Diary from Cannes 2013: Day 4
May 19, 2013: The sun came out on Sunday, and so did… every single Asian film that I wanted to see.
What I got used to very quickly as a first time Cannes attendee (with a low-priority press badge) is that every single day, I’d look through the list of hundreds of press screenings, competition screenings, and market screenings; plan my day in at least three different formations amidst much confusion and indecision; and then when I finally decided on my schedule, at least a third of it would fall through for some reason or another (screening full, interview ran late, starving and took too long to find your third £5 tomato/ham/mozzarella baguette sandwich of the day; heard someone yell “Marion Cotillard!” and found yourself zombie-walking into the paparazzi crowd instead of power walking away); and I’d end up just improvising my way through the day.
It’s what keeps the festival exciting. And normally, it’s smart to pace yourself, but Sunday’s lineup was out of control. Too many good things to see in too little time.
On this second episode of CNN’s “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”, chef/host Anthony Bourdain takes viewers to a locale we all know too well here at Audrey Magazine: Los Angeles’ Koreatown. I was really intrigued to see what Bourdain would cover in his visit to the famed ethnic enclave in just under an hour – and to my surprise, I found it delightful (as it always is to watch Bourdain).
Bourdain begins his interview with Roy Choi (of Kogi, Chego and A-Frame fame) with a brief overview of the 1992 LA Riots (for contextualization and history) and how Korean Americans were a part of that in his perspective. For the Korean spots, Choi took Bourdain to Dong Il Jang (for good ole’ KBBQ), a visit to the Kogi trucks, Chego, and A-Frame (a former Ihop), and Beverly Soon Tofu. Choi also took Bourdain to non-Korean spots like fast-food Filipino chain Jollibee and Swadesh in Little Bangladesh (which is only about two years old).
Bourdain also paid a visit to artist David Choe in his studio, where he received his first painted portrait – and also listened to Choe make some interesting remarks about Korean women. Choe, being the character that he is – took him to a place you wouldn’t expect to be in this episode: Sizzler. However, Choe says that Sizzler plays an important part in the memories of many second generation Korean Americans. In addition, Bourdain also visited Monte Carlo Bar, Myung In Dumplings (to which Choe mentioned the buns looked like “buttholes”), and a special homecooked meal at Choe’s parents home.
For information on this episode and reruns, please visit here.
For those looking to experience Burma without leave their home – look no further. Naomi Duguid’s Burma: Rivers of Flavor takes you on a culinary journey to the Southeast Asian country, as she got to know the local residents and foodways. Check out some of our favorite recipes after the cut!
Dedicated to the jetset woman always on the go, this is for that friend. She’s the woman that lives in airports, whether it be for business, or because she caught the traveling bug and can’t seem to get rid of it. Having a hard time trying to find the perfect gift for this busy lady? Have no fear! We’re here to help give you different ideas for this woman.
Gifts Under $50:
Mr. & Mrs. Minimergency Kit for Her, $13.
While you’re in Seoul, make sure to check out Hongdae, the neighborhood around (and short for) the art-oriented Hongik University. With no shortage of cafés, clubs and spontaneous street music, Hongdae has become a magnet for expats, exchange students and locals alike. Here, Vietnamese American exchange student Mai Nguyen fills us in on some of her must-go’s in Hongdae.
ISSUE: Summer 2012
DEPT: Destinasian
STORY: Mai Nguyen
1) Street performances abound in Hongdae. 2) Pop star Se7en’s restaurant Yeolbong. 3) Your latte, complete with cinnamon sprinkle art, at the Hello Kitty Cafe.
- Fill up: One of my favorite restaurants in Hongdae would have to be Yeolbong. Beware though — you have to be able to handle some spicy hotness before trying the food here. Owned by Korean pop singer Se7en, it’s a small and cozy place, specializing in steamed chicken (jjim-dak). Served over glass noodles, the chicken is stewed for hours with potatoes, carrots and onions, so the flavor is really soaked into the dish. It’ll leave you satisfied with a slight tingly burning feeling on your lips. Yeolbong.com.
- Sweet spot: What better way to balance something spicy than with something sweet? There’s no place more appropriate than the Hello Kitty Café. From top to bottom, it’s all pink, all cute and, of course, all Hello Kitty. Don’t be surprised to see girls cooing at how adorable everything is, down to every drink and confection offered. Hellokittycafe.co.kr.
