Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "french"

French pastry shop coming to K Street downtown

2011-11-11T01:20:54Z

French desserts will once again be available at the corner of Ninth and K streets downtown as the owner of a popular East Sacramento cupcake shop plans to open Estelle’s Patisserie on Dec. 1 in the building that formerly housed Danielle’s Creperie.

“This has been my lifelong passion,” said owner Esther Son. “I’ve always dreamed of owning a bakery, ever since I was a little girl.”

Though not traditionally trained as a baker, Son said she considers herself self-taught, and she has extensive experience in coming up with recipes and tweaking them until they’re perfect.

Her cupcake shop, Esther’s Cupcakes, has been in business at 2600 Fair Oaks Blvd. for two years.

“We were always coming downtown because we had a lot of clients at the Capitol,” she said. “The politicians and the lobbyists would bring in our cupcakes for gifts at fundraisers, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to order from us.”

The pastry shop, however, will have a much broader set of goods. Some of the menu items include French macarons, croissants, green tea madeleines, fresh strawberry cakes, puff pastries, French baguettes and even sandwiches such as ham and cheese on a croissant.

Fruit tarts and quiches loaded with vegetables will also be available, and coffee from Temple Coffee will be sold.

Most desserts will be in the $3-$4 range, and Son said customers will be able to get lunch and a drink for about $8.

Though Son is Korean-American, she said she chose to focus on French desserts, starting at the roots, and then modifying them with Asian and American influences.

“The root of all dessert and pastry making is French,” Son said. “Not that American, Asian or Italian styles aren’t as good, but I wanted to go back to the roots and then improvise.”

The name Estelle, she said, is the French version of Esther, so it was a natural choice.

A self-described perfectionist, Son said she and her staff – the patisserie will employ about 10 workers – spent six months perfecting the croissant.

“We boast of our butter croissants,” she said. “We don’t buy pre-mixed or frozen croissants. It’s 100 percent homemade, and there are not many of those in town. It’s really flaky and buttery.”

With a husband who is a physician, Son said that even though her business has a variety of desserts, being health-conscious is still important.

“We need to educate people on what good dessert is,” she said. “Some people are used to Twinkies, and they are so unnaturally sweet and oily, but a dessert doesn’t have to be overwhelming.”

To get away from processed foods and make even a buttery croissant more healthy than the alternative, Son said she focuses on using high-quality ingredients bought from local sources whenever possible.

“We avoid shortening and corn syrup,” she said. “It’s hard to say dessert is healthy, but you can work on it by reducing those kinds of ingredients.”

Also available will be diabetic-friendly and vegan items. There will also be “almost-gluten-free” items, and Son explained that to legally call something gluten-free, it must be produced on separate equipment, which is something she isn’t set up to do.

One of the clients of her other business, Esther’s Cupcakes, is the J. Crew store in Arden Fair Mall.

“We use Esther for her cupcakes for special events for our store clients,” said Manager Sophie Pena. “Her cupcakes are a special, unique treat. They look amazing; they taste amazing. You just look at them, and you can tell they’re hers.”

Pena said she is looking forward to going down to the patisserie and trying Son’s other baked goods once it opens.

The building, at 901 K St., was formerly Danielle’s Creperie. At 3,000 square feet, it has a seating area of about 1,000 square feet that can hold 25-30 people. A few more tables will be put on the fenced-in patio that fronts K Street.

K Street will open to vehicular traffic for the first time since the 1960s on Saturday, and Son said that was one of the reasons she chose to open a downtown location.

“I’m really excited to see the city and urban life turn around, and I want to be a part of this,” she said. “If I can make a little change to the downtown lifestyle, I’ll be so honored.”

That sentiment, according to Downtown Sacramento Partnership Business Recruitment Director Valerie Mamone-Werder, is key to turning around the blighted K Street area that has seen improvement over the past year with the opening of numerous new businesses, including Tequila Museo Myahuel and the nightlife trio of Pizza Rock, District 30 and Dive Bar.

“I think that getting these tenants, these merchants and retailers that really get downtown is refreshing,” she said. “We have a lot of naysayers, but we have people who see downtown for what it is and can be, and she sees what we do have, and what’s coming.”

Having lived in Sacramento for the past 10 years, Son, 34, said she plans to raise her two children, ages 5 and 6, in the area.

Also scheduled for late winter and early spring openings are another cupcake shop in the Westfield Galleria at Roseville Mall and another Estelle’s Patisserie in the Arden area.

“I’m not here to come in and then go out of business in five years,” Son said. “I plan on being here for the long haul.”

Estelle’s Patisserie, 901 K St., will initially be open from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekdays. If business warrants, Son said, she will stay open on weekends.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Second annual Bastille Day Waiters' Race

2011-07-15T23:31:19Z

Hundreds of spectators gathered Thursday night to watch waiters and waitresses from Sacramento restaurants as they gave their best definition of speedy service in the second annual Bastille Day Waiters’ Race in the courtyard behind 1801 L Wine Lounge.

