2022-07-04-small

September 2022 Newsletter

European Dreams

Linda and I had a wonderful journey this summer through southern France, Italy, Paris and London. There are so many wonderful memories and experiences that it would take a book to encapsulate them all!

We were amazed by the wonderful hospitality we encountered. People were happy to greet us and eager to speak English (even in Paris!). We always felt safe and welcome wherever we went; if we were in a bind, strangers on the street were eager to help.

Here are a few highlights!

Best Restaurant

Tough one to decide! The veal Milanese (pictured) in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele was to die for, but I have to go with Café les Arcades, our local in Juan Les Pins. A classic bistro, it served a daily lunch prix fixe that was inexpensive and delicious; sea bass, veal, steak in pepper sauce – all served with the best French fries! Frederique the manager was cheerful and eccentric and always made us feel like guests of honor, treating us to a cold glass of Kir whenever we arrived.

Best Museum

We went to see Pitti Palace in Florence, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and a host of other museums, but the one experience that stands out is our visit to the Leonardo3 Museum located in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. This is a pop-up museum, a private display that re-creates Leonardo’s inventions, including a full-scale version of his man-powered airplane, but the treat was an interactive show explaining his iconic Last Supper (The original, of course, is just down the street, but you have to pay a king’s ransom to see it). Not only did the exhibit detail how he painted the fresco, but it also described each element of the composition, from Christ and his disciples to the humble plates of food on the table. I was enthralled!

Most Romantic Spot

The Ponte Santa Trinita. This is the bridge directly downstream of the famous Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Every evening, we would gather with other Florentines to watch the sun set over the Arno. A wonderful way to end the day!

Best Place to Chill

We had the opportunity to stay in many wonderful places all over Europe (including the Marais in Paris), but our favorite, be far, was Juan Les Pins in Antibes. Our rental in the beachside district was a gem, a newly-renovated one-bedroom apartment one block away from the beach. The neighborhood also boasted a butcher, a baker and a wine shop where we got to know the proprietors; they made us feel part of their community. We look forward to returning next year to visit with our dear friends Rosa and Reinier!

Life in Mexico

We arrived back as twin tropical storms battered the Manzanillo region. The moment they receded, however, we were hit by a major earthquake!

Over the course of a decade, we have experienced numerous minor shakers. This is expected, as Manzanillo is located about 80 km from a major subduction zone, a common source of seismic activity around the world.

But the quake on Monday, September 19, measured 7.4 on the Richter scale, making it several hundred times as powerful as previous events. We had just finished lunch, and were standing in the dining room cleaning up the dishes. It started slowly at first, then quickly escalated into furious shaking.

Our home is made of concrete and steel rebar, but the shaking was so violent that we immediately feared that the house might collapse. We raced outside and stood on the pool patio deck, which gyrated like a surfboard for the better part of a minute.

Fortunately, we and our neighbors were unhurt (although several people did lose their lives in the city due to falling debris). To say that were frightened, however, is an understatement; experiencing a major earthquake is a terrifying experience. We hope that we never have to go through it again!

My Latest Novel!

The much-awaited sequel to Magnus the Magnificent is about to appear! Joan the Saint officially arrives November 1; we’re just putting the finishing touches on the paperback and eBook versions, soon to be available on Amazon for pre-purchase. We’ll also be doing special promotions and book signings in the Manzanillo area, so stayed tuned for more news!

If you haven’t read Magnus the Magnificent, it’s a great book!

You can order eBook copies from Amazon HERE, or buy a paperback at the next Mujeres luncheon.

Movie Review

Bullet Train

Folks who criticize Brad Pitt’s latest movie as a brainless blood bath miss the point. This is a summer blockbuster action thriller; it makes no pretense of any connection to reality, other than the sun comes up in the morning. Trains hurtle through the air, assassins get split in two with Samurai swords and Thomas the Train achieves philosophical nirvana.

The premise is simple; down-on-his luck Ladybug (played by Brad Pitt), is hired to steal a briefcase full of cash aboard the Tokyo-Osaka bullet train.  What Ladybug doesn’t know is that someone has hired a gaggle of assassins with orders to kill one another.

Ladybug stumbles through the ensuing Kung-Fu mayhem with the help of Maria, a disembodied guru supplying advice and emotional support via cell phone. Even though the director tones down Brad’s good looks with a bucket hat and a goofy haircut, his wry charm still comes shining through as he seeks out the true meaning of life with homicidal maniacs trying to splay his guts. It’s kind of what you might expect if you mixed Sophocles with Quentin Tarantino. Not everyone’s cut of tea, but I highly recommend Bullet Train!

Book Review

The Bullet that Missed

By Richard Osman

Richard Osman clearly enjoys writing. The British-based author positively sparkles with wit in The Bullet that Missed, the third in the Thursday Murder Club series.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the series, it takes place in a bucolic old-folks home in Kent. Elizabeth, a former MI6 operative, and her pals Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron meet each Thursday to investigate cold-case murder files. They invariably end up neck deep in desperados and ne’er do wells intent on causing them bodily harm.

