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses', 'Don Juan' in print and
in opera, the Willoughbys and Wickhams, wily and wicked, of Jane Austen.
More recently, in real life, fabled Hollywood lady killers like Jack Nicholson and Warren
Beatty come to mind, along with hot tempers Steve McQueen and Sean Connery, and men
for whom 'moderation' is moot-though this is often a consequence of youth, as with Johnny
Depp, Sean Penn, and Colin Farrell. Let's just say there would be very little art without our
attractive little Devils, and centuries of stories would be boring.
The world has always loved its 'Bad Boys', but it wasn't until the movies that we got to
revel in them. Suddenly, in the 1930s, the libertine, gangster, outlaw, scofflaw, public
enemy, serial seducer, bank robber, and sexy barn burner had faces. And what faces!
James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart as bootleggers, the young Clark Gable as a meanie
in black leather, Paul Muni and George Raft as mobsters. Darkness, temptation, light the
black-and-white film of early Hollywood caught it all in deep shadows and grey velvet,
combinations of smoke and pearl. And then there was that gleam, which you cannot get
in Technicolor, those dangerous gleaming eyes with lashes you can count.
Odd how we so often root for the 'Bad Boy', wanting him to succeed, or at least to get
away. Why? Because he's the one with the energy. And though William Shakespeare
wrote that "ripeness is all"… energy is everything. It is light and therefore illumination;
it is movement and therefore change; it tests the boundaries of freedom.' ~ ©Finnegan Bond ± Taipan

'Nostalgia Night @ Globe'‏

Ladies & Gentlemen,

'We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories
we have forgotten.' ~ Cesare Pavese

Nostalgia... The fond remembrances… The talks of the good old days... The bittersweet
reminiscent daydreams of the present-day individual… Emotional... psychological... What
a night it was! Many people find it foolish developing nostalgia. They think it is unwise
to waste the time you have now thinking about the time you had then. Lingering in the
past is neither an admirable nor a notable pastime, and people who allow themselves to
fall into such things should pull their heads out of the sky and focus on the tasks of life
at hand. But there are times when that is just what the doctor ordered... Nostalgia Night
@ Globe was a wonderful remedy... that this individual sorely needed. I believe in a night
filled with funny, easy, and breezy. For smiles, giggles, and winks... And crazy, sexy, cool.
Enjoy my observations.

On a cold November night I truly enjoyed returning to a familiar place and with so many
familiar faces. Saturday was another moment in the pantheon of life's journey. Ms Marilyn,
always a vision, who as of now will become Ms Theron. Her adorable hubby, who interested
everyone on his recent travel to India... and his run-in with cows on a highway (no animals
were injured during the telling of that story). Marco Stiguy keeps surprising me with his
presence. Doris Ronca who never fails to impress on me her desire to get involved and be
very social... in a group she had no previous connection, except moi, she made the trek.
I like Doris. Rocco Capozi, a man in search of a good time, found the right conduit...
the Ladies at my tables. Wendy looked delicious. She has become a true contributor to our
soirées... along with Ms Bove II. I love when people come together and it progresses.
Poppy and her friend Ms Gubitoso were delighted to also be at a place they loved. I did
this dinner on a Saturday due to Poppy's Friday schedule...I hope she appreciated it.
My dear, old friend Virginia... I look across the table and see her smile, and chat with
the other guests, laugh and drink and I'm reminded of the many parties in our youth. My
attorney, who is also my friend, is a constant... and brought to mind Olivia Wilde in
Chaps with her leather pants. I adore that woman!
My partner in crime, who had been absent during the last couple of dinners, did not
disappoint. Thanks Luigi. Finally, Claude and Louise, who had been 'portés disparues'
for an extended period found their way back. They were as delightful, engaging and very
interesting as ever. I missed seeing Claude at my tables. He brings with him a sense of
comfort... and I smiled.