- Club hopping: The best way to club hop in Hongdae is to get the 15,000 won (about $12) pass that gives you access to the three YG Entertainment hip-hop clubs, NB1, NB2 and Harlem. YG artists and other celebrities frequent these clubs, so if you’re lucky, you might find yourself partying it up with a star. What’s great about the clubbing culture here is that there are particular moves for every song that everybody seems to know. These moves are usually simple enough to pick up just by watching, so before you know it, you’ll be dancing in unison with the rest of the clubgoers.
When Leah Murakami watched the acrobatics of the Blue Angels at the Point Mugu Airshow, the then-10-year-old knew she had to fly. By 15, she managed to save up enough to take her first flying lesson and got her pilot’s license on her 17th birthday.
The first Asian female fighter pilot in the U.S., Murakami is today a commercial airline pilot and avid traveler. She knows a thing or two about life on the road, so we asked her for some tips on being a happy traveler.
ISSUE: Summer 2012
DEPT: Destinasian
DESTINASIAN:Hongdae
Vietnamese American Mai Nguyen, 21
Exchange Student at Yonsei University
about 2 months
One of her favorite places to hang out in Seoul is Hongdae, the neighborhood around (and short for) the art-oriented Hongik University. With no shortage of cafes, dance clubs, and street performances, Hongdae has become a magnet for expats, exchange students and locals alike. Here, her hotspots to hit in this Seoul hotspot.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: DestinAsian
STORY: Anna M. Park
I have no sense of direction whatsoever, so when I got turned around in a Kyoto neighborhood, all would have been lost were it not for the sweet Japanese couple who didn’t speak a word of English but offered to take me to the ryokan I was searching for. If I had something like Florent Chavouet’s Tokyo on Foot, I would’ve been in much better shape. Filled with adorable, quirky drawings of food stands, local policemen and scenes of everyday life, Chavouet includes fascinating tidbits like what the bottle labeled “Suntory Dakara” tastes like and the differences between the various “hipsters.” In addition to fairly detailed, hand-drawn maps with important markers like “fantastic free panoramic views” and “the dirtiest restrooms in Japan,” Chavouet graphically recounts everything from his search for an apartment and encounters with local insects, to a bike theft debacle during his six-month stay there, making for a charming, amusing read. Details Paperback, $22.95, tuttlepublishing.com.
I’ll admit, collecting hotel shampoos and conditioners has become a sort of a hobby of mine. I just love their compact size for traveling! (Although, irony of irony, when I go to a new place, I usually don’t use my looted hotel toiletries, I use the new ones in the new hotel).
This winter, I’m not going to hide away and hibernate, I’m planning on doing some hefty traveling and what better set to carry with me than Hugo Naturals Winter Retreat Pack?
Available in Vanilla & Sweet Orange and French Lavender, each pack sells for $14.99 and includes:
· 1 Shampoo
· 1 Conditioner
· 1 Shower Gel
· 1 All Over Lotion
· 1 Essential Mist
· 1 Lip Balm
Compact, efficient and well-scented– this is traveling done right!
We’re giving a total of TWO (2) lucky winners one Hugo Naturals winter retreat pack each for this week’s TGIFree Friday! Check out how you can win yourself one below.
HOW TO ENTER:
- FOLLOW Audrey Magazine on Twitter and Facebook.
- SPREAD THE WORD: Retweet the contest to your friends, and repost on your wall: Link @audreymagazine so we’ll see you did this!
- COMMENT BELOW: Let us know where you want to head to this winter, and we’ll pick two lucky winners!
You may enter as many times as you wish! Contest ends Wednesday, October 19, 11:59 PST. You must have a mailing address to win.
Good luck!
Don’t schlep when traveling for business. Three stylish, entrepreneurial Asian American women offer chic carryalls for laptop, iPad and more.
ISSUE: Spring 2011
DEPT: DestinAsian
STORY: Anna M. Park
Plaid Doctrine
Suzanne Park appreciates a sturdy travel bag — she’s logged 300,000+ miles herself as a former corporate exec. Thank goodness she founded Plaid Doctrine, a line of cool, eco-friendly laptop bags. They’re made with recycled material from plastic bottles, but you’d never know it from the look and feel of it. The vintage-inspired designs of houndstooth and stripes trimmed with prime-grade, vegetable-tanned leather perfectly complement spring’s preppy-punk vibe. Continue Reading »