The latest installment focuses on an investigative reporter who dies while researching a massive tax fraud. Her car is found at the base of a cliff overlooking the English Channel, but her body is never recovered. The club soon finds themselves dealing with ruthless thugs, nefarious KGB agents, a murderous drug lord intent on revenge – and a nice cup of tea when it all gets too exhausting. I highly recommend The Bullet that Missed!

2022 08 12 small

August 2022 Newsletter

Life in France

Every bistro in France has a dog named Hoover. The moment I walk in, they rush right over, eagerly awaiting the next errant meatball.

It’s stinking hot in Paris, which means it’s movie time! We go half an hour before the actual movie starts to watch the commercials. My favorite is the one where a man is walking home and steps in dog poop. He walks up to his apartment floor and angrily wipes his shoe on a doormat. He then turns around and enters his own apartment.

BHV, located across the street from Paris City Hall, is the best department store in the world. Where else can you buy a plastic pond to grow frogs and Coco Chanel?

A Paris Moment available on Amazon!

 “A book that bubbles like a fine champagne and satisfies like a perfect crème brûlée.”

John Gilchrist, CBC Radio

In North America, the day is spliced into predictable, pre-packaged doses, with everyone isolated in their car, their mall, or their suburban box. In Paris, when you walk out the door, you don’t know what you’re going to encounter – cherry blossoms, riot patrols, or Chinese lanterns hanging on the lampposts. The day springs to life as a full-blown performance, and if you are not part of the audience, you are part of the cast.

Even if you’ve never been to the City of Light, you’ll enjoy reading about the wonderful year we spent in the Marais. Order A Paris Moment today!

They have the weirdest poster ads here in Paris. I think this one is for golf balls.

Book Review

Vermeer’s Hat

By Timothy Brook

This is a charming book about the 17th century, written by Canadian historian Tim Brook. It tells the story of how the Dutch, English, French and Spanish opened up the world to trade in the 1600s.

While the topic might sound a trifle dry, the author employs an innovative technique that both informs and entertains the reader. Using Officer and Laughing Girl, a painting by artist Johannes Vermeer, he uses details within the composition to illustrate how trading conglomerates like the Dutch East India Company moved silver from Peru, porcelain from China and beaver pelts from Upper Canada in the pursuit of commerce.

The latter commodity is the inspiration for the book’s title. Beaver fur proved far superior to lamb’s wool when it came to making felt. Not only was it water proof, but it held its shape.

Soldiers were soon demanding headgear with huge floppy brims, and adventurers like Samuel Champlain set up extensive trade routes with First Nation tribes throughout what is now Quebec, Ontario and New York State (where the Dutch, famously, purchased the island of Manhattan for beads).

The author goes on to detail how even something as mundane as tobacco moved goods from North America to Europe and as far away as Asia. The Chinese, we learn, were mad for pipe tobacco and would trade its weight in ceramics. When scavengers discovered the wreck of the San José in the Caribbean Sea, in addition to gold bullion, the site was littered with fine Ming dynasty porcelain, a cherished possession in Europe.

Well illustrated with maps and color plates, Brook’s historical treatise is a delightful and informative read. I highly recommend Vermeer’s Hat!

Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum, located in a 17th century mansion in the Marais, has always been one of our favorite destinations in Paris. The multitude of paintings, sculptures and drawings of the Spanish artist are the legacy of a tax deal between his heirs and the French government that preserved his immense personal collection for public viewing.

This summer, the museum mounted an exhibition dedicated to Maya Ruiz Picasso, the love child born in 1935 between Pablo and his teenage muse, Marie-Thérèse Walter. Because Pablo was already married, her existence was kept secret for many years, but her presence was evident in the many portraits and works in which she appears. Pablo doted on Maya his entire life, and she in turn influenced much of his work until his death in 1973.

In addition, the museum has mounted a virtual tour of Picasso’s home and studio in Cannes, where he lived and worked in the 1960s. It’s an intimate stroll through his life and family that places his late work in perspective.

Picasso’s Mother-in-Law. Must have been happy with this one!

Throughout his life, Picasso was a lightning rod for criticism from the art world establishment, and it is easy to lose sight of the immense impact his opus had on world culture. I have immense respect and admiration for his creations, (although I am relieved he never painted my portrait). I highly recommend the Picasso Museum!

2022-07-06

July 2022 Newsletter

Life in Italy

We’re visiting Italy in July, and we’re having a tremendous time! The people are friendly, the weather is smoking hot, and the food and wine are wonderful! Here are a few experiences.

Coffee in Italy

The sun comes up over our rooftop pied-a-terre just after 7 am. I arise and plug in the mocha coffee machine. All the lights promptly go out in the apartment.

Leonardo, from Florence, and Bako, from Lagos, are busy on the floor below removing a dishwasher. “Pray to the saints,” offers Leonardo.

“Check the breaker switch,” says Bako.

We trudge down to a damp tunnel that extends beneath the Arno, where all the power enters the building. Apparently, this is considered a good idea in Italy. Bako uses the flashlight on his cell phone to find the right switch; Leonardo and I assist by praying to St. Elmo.

