REVIEW - Submarine

If you grew up in England any time over the past 30 years, you'll remember The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4

The Secret Diary was the first book in the Adrian Mole series of comedic fiction, written by Sue Townsend. The book was written in a diary / journal style, and focused on the worries and regrets of a teenager who believes himself to be an intellectual. The story is set in the early 80s, and in the background it refers to some of the historic world events of the time, such as the Falklands War and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Apart from the events described in the diary, a lot of the book's humour originates from the unreliable narration of Mole, who naïvely, yet confidently, misinterprets events around him.

Now, that Mole review could've been the exact same as a review of this "new" movie, Submarine. And this time around, it wasn't as funny, witty, or enjoyable.

Shame.

RAVE - Camino, Oakland

After 14 years in California I've not yet made it to Chez Pannise (reportedly the best restaurant in the Bay area). But an ex-CP chef, Russell Moore now has his own place, Camino.

The menu is brief-ish, but very good.

Pavey started with salad (hazelnuts, beets, zucchini), and continued with Rib-eye and short rib. I started with Pig's head (i.e pork cheeks, cooked in light bread-crumbs) and rabbit terrine, then had something (for the life of me I can't remember what) with garbanzo beans and nettles.

We divided the Shaker lemon tart and Almond cake with roasted cherries and almond milk between us and our delightful hosts, Sue and Jen.

A laid back, comfortable, family vibe even when you're family lives 5,000 miles away.

REVIEW - Super 8

Looking at some of the reviews of Super 8, you'd be duped into believing it's an almost perfect movie.

The JJ Abrams-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced film surprised me by being more kid-centric than I expected. That centricity manifested itself in the loud, uncomplicated action, but - on the negative side - by inconsistencies and plot holes big enough to swallow the huge train wreck near the start of the film.

Overall, it was fun, but we spent the post-movie hour at Mel's Diner arguing about the shabby lack of attention to the more obviously flaky details.

I can't explain in any more detail without giving away the entire plot, so you'll just have to see it, and explain what the bloody point was in collecting all the debris from the train wreck, when all that was needed was to suck up all the refrigerators and cookers to the top of an old water tower.

There, I've given it all away now!

RAVE - Bottega, Yountville

Looking back over the Memorial weekend food and wine fest, it's clear that a RAVE from yours truly doesn't guarantee you'll like a particular eaterie.

I've RAVEd about Redd, Bardessono, and Bottega this past weekend, and yet they're each very different.

Bottega is a very touristy spot. TV Chef Michael Chiarelli wouldn't normally be on my "must visit" list, mainly (and possible unreasonably) because he annoys the crap out of me by always saying "carmelize", instead of "caramelize". Clearly, in order to earn tire-maker stars from me he needs to pronounce his recipes properly, not just cook them well.

While Redd is classic, international food perfectly executed with a light hand, and Bardessono is almost as good while being laid back almost to the point of coma, Bottega is big dishes of big country food. Each is worth a visit, with Redd being the outstanding pick.

RAVE - Bardessono, Yountville

Restaurant 3 of 4 over Memorial weekend in Napa was excellent despite being heavily fishy. 

I say "despite" because I normally don't care for fishy fish - I mostly pick the tempura at a sushi restaurant (that's now much I don't care for fish).

So, when we arrived at Bardessono to find they had a fixed menu that night, with scallops, swordfish and chocolate mousse I thought I might go straight for dessert.

But each course was a delight, with impeccable scallops (not fishy, rubbery, or tasteless), and equally scrumptious swordfish. I was convinced without being totally converted to choosing the seafood everywhere I go.

I don't know if Bardesonno is a spa first and a restaurant second, but there was a generally calm, if not ascetic vibe that night. Not conducive to kicking back, necking a bottle or two and celebrating. It was more reserved and reflective, even hushed.

Maybe if I'd spent the day slathered in mud, with cucumber slices on my eyes that's all I'd have wanted.

REVIEW - Etoile, Yountville

The Etoile restaurant at The Domaine Chandon winery in Yountville, is the only one of the 4 restaurants boasting a Michelin star that we visited over Memorial weekend, and they must have earned that for pretension.

When compared with Redd, Bardessono and Bottega, Etoile came fourth, by some margin.

Domaine Chandon is not one of the warmest wineries in Napa - it lacks a pleasing atmosphere, imagining that waistcoated waiters and overly complex dishes automatically count with diners.

Those dishes, amuse bouches and other fripperies didn't really hit the spot, and the atmosphere was akin to a waiting room at a truck stop in Outer Mongolia (cruel, I know, but it was DULL).

In Etoile's defence, we had gorged at Redd earlier in the day, and sampled wines at a few Napa wineries that afternoon, so maybe we'd already had too much of a good thing before our late dinner.

RAVE - Redd, Yountville

After being corrected by a waiter, to pronounce it Yontville, not Yountville, I was able to sit back and enjoy once again the all around fabulosity of this Napa town, and Redd in particular.

Definitely reserve a table outside, so you can soak up the rays along with the perfect food.

My Crispy Calamari, Cayenne Salt, Tamarind Sauce and Vietnamese Dressing appetizer, together with Crisp Duck Confit, Lentils, Foie Gras Meatballs, and Crispy Spaetzle may have revealed the chef's lack of a thesaurus (surely there are other words for 'crispy'?), but otherwise transported me to grub heaven, along with my Moscow Mule (cocktail, not meat dish!)

Pavey's Glazed Pork Belly, Apple Puree, Burdock, and Soy Caramel, followed by Braised Beef Shortrib, Bacon, Cipollini Onions, Fingerling Potatoes, and Red Wine Jus, just made me jealous.

Redd is one of those places where I'm tempted to order everything on the menu, and camp out there until I've eaten it all.

The Memorial weekend in Napa afforded us the opportunity to dine at 4 top notch establishments in 3 days, without begging for admission to French Laundry.

As some dyslexic marketer has probably already said, you can't spell paradise without Napa.

REVIEW - Animal Kingdon

This movie would've got a RAVE if it hadn't just been about the seemingly inevitable slide into crime experienced by the 17-year old Australian who is forced to move in with his grandmother and 3 criminal brothers when his mother dies.

But because it is just that, it makes this film somewhat miserable and therefore less than a RAVE.

After the death of his mother, 17 year old J must move in with his estranged grandmother and her three criminal sons. J soon finds himself at the center of a cold blooded revenge plot that will turn his family upside down and change his life forever.

Heavy stuff, made interesting because it was set in Melbourne, Australia, rather than Dayton, Ohio. They're just as nasty however, those Aussies.