Waiters and waitresses from 25 central city restaurants made two laps around the block bounded by 18th and 19th streets and L Street and Capitol Avenue. With one hand, participants were required to balance a tray with a bottle of Perrier mineral water and two champagne glasses filled with water. The race began at 7 p.m.

“From my perspective as the French consul, it’s great, that in a town like Sacramento, we have young waiters and waitresses throughout the region participating in a strictly French event, which is wonderful,” said Jane Wheaton, who represents Consule Honoraire de France and served as one of the judges in the competition.

Anthony Sharrow, a server at L Wine Lounge, came in first in the men’s division, and Marja Magnuson, a server from 33rd Street Bistro, triumphed in the women’s division. They were each awarded $150 and one free night stay in an executive suite at 1801 L Street Apartments

Second-place winners included Carlos Gonzalez of Zócalo and Ali Lazzaretto of Hot Italian, who were awarded $100. Blake Taylor of Sapporo Grill Japanese Steakhouse and Kristi Warren, a server at The Firehouse Restaurant, took third place, winning $50 each.

Sactown Magazine was one of the sponsors of the event, and this year the magazine flew in Head Judge Jim Kahan, who has been overseeing the Bastille Day Waiters’ Race in Portland for the last two years.

“In addition to being fun, this is an international event and is a great showcase for all the great dinning establishments in the area. There’s over 20 restaurants and bars that are participating in this race, from Ella, to Grange to Zócalo to Lounge on 20,” said Steve Childs, publisher of Sactown Magazine.

Amar Dhariwal, a representative for Sactown Magazine, who registered the participants, said that in all, 43 servers took part in the waiters’ race. She said it cost the servers $20 to compete.

“My understanding was that last year it was pretty chaotic. They wanted somebody with some experience,” Kahan said.

This year, the race was more formalized. Participants were required to wear white shirts and black pants or skirts. They were provided bow ties, aprons and a napkin to drape over one arm.

He said the waiters’ race promotes goodwill and culture. Portland hosts the biggest Bastille Day celebration on the west coast, but, he said, Sacramento has the potential to surpass his city. The waiters’ race in Sacramento allowed no more than 50 competitors.

“You have spirit (here) that could be greater than what Portland has,” said Kahan, who noted that Portland has been hosting the waiters’ race for seven years.

“It’s been getting pretty refined each year as we learn better. The winner is not the first person to cross the finish line. It’s the person with the driest tray,” Kahan said. “Three years ago, a man in Portland was last to cross the finish line, but his tray was bone dry, and he won.”

At the end of the race, spectators and racing participants were invited to mingle on the L Wine Lounge courtyard. Sample servings of strawberry and Nutella crepes were provided by Crepeville. Champagne provided by sponsor Perrier-Jouët was also served.

French music from Charles Aznavour, Francis Cabral and the soundtrack of the movie “Amélie” contributed to the French-themed atmosphere.

Spectator Helene Mulligan who is French, and resides in Sacramento, compared France’s Bastille Day to Independence Day in the U.S. Mulligan said July 14 is Bastille Day, the day French citizens stormed the Bastille in Paris, and that event sparked the French Revolution.

The 10th Sacramento French Film Festival (June 17-26, 2011) Unveils its Film Selection!

2011-05-25T23:36:00Z

The Sacramento French Film Festival will celebrate its 10th year in June 2011 and has just unveiled its exhilarating film selection and its inspired and original poster created, as were the nine previous SFFF posters, by talented Sacramento photographer Kent Lacin. See the complete poster collection here.

To be held June 17-26, 2011 at the Crest Theatre in Downtown Sacramento, the 10th Sacramento French Film Festival will present nine new premieres, two Saturday Midnight Movies, three classics, and one Short Film Program. This year the SFFF is also introducing a new category, entitled "The One That Almost Got Away" and aimed to highlight recent films that the SFFF team wished to show in previous years but was unable to, and is very happy to finally share with its audience, proving that it's never too late to enjoy an unforgettable film! Most of the films presented this year are feel good films that will make the audience reflect on the state of the current times while being highly entertained! It is certainly a pleasurable way for the SFFF to celebrate its 10th year!

A prestigious French guest.

This year's guest will be César nominated screenwriter JEAN-LOUIS MILESI, the screenwriter of director Robert Guediguian, one of France's best contemporary filmmakers. Milesi's screenplays include the joyful working class comedy MARIUS & JEANNETTE, presented this year, and the insightful social drama The Town is Quiet (La Ville est Tranquille, 2000) shown at the first SFFF in 2002. Jean-Louis Milesi directed several short films and features and he will present his sensitive feature LINO (2008) on Sunday June 19.

Hilarious opening and awaited closing films.

The 10th SFFF will open on Friday June 17th, with THE NAMES OF LOVE (LE NOM DES GENS) a hysterical comedy about sex and politics, with the bubbly rising star Sara Forestier (winner of the 2011 César -French Academy Award- for Best Actress in a Leading Role) and Jacques Gamblin. The film won the 2011 César for Best Original Screenplay. After seeing this film, maybe you will know more about what it is to be French!