Power is immediately restored and, on behalf of the landlord, I gift Bako the coffee machine.

Cigarettes

They still smoke a lot in Italy. Fashionable women in Gucci puff like chimneys. Macho guys with tattoos roll gaspers with one hand.

There are tabaccheria on every corner. They have cigarette machines built into the street wall in case you run out at 3 am.  

The one thing they love more than cigarettes are their iPhones. The Italian who invents a cell phone you can smoke will become a billionaire.

Lunch

Rick Steves did a video of a restaurant located around the corner from the Piazza della Signoria and we’ve been dying to go ever since.

The Osteria de Vini et Vecci Sapora (tavern of wine and old flavors) is family-run, with Momma cooking in the kitchen and her sons serving up front. It’s all very camp in a Madonna way, and they have a sign at the front door saying they refuse to cook pizza or serve ketchup. If they forget your dish, they serve you a plate of fried zucchini flowers instead.

The picture above is veal from a restaurant in Milan; we were having so much fun kibitzing with the waiters I forgot to take a picture of our meal!

Things to do

Lunch break

Over 4 million people come to Florence every year to visit such attractions as the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, and to gaze upon such wonders as Michelangelo’s David. The picture above is a rather unique take on the Madonna and Child in the Pitti Palace. The statue of David in the Piazza della Signoria has been removed in order to prevent degradation to the original; the photo below is an artist’s rendition.

Dinner

The Beccafico is located around the corner from our apartment. They have a meat cooler in the front door chock-full of T-bone steaks.

Enrico the chef knocks a kilo off a roast and prepares it rare over the grill with just a sprinkling of salt. He then cuts it into big chunks and serves it on a platter with roasted potatoes.

Carnivore heaven!

Evening

Every night, just before dusk, we make our way to the Ponte Santa Trinita, which spans the Arno just downriver from the famous Ponte Veccio. Tourists and Florentines amble across the bridge, stopping to take selfies and to admire the sunset.

Very romantic!

My Latest Historical Fiction now Available on Amazon!

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

2022 06 01

June 2022 Newsletter

Life in France

We’ve just arrived back in France for the summer, and are pleased to see that teenagers have discovered a new form of immolation!

Twenty years ago, when we first moved to Paris, in-line roller blades were all the rage. Every Friday evening, about 10,000 maniacs would parade en masse through the streets, terrorizing pedestrians and fracturing appendages.

No longer. The latest craze is le trottinette, an electric scooter that can effortlessly whizz about at 25 kph. Not only do they traverse the narrow streets with ease, but also sidewalks and escalators, should the whim seize.

Naturally, French authorities have decreed children pass a mandatory competency test where they must simultaneously smoke a cigarette and dial a cellphone while in flight.

Friends ask us how we spend our days in France; do we go to museums and castles?

Hell no, we shop. Every corner has a butcher, a baker and a cheese store, each crammed with some of the most delectable chocolate cake, creamy Brie and mouth-watering steak.

Each morning we set out with our two-wheeled shopping cart (which they rather grandly call un chariot), and diligently inspect every baguette, courgette and tartlet we can find.

The fitness app on my cell phone says I walk an average of 10,000 steps each day, which would help me from swelling to the size of a hippo were it not for the several gallons of rosé, Chablis and Beaujolais  I consume daily.

Want to read more about life in France? Check out A Paris Moment, available on Amazon.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Recipe: Croque Monsieur

Doesn’t that look just scrumptious? The name of this recipe literally translates as Mister Crunch, and it is one of France’s favorite lunchtime meals!

Ingredients (makes 4)

5 tsp of butter

8 tsp of butter

¼ cup flower

4 cups whole milk

2 egg yolks

2 tsp salt

½ tsp ground nutmeg

8 slices of ham

8 slices Gruyere cheese

8 slices Bimbo white bread

Directions;

To make the Béchamel sauce;

In a medium saucepan warm 5 tsp of butter over medium heat until melted. Gradually add flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cook the mixture for 2-3 minutes.

In a separate saucepot, heat 4 cups of milk to simmer. Add to the butter mixture, ½ cup at a time, constantly whisking. Cook 12 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn heat off. Slowly stir in 1 egg yolk at a time. Season with salt and nutmeg.  

Heat oven to 300°F.

Assemble the sandwich:

Generously spread four slices of bread with béchamel sauce. Top each with ham and cheese and cover with remaining bread.

Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and brush both sides of sandwiches. Fry sandwiches in a hot cast iron pan or on a griddle until golden brown.

Top sandwiches with more béchamel sauce and transfer to the oven to continue cooking until cheese bubbles, about 5-10 minutes.

My latest novel now available on Amazon!

Five star review on Amazon:

“A great historical novel!”

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

TV Series

The Lincoln Lawyer (Season 1)

By Michael Connelly

Streaming on Netflix

Crime author Michael Connelly is internationally renowned for his main character Harry (Hieronymus) Bosch, an LAPD murder detective. But he also has a series dedicated to Mickey Haller, a top-drawer criminal lawyer.

