El secreto de sus ojos

There are movies that are good, and ones that are horrible; and then there are movies that jolt you to the realization that despite such sincere efforts by hollywood and bollywood and such other 'woods', you still have not been completely desensitized or jaded. 'The truth in their eyes' did that to me, and I am still feeling the tremors. S had put the movie in queue as we had decided to try and watch more international movies than we have been, and also as I had been taking spanish classes and watching movies in spanish may help.

But I digress.

'The secret in their eyes' or El secreto de sus ojos is an argentinian movie and I suppose it can be categorized as a thriller save that the movie does not quite allow you to make that decision. The direction is brilliant, and I have rarely seen a director who's capable of having such a control over his audience (the audience being me) that the audience (still me) has no way of looking at the movie than how he wants it.

Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin) is a newly retired court investigator and post-retirement he has begun writing a book on his life and the one case that he could not let go of - the rape and murder of a newly wed woman. His involvement in the case was made more complicated by the presence of the alluringly beautiful Irene (Soledad Villamil in a spectacular role) who's a new judge and his superior and their feelings for one another; as well as his relationship with his brilliant but depressed assistant. They are able to capture the killer and send him to prison. However, later on, during a political turmoil, the killer is set free, and he sets out trying to take his revenge on them. The case changes his life, and the way he looks at life; and twenty-five years after the rape-murder and the apprehension of the killer, after his retirement, Benjamin decides to look back and write it down just so it may make a little bit of sense; and they slowly begin to make sense till Benjamin makes a very disturbing realization.

The actors are very good, the script is very taut and the cinematography is brilliant. But the best attribute of this movie is that the protagonists are achingly human. Oh, did I mention that the movie is very very cerebral? It is, trust me.

Documentary - 8 The Mormon Proposition

I just watched this gem of a documentary on Prop 8 and marriage equality in the US, and am stunned! I always have had a utter disdain for all organized religion, but any one who still thinks religion can solve any of the words problems - this is a must watch.

The Hate it spews out of the Church , the money, the manipulative political maneuvers, hell they even formed with a coalition with the Catholics and the Evangelicals - and they do not see eye to eye on anything , including the Bible. Hate is what brought them together - a Hate for Homosexuals! And the documentary does a beautiful expose of how the Mormons , chose to launch this covert war , including millions of dollars in funding , and a Ton of Lies form the Pulpit in the Temple to sway the masses - just to Deny Homosexuals from enjoying the right to Marriage!!

On a lighter note - The Cute Boys in White Shirts, and Red Ties , and Black Slacks , I see on the bus, in Velechary are actually missionaries of the Church of The Later Day Saints on mission work in India and boy are the close to home. Well Next Time I am Definitely saying Hello, may be its time they learnt that about the Missionary!

The Curry Closet goes Mobile

Bloging using my Android, maybe this will be a better way to blog, and be regular! Comming up a series of rants on being gay, single and 30,and my quest on finding a non mustachoid date in Chennai!

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wine and cheese and hors d'œuvres

oranges

Surprisingly, or not quite surprisingly to be honest, here in the US, no one calls an orange an orange. they are always valencias, or navels, or clementines, or tangerines... or something else. I don't recall which these were. but they looked pretty, and they were very juicy.

garden salad with buttermilk dressing

There's something very comfortable in the thought that one can just walk into his backyard and pick a salad. As S knows more than anyone else, I have a love-hate relationship with garden salads. I still, at times, need to convince myself that a bowl of uncooked vegetables/greens can be food. Nonetheless lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, blueberries and pickled artichokes with a few sprigs of chervil and sour grass and buttermilk dressing can be very quick (read 15 minutes to pluck, wash, chop and arrange) and surprisingly delicious. My favourite bit in this is the buttermilk. It's light on fat, and has a nice delicate taste with a light smoky finish.

We belong to the sea

One of those songs which I'd caught a long time ago by chance on some TV show and which stayed in my mind. Lene Nystrom is, as usual, stunning.

