10.16.20
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Devour 9.5 with Bread in the Bones. It’s a Guilty Pleasure

Devour Food & Film Festival

Location: Al Whittle Theatre
450 Main St
Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Date: Friday, Oct 23, 2020
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Buy In-person screening or Online Tickets here

* includes the short Alchemy.
* physical event includes a Q&A after the film with director Darrell Varga and Festival Host Bob Blumer.

The cultural history of bread is not just about how people come together to bake, but also with its influence in Western Civilization. The analogies made in Bread in the Bones is simply amazing as it delves into different platforms of expression. From edible art by Salvador Dali to poetry by Lewis Carroll, there’s a lot to this loaf’s hold in various aspects of life which I didn’t even realize!

I won’t discuss the politics as it’s not my thing, but I will say many Bakers, authors and historians (sorry, no candlestick makers) are featured in this scrumptious documentary made by baker, professor and film historian Darrell Varga. He’s travelled off the beaten track to gather different stories to feature in his work. Stu Silverstein stands out because while he may look like a stoner from the 70s, he has a lot of far out wisdom to note.

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10.16.20
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LAAPFF 2020 The Chef on Tolerance in Ethnic Places

Sometimes, you never know where some of the best wisdom can come from in the kitchen in this sci-fi short.

Ed Sum's avatarOtaku no Culture

The Chef / Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2019(SSFF & ASIA 2019)By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available to viewers in Southern California (excluding San Diego County) from Oct 1 at 12pm PT to Oct 31, 2020 at 11:59pm PT. Click here to watch the film on Eventive.

Hao Zheng‘s short film, The Chef is eerie in the sense that we are already replacing workers with robots. The documentaries I’ve looked at earlier this year show how they can be helpful in various situations. From therapy to companionship, just where is the line drawn? Writers Ithaca Deng and Leqi Vanessa Kong can easily take a page out of Star Trek: Picard (or vice versa, when considering the original release date) if they wanted to expanded on the idea.

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10.14.20
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Who Doesn’t Want a Cocktail after Bartender’s 15th Anniversary Release?

Bartender | World of Yamaguchi HoshikoComing to home video on Jan 19, 2021
BARTENDER 15th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is available for pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com

The best-selling Japanese manga Bartender by Araki Joh and illustrated by Kenji Nagatomo is a charming and heartfelt anthology series which can be served at any time of the year! When the Victoria Film Festival’s Art of Cocktail has been cancelled due to Covid-19, I had to consider where else I can get my education on fine wine, and this news arrived at the right time!

This anime has a worldwide cult following because it’s not out to promote alcoholism. It’s more so about how to help people look at life with fresh new eyes. Part of the narrative includes offering to the customer the right drink so that after sipping from it, they’ll feel reinvigorated. This acclaimed series is directed by Masaki Watanabe (Battle Spirits, Bakumatsu, KADO – The Right Answer), written by Yasuhiro Imagawa (Giant Robo the Animation) and produced by Palm Studios.

To know all the drinks offered not only in manga and also in the animated series does require a distributor knowing what discerning taste testers want! Shout! Factory and Anime Limited (UK) partnered up to do just that. Though the many brews will be from the anime, the best of from the manga (for this October season) includes:

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10.14.20
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Devour! Celebrating 10, er 9.5 Years & Going Online for Cineaste Foodies!

October 21-25, 2020

www.devourfest.com

Devour! 9.5 is Wolfville, Nova Scotia‘s ultimate film and food festival. This year, they’re going online because not everyone will head out to get their taste of two worlds. I’m glad this event is happening, and though I could travel out there to it, I’m still saving my monies for when certain comic book conventions starts up again in 2022.

When compared to at home in Victoria, British Columbia, the decision to not run Feast and Art of Cocktail (which would have took place this month) by the organization which runs these events is a wise one. We are a bigger town, with a greater chance to spread a certain virus and when compared to Wolfville, perhaps it’s best to run with the wolves.

I’m glad to discover that across the country, I can still get my mohito from the agricultural heartland of Eastern Canada. Plus, and it’s a thriving wine region! Ice Wine anyone? For anyone missing a feast for the senses, I’m happy to report that I’ll be covering this event remotely and hope I can get some of the non-perishable treats couriered cross country. This festival promises to be a good one.

I corresponded with the organizers to learn more about this event.

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10.14.20
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Almost Home on the Range with Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub

Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub
7806 East Saanich Rd
Victoria, BC

Hours: 11am to 11pm, Sun to Sat
Phone: (250) 652-1575

The Prairie Inn is one of those cozy out of the way places for good bites to fill you up! I’ve been here a few times with pals who live in this Brentwood Bay area. They heartily recommend it, but with my critical tastes, it’s hard to say what’s worth ordering every time.

Plus, when this operation is older than me and has their faithful clientele, it’s tough to beat that reputation. I see that they keep up with the traditions of themed nights for every day eats. Although, with the season, the ambience is says it all more than the bites. I’m fairly sure the building is also haunted, and I’d love to return on a paranormal expedition!

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10.07.20
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Bubble Tea, Dat Tea or Ding Tea? The Troubling Decisions

Ding Tea
Unit #108, 3749 Shelbourne St.
Victoria, BC

Hours:
Sun to Sat 12pm to 11pm
Phone:
(778) 265-8622

Bubble teas aren’t the healthiest of drinks, and it really depends on the quality of the ingredients used. Ding Tea is a franchise operation which takes the latter seriously, and they’ve been around for four years.

When I’m seeing more competing specialty shops open in this city–the latest is Black Ball Taiwanese Dessert Café on Yates–I feel its time to start rating all the operations.

The main office claims this chain has fresh libations, and when I always see a line-up of customers at the Shelbourne Mall operation every time I’m here here to catch pocket monsters in Pokemon GO, I knew it’s time to try them out! The area is a frequent hotspot for good finds and this franchise should seriously consider sponsoring stops when considering there’s diners in every country! Like the AR game, the faithful carry more than one sweet pet in hand. I’m not sure if this loyal fan base is new or old. Border restrictions to prevent COVID-19 have lightened, but they are technically still in place.

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