Theatre Review - Titanic: The Musical

I remember watching James Cameron's blockbuster film, Titanic and being awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the disaster that befell its passengers. It truly was a film of epic proportions with a classic love story and I was curious to see how the Tony-Award winning show, Titanic: The Musical would be staged. Jack and Rose are not part of the musical's storyline, but the legend has inspired many films, books, and plays. 

Written and composed by Maury Yeston, Titanic: The Musical is haunting and evokes great emotion. The RMS Titanic was thought to be unsinkable and many wealthy families wanted to be among the first to sail on her maiden voyage. One of the fictional passengers, Alice (Celia Graham) from a second class cabin tries desperately to hobnob with society's upper crust. As a bubbly storyteller and gossip, she gives us the background of each wealthy couple. 

A star of the operatic stage, Ben Heppner plays Isidor Straus, one of the many ill-fated passengers on the ship. He was the co-owner of Macy's department store and a prominent politician. Heppner possesses a commanding presence and his extraordinary vocal ability is impressive. I also enjoyedClaire Marlowe's performance. Marlowe plays a rich, young lady named Caroline, who is running away to America with a man significantly less well off than she is. The tone of her voice is crystal clear and she exudes elegance and charm. 

Strangers from the third class cabin introduce themselves to each other and sing about their anticipation and excitement to immigrate to America, where "the streets are paved with gold". At the start of the show, there is an infectious spirit of enthusiasm and excitement as we learn of the hopes and dreams of both rich and poor. Love stories of newfound romance among youth and devotion and loyalty displayed by the elderly are very touching and celebrate the human condition. Towards the tragic ending, there is a sense of great urgency among the crew and passengers and is also ever present as a musical motif in the Yeston's brilliant score