I attended “Wine and Travel Week” in Porto, Portugal in February. The takeaway was that wine is only a gateway into tourism. Yes wine and wineries are a great attraction for many but broaden that experience to include, gastronomy and local cultural sights and you have “wine tourism”. This is the reason so many wineriesContinue reading “RKS Tea Meister: Hysson Green Tea from Gorreana in the Portuguese Azores”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
RKS 2023 Film: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: “B-Side: For Taylor”: A Trail of Rejection and Misery
The 2021 American film “B-Side: For Taylor” is a trail of rejection and misery. The solution or a possible attempt at obtaining it lies on the B-side of a cassette tape. Do you remember those 45 records years ago. The hit was on side A and the filler was on side B. Being a reviewerContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: “B-Side: For Taylor”: A Trail of Rejection and Misery”
RKS 2023 Film: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: “Dinner is Ready”
Korean-American Julie was to visit her mother Yeonhee in another U.S. city for a meal. A very special occasion but due to a rescheduled business meeting Julie can’t make the dinner with her mother and calls her to tell she will be arriving the next day. The brutality of fate shows its ugly face withContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: “Dinner is Ready””
RKS Literature: Madame Hortense’s Mini Cretan Hotel (Zorba the Greek)
“Madame Hortense’s miniature hotel consisted of a row of age-old bathing cabins glued together one behind the other. The first cabin was a store; it sold candy, cigarettes, Arabian peanuts, lamp wicks, kindergarten alphabet books and frankincense. Four other cabins in succession were the sleeping quarters. Behind them, in the courtyard, were the kitchen, laundry,Continue reading “RKS Literature: Madame Hortense’s Mini Cretan Hotel (Zorba the Greek)”
RKS 2023 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely Disappoints
We try a Brigaldara Valpolicella Ripasso from Italy of course. Valpolicella rarely disappoints with an easy drinking personality. Mellow, smooth and warm perhaps is a good way of describing it. And to continue in non-technical terms choco cherry! 50% Corvina, 25% Corvinone and 25% Rondinella. What does this Ripasso mean? It derives from the verbContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely Disappoints”
RKS 2023 Film: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: “Liquor Store Dreams”
Self titled “liquor store baby” So Yun Um recounts her story as the child of Korean immigrant South Los Angeles liquor store owners in the documentary “Liquor Store Dreams”. In the late 80’s Um says that 70% of all liquor stores in South Los Angeles were owned by Koreans. She also has her Korean friendContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: “Liquor Store Dreams””
RKS Literature: Young Men as Wild Animals (Zorba the Greek)
“What is this raging lunacy that makes you pounce on another human being who has done nothing to you and bite him, cut off his nose, help yourself to his ear, and tear open his belly while calling upon God to come down and help you, which means for him, too, to slice away nosesContinue reading “RKS Literature: Young Men as Wild Animals (Zorba the Greek)”
RKS 2023 Film: “Nathan-ism”: Nathan Illusion or Nathan Reality or a Combination of Both?
“Nathan-ism” is a riveting documentary. Just when you are glowing and basking in the warmth of an incredible story the rug gets yanked under your feet. How you interpret your spill is your business but be prepared for a spill! Nathan Hilu, a Jew of Sephardic ancestry, at 18 years of age and serving withContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Nathan-ism”: Nathan Illusion or Nathan Reality or a Combination of Both?”
RKS 2023 Wine: Bordeaux The Quieter Side of Sauvignon Blanc
Many of you love your New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. But have you given thought to how forceful it can be? Happily trying to avoid generalizations I have found Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc to be quieter and gentler than its Zealie cousin. We try a Cap Royal 2021 Sauvignon Blanc. Aroma: Lemon, vanilla, white grapefruit, tangerine, gingerContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Bordeaux The Quieter Side of Sauvignon Blanc”
RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?”: People’s Republic of China Kryptonite Chases Clark Kent from Hong Kong!
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) promised 50 more years of democracy in Hong Kong after the British lease on its “colony” expired. That promise never materialized as the PRC tightened its grip on Hong Kong gradually stripping away any vestiges of democracy. Why would one of the worst greed driven imperialistic dictatorships afford itsContinue reading “RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?”: People’s Republic of China Kryptonite Chases Clark Kent from Hong Kong!”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 