After two weekends of fun, films and food, the 10th SFFF will conclude on Sunday June 26 with a tribute to French icon, singer-songwriter, and provocateur Serge Gainsbourg, in this year that marks the 20th anniversary of his death, with the exclusive and awaited presentation of the award winning biopic GAINSBOURG, A HEROIC LIFE (GAINSBOURG, VIE HÉROIQUE) directed by Joann Sfar, winner of the 2011 César for Best First feature Film. The César for Best Actor in a Leading Role went to Eric Elmosnino for his incredible portrayal of the inimitable Gainsbourg.

Other premieres include six of the best in French cinema today.

-COPACABANA, is a “dramedy”, directed by Marc Fitoussi, about a non-conformist mother (masterfully played by one of France’s most surprising actresses, Isabelle Huppert) who struggles to impress her conformist daughter (played by Huppert’s real-life daughter Lolita Chammah, winner of the Most Promising Actress Lumière Award for her performance).

-THE WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR (LES FEMMES DU 6ÈME ETAGE), is a delightful comedy about conservative French bourgeois and their Spanish maids in 1960’s Paris starring Fabrice Luchini (recently seen at the Crest in Potiche) was a huge critical and box-office success when it was released in France this Spring. Directed by Philippe Le Guay.

-LINO, is an uconventional love story between a two-year-old boy and the man who finds himself reluctantly in charge of him after the death of his mother, by Jean-Louis Miles presented in the Crest Theatre by its director-actor Jean-Louis Milesi with actor Lino Milesi.

-I'M GLAD THAT MY MOTHER IS ALIVE (JE SUIS HEUREUX QUE MA MERE SOIT VIVANTE), the latest drama by Claude Miller (A Secret, Closing Film SFFF 2008, and Alias Betty, SFFF 2003) co-directed by his son, Nathan Miller, is a suspenseful and shocking story – based on true events – of the complicated relationship between a young man and the biological mother who gave him up for adoption.

-ANGÈLE & TONY, is a powerful feel good story of love and redemption set in a small fishing town in Normandy. It is the remarkable first feature by Alix Delaporte starring Clotilde Hesme (The Grocer’s Son, SFFF 2008).

-BEAUTIFUL LIES (DE VRAIS MENSONGES) is the latest vibrant comedy by Pierre Salvadori (Priceless, After You), inspired by Lubitsch and French playwright Marivaux, starring the delicious Audrey Tautou (from Amelie), Nathalie Baye and Sami Bouajila.

The 2011 classic selection is comprised of three wonderful masterpieces.

-THE YOUNG GIRLS FROM ROCHEFORT (LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT, 1967) is a colorful musical, and tribute to Vincente Minelli’s 1950’s American musicals, by Jacques Demy, starring Catherine Deneuve, her sister Francoise Dorleac and the legendary Gene Kelly (star of An American in Paris, directed by Vincente Minelli in 1951) in an remarkable supporting role.

-MARIUS & JEANNETTE is Robert Guediguian’s funny and beautiful true love story between two middle age working class people in sunny Marseille( last year Guediguian’s film Army of Crime won the SFFF’s Audience prize). The film’s screenwriter Jean-Louis Milesi, the Festival’s special Guest, will attend.

-PIERROT LE FOU (1965), arguably Jean-Luc Godard’s best film is now considered one of the most important films in the history of cinema! Godard’s original fragmented storytelling, filming and editing styles achieve perfection and critics began talking about a true cinematic revolution. Starring a luminous Anna Karina and a cool Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Two midnight movies for a mature audience: stylish, surprising and crazy.

-THE SENTIMENT OF THE FLESH (LE SENTIMENT DE LA CHAIR, 2010), is a "Cronenbergian" romance by Roberto Garzelli, that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat… For those of you who are new to the genre, “Cronenbergian” is an adjective derived from David Cronenberg’s name, the Canadian filmmaker representative of the "Body Horror" genre.

-DON’T LOOK BACK (NE TE RETOURNE PAS, 2009) is a spine tingling psychological thriller by Marina de Van, starring two of France’s most beautiful and beloved actresses, Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci who share the same role.

“The One That Almost Got Away”

The film that the SFFF team is delighted to share with you this year is the quirky romantic and musical comedy, A MAN, A REAL MAN (UNE HOMME, UN VRAI) starring Mathieu Amalric (director and star of ON TOUR), and first feature of the acclaimed Larrieu brothers.

Midweek screenings

Traditionally held over two weekends, the 10th SFFF is adding a weekday evening to its program this year. On Wednesday June 22 there will be a rerun of Guédiguian and Milesi’s comedy MARIUS & JEANNETTE and the premiere of the quirky romance, A MAN, A REAL MAN.

Fun events around films, food and wine!

And as every year, the Festival will be seasoned by fun events. The catered Opening Reception with open bar will feature hors-d’oeuvres and desserts by Sacramento’s finest restaurants and caterers, and music by the Harley White Jr. Orchestra performing French jazzy songs. Midnight Breakfasts will follow the Saturday Midnight Movies and a Petit Déjeuner (French Breakfast) with Sacramento filmmaker Kim Leonard, director of the short PARDON HER FRENCH ~~PARDON MY FRENCH,~~ will precede the Short Film Program on Saturday June 25. And finally a fun champagne and Cake Party will conclude the exciting 10th SFFF. And of course, there will be post screening discussions with film experts and filmmakers including the Festival’s special guest, an art work exhibition curated by Sacramento artist Cherie Hacker, and some surprises…

Passes to the Sacramento French Film Festival are like plane tickets to France… Except that you only have to travel to Downtown Sacramento!

