Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
(UK), directed by Lasse Hallström, with Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas.
THE PLOT Reluctant Brit bureaucrat introduces sport fishing to the Middle East.
THE CHEF Jason Kennedy of Diana’s Oyster Bar & Grill (2105 Lawrence East, at Ainsdale, 416-288-1588, dianasseafood.com/restaurant)
THE FOOD Canapés of cured and mesquite-smoked farmed Atlantic salmon rosettes with smoked salmon custard, horseradish cream, capers, baby arugula and pickled red onion orange-, ginger- and beet-marinated salmon crudo salad deconstructed hickory-smoked salmon niçoise with fingerling potatoes, olives, grape tomatoes and quail egg in truffled tarragon vinaigrette.
THE CONNECTION “A true salmon tasting, a beautiful balance of flavour and texture.”
Chicken With Plums
(France/Germany), directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, with Isabella Rossellini and Mathieu Amalric.
THE PLOT After losing his favourite instrument, a musician vows to die.
THE CHEF Alireza Fakhrashrafi of Pomegranate (420 College, at Bathurst, 416-921-7557, pomegranaterestaurant.ca)
THE FOOD Chicken stew with saffron-scented yellow plums and apricots dressed with dried barberries Persian-style basmati rice and a salad of diced cucumber, tomato and onion soaked in verjus and topped with parsley and mint (Salad Sahirazi).
THE CONNECTION “I first encountered this chicken dish at a traditional village wedding in Abarkooh near the Caspian Sea in northwestern Iran. The rice has a lovely crispy bottom that’s broken into pieces and dipped into the sauce. A bit of a mix-and-match, as any menu at a party should be.”
Melancholia
(Denmark/France/Sweden/Germany), written and directed by Lars von Trier, with Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Charlotte Rampling.
THE PLOT Depressed sisters face the imminent destruction of the planet.
THE CHEF Eric Wood of Fabarnak (519 Church, at Dundonald, 416-355-6781, fabarnak.com)
THE FOOD Spoonful servings of diced beet ‘n’ beef heart tartare dolloped with Dijon crème fraîche and dressed with capers and baby pea shoots (pictured) thinly sliced wild duck prosciutto with burnt onion marmalade and dark and white “chocolate eclipse” moon pies.
THE CONNECTION “As the movie touches on some very serious themes – the meaning of life, the meaning of love – I went with moody, dark and elegant. I imagined a wedding at the end of the world, the cosmic moon pies the literal finale.”
