Songs Of The Year

Thank you Jhene Aiko for making R&B crazy, sexy and very, very cool again.

I'm a sucker for any Ronettes-inspired song and Lykkie backs up the wall-of-sound with a big, gutsy, and passionate vocal (in a good way, not like annoying American Idol screamers).

Vodka and tonic - a wonderful crooning performance from Mr National, Matt Beringer, beautifully complimented by Sharon Jones.

Beautiful dreamy, Duran Duran'ish sounding track (to my ears) that took me away to another place.

"What'ya gonna do when I Maa Nonu you!" Should have been NZ's official Rugby World song - finest sports song since "World In Motion."

Medici Kitchen and Bar

The united colours of Italy on a plate. 

Whatever your pre-conceived thoughts and views about Bangkok throw them out the window.

While it's not changing at the same rapido pace as major Indian and Chinese cities, Bangkok is hardly snoozing with interesting new malls, buildings and hotels opening on a regular basis.

A terrific example is the new Hotel Muse Bangkok (HMB) on Soi Langsuan. This former apartment has been nipped, tucked and facelifted into a chic, elegant central city boutique hotel. Design-wise, it tastefully blends 19th-century French architecture and style with King Rama V era furnishings and art.

I'm terrible re: interior descriptions - but this line from an article nails it pretty well.

"Think dark woods, black and silver trimmings, immense white enamel bathtubs with silver feet."

A great place for a Goodfellas-styled sit down.

As with many hotels, HMB boasts a host of eateries and bars and last week, we dined at the Medici Kitchen and Bar. A walk down the sweeping staircase takes you to a spacious and luxurious Tuscan-inspired eatery featuring brick walls, faux wine barrels, leather banquettes, two large private dining rooms and a roasting spit.

Opulent yes, but not over-the-top opulent. And just when I thought I had seen it all in Bangkok, the Medici experience was intensified with a pre-dinner opera performance from a group of young singers!

Operatic theatrics over, it was time to order and eat. The Medici menu includes a good selection of pasta, seafood, meat and tapas type dishes - not huge - but more than enough alternatives for everyone. The wine list is also generous.

Beef tenderloin with a red wine sauce.

My main was excellent - seared tuna served with a tomato salsa, rocket lettuce and a zesty dressing. My buddy's seafood kebab was impressive as was the beef tenderloin with red wine sauce wolfed down by my wife and daughter. We also enjoyed a steamed mussel and seafood platter starter.

The show-stopper however, was Medici's signature truffle ravioli that tasted as good as it looked.

All up, a memorable, if a slightly pricy (for BKK but v reasonable anywhere else in the world) dining experience and perfect for a special treat.

A word of warning - if you are allergic to Bangkok's 'hi-so' crowd, you may want to find another place.

The Medici signature dish - the truffle ravioli. It tasted as good as it looked.

Headshot (Fon Tok Kuen Fa)

The lone wolf assassin (The American), vigilante/samurai (Drive) cinematic theme that's in vogue right now continues with Fon Tok Kuen Fa (Headshot) - the latest offering from acclaimed Thai director, Pen-ek Ratanaruang.

Although the film's "good cop who is blackmailed, gets shot and damaged, and has to break bad and also battles moral demons" plot, is not new - and has a couple of creaks - Headshot is compelling, stylish and engrossing.

It's beautifully filmed and viewers are kept on their toes thanks to a non-linear storyline and abrupt changes in pace - often languid, then jolted with rapid fire action scenes.

In addition, the main lead actors Nopachai Jayanama, Chanokporn Sayoungkol and Cris Horwang are incredibly attractive and have presence, lots and lots of the stuff actualy. As well, local rapper, Joey Boy burns up the screen in his brief, but intense appearance as a well-dressed, psychotic, unhinged torturer.

Headshot is also topical and relevant with the director taking subtle pot shots, throughout the film, at the evils of corruption, nepotism and capitalism gone wild.

Finally, after watching so many films set in New York or Los Angeles, it's refreshing and pretty bloody wonderful to see an atmospheric and beguiling Bangkok showcased so brilliantly on celluloid.

Go see - but be patient - let the film's charms wash over and slow boil into your mind and body.

Headshot web site

Long Journeys Wear Me Out...

Jack Dee (far left) and the other excellent characters in Lead Balloon

But they provide a good opportunity to catch new movies and a host of TV shows in a single (albeit uncomfortable) sitting.

My 11-hour haul from Auckland to Bangkok began with a light starter - an hour of UK chef, Rick Stein driving and eating across Spain.

With his easy going TV manner and approach, Rick comes across as a bloody good bloke. My beef with his show, and similar offerings, is that unlike us in the real world, Rick never eats a horrible dish or dines at a rank restaurant.