The 10th Sacramento French Film Festival runs June 17-19, 22 & 25-26, 2011 in the main auditorium of the Crest Theatre.
All films are presented in French with English subtitles.

You can find ticket prices, the complete schedule, film descriptions, trailers and more on the SFFF website: www.SacramentoFrenchFilmFestival.org

Disclosure: Cecile Downs is Executive & Artistic Director of the French Film Festival.

La Bonne Soupe Café chef bids adieu

2011-04-29T23:45:30Z

The man once dubbed “The Soup Ami” by local media said goodbye to his loyal customers for the last time at downtown’s La Bonne Soupe Café Friday as he retired from a restaurant career that spanned 55 years and two continents.

Daniel Pont, 72, said his retirement is bittersweet, since he loved operating his one-man shop on Eighth Street between I and J streets for the past six years. But he wants to spend time with his family.

“I will probably take the next week and just rest,” he said in the small café Friday afternoon while a handful of customers hung around, sharing wine and thanking him for good times. “No driving, no working – just swimming pool, eating and sleeping.”

He sold his business to a young couple, and he said much of it will remain the same, but he’s hanging onto his recipes.

“I advised them to keep the same concept because it works,” he said. “If I was 10 years younger, I would franchise (the business). I told them to make good food and be nice to the people, because without customers, you have no business.”

The Frenchman is originally from Lyon, and he came to the United States by way of Paris. He worked in Chicago before coming to California. He arrived in Sacramento six years ago.

His daughter and his grandchildren, 7-year-old Sofia and 5-year-old Benjamin, live in Folsom. Pont said he will continue living in the United States, close to them.

Despite the 12-hour days, five days a week that running the business required, Pont said leaving it is sad.

“I liked my customers very much, and I really enjoy what I do,” he said. “But I can’t stop the clock. When you get older, even if your mind is focused, your body can’t always keep up.”

Pont said that when he started the business, he had no idea how much work it would take, and he described it as the hardest job he’s ever had, but one he’s thoroughly enjoyed.

The announcement that he was retiring wasn’t a grand affair – just a simple sign on the door, signed, “Le Chef.”

Some customers Friday afternoon did everything they could to snag one last sandwich.

“I waited an hour and a half in line, and it was worth it,” said Art Scotland, a retired presiding justice who still does some work on Capitol Mall. “It’s not only a great lunch – he’s a maestro of the food. It’s entertainment as well as a wonderful meal from a delightful host.”

Scotland said he went to the café for the last three days in a row for his favorite sandwiches, which included the brie and prosciutto, the lamb and the braised pork.

“And the soups were excellent too,” he added. “It’s extraordinarily good food, an interesting ambiance, and the French music in the background made it such a unique small little café.”

Another customer, Sacramentan Emily Perez, said she has been going to the café for two or three years.

“I’m heartbroken,” she said when she learned of Pont’s retirement, adding that she’ll miss the brie and apple sandwich.

“He always used good-quality ingredients. You can tell when it’s good quality versus when someone uses a lot of salt and sugar to make it taste good,” she said.

Perez added that she enjoyed watching the precision with which Pont prepared the food.

“You could tell he had really good training,” she said.

Pont said he will pass on his cooking skills to his grandchildren, whom he will teach in his own kitchen.

And it’s possible, he said, that he will make a return to the restaurant scene, but in a less-rigorous role.

“If I come back, I will be the owner and have a staff,” he said.

Sacramento artist Karen O’Haire brought Pont a special gift Friday afternoon – a painting of La Bonne Soupe Café.

“I painted that for a plein air (show) in 2009,” she said. “We had to pick our favorite places, and I stood across the street and painted it. He’s just wonderful. It’s a sad loss.”

When he received the painting, Pont smiled and said, “La Bonne Soupe will live forever now.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @brandon_darnell.

Francophone culture, heritage celebration at Beatnik

2011-03-17T17:24:39Z

Belly dancers, authentic Mediterranean food and music by The Dunes will highlight culture in south and eastern Mediterranean French-speaking countries Sunday at Midtown’s Beatnik Studios.

The annual Fête de la Francophonie French Heritage Festival will introduce Sacramentans to the culture, food and customs of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Lebanon, said Beatrice Hildebrand, executive director of the Sacramento chapter of the Alliance Française, which hosts the event.

The event has been held throughout the United States since the 1980s, she said.

“Every year, the month of March has been dedicated to celebrating francophone cultures from all over the world,” she said. “We try to focus on one particular region of the globe, because to celebrate all the francophone cultures is very difficult – you have everything from Tahiti in the Pacific to Switzerland in Europe.”

Last year’s focus was on French culture in North America, specifically Louisiana and Quebec, Canada.

