You say taco, I say tiki

I love tacos. 

I love traditional Mexican tacos. I love Vietnamese-inspired tacos (more on these later). I love tacos served out of a food truck. 

I even love taco salad.   

In order to satisfy my love of everything (and anything) taco-related I recently went to Grumman '78, one of Montreal's best taco joints. 

I first heard about ye old Grumman from my "good friend," and I use the term loosely, Anthony Bourdain. When I was a ye old country bumpkin he did a show on The Layover about the best places to eat in Montreal. Even though it was only a pop-up restaurant in the Nouveau Palais (aka hipster heaven) at the time, it made the cut.   

It also made my mouth water.

Though I had tried one of their tacos before, stylishly served out of their eye-catching, lime-green food truck, I really wanted to visit taco headquarters.

And boy am I glad that I did!

Situated in St-Henri (hipster heaven #2), the HQ is located in an old garage that formerly housed the city’s cavalry. Very cool.

I didn't indulge in tiger meat (as far as I know) but I did devour a Banh Mi taco and a catfish taco.

Taco-licious!

The Banh Mi taco was so good that I wanted to recreate it at home. Amazingly, I found Grumman's very own recipe on the Food Network's website. I haven't made it yet (even though it only takes six hours... ha!) but I'll be sure to report back when I do.

I only have one question.

What, exactly, is a GRUMMAN???   

In addition to tacos, I also love everything (and anything) tiki-related.  

Tiki culture is defined as "a 20th-century theme used in Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs originally in the United States and then, to a lesser degree, around the world. Although inspired in part by Tiki carvings and mythology, the connection is loose and stylistic, being an American form and not a Polynesian fine art form."

You know who else thinks you'd have to be a "sick, twisted, lonely, f@&$#r with too many cats" not to love tiki?

That's right! My BFF Bourdain.

 "Cowabonga! To Don Ho!"

Don Ho, in case you're interested, was a "a Hawaiian traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer," best known for the song Tiny Bubbles.

 "tiny bubbles, in the wine, make me happy, make me feel fine"

To honour and celebrate tiki, and my birthday, a group of friends and I recently dined, and danced, at Montreal's best only tiki restaurant: Jardin Tiki (should be hipster heaven #3).

And not a moment too soon, it seems.

Apparently the legendary restaurant is slated for demolition to make way for a retirement home in the near future.

While not up to par to the gourmet garden of delights that is Grumman '78, Jardin Tiki did not disappoint (well... me, at least). 

An all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet that features a variety of seafood (not to mention frog legs), a live band and more coconut-based drinks than you can shake a stick at is all I need to have the time of my life, it seems.

Similar to a two-star resort in the Caribbean, Jardin Tiki harkens back to a time when the term "foodie" did not exist and kale wasn't considered edible - never mind gourmet. 

The wonton soup was the best I've had in ages and the buffet provided a good variety of shiny orange, red, and... beige.

Also, the bacon-wrapped mini hot dogs were to die for!

Intoxicated by rum, or perhaps MSG, I left Jardin Tiki with a strong urge to go back... in time.

I only have one question.

Where were the hipsters???

 

 

The circle of life

Unlike the circle of trust, the circle of life does not go "round and round" forever. At some point, much like the *wheel of fortune, it comes to an end (unless you believe in reincarnation) and life... comes full circle.

Birth in reverse.

I pondered this (and more) over the weekend as I celebrated my 39th birthday. While I LOVE birthdays (especially my own) I couldn't help but think about the bigger picture. Like life. And death.

I first realized what death really meant at the age of 11, while watching Stand by Me.

"the kid was dead"

I had experienced death before but never realized how final it was. The reality struck me like a ton of bricks. I had a bit of a Woody Allen moment.

Like Woody, I maintain a healthy fear of death to this day.

I also maintain am ever-so-slightly morbid fascination with it.

Apparently I'm not the only one.

According to Wikipedia (!), "the fascination with death extends far back into human history. Throughout time, people have had obsessions with death and all things related to death and the afterlife."

Speaking of the afterlife...

arcade fire's afterlife

I love visiting cemeteries, especially on vacation.

pere lachaise cemetery in paris

 

a cemetery in playa del carmen

Speaking of cemeteries...

dead man's bones' name in stone

I also enjoy anything related to the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday observed the world over. An occasion to pray for and remember dearly departed friends and family, the holiday is a source of inspiration for many artists, including Kat Von D, who also happens to be one of my greatest inspirations.