Rick's culinary saunter was followed by romcom "Friends With Benefits" (FWB). Don't ask me why but romcoms are long haul cinematic faves. Maybe watching beautiful people living beautiful lives eases the pain of sitting in a tin can for 10+ hours. 

Rocco - a real person or a celebrity chef cyborg?

FWB wasn't awful - in fact, this film about a fuck buddy relationship that goes wrong then comes right (I think), is filled with plenty of good lines.

On this performance, Justin Timberlake to me, is a better support player than main man. By comparison, his sparring partner, Mila Kunis, has way more acting and comedic chops. But the film's real star is Woody Harrelson who crackles and pops in his brief time on screen.

More New Yorkers falling in and out of love was next on the viewing schedule with "Something Borrowed" (SB) - a long-winded stinker. SB strives to realise comedic and dramatic ambitions but fails to hit ether target. The only saving grace was the performance of John Krasinsky as the smart but lonely guy, while Kate Hudson was annoying to say the least. Avoid!!!!

After this flatulent dross, I needed some Food Channel escapism and "Rocco's Dinner Parties" sated this hunger. However, one question? Is host Rocco DiSpirito a real person or a celebrity chef cyborg? The man is too perfect to be true.

There was more goodness with my final selection, two episodes of "Lead Balloon," a comedy series co-written and starring Jack Dee, a leading UK comedian. He plays a washed up, delusional TV star who thinks his best days are still ahead of him. It's not dissimilar to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" but triumphs nonetheless thanks to its Britishness and host of terrific support characters and actors.

KK

I'd just about given up hope of finding a half-decent South East Asian eatery in Auckland.

Thanks and praise then to the chefs and owners of KK restaurant in Epsom for preparing and serving delicious, affordable and 'real thing' Malaysian cuisine.

Like many of the best dining places in Asia, KK is an unpretentious gem where substance (well cooked and flavoured food) is more important than style (flashy decore, waiters with attitude and Buddha Bar soundtracks).

And as it's well established, KK has built a loyal customer base and is always full, or close to.

Tofu genius - crispy on the outside, like custard on the inside.

As the menu is sizeable, food selection was left to our Malaysian food expert who ordered a spicy stir fried eggplant dish, deep fried tofu drizzled with crunchy peanuts, a sweet chilli sauce and sliced cucumbers, chicken curry (the house speciality and worthy of its status) and mummy's ribs - spare ribs grilled with a sweet, sticky sauce and covered with sesame seeds.

Every plate was a tasty winner - why? Unlike many Asian eateries in Auckland, the KK food was well seasoned (not too sweet or salty) and bang on in terms of "true-to-Malaysia" flavours.

In addition to the top-notch cuisines, the night was extra enjoyable thanks to the company of old friends - we swapped work war stories including epic typos encountered in our respective careers such as eight cups of sugar cake recipes.

No ingredient fails at KK and for an intermittent spice junkie like me - it's one of the best places in Auckland for a decent hit of sambal and chilli padis.

KK address and contact information

RIP Smokin' Joe

Rest in peace Smokin' Joe.

Joe Frazier was the ultimate warrior and while he racked up more life experience miles than money, he commanded absolute respect from opponents and fight fans alike. If there was an 'all-time most feared pugilists' list, I've no doubt Joe would be number one.

The shots he and Muhammad Ali threw in the 70s were felt, and cheered on around the world, including my tiny hometown in New Zealand. Their titanic clashes, and other classics of the time, involving George Foreman, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes and others were must watch events at home.

Even though live TV coverage then was blurry, badly shot and over-saturated (colour-wise), the fights generated the same levels of anticipation and excitement as a rugby test match. It was a golden age for the sport and at my school you were either in the Ali or Frazier camp.

I was a huge Ali fan (still am) but really warmed to Frazier in recent times especially after watching the excellent "Thriller In Manila" documentary. Respect Joe and wherever you are now, I hope you have great people in your corner.

If You Can't Stand The Peat....

If you can't stand the peat, avoid Rex Attitude (RA), a peat-smoked golden ale produced by the Yeastie Boys, a couple of clever, innovative and (it seems) hard case Kiwi brewers.

Shock was the immediate response after my first slug - I thought someone had poured three shots of Laphroaig into a glass of lager and stirred.

Here's the product description from the RA beer label....
... Rex Attitude is inspired by French techno and the whiskey of Scotland's west coast. Like the 'Auld Alliance' it combines a little Scottish rogue with a dose of French 'je ne sais quoi.' It is as far we know the world's first beer made from 100% heavy peated distilling malt.... 

But once you get over RA's unusual flavour combination, it's like the best albums in your music collection, a slow burner that delivers a rich, rewarding and refreshing drinking experience.

It also packs a Manny Pacquiao-like punch. No surprise, given its scotch whiskey roots, and at 7%, RA is best supped and savoured rather than slam dunked.