“What we’re going to do is try to touch on the different aspects of the cultures – the food, the music, the dress, the customs,” she said.

Tagine, a typical Moroccan dish, will be the subject of a food demonstration, and The Dunes, which includes members from several of the highlighted countries, will play a concert.

“They sing in French, Arabic, a dialect from the Berber region and English,” she said.

The guitarist and co-founder of the Bay Area band, Reda Bouali, said he is looking forward to playing in Sacramento and bringing the band’s style of music to the Capitol city for the first time.

“It’s a mix of North African and Western music,” the native of Algeria said. “I would say fusion, but usually when you use the word fusion, people think it’s jazz. We play a mix of North African rhythms and melodies and some rock, pop, funk and anything that can marry with different parts of North African music.”

Bouali said the event is a good opportunity for the band, but also for Sacramentans.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to discover something that isn’t that popular in the United States,” he said. “I think it’s very rich. The culture in general is very rich. It’s got Arabo-Islamic culture, the Berber culture for thousands of years and all these passages from the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire and most recently from the French colonization that impacted Algeria quite a lot.”

As for the dinner that will be served – couscous with both meat and vegetable options – Bouali said it is quintessential North African fare.

“Couscous is our most popular dish,” he said. “We make couscous for all kinds of events – for weddings, for family gatherings, for religious holidays.”

Tim Abdellah Fuson sings, plays bass and plays the guinbri, which is a version of an acoustic bass banjo, for the band. He is the band’s lone American member, but he studied music in Morocco.

“It’s a real interesting time with what’s been going on in North Africa the last few months, so it’s nice to be reconvening in a framework of French speaking nations,” he said. “It’ll be a nice opportunity to meet other folks familiar with that part of the world and discuss some of the ups and downs, mainly ups, that are going on over there.”

Given current events, a round-table discussion will be held on the current political climates in the countries, since it was a Tunisian fruit vendor who kicked off the upheaval that is currently sweeping North Africa and the Middle East.

“We planned this six months ago. We had no idea this would happen, but it’s perfect to talk about,” Hildebrand said.

Fuson added that one of the band members has a unique perspective on those events.

“Our keyboard player from is from Tunisia and was actually in Tunisia when all of those events went down,” he said. “I’m hoping he’ll be willing to share his experiences over there.”

In addition to the concert, food demonstration, belly dancing and dinner, attendees will be able to see the Lebanese film “Caramel,” and there will be activities for children.

Hildebrand said between 100 and 150 people attended last year’s event, and she hopes to see about 120 come through this year.

“It’s good to have those kinds of numbers,” she said. “During the concert, it’s good to have them in the room, and people start dancing. It’s a good time.”

General admission is $45, with a $10 discount for Alliance Française members. College students get in for $20, and children ages 12-18 are $15. Children under 12 get in for free.

For tickets, call 453-1723 or e-mail af@afdesacramento.org.

Beatnik Studios is located at 2421 17th St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

French composer to add life to time-tested film

2011-01-22T02:10:57Z

Kicking off its 10th year, the Sacramento French Film Festival has invited French composer Raymond Alessandrini to direct an orchestral accompaniment for its first film/concert, which will be performed by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra.

“It’s something we’ve never done before. It’s quite exceptional,” said French Film Festival Executive and Artistic Director Cécile Downs.

The show will be held at the Crest Theatre on Jan. 29 and 30.

“It’s a very big event for us,” Downs said. “We (often) have guests, but usually they are just coming to present a film that is already finished. Having the composer of the score coming is more exceptional.”

The film to be shown is a 1928 silent film, “Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie” (“An Italian Straw Hat”), directed by René Clair. It was originally based off the play by Eugène Labiche.

“This film is extremely funny,” Downs said. “It goes at a very, very fast pace ... in France, it is one of the most famous silent films.”

When the film was originally shown, it would have been accompanied by a pianist in a theater, Downs said.

In 1986, when the Cinémathèque Française (France’s national film center) celebrated its 50th anniversary, several composers were asked to write scores to original silent films that had been restored, Alessandrini told The Sacramento Press.*

Alessandrini was chosen to write the score to “An Italian Straw Hat” and another film.

“The challenge is always to respect the character, the style and the spirit of the director,” Alessandrini said in an e-mail. “For ‘The Italian Straw Hat,’ the difficulty was to be musically funny with the most subtlety possible, all the while staying true to the occasional surrealism of René Clair, as well as the rapidity and precision of the film editing.”

He added that in addition to needing to write the music so it is both precise and detailed – akin to the music of a cartoon – a lot of the difficulty comes in directing the orchestra so the sounds are at all times synchronized with the film’s images.

“The film is one of the great classics of French cinema and is very much appreciated by the film lovers in France and those interested in René Clair,” Alessandrini said. “It is also one of the great theater works of the 19th century.”

Alessandrini said Labiche wrote the play as a mockery of the stupidity of his contemporaries.

“It is a very funny film that puts everyone in a good mood,” he said. “The duration is 1 hour and 24 minutes, but it gives the impression that it’s over in 10 minutes. The music contributes enormously to the humor of the scenes, and it is always a sight to see these films on a big screen with a live orchestra.”