There is a long series of restaurants between Sherbrooke St. and Pine Ave. vying for
your attention. With all the action, eye candy and enticing food, one wonders how to
pick and choose. Is it the space with the most cutting-edge decor? The restaurant known
for its solid cuisine? Or is it the hot spot that boasts the latest celebrity sightings… With
their comely waitresses, groovy colour schemes, and up-to-the-minute menus, Globe
has always been considered 'hot' on all these fronts. While some of its competitors have
cuter waitresses and better chairs, Globe, in my humble opinion, has always succeeded
by offering the full package.
There's a special connection, a bond... if you will, between Globe, myself, along with
my extended family. Bombshell, back when she would go dancing with her girlfriends,
would always start and end her soirées at the Globe bar... because Robbie Pesut (one
of the owners) would always treat her like a lady... and be respectful. My nieces have
been celebrating their birthdays there, since turning eighteen, with each inviting their
respective entourages. Then there's my Godchild, who at the tender age of 5, had the
then-chef prepare for her a special plate of pasta (not on the menu)... Which she always
adored him for it and showed it by bestowing on him a hug and a kiss. He would take
her their famous 'Tourte au Chocolat' to enjoy at the bar, while I savored my cigar.
You see children, once upon a time, smoking, even a cigar, was tolerated in our fair
city. The good old days!
The present kitchen c.e.o., Jean-François Baril has returned the Globe to its former
glory and rightful place above the fray of restaurants, bistros, and ristorantes, all along
the strip. Along with the chef de cuisine, comes a refreshed ambiance, a new look for
the waitresses, and the sense of a new beginning for this landmark eatery.

Globe's cuisine exploits organic and local produce to its fullest. This kitchen lets the
quality of ingredients do the talking. We begin our culinary adventure with a platter of
oysters and shrimps. Along with several flutes of Proseco... then the panoply of pièces
de resistance commence... The first four courses of pure delight to our palate. Gaspor
pork belly with an Asian bbq sauce and water chestnuts was divine. A beet salad with
pistachios, ricotta and sumac which added a lemony taste was sublime and best epitomizes
what this restaurant is all about, sophisticated simplicity. Crispy buttermilk fried chicken
with Iceberg, ranch dressing and bacon gravy. Octopus wrapped in a tortilla with corn,
Coriander & Tequila. The flavors were bursting in our mouths... very tart.

'Cortes de Cima' 2010 from Portugal was our wine selection... aged 12 months in French
and American oak... featured an exuberant nose, exhaling perfumes of vanilla. Subtle
aromas of ripe black fruits and freshly ground spices were also present.

One of the main courses was a bowl of Cavatelli and braised Stanstead rabbit with
Romano beans and sage. The cornucopia of varied ingredients made my beak wet... and
wanted to steal Ms Theron's bowl. Love Bugs Bunny!
The following choice was a swordfish in a mango curry, with bok choy and king oyster
mushrooms. Another delectable selection of combined additives... My choice was pristine
slivers of grilled hanger steak with string beans, chorizo and shoestring fries... every
morsel tender, juicy and perfectly cooked. I abhor meat that's so rare and bloody, you
expect it to get up and walk away at any given moment.

Our gorgeous server, Rachel, easily fits Globe criteria with charm and professionalism
to spare of a model and/or actresses-in-waiting - a hallmark of Globe.

Fans of HGTV's 'The Property Shop' even got an extra treat... A Canadian television
'docu-soap' that follows Tatiana Londono, an ambitious, hard-working real estate broker
who struggles to balance family life with work, and do it all with style. Well the woman
does have style, and class to boot. One of the guests at the table, Bove Sister II, is a
HUGE fan and noticed her at the adjacent table. Since Ms Londono and I have been
Facebook buddies for some time... I shimmied my way to her table and introduced
Ms Bove to Ms Londono... Ms Bove was in Heaven and Ms Londono was the most
gracious... and I smiled!

As the crowds prove, by the sound and fury a tell-tale of the mood among the diners,
who were out in droves... Globe remains the perfect choice if you're up for the hullabaloo
of the St. Laurent scene.

I find incurring the silent wrath of nostalgia to be a beautiful process. When I flashback
to a memory it incites a lingering, melancholy emotion from somewhere deep inside;
almost as if I'd give up absolutely anything to feel the way I did then, just for one more
day. I adore remembering or finding things that make me feel that way. It may sound
absurd... but I'm an acquired taste.

'I am deeply touched - not as deeply touched as you have been coming to this dinner,
but nevertheless it is a sentimental occasion.' ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

But don't get me wrong. I certainly do not consider myself one of those people who
would willingly trade the present for the past. Nostalgia, for me, is simply remembering
the many young escapes I had into my own little, warm-and-fuzzy world; the only place
where I truly found myself happy back in those days. Days before the careful rusting
and stripping away of my childhood innocence... days before both world and self-realization.
Days before unpleasant influences tainted my mind and morphed me into the individual
I've come to be. I yearn for those days, but at the same time, I don't. That's what
nostalgia means to me.

Serendipities, happenchance, and surprises... Friends and strangers come together for
one purpose... To be inspired...

'Looking to the past can give you hope and comfort for the future, but never let
yourself forget how to press onward.' ~ ©Frank Borsellino

Life is short... Live your dream... Share your passion... A la prossima!

Namaste ±
Your Cruise Director
Food is my Compass
www.fromwhereisit.co
November 9, 2013