Speaking of Kat Von D...  

kat von d's exorcism

*I just checked that Wheel of Fortune reference and it turns out I'm wrong! Like me it premiered in 1975 but it continues to air to this day.







 

Wes, the Wilsons and (lest we forget) Kumar

I was introduced to the wonderful (and symmetrical) world of Wes Anderson in 1996 at the tender age of... uh, never mind.

I was lucky enough to interview him, along with the wonderful (and not so symmetrical) Wilson brothers, after the release of his (or should I say their?) first film Bottle Rocket.

I remember the day like it was yesterday.

I had seen the movie a few days earlier and really liked it. In fact, I remember thinking it was hilarious.

Anderson was an unknown director and the Wilsons (Luke and Owen) were nobodies (relatively speaking) so even though I was a little nervous about the interview, which I conducted for my illustrious university newspaper The Concordian, I wasn't completely overwrought by the fact that "Wes" was calling me from Los Angeles...

Fast forward to 2014.

I'm unknown - and a nobody (relatively speaking) - and if either Wes Anderson or the Wilson brothers called me I'd have a conniption.

But back to 1996.

I was at home, chillin' in my papasan, when the phone rang and I nonchalantly picked it up. After some brilliant small talk and a couple of insightful questions for Wes, Luke and Owen hopped on the line and I dazzled them with my journalistic cleverness.

That's how I remember it, at least.

Since then, they've all gone on to movie-making genius. I, on the other hand, have moved on from a papasan to an Ikea loveseat. 

Good times.

From The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited to Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson has created a series of brilliant, museum-worthy films with a distinctive visual and narrative style.

Not to mention symmetrical.

 
And then there's Kumar. Kumar is Kumar Valavhadas Pallana, an "Indian character actor and vaudevillian," who appeared in several of Anderson's films and, sadly, died in October 2013.  

 RIP kumar: actor, plate spinner, yogi

I couldn't tell you why, exactly, I love Wes Anderson's films so much. True, the actors he chooses are amazing, the music he selects is transporting and his aesthetic is simply incredible, but there's something more.

Like some strange coincidences...

The address of the family home in The Royal Tenenbaums was 111 Archer Avenue. The address of my store in Toronto was 111 Roncesvalles.

The Grand Budapest Hotel was inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig. The Collected Stories of Stefan Zweig was published by Pushkin Press. 

The name of my pop-up boutique was Pushk (short for Pushkin).

And then there's this... my all-time favourite movie scene ever!

by way of the green line bus

   

 

 

Frankly my dear...

I've been wanting to write a post about my love of deers for a while now. I always knew that the title would be "Frankly my dear," but mistakenly believed that it was a line made famous by Humphrey Bogart.

 Clark Gable dissing Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind

Oops! 

You learn something new everyday, it seems.

Of the Cervidae family, deer include moose, elk (also known as wapiti), caribou and reindeer (ho ho ho) and have been around for over 35 million years. Their main defenses when attacked by predators include 1) running away and 2) hiding.

Interesting.

Since I always thought it was impossible to have an actual, live deer, I collect every other kind possible. Drawn, painted or sculpted... they're all equally dear to me.

a present from my mom

 painted by yours truly

 a gift from dear friends

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was not only possible to have a deer, but that one of my all-time favourite people - Audrey Hepburn - had one.

Audrey and I have always had a special relationship. 

Even though I never met her, her talent, grace and kindness have been inspirations to me since the day I put my very own ballet slippers in the fridge in her honour. 

Breakfast at Tiffany's

There's something about her spirit that has always connected me to her and the quotes I stumbled upon while researching this post have only served to strengthen that connection.

Audrey's deer's name was Pippin but she called him Ip. She got him in 1959 while filming Green Mansions, a movie about a jungle girl  - with a deer - who falls in love with a Venezuelan traveller. 

In order for her and the deer to have good on-screen chemistry, it was suggested that Audrey bring Pippin home. 

So she did. 

And they became fast friends.

If only it was as easy to get a deer as it is to put ballet slippers in the fridge. Sigh.

It seems as if Audrey Hepburn isn't the only person to have a special connection with deers...

   fawning