Alessandrini said he has not spent much time in the United States, but did a similar show in the early 1980s at a film festival in Colorado, also working with American musicians.

He has performed “An Italian Straw Hat” in England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and all the large cities in Italy. He has also done two show tours in Russia, and one on the Middle East, he said.

He got his start in the industry as a classically trained musician, and it was when he worked as a pianist that he met filmmakers and producers, who led him down the path to eventually composing scores to accompany restored films.

“It’s an honor to me to be able to work with the musicians of the Sacramento Philharmonic, and I hope that this will be a pleasant experience and will bring much pleasure and joy to the people of Sacramento,” he said.

“Everywhere you go in the world, this music and this film are a success,” he added. “It’s a rare show, and it’s a shame if you don’t take advantage of it.”

The film will be shown twice – at 8 p.m. Jan. 29 and 2 p.m. Jan. 30.

Tickets are $30, or $25 for friends of the film festival, philharmonic subscribers and members of the Alliance Française or Tempo. Tickets can be purchased at Tickets.com, by phone at (800) 225-2277 or at the Crest Theatre box office.

“I think, to me it’s kind of a historic moment in Sacramento,” Downs said. “We’re bringing a French composer, it’s a very very famous and funny film, and it’s just gonna be fun. I can’t say when we’re going to do that again, so it’s not to be missed.”

*Interview with Raymond Alessandrini conducted in French and translated to English by Brandon Darnell, staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

The French Hen to close

2010-10-29T22:42:11Z

After seven years on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento, The French Hen will be shutting its doors.

In an e-mail message sent to patrons, Owner Nicole Turner said that her lease is up at the end of the year, and she is moving out her wares. She also wrote that all items – with the exception of consignment items – will be priced at 25- to 50-percent off.

The store is located at 3200 Folsom Blvd.

Turner’s statement in full:

I wanted to let everyone know that I have decided to close The French Hen.
It has been an amazing seven years. I have enjoyed being able to explore my creative side and I hope I have been an inspiration. I am going to miss seeing all of the friends I have made but I feel I am making the right choice for myself and my family. My lease is up at the end of year so I must begin moving out my merchandise. The store is very full so come down soon for the best selection. All items excluding consignment will be 25% to 50% off. I want to thank all of you that have been faithful customers all these years. I really truly appreciate getting to know and working with all of you.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Annual Village Feast gathers community for local cause

2010-08-30T03:25:16Z

Fresh baguettes, roasted lamb, local wines and aioli were the ingredients for a savory Village Feast last Saturday in Central Park in downtown Davis.

Nearly 300 people assembled for the sixth annual Grand Aioli-style meal served to aid the Davis Farmers Market project, Davis Farm to School Connection — an organization aimed at bringing farm-fresh local fruits and vegetables to all 13 Davis public schools.

At noon, members of the community entered the Village Feast area with their own silverware, plates and cups, beneath the sycamore trees in Central Park. Guests enjoyed wine, olives and almonds while strolling through the feast area, socializing and taking a look at the silent auction items up for bid.

First-time Village Feast-goers Ann and Charles Filmar from Davis said they looked forward to the good food and good fundraising.

“I’m enjoying myself and looking forward to all the good food and meeting new people,” said Ann, a Davis Farmers Market board member. “I don’t recognize many people here,” said Ann, also a member of the Davis Farmers Market Board.

The meal ticket — $55 for Slow Food Yolo members and $65 for others — gave guests a full four-course meal, which began at 1 and lasted until around 3 p.m.

The sold-out event featured a traditional French-style menu with ingredients from local farmers who sell their produce at the Davis Farmers’ Market.

Catered by Buckhorn Grill, all courses were served family-style in large platters. First up was a heirloom tomato salad with basil and olive oil.

The main course, which included Yolo County wines, featured platters of green beans, beets, peppers, and eggplants served with, of course, a garlic aioli. Traditional to the Grand Aioli style, hard boiled eggs were served and baguettes were passed around the table and torn off with one’s own hands.

The pièce-de-résistance dish was a grilled and herbed leg of lamb, with sides of bean salad and potatoes. Just in case anyone had room for dessert, a summer fruit tart with fresh-brewed coffee was served.

North Davis Elementary School science teacher Kathy Forman said she attended the feast for the second time to support the Davis Farm to School program. The organization pays for field trips to farms for second graders.

“Our community definitely is an upscale community, but it’s surprising how many have never been to a farm and have no idea where their food comes from,” Forman said.

Most schools in Davis have an interactive garden for children, which Davis Farm to School helps with. Forman said it is up to each individual teacher if and when they integrate the garden into their curriculum. Forman takes her classes out once a week.

Davis Joint Unified School District board of education member Sheila Allen said the Village Feast is the major fundraiser for the non-profit Davis Farm to School organization.

“Not only is it fabulous food and a great opportunity for the community to come together, but it helps support all these programs,” Allen said.