Based on The Brass Verdict, Haller (played by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), inherits a front-page murder trial when its original defense attorney is brutally assassinated. The accused is tech billionaire Trevor Elliot, who is charged with murdering his wife and lover in flagrante delicto.

It doesn’t look good for Elliot; he has no alibi, and his hands were covered with gunpowder residue when arrested. Haller, along with his dogged investigator Cisco Wojciechowski, must dig hard to come up with a viable defense.

Filled with lots of side plots and twists and turns to flesh out ten episodes, The Lincoln Lawyer is tremendously entertaining. Word has it that the series has been picked up for a second season; I look forward to it with great anticipation!

2022 05 03

May 2022 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

It’s watermelon season in Manzanillo!

Every year around May, the town is full of vendors selling big, juicy watermelons from the back of their trucks. While you’re paying $15 in Canada, they’re three bucks on the street.

There’s a saying in Kelowna; the best way to eat a peach is to stand waist deep in Okanagan Lake.

The best way to eat a Mexican watermelon is to stand waist deep in the Pacific Ocean!

Recipe: French Toast Tacos

French toast tacos

I always enjoy reading David Lebovitz’s newsletter. I was admiring the Paris-based chef’s recipe for French toast when I had the brain wave to make it a little Mexican. Thanks for the inspiration, David!

Makes 1 serving

1 large egg

1 Tsp milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

I large flour tortilla

1 Tsp of butter

Cooked bacon and shredded cheese

Or: Sliced fruit; mango, blueberries, strawberries.

Maple syrup.

Beat the egg, milk, vanilla and salt together in a wide bowl. Dip the flour tortilla, turning once. Let it soak up the mix for a minute.

Fry in butter on low in a medium size pan. Brown the tortilla on both sides.

For savory; fill with cooked bacon and cheese, fold and serve.

For sweet; fill with fruit, drizzle on maple syrup, and fold.

Enjoy!

Buy my latest historical fiction on Amazon!

“This book is super!

Amazon 5-star Review

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

TV Review

Bosch: Legacy

Streaming on Amazon IMBD (free)

Bosch: Legacy picks up after the seven original seasons, which saw homicide Detective Harry Bosch do battle with the corrupt LAPD hierarchy.

This spin-off captures the magic of the original; it takes place in the gritty realm of LA, it features co-stars Maddie (Madison Lintz), criminal lawyer Honey (Mimi Rogers) even Crate & Barrel (Gregory Cummins and Troy Evans).

What it doesn’t have is Harry the homicide detective. Now retired, Bosch has become a private investigator, but he still lives by the same motto; “either everyone counts, or no one counts.”

Bosch is hired by an aging billionaire who was bullied into abandoning his pregnant Latino bride by his father. Now, childless, he seeks his long-lost lover. But the discovery of an heir would throw the succession of his international business in jeopardy, and skulking minions look to thwart Bosch – at any cost.

I’ve loved Michael Connelly’s Bosch series throughout the 30 years that the LA-based author has been writing, and it’s a pleasure to see the main character (played impeccably by Titus Welliver) bring Harry alive on the screen. I look forward to more seasons!

Book Review

Cocaine Blues

By Kerry Greenwood

I first got turned on to the Miss Fisher mysteries by the excellent Australian TV series starring Essie Davis as Miss Phryne Fisher, an independently wealthy woman living in 1920s Melbourne. Miss Fisher was the ultimate flapper girl, living the high life as a rich, liberated woman with a passion for handsome men and fast cars.

Unfortunately, the TV series ended after a few seasons, and is generally hard to find on streaming services. So it was with great delight that when I began to read the book series, I found that the TV production had faithfully followed the spirit of its main protagonist, as well as the colorful cohort of cast members who rounded her adventures out.

Although one doesn’t have to start with the first book, Cocaine Blues, I recommend doing so as it sets up Miss Fisher’s background and her inspiration for solving crime. Every book features several cases for the amateur detective to solve, from kidnapping to missing kittens, as well as dollops of passionate sex.

While the tone of the series is light-hearted, Greenwood doesn’t shy from controversial subjects, such as spousal abuse, sex slavery and corruption. Regardless, I look forward to a summer of escapist reading, enjoying the many delights of Miss Phryne Fisher.

2022-04-02

April 2022 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

It’s Easter, and that means Manzanillo goes nuts.

Every year, about 100,000 Chilangos make the annual pilgrimage from Mexico City to our sunbaked shores in order to bathe in the restorative waters of the Pacific Ocean.

They also bathe in gallons of tequila to restore the spirits.

Manzanillo begins preparations well in advance of their arrival. The road through Miramar beach is closed to prevent tourists from denting bumpers.

Every Oxxo and Kiosko stocks a trailer of beer in the parking lot.

To deter drunk driving, the police place car wrecks (complete with ketchup-splattered dummies), on prominent traffic routes.

The churches probably decorate with Easter eggs, but I’ve never met anyone who actually went to one.

Most expats wisely flee, but for those of us who stay, Felices Pascuas!

Movie Review

CODA

Streaming on Amazon Prime

The winner of Best Picture at the Oscars caught everyone by surprise – I personally thought Power of the Dog was a shoe-in.