Caprese Sandwiches

My version of the Caprese Mini Sandwihes , that Elise did on my favorite food blog , Simply Recepies. I love the Idea, and since In India we make "Roti's"/Flat Bread at home evry day, his is a easy no brainer.

I used, frozen dough that I had made a few weeks ago for making Pot sticklers and what ever was available. Getting the mise en place ready is the trick as every thing is assembled over the flat girdle/Tava used for making the breads.

Frozen Dough , Thawed, Rolled into Flat Breads - 100 Gms
Grated Mozerella Cheese, I used Kodai Cheese - 2 tbs
Basil, Oregano, Crushed Chilly Flakes, Coarse Sea Salt- By Taste
Zero Oil !!

Elise suggests that we marinate the Salad, and I have done that version too, and its delish, but usually i just assemble this in under 15 mins. I just went ahead on an instinct, and just to complete the mean, I added a dollop of hung curd, which is almost the consistancy of ricotta with drizzled honey.

I have been trying to eat light and well, and in the last six months, lost 10 kgs ( Checked today morning, it still stable at 10!!), and I just don't understand why people eat cardboard tasting meal supplements, when all they need to do is learn how to create a simple easy and quick meal.

Tried doing multiple images on this post , including a Collage with the step by step

Lavash or Hogwash!

Hogwash! I cried at the posh counter at Maison De Gourmet. If you are a foodie and In Chennai you could not have escaped this store. It is one of the few that will stock Fleur De Sel, EVOO, Balsamic, so you get the drift. I don't know much of how the business works , so have no comments about the mark ups. But I do know when you are being swindled.

Rs.150/pack for less than 200 grams of day old Lavash! For those who haven't got an idea of what I am talking , Lavash is a thin middle eastern bread, more like crackers, most times with a sprinkling of spices, like Zatar or seeds, and is made of Flour, Water, Shortening , and yeast. I use this on the Mezze or with Humus I am making a lot these days. So essentially, not very different from your basic bread, save its rolled, generally made in a Tandoor, but I suppose easily done in an oven too!

A, will be squirming in his seat (Psst- He's been baking, but will not show his breads here)! I know, they will price it according to the demand ...and supply, which is non existent in Chennai. But I think its time folks just waked out ..this is hogwash!!

Also - Scary was the complete lack of labeling and information on the product, including the price.

Some recipes from the blogosphere : A, Try some and let me know if this works well. I wish I had an oven!

From Whence The Sweet Bird Sang - Lavash

Apple pies, Patis and Pate - Lavash

Tomato Salad with Aioli and Herbs

Easy does it! Just like this Salad I did a few days ago for lunch..Ripe tomatoes quartered, in an aioli, some dried basil and oregano, a dash of tang from a lime, frozen cold meats crushed, cools the salad, as you plate and serve.

Oh, the salt has to be Kal Uppu, or Coarse Sea Salt, none of the flakiness and chemicals from free flowing Iodised salt ..I can't afford Fleur De Sel , so have been using this traditional salt as a finishing salt or just salt, and you can feel the difference.

The Aioli, Salt, Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil , and a whole lot of work on the pestle and mortal as you slowly trickle down the oil. I do not like to add anything else, most folks will add eggs, but does reminds of Mayo, and I am not a big fan.

The Dash of green you see, is some left over pesto, I had done a few days ago, just completes the composition, Don't you think so ?

Enjoy!

dinner

lunch

breakfast

The Bachelor Pad @ Adayar

I am a house proud Queer Boy, with an unusually strong aversion to making house calls. And one of the outcomes of this aversion , has been putting, sleepy, nondescript drowning Madipakkam on the map, all on my own. The Boys have to come to me!

This works beautifully, as most gay boys stay with family or friends till very late in their lives, so they are always on the lookout for a "With Place", Date :P.

So I found it strange when a date, who I have known for over a year now, insisted that I come down to his pad, this time around..I played the scene in my mind more than a few times, and almost bailed out. But I did go, It was too long since I had met him.

Sweet Man that he is, he had clean and place, and he was excited having me over at his place, but would time and again, stop and say It's not as good, as comfy as your place ..and this bugged me. So I sat him down and asked him, if he thought that way , why did he call me here ?