Sac French Film Festival Premieres "Le Couperet"

2010-05-01T03:01:20Z

The Sacramento French Film Festival sponsored a special screening of "Le Couperet" at the Crest Theatre on Thursday. The premiere was a precursor to the 9th Sacramento French Film Festival, June 18-27. "Le Couperet," a social-political thriller and dark comedy, introduced audiences to a new meaning of “survival of the fittest” in the job market.

Jose Garcia stars as Bruno Davert, a middle-aged paper chemist who’s been forced into unemployment by the merger of his company. Unable to find work, he resorts to extreme measures to eliminate the competition in his specialized field. His rationale is that it will increase his chances of securing employment with the only leading company left in the city.

Director Costa Gavras expertly underscores social, political and economic themes with this clever film adaptation of a novel by Donald E. Westlake. Costa Gavras deftly uses this medium to make a bold and effective statement about issues such as outsourcing jobs, corporate downsizing and immigration. Other subjects explored in the film include green energy and recycling, white-collar crime, gender in the workplace, self-purpose and identity.

Although the film is set in Europe and debuted in 2005, well before the economic downturn of this nation, one can’t help but feel that art is now mimicking reality.

Kevin Elstob, French professor at California State University, Sacramento, led the after-film discussion. He referred to this genre as “social fiction” that sets up something that’s not necessarily real but is based in reality.

“Costa Gavras is known for presenting strong social messages in his films,” Elstob said. “With a diverse cast in this film, you get a sense that there are no borders anymore in Europe, there’s an influx of jobs for immigrants … and there’s a much bigger and ambiguous space in how it’s affecting the rest of the country.”

"Le Couperet" challenges viewers to ask, What would happen if people eliminated their competitors because of a steep increase in unemployment? What if they got rid of them because of a job shortage that resulted from outsourcing jobs to foreigners?

The film provides great social commentary and inspires conversation. Audiences will compare the current economic problems of the United States to those depicted in the film.

Elstob pointed out that the novel on which "Le Couperet" is based, The Ax, was set in New England.

Costa Gavras maintains the integrity of the novel's message despite moving the action to France and Belgium. It will make audiences ask themselves whether the ends justify the means. Is the answer affirmative when there is someone more ambitious and cutthroat waiting to oust you from your job?

Complimentary champagne and cake capped off the event, an excellent ending to an evening of French cinema.

The Mighty Duck Rules for one Night at Grange

2009-11-14T15:02:56Z

In this day of Food Network stars and celebrity chefs, one culinary icon (BAM!) has been singing the praises of the pig for nearly as long as he's been mugging for the camera: "Pork fat rules, baby".

Apparently, the man has never been to a Duck Off.

Thursday night marked a unique culinary experience at Grange Restaurant: to my knowledge, Sacramento's first-ever Duck Off. The five-course, prix fixe dinner benefitting the California Waterfowl Association, was preceded by an Iron Chef style competition between Grange executive chef Michael Tuohy and food writer Hank Shaw. The cook-off was judged by a veritable who's-who of Sacramento Foodie Glitterati, including Darrel Corti and Rick Kushman. The resulting menu for that evening was a collaboration of the best dishes of both competitors, accompanied by a pre-selected flight of wines to pair with each course.

Course One was a housemade duck charcuterie platter, a striking composition of 4 duck delicacies against a clean white backdrop. Duck prosciutto, duck rillette, duck torchon and duck sausage stuffed in the neck----maybe they should come up with a better name for that one? The wine pairng was a lovely Domaine Carneros 2005 Brut.

The Best of Plate award went to the torchon, ethereal in both taste and texture, it was like buttah, only bettah. The brut was fantastic, dry, clean and fresh, it cleansed the palate and readied it for each successive bite.

Course Two was a salade of warm duck confit, field lettuces and pickled French prunes, dressed with a duck fat vinaigrette with the lightest touch of tarragon. This course may have been my favorite of the evening. The contrast of the warm confit, the crunch of the greens, the delicately balanced vinaigrette, along with a smattering of the pickled prunes (I could eat a jar of those), the dish was a symphony of flavor and textures. The accompanying wine, a 2008 Tablas Creek Rose, was as fresh and vibrant as the salad itself.

Course Three was a house-made tagliatelle (made with duck eggs, natch!), perfectly al dente and topped with a duck sugo, paired with a 2005 Pavi Dolcetto. The main event was next, the Duck Cassoulet.

What could be better on a cool autumn evening that a fragrant au gratin of beans, duck confit, duck sausage and pork belly (score one for pork fat!)? The Rancho Gordo beans were nicely spiced and firm of texture, the duck leg meat falling properly off the bone, the pork belly lending a smoky note, the crunch of a light crumb topping adding a nice contrast of texture. The wine (ah, the WINE) was a Napa label, B Cellars and their Blend 24. Nice structure, bold, intense yet smooth, it had the backbone to stand up against the rich flavors of the cassoulet---fantastic.

Dessert---oi vey! Well of course, duty calls.

Before 'all vegetable shortening', before Marie Callendar's, before the American Heart Association, cooks the world-over maintained a preference for their pie crust fat of choice, one that produced a lightest, flakiest base for their seasonal fillings. That fat was lard, folks. Our final course at Grange that evening pays homage to the bakers of the past in the form of a Pear tart with a duck fat crust.