But it turns out that the feel-good movie about a deaf family won enough hearts to boost it into victory.

The acronym CODA stands for child of deaf adults. Ruby, the only hearing person in a deaf family, dreams about graduating from high school and attending college. But the family fishing business needs her help to keep afloat.

Her father Frank (played by Troy Kostur, winner of Best Actor), and mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin, the first deaf actor to win an Oscar), need Ruby to act as an interpreter between them and the world of the hearing.

Ruby, meanwhile, is inspired by choir teacher Bernardo (played very flamboyantly by Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez), who introduces her to the opportunities that her naturally-talented voice offers.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but most of all, you’ll enjoy the warm-hearted tale of a family striving to succeed against all odds. I highly recommend CODA!

My latest historical novel now available on Amazon!

“A real page-turner!”

Amazon five-star review

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

Recipe: Fish & Chips

Fish & chips have a bad rep as greasy junk food. But if you make them yourself, you can use healthy ingredients that are low in unsaturated fats and loaded with high-quality protein!

We go to the fish shop in Santiago to get Dorado caught that morning, but La Comer also has an excellent selection of white fish.

Ingredients

1 lb of white fish

2 large potatoes, unpeeled.

1-2 cups of virgin olive oil

1 egg

1 cup of Panko or bread crumbs

Salt to taste

Instructions

Cut the potatoes into fries roughly the thickness of your pinky finger. Place on paper towels for half an hour to soak up moisture.

Cut the fish into pieces approximately 1-in thick and 5-in long. Dip in beaten egg and coat with Panko.

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large frying pan until it begins to smoke slightly.

Carefully add the chips and let them cook for five minutes before flipping over and cooking for another five. You’ll know when they’re done when they take on a light brown hue and get crispy. Scoop out with a slotted spoon into a bowl lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle with sea salt.

Add the fish to the oil. Cook for two minutes, then turn over and cook for another two minutes. Scoop out with a slotted spoon into a bowl lined with a paper towel.

Serve with ketchup and fish sauce. Enjoy!

Book Review

The Diamond Eye

By Kate Quinn

Quinn is the author of several excellent World War II historical novels, including The Rose Code and The Huntress. Her tales are gripping sagas of women fighting to defeat the Nazis, risking their lives and the people they love.

The Diamond Eye is based on the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko (Mila), a shy history student from Kyiv in the Ukraine who becomes a soldier in the Soviet Army after the Germans invade. High Command soon recognizes her natural gift with rifles, and she is assigned sniper duties, eventually killing over 300 enemy soldiers.

When the Soviet Union goes looking for assistance from the United States, Mila is sent with an official delegation to Washington to meet President Roosevelt. She becomes entangled in an assassination plot, however, and her skills are put to the test in an effort to thwart the killer.

As in all her books, the author supplies exciting, non-stop narrative that makes it a great page-turner. I highly recommend The Diamond Eye!

2022 03 11

March 2022 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

We missed National Kahlua Day on February 28!

Bummer.

We first came to the Manzanillo area several decades ago on a two-week winter getaway in Barra de Navidad. We stayed in a family-run hotel overlooking the bay.

Every evening we would toast the sunset with Kahlúa and milk on ice; we drank every last drop of fresh milk in town and the hotel had to buy a cow.

Here’s to Mexico’s best liqueur! I’m going to write to Congress and have them adopt it as the national drink.

TV Series Review

Inventing Anna

Streaming on Netflix

This mini-TV series, created by Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy), has all the ingredients for a prime-time soap opera; sex, money, jet-set lifestyles and a world-class scam artist.

The true-life tale is based upon Anna Delvey (played by Julia Garner), a scheming young woman who sells herself as the heir to a Russian oligarch. She fools the social and financial elite of New York into giving her entry to their rarified circles, scamming grand dames and bankers alike.

When her plans begin to unravel, journalist Vivian Kent (played by Anna Chlumsky), sets out on her trail, following the breadcrumbs left by her social media trail to hunt down her past life and accomplices. Her relentless detective work finally uncovers the truth.

Thanks to Rhimes’ talents, the story takes on a vitality fueled by not only Garner’s brilliant portrayal of the protagonist, but by the rich broth of supporting characters. I highly recommend Inventing Anna!

My historical novel now available on Amazon!

“A real page turner!”

Amazon 5-star review

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

Recipe: Ginger Beef

This is a family favorite that is easy to make from common household ingredients yet tastes spicy and exotic!

Ingredients

1 lb of rig eye beef, cut into ½ inch strips

1 cup of mushrooms, quartered

1 Tsp of minced garlic

1 Tsp of minced ginger

1 tsp of black pepper.

¼ cup of soy sauce

¼ cup of brown sugar

¼ cup of brandy or Marsala wine

1 Tsp of oil (sesame or canola).

Chopped green onions

Cooked rice.

Directions

Mix the beef, mushrooms and marinade ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Fry the mixture in a pan over medium heat for two minutes.

Serve on rice with green onion garnish.

Enjoy!

