Taft Foodmasters Seitan Vegetarian Gyro Tasting Launch

I went to the Taft Foodmasters Gyro Launch and Vegetarian Seitan tasting recently at the Sub-Zero and Wolf Manhattan Showroom.  I try to eat healthy and have been trying to cut down on meat, so I was curious to try their selection of seitan products.  For those of you who don't know what seitan is - it's a food made from wheat gluten and is a good source of protein and very tasty.  I actually grew up eating Seitan, because it's traditionally used in many vegetarian Chinese dishes. However, I had not really had it incorporated into  western dishes and was instantly hooked.

Founder of Taft Foodmasters, Jessica Taft (center)

I tried a few creative dishes using seitan, including stir-fried seitan with vegetables in a sweet and sour sauce. The Grandmama Seitan slice of pizza topped with Seitan sausage from Krunch Pizza Bar was a tasty treat.  I was also a big fan of the gyro from the Long Island City Gyro Company, which was absolutely delicious.  The texture was very similar to a meat gyro and was well spiced.  But it was less greasy and much lighter than the meat version.   Taft Foodmasters also provided samples other healthy vegetarian options including a White Bean Salad, Quinoa Herb Salad, and a simple Green Salad.  Taft Foodmasters sells their products wholesale, so if you want to try their seitan, head to one the restaurants I mentioned to try it, and maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised. 

 

Rabia Z. Mukhawara Collection Spring/Summer 2012

Designer Rabia Z.

Designer Rabia Z from Dubai showed her stunning Mukhawara Collection at Casa La Femme, a romantic and richly decorated Egyptian restaurant in the West Village, New York City. Guests were seated at carved dark wooden tables gently lit with candles and booths draped in colorful organza.   Rabia Z's collection is inspired by her vision of "an American stylista, who travels from West to East, charming the world with her poise and panache".  Titled "Traditions. Today. Tomorrow.", the collection is influenced by the designer's traditional Afghani Arab background and has innovative, modern touches.  

The mukhawara is a "long traditional dress worn by the Emirati and GCC women", according to the show notes.  The beautifully draped pieces were in rich jewel tones of purple, turquoise, and electric blue and embellished with screen-printings of age-old Mukhawara embroidery in contrasting colors along the collar, sleeves, or waist. The looks were modest yet alluring, traditional yet modern.  Without displaying any skin besides the face and hands, the Mukhawaras still managed to highlight the beauty and grace of the female form.  Having never worn a Mukhawara before, I was curious to try it on.

The show closed with comments from famed celebrity stylist Kithe Brewster, who produced and provided styling direction for the show.  He had discovered Rabia Z. over four years ago in Dubai when he judged an emerging designer contest that Rabia Z. had won, and was wowed by her work.  Mr. Brewster described the collection as being very worldly and felt it would provide an excellent option for the Islamic community.  For more information about Rabia Z.'s collection, please visit RabiaZ.com.

Dr. Robert G. Brewster, Kithe Brewster

Stylist Kithe Brewster, Her Highness Sheikha Alia Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Princess of Dubai, Wife of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bih Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makfoum Crown Prince Dubai, Designer Victor de Souza

Kiboots - Handcrafted Kilim Boots

Have you ever walked down the street and noticed that everyone seems to be wearing the same pair of boots?  What if you could find a one of a kind piece, something that you can call your own special boot?  Kiboots, a young Netherlands based boot company uses a combination of leather and vintage kilim rugs to make unique boots for women and men.

Kilims are flat-woven rugs or carpets common in Southeast Europe,Turkey and Pakistan.  There are thousands of different colors and patterns which could include zigzags, diamond patterns and horizontal stripes.  I met one of the founders, Martijn Lugtigheid, who showed me some of their pieces at the Allure Lounge during fashion week.  I tried on and received a pair of Kiboots.  The one I chose was burgundy and had white and orange designs woven into it.  I love the fun color combinations and patterns.  They are perfect for the fall and are quite comfortable too!  The price for a pair of women's boots is 179.95 Euro, which comes out to about $242, which is a very good deal (especially now).  You can order the shoes on the Kiboots website.