The crust was sturdy yet flakey, the perfect foil for the poached pear, blueberry sauce, and layer of unidentified sweet creamy goodness lying beneath the fruity layers above. A tangy dollop of sweetened creme fraiche along with a sip of the 2007 Essencia Orange Muscat, it was a sweet conclusion to our five-course duck repast.

Beyond the food, the kitchen did an excellent job pacing the courses. We felt neither rushed, nor did we linger too long in between each dish. Our server James provided an attentive, yet not cloying presence throughout our entire evening, leaving us feeling well taken care of, but in a totally unobtrusive manner.

So the next time you hear the blustery "pork fat rules" blaring from the plasma, I suggest your offer up a suggestion for one certain celebrity chef: "Hey Emeril, Duck Off!"

Parkour traces Sacramento

2009-08-20T06:44:13Z

I walked onto the quad of Bella Vista High School on a Sunday afternoon to a sight of 20 or so men climbing walls, running like cheetahs on all fours and swinging from trees.

This was the Sacramento regional parkour practice, led by a SFparkour.com representative, Victor Lo Forte. He has been a practitioner of parkour, or traceur, French for tracer, for three and a half years and has led the Sacramento group for about two years.

"From what I understand, it's basically the discipline of training one's mind and body to prepare oneself to overcome obstacles in an environment," Lo Forte said.

Parkour is said to be rooted in early 20th century French military practices. Georges Hébert, a World War I naval officer, developed a notion of physicality that embraced use of the body and its environment for developing strength useful to society.

These principles were the foundation for his "Natural Method," which incorporated the fusion of the mental and physical to overcome obstacles via climbing, running and jumping (to name a few). His method contributed to the development of the French parcours du combattant, or military obstacle course.

As a young teen, David Belle, considered the father of parkour, picked up Natural Method ethics along with his gymnastic and martial arts training in France.

Many of the young men at the Sacramento parkour practice admire Belle and have adopted the Natural Method as part of their training.

"Parkour is training your flight response," said Sacramento State student Jake Anderson.

Lo Forte commented on one of the many purposes of parkour, to "be strong to protect your family and friends."

"We’re not trying to hurt anybody, we’re training to be strong, and that really helps the community," he said.

Though not a spectator sport, it is difficult to explain what exactly traceurs are doing to people who gather round their concrete playground.

"I usually point them to YouTube and Casino Royale," Anderson said. "I tell them parkour is the study of the most efficient way to get from point A to point B."

This efficiency calls for climbing walls, not walking around them.

"If you're in a dead-end alley, you look back and forth and don’t look up," Anderson said. "People don’t look up, they don’t look at their environments anymore."

He described parkour as a way to think of our built environment with a critical lens. "We create our environments to be quick and easy for what we’re raised as," Anderson said. "Parkour shows us that there are actually easier ways than we’re raised, things people don’t think of."

The Sacramento traceurs have tried practicing in the Downtown Sacramento area, but have found security and business owners to be hostile to the activity. "If they tell us to leave then we leave," Lo Forte said.

"I’d say ground-rules for anywhere are be respectful of the environment, don’t wreck things, don’t leave litter behind, clean up after yourselves," he said. "There is a big thing in parkour community called the leave no trace campaign. We don’t want it to look like we’ve been there. We don’t want to get kicked out of places."

Parkour training also focuses on overall health and well-being. "It might save their lives," Lo Forte said. "You never know if they might get addicted to drugs or end up in jail."

"I wanted to get in shape," said Robert King, a telecommunications technician for Sacramento County. "Since I started in January, I lost 40 pounds."

"A lot of people are sitting home and they don’t get any sensory input; they don't smell the dirt on their hands and the sun on their face," Lo Forte said.

This was the case for 15-year-old Jonah Saysourivong. "Before this I was a big-time gamer and would play Call of Duty for 42 hours straight," he said. "I definitely know other kids my age are drinking alcohol and smoking, and that’s one thing I’d never do."

The health benefits and the body's adaptation to unique movements is of great interest to Anderson as a kinesiology student. "They should talk about it in anatomy classes and in physical therapy classes. I think that doctors should know it, gymnasts, athletes," he said. He hopes to introduce parkour in his dance and martial arts classes at Sacramento State.

Lo Forte also aspires to introduce parkour skills to the police force. "These things will be helpful for them and hopefully they will realize that and hire some of us to train them in the future," he said.

In the middle of practice, a group of young men started tumbling and performing a series of flips in the air and over others lying on the ground. The freedom of movement in a creative way like this is called free-running, often associated with parkour.

"Parkour is strictly what's the most efficient way from one point to another; free-running is adding flair and flips," Anderson said.

Though there were not any females present at the practice, they are encouraged to participate as traceuse, French for female tracers.

Robert King encouraged me to try a technique to get over a 7-foot wall during practice, but I settled for swinging and balancing on rails on my own time. I found that I was using my environment rather than living around it. Though we all live in our environments, traceurs live their environments.

For more information, click the following link:

Practice at Bella Vista High School, meeting Sundays and Wednesdays at 4 p.m.