Documentary Review

The Andy Warhol Diaries

Streaming on Netflix

While Andy Warhol was known for his reticence for talking about himself, he began dictating a private diary in 1968 after an assassination attempt. The tomes were published after his death in 1987, and form the core of this fascinating documentary series.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1929, he moved to New York City at the age of 20 and began a career in fashion illustration. He soon branched out, producing a series of popular silk screen images that caught the public’s imagination, including the Campbell’s soup can, Marilyn and Elvis.

Critics were savage towards his work, but his controversial lifestyle and high-profile at Studio 54 made him an international art icon; pop art has endured and become mainstream, commanding some of the highest prices in the modern market.

The documentary relies heavily on the people who knew him, including family members as well as celebrities like actor Rob Lowe and singer Blondie. It is a fascinating (and sometimes gritty) peek behind the carefully-crafted public façade, revealing a talented man haunted by doubts, sexual secrecy and a yearning for acceptance. I highly recommend The Andy Warhol Diaries!

A Monarch butterfly rests on a flower, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Urbandale, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

February 2022 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

We finally made it to the Monarch butterfly sanctuary!

There are five sanctuaries spread across the states of Michoacán and Mexico; Rosario, Chincua, Cerro Pelon, Herradura, and La Mesa.

The butterflies rest in Mexico from November to March, then begin a 10,000 km journey every spring to North America and back. The trek takes several generations, yet they unerringly return to their winter home year after year. (Nobody knows how long they’ve been making the journey, but butterflies date back 200 million years, to the age of dinosaurs).

Visiting the sanctuaries is a day-long trip. Along with our friends Victor and Wilma, we rented an apartment in the historic centre of Morelia for a week, then picked a day to visit the Chincua sanctuary (the butterflies need sun and heat to venture forth).

It took just under three hours to drive to the sanctuary, then another hour to hike through a pine forest. When we reached their enclave just past noon, the air was filled with a swirling carpet of orange and black as they flitted from tree to tree.

I know, driving halfway across Mexico in order to look at bugs for half an hour might sound extreme, but the trip was worth it.

I want to thank the friendly people of Michoacán for their hospitality, as well as the volunteers across North America who care for the welfare of the Monarchs. Visiting the sanctuary was a magical, mystical experience that I cannot recommend highly enough.

TV Series Review

The Dinner Club

Streaming on Amazon Prime

This is a six-part, food-porn series featuring a Michelin-starred chef who accompanies famous actors around Italy as they explore local cuisines and generally crack themselves up with insults and practical jokes.

Carlo Cracco owns Cracco’s in Milan, considered one of the fifty-best restaurants in the world. He is known for his culinary originality as well as wit and charm in several culinary-themed series, including Hell’s Kitchen Italia.

The Dinner Club is his latest foray into television, featuring six friends who are also actors and comedians. Unless you’re Italian, you won’t have any idea who they are (I certainly didn’t’), but they are all tremendously entertaining as Carlo leads them around Sicily, the Po valley and Tuscany. They sample local cuisines, then return to Carlo’s home where each in turn cooks a special meal.

While the fact that the series is totally in Italian (with subtitles) may turn some people off, I urge you to give it a try. I found it delightfully-addictive watching due to the tremendous amount of fun they all have while eating, drinking and enjoying one another’s company.

My latest novel is now available on amazon!

“A great page-turner!”

Amazon 5-star review

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

Book Review

Eight Hundred Grapes

By Laura Dave

If you enjoy the work of Elin Hilderbrand, the queen of the summer read, then you’ll love Laura Dave’s writing. Most of her books begin with a spunky young woman who turns her life into a complete dumpster fire, then climbs out of the mess for a happy ending.

Eight Hundred Grapes features bride-to-be Georgia Ford who discovers the week before her wedding that her hunky British fiancé has a secret; a four-year old daughter by a famous actress who he never got around to mentioning. She immediately leaps into her car and races back to Sonoma County where her family owns a vineyard.

She quickly discovers that all is not well in paradise. Dad is seriously depressed, mom has taken up with a new lover and her twin brothers are going bananas. Not only does she have to sort out her own mess, but act as priest, therapist and dominatrix to her own family.

Dave has a great talent for creating quirky, charming characters and a frantic pace of twists and turns that make her books impossible to put down. Several of her works are in the process of being made into movies by Reese Witherspoon, but I highly recommend reading the originals!

Recipe: Keftedes & Tzatziki Sauce

These Greek lamb meatballs are easy to make and taste great! Use them as appetizers or load them into pitas (or flour tortillas) along with chopped tomatoes and lettuce to make a great meal!

MEATBALLS

Ingredients

1 lb ground lamb (you can also use ground beef)

1/2 red onion, grated

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

2 Tsp fresh mint, chopped

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

½ tsp cardamom,

1/2 a cup breadcrumbs

1 egg

1 Tsp olive oil

¼ cup of chopped feta cheese

1 tsp salt

freshly ground pepper

Add all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Cover the bowl with some plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Roll the mixture into balls, the size of a walnut.

To fry, use a large, deep skillet and pour in olive oil to a depth of 1/2 an inch. Heat the oil to medium-high. Add the lamb meatballs in batches in a single layer and fry for about 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and crisp on all sides.