The 2nd Annual New York Chinese Film Festival Closing Ceremony

Capitale, a grandiose bank turned event space in Chinatown, NYC, with its 65 foot ceilings and Corinthian columns was the perfect location for the Closing Ceremony of the 2nd Annual New York Chinese Film Festival.  Well dressed guests mingled in the spectacular lobby and were served hor's d'oeurves before being seated in the ballroom for a luxurious dinner.

Qi Jia, Vice President of China Central Television gave an opening speech about her sincere hopes for the film festival to further enhance mutual understanding between the US and China.  John Gilbert, the Director of Music at New York University presented the first award for New Asian Director Award  to Gao  Xiao Song 高晓松 and Jiang Tao.  Gao Xiao Song expressed his surprise to receive the award because his goal was to make a commercial movie and his main focus was on the box office when directing his film, My Kingdom.  Director Jiang Tao said that it was his first attempt to produce a commercial movie and felt that he still had a long road ahead and hoped to learn from his colleagues in Hollywood and Europe.

Actor Wang Bao Qiang  王宝强 and Singer/Actor Geng Han 韓庚 were presented with the Most Popular Asian Artist Award. Mr. Wang humbly said he was accepting the award on behalf of his producer and director, because he felt that he alone did not deserve the award. 


Director Barry Levinson (Rainman) presented famed Hong Kong Director Tony Ching with The Most Outstanding Asian Director Award, and talked of his admiration for Tony Ching's strong personal vision.


The quietly elegant Hailu Qin 秦海璐 was presented The Most Outstanding Asian Artist Award by Steven Orlins, chairman of the Committee on United States China Relations.  Last but not least, Lawrence Scott, executive producer of PBS presented  to and the effervescent and glowing Vivian Hsu 徐若瑄, who expressed her joy in receiving he Most Outstanding Asian Artist Award.

Director Gao Xiao Song (My Kingdom)

Actress Hailu Qin (center)

Actor/Singer Han Geng

Director Barry Levinson (Rainman)

Director Tony Ching 程小東

Vivian Hsu

Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song

You may know Harry Belafonte from his deep voice crooning the lyrical classic "Day-O", but did you also know that Mr. Belafonte was highly involved in the American equal rights movement and is still active even at the young age of 84?  I was so honored to meet artist/activist Harry Belafonte at the screening of his documentary Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song, directed by Susanne Rostock at the Ford Foundation in NYC.  The film chronicled the beginning of his artistic career as an singer/actor in Harlem and his admirable role in the equal rights movement alongside the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Mr. Belafonte, who was born in 1927, faced discrimination as a black performer, and had to deal with issues of segregation, while he was traveling as an entertainer throughout the United States.

During the Q& A session, he was asked when as an artist did he decide to become an activist, he answered by saying that the question should be flipped because he has been an activist since he left his mother's womb.  He cited his mother as an inspiration because she had told him to never let a day go by without fighting against injustice.  When asked where he would like to visit in the world and who he would want to meet, he resonded by saying that he wants to visit any place he's never visited and to meet anyone who he's never met.  His one regret?  He never received his diploma, to the disappointment of his mother.  A degree seems unnecessary at this stage in the eloquent Mr. Belafonte's life, with all his outstanding achievements.  But it was truly inspiring to watch his film and to meet him.  I highly recommend this documentary for anyone who wishes to know more about the American civil rights movement.

Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words - A Documentary by Yunah Hong

I recently attending a screening of documentary 'Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words' directed by Yunah Hong at the Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI).  I knew very little about the Chinese American actor and was fascinated to learn about her struggles and achievements.  Anna May Wong was born in 1905 and starred in her first feature film role at the tender age of 17.  She then went on to star in dozens of films in the United States and Europe.  The films follows her life and the challenges she faced in finding a role outside of the typical casting as an Asian exotic.  Yunah Hong said she hoped that the film could influence the young generation of Asian Americans to follow their dreams.

Director Yuna Hong is currently raising money on Kickstarter  to buy the broadcast rights to the footage she used from Anna May Wong’s films. Once she raises enough money, one of the film’s funders, the Center for Asian American Media, will distribute it to public television stations.  Please check out her Kickstarter project and support!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1107767469/get-anna-may-wong-on-public-tv

With Director Yunah Hong