A pink food test
It was a little over a year ago that the I Can Serve Foundation, along with ABS Publishing, and the Lifestyle Network joined forces to create The Pink Kitchen event — two days of culinary treats held at the Rockwell Tent, all in the name of breast cancer awareness. It was so avidly supported that by the close of the first day, people were asking the I Can Serve board members when the second Pink Kitchen would be held, making them promise to make this an annual event. Just like that, the Pink Kitchen became an “institution-in-the-making,” something I Can Serve could look at as a signature fundraising occurrence. Oct. 18 and 19 are the set dates for this year’s version, and with the list of participants, I can see even greater success in store for I Can Serve.
Among the highlights of last year were the Burmese noodle soup of Wynn Wynn Ong, the ensaymadas of Mrs. Cunanan, the sumptuous fare from Everybody’s Cafe and the great main courses prepared by Rob Pengson and Sunshine Puey (now Mr. and Mrs. Pengson). Well, they’re all back for the 2008 event and we’ll also have Dimpy Camara (of the frozen brazo de Mercedes ice cream cake), Gilbert Pangilinan, Mara de la Rama, Cristina Rivera... I could go on and on, just know that if you enjoy food, recognize I Can Serve as a more than worthy cause and would like to do a little bit for the cause, show up on the dates mentioned. With all that’s going on in the world — witness the recent TV special of Just Stand Up to Cancer with all those celebrities and recording stars — it’s nice to see how over the years, we’ve had our own version of people who really care, and are doing something about it. My sister, Lilibeth Virata, is on the ICS board, and on a recent trip to London, her friend Sally Clarke got wind of ICS’ activities and asked what she could do to show her support. Sally’s cookbook was awarded the Glenfiddich prize for Best Food Book of the Year in 2000, and her London resto in Kensington is still one of the city’s finest.
Loli Sy of Focus Global wanted to do her share for ICS, and to anticipate FG’s participation on Oct. 18 and 19, she has also arranged for an exclusive one-day sale event on Sept. 25. This is by-invitation, and all one has to do is register at pinkkitchen@yahoo.com; and enjoy the special offers on the day, covering all the brands that FG carries — Sub Zero, Miele, Wolf, Tempur, Oster, Ethan Allen, etc. That’s indicative of the kind of support ICS enjoys, and how a “community” of like-minded people is constantly being re-enforced. For many, volunteering or just supporting ICS is one way of feeling more fulfilled — and for those attending the Pink Kitchen in October, you’ll definitely be full and really filled! Good food for a good cause that can’t be missed!
With history as teacher
The novels today take history as something malleable, infuse it with imagination and storytelling, and come up with books that are compelling and entertaining. One would have us imagine the ethical implications of artificial beings, the next would give us a frolicking revisionist view of William Shakespeare, and the third, whisks us to Venice, via Istanbul.
The Philosopher’s Apprentice by James Morrow (available at Powerbooks): Morrow is the author of The Last Witchfinder, one of my favorite novels of 2006. He’s always been a curious blend of history, science fiction, fantasy and speculation; and this latest work, Philosopher’s Apprentice is a work that will be subsumed under the scifi/fantasy genre, yet has serious doses of morality and ethics stamped all over it. On the surface, it’s a fantastical yarn about tinkering with genetics and the consequences therein. Our narrator, a philosophy grad student, is whisked to a tropical isle to act as spiritual and ethical mentor to a teenager who reportedly had some accident and had her memory erased. Of course, the “truth” is much more than that, as the girl is a “test tube” adolescent, and she is only one of three reincarnations of Edwina, a geneticist. Landa, Donya and Yolly are all “created” from Edwina, and all vary in age. Notions of what a “moral compass” is all about, the consequences of playing God, and a complex, but never less than fascinating, storyline is what this novel provides.
My Name Is Will by Jess Winfield (available at Fully Booked): I like to think of this novel as Shakespeare in Lust; and I say that in a good way, as this is some frolicking double helix narrative of a story. There’s irreverence in the approach, there’s gusto and enthusiasm, there’s meticulous research, and an obvious love for Shakespeare despite the humorous perspective. One narrative strand has us following the “magic mushroom” adventures of one Will Shakespeare Greenberg, a grad student at a California university during the time of President Reagan’s War Against Drugs of the 1980s; while the second strand gives us THE Bard at the age of 18, confronting his Catholicism during the time of the Reformation, curbing his lust and penchant for sexual adventures, and being forced to marry Anne Hathaway. What is wonderful about this novel is how sympathetic Winfield is to his main protagonists, having them undergo a redemption of sorts despite their character flaws and immaturity. History lessons in such a fun read is a rare find, so don’t miss out on this fine work.
The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin: This is the third installment of what is fast becoming one of my favorite detective series. Goodwin is fascinated by the Ottoman empire, and his unlikely hero is Yashim, a detective, wonderful cook and eunuch at the Istanbul court of the 1830s. Goodwin’s first two novels were The Janissary Tree and The Snake Stone; and this time out, Yashim and his wonderful friend Palewski (the Polish Ambassador to Istanbul) hie to sister city Venice, for an adventure that mixes lost paintings by Masters of the era, foul murder of art dealers and plots hatched by diplomats and royalty. What has always set his novels apart from those writing in the same crime/mystery genre is the very unique character of Yashim, his history; and the detail and research that Goodwin incorporates in providing us a vivid picture of his time and place settings. If you’ve never read a Goodwin novel, do so immediately, but don’t start with this one — the ones set in Istanbul are just too good to miss, and should be your first brush with this series.