To bake, preheat the oven at 400F, place the lamb meatballs on greased baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning the meatballs upside down midway through cooking time.

TZATZIKI SAUCE

Ingredients

½ cup finely grated cucumber

1 cup thick whole milk Greek yogurt

1 Tsp lemon juice

½ tsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, grated

¼ tsp sea salt

1 tsp chopped dill

1 tsp chopped mint, optional

Instructions

Place the cucumber on a towel and gently squeeze out a bit of the excess water.

In a medium bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, dill, and mint, if using. Chill until ready to use.

Assembling the meal.

If available, you can use pita breads, but I find flour tortillas work great! Place a layer of tzatziki on the bread and then add meatballs, shredded lettuce and tomatoes. Enjoy (and keep plenty of napkins handy).

Film Review

RESPECT

This is a biopic of Aretha Franklin, singer, civil rights activist and actor, who dominated R&B and soul for much of the 20th century.

The lead role is played by Jennifer Hudson, herself an accomplished actor and singer who not only won an Oscar but performed at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Biopics can sometimes drag on a bit, trying to be faithful to the actual life of its subject, but director Liesl Tommy spends a great deal of time following the artistic maturation of Aretha as she evolved from a gospel singer to R&B, soul and pop. The fact that she is portrayed by an incredibly accomplished singer makes the depiction of her life that much more authentic.

Aretha had a troubled life, being raped and bearing a child at the age of 12 and then later struggling with alcohol, but the movie doesn’t shirk in its honest portrayal of her struggles, avoiding the hagiography that often mars biographies. It is an enjoyable, musical movie that I highly recommend you watch!

2022-01-02

January 2022 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

I know this is a rotten thing to do to all my friends and family back in Canada, but I noticed the other day that it was -30C in Calgary and it inspired me to write about all the things I love about Manzanillo.

There are banana trees growing in my backyard.

I don’t have to chop a hole in the pool with an ice axe to go swimming.

It’s so hot on the beach the girls are forced to wear thong bikinis.

I bought a car here five years ago and I still don’t know if the heater works.

I’ve been wearing flip flops for so long I forgot how to tie shoelaces.

Do I get homesick? Yes I do, but I just stick my head in the freezer for two minutes and the feeling goes away.

Movie Review

The Power of the Dog

Streaming on Netflix

BLOOPER ALERT! Ranch hands certainly wore chaps during the early 20th century, but they didn’t wear them inside when dining as depicted in this movie! Mothers taught their sons it was impolite to wear cowboy hats or work clothes indoors – period.

This is a movie that you’re either going to love, or hate (or both).

Written and directed by Jane Campion (The Piano), it features an enigmatic rancher Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) who constantly berates his brother George (Jesse Plemons), his sister-in-law Rose (Kirsten Dunst), and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee ). It is part western, part psychological horror and part mystery murder.

What I didn’t like. The pace of the movie is extremely slow and the soundtrack purposely disquieting. I was almost overwhelmed with the desire to turn it off several times.

I’m glad I didn’t. The cinematography is superb, the acting brilliant and the story comes to a satisfactory conclusion in the last five minutes that wraps up all the loose ends and makes perfect sense. I predict this movie will win Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor at the next Oscars.

I highly recommend you watch The Power of the Dog right to the very end!

Recipe: Vietnamese BBQ chicken

The delightful aroma of this recipe cooking on the BBQ is enough to transport me back to the streets of Asia. The fact that it’s easy to make and tastes delicious is just a bonus!

4 chicken thighs

Marinade

2 Tsp of sesame (or Canola) oil

1 Tsp of finely chopped lemongrass

1 tsp of lime juice

1 tsp of soy sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

¼ cup of rice vinegar

2 Tsp of fish sauce

1 Tsp of hot sauce.

2 Tsp of brown sugar

Directions

Mix marinade ingredients in a blender then pour into a saucepan and heat for a few minutes to thicken. Let cool and pour over the chicken and marinate for one hour.

BBQ thighs on medium heat. Serve with rice.

Buy my latest novel on Amazon!

“A real page-turner!”

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

TV Review

Being the Ricardos

Streaming on Amazon Prime

Is I Love Lucy the most popular sitcom of all time? M*A*S*H tops the list as the most-watched sitcom, with 105 million viewers tuning in for the final episode in 1983, or about 60% of households with TVs. But in 1953, 44 million people watched the episode Lucy Goes to the Hospital, which represented 77% of all TVs households in the country, a feat that’s never been surpassed.

Being the Ricardos is a TV mockumentary meant to follow a week in the life of Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman), and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) as they film an episode of the 1950s series I Love Lucy.

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing), the action is centered around a typical week of writing, rehearsing and filming an episode of one of the most successful comedy series of all time .

Sorkin spices up the action with a spectrum of complications; not only does Lucy suspect her husband Desi of infidelity, but a rag sheet announces her communist membership at the height of the red scare.

Sorkin’s pick of Kidman to play Ball also created a lot of controversy. Why hire a dramatic actress to portray one of the world’s funniest women? Would her glamorous looks overpower the production?