He was taken back by the question, but he told me that he really wanted to invite me over , for some time now. But some how never had the chance, and that he was also was concerned about the state of the pad...but today he was alone, so he did put some effort cleaning up , and called me ..how can you not like the man?

So it was over a dinner of Alu/Muli Paranthas from Mast Kalandar, we Talked, funny stories from campus , his impending marriage, how he was looking forward to it , and some how, he did not have any of the dichotomy, that is so evident in gay men, he was happy. I am a habitual baiter, so I did throw him a hooker, " Will you continue seeing men?"..and he thought about it for a bit and gave me a confident No!

He explained to me how seeing a men, fulfilled his need for companionship and intimacy, which was impossible for him growing up with Women..and now that he found that in a Woman, he was ready to move on..sex was just incidental in the scheme of things..he looked at me, and told me that it was Ok, if I did not want to meet him any more..but how could I not? He was honest, truly enjoys and cares...so we keep talking....

Masala Chai@ 8 AM

Utterly Motherly Delicious

I did lunch with Shanu and his Mom, who is in town visiting for some time. I am still gushing. It was simple and Delicious , cooked with a lot of love ..simple Alu gobi, Dal, Raita and Achar with roti. Shanu offered me a drink, but to my surprise, I was not comfortable drinking in front , so I declined. We spent a lazy hour talking to his mom as she cooked and served us lunch.

I love Mom's..so invite me back soon, Dal, Bati and Churma this time on.

Summer Time and Livin is Easy

Summer time and the living is Easy, the fish are jumping , and the cotton is high , your Daddy's rich and your ma is good looking. So Hush little baby, don't you Cry. Essential Jazz.

It's Summer Time in Chennai and I am wondering if the living is going to be easy! I try Hard, check whats for lunch today ..Iced Lemon Tea and Figs, in the Nude! Bliss :P

It's been two months since I left a High Paying job, to take some time off , and do absolutely nothing. Creating a stir amongst my friends and colleagues , on this abrupt change in course..but I am thankful , they understood, and I am amazed by my Sisters and Parents who were with me 100%.

So is it Easy? A difficult one, for some one who's toed the line most of his life. But as of this post, I am enjoying the limbo. I know I will soon tire of it, or finances will soon become an issues, but till then, I have time.

Unintentionally, one of the things that I am enjoying most right now, is living my gay adolescence (Why else will I dance around in barely there hot pants , at a party!). I just came out to my family and friends late last year, so it's nice to have some time, without the woes of having to maintain a facade , and constantly keep that thin line between my lives. It's one beautiful blur right now , a blur with the the colors of the rainbow..

PS: I am also getting the drafts out so you will see some posts come by...happens if you loudmouth blogging powers to drunk cute interesting men you've only just met :P

2 am @ Beasent Nagar

Woof! Just couldn't take my eyes off. Vikram as seen on the walls of a telephone booth , 2 am in the morning somewhere in Beasent Nagar. Sooraj thanks much for the coffee :)

You belong to me : A review

This was a movie S and I opted for rather offhandedly to watch over the internet after we were done with dinner and "The Informers". "The Informers" had been vaguely dissatisfying primarily because of the editing; but that's another story.

So we chose "You belong to me", or rather S chose it after I read the blurb on it that mentioned a vaguely gay plotline, and I am very very happy he did.

This was a very well made, very understated and very well enacted movie. The movie starts with an architect named Jeffrey (Daniel Sauli) sort of stalking his disinterested one-afternoon-stand Rene (Julien Lucas -- very rakish) and moving into the same apartment complex as Rene. And right about the time when I was about to say "...not another gay fatal attraction movie plzzz..." the plot swerved in a completely different direction and evolved into a very urbane gothic suspense thriller.

The movie is worth at least one watch simply because it blends the gay subplot into the background without even a single moments worth of melodrama.

Coco Chanel apparently had said once " Before you leave the house, take one thing off your self." Writer-director Sam Zalutsky may have used that philosophy to trim off any extra drama from the movie, and the result is a slick, gripping thriller.