As it turns out, Kidman is perfect for the part; she draws out the secrets behind Ball’s incredible talent, showing her develop the timing of a skit involving Fred and Ethyl Mertz to comic perfection.

I highly recommend Being the Ricardos!

2021 12 06

December 2021 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

Club Santiago is a wonderful place to live, nestled between a beautiful beach that stretches for several kilometres along Santiago Bay and the environmental reserve surrounding Juluapan Lagoon.

Unfortunately, even paradise has pests, and these take the form of racoons. Known locally as mapaches, these nocturnal creatures make a habit of breaking-and-entering in search of food; the last time I forgot to lock my patio screen, I found Coco-Puffs scattered all over my kitchen.

Even when you’re careful, they still make a mess. Club Santiago supplies big plastic barrels for residents to place their daily garbage; resourceful racoons then knock them over every night and nibble at will.

My neighbour Mike got fed up with shoveling the mess back in and sought my help. We came up with the idea of screwing a large hook into a light-pole and drilling a hole into the lip of the barrel so that the mapaches can’t tip it over.

What we forgot is that they have very sharp teeth. The following morning, we went out to check on our brainstorm only to find they had chewed through the bottom of the barrel.

Once again, outsmarted by nature.

Movie Review

There’s a pivotal scene in Love Actually where Bill Nighy, playing washed-up rock star Billy Mack on a quest to top the Christmas charts, utters his most famous line; “Hey, kids, don’t buy drugs… Become a rock star and they give you them for free.” According to The Mirror, the award-winning British actor reckons it will be ‘etched on my tombstone.’

Love, Actually, is without a doubt the schmaltziest Christmas movie ever made. Set in London, it features an ensemble cast of some of the finest British actors (and one or two Americans), in a series of intertwined story lines.

Bachelor David (played by Hugh Grant), has just been elected Prime Minister and is moving into 10 Downing Street. He becomes infatuated with Natalie, a potty-mouthed, working-class girl. Meanwhile, Daniel (Liam Neeson) is suffering depression after the tragic loss of his wife, Jamie (Colin Firth) discovers his girlfriend is cheating on him with his own brother, and self-styled sex god Colin is running off to America to find his true lust!

You get the picture.

While it sounds terribly complicated, director Richard Curtis does a stellar job interweaving each story line so that they build to a heart-warming finale that will have you clutching the extra-large Kleenex box. This is a big holiday treat, one that the whole family will enjoy!

Buy The Hotel Seamstress on Amazon!

“We are all aware of WWII, the atrocities and the outcome of the war, but Cope goes deeper into the struggles of the Parisians during this time…there is compassion, love and understanding.”

Amazon Five Star Review

The year is 1944. Paris has been under German occupation for four years. The French Resistance knows that an Allied invasion is imminent.

Veronique Grenelle is growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood, scrambling to feed herself and her family.

The Resistance recruits the vivacious young woman to befriend Lieutenant Gunther von Clause, an aide-de-camp to the German Army’s Military Governor. She gradually gains his trust and affection.

James Gallagher, a lieutenant in the US Army’s Military Intelligence unit, frequently parachutes behind enemy lines to deliver funds and instructions to the Resistance. He meets and befriends Veronique, who falls madly in love with the dashing American officer.

D-Day approaches, and Veronique finds herself in a bind; should she pursue her heart or her duty? In the end, her decision will not only determine the fate of Paris, it will reverberate down through her family for generations to come.

TV Series Review

Blindspot

Streaming on Netflix

A naked woman is discovered in a duffel bag in Times Square. She has no memory; the only clue to the identity of Jane Doe (played by Jaimie Alexander), is the name of FBI Agent Kurt Weller tattooed to her back.

You gotta admit, that’s a nice start to a mystery thriller series.

It gets better; she is literally covered in tattoos, each one a harbinger of some malevolence against the US. As the FBI races to stop the bad guys, they are also trying to figure out who the mysterious woman is, and why someone would wipe out her memory and completely ink her exterior.

This NBC series ran for five seasons, so there’s lots of fun and action. If you like well-written mystery thrillers, then this worth a binge!

Recipe: Mussels in cream sauce

Bivalves (clams, mussels and oysters), first appeared on ancient reefs 500 million years ago. They’ve been gracing tables in the finest Cambrian era seafood restaurants ever since.  Here’s a great meal that’s easy to make and tastes fantastic! You can buy frozen mussels at La Comer.

(Serves two mains or four appetizers)

1 kg mussels (thawed)

1 clove garlic, chopped

3 shallots, chopped (or ½ white onion)

2 Tsp butter

½ cup white wine

1 tsp salt

1 cup cream

½ cup of chopped parsley

½ cup of fried lardons (chopped bacon)

Garlic toast

Directions

Melt butter in a Dutch oven or pan with lid and fry garlic and shallots.

Pour in white wine and add salt. Let simmer for two minutes.

Turn off heat and let cool for a minute before pouring in cream.

Add the mussels, return to simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, covered.

Pour mussels into bowls, sprinkle with parsley and lardons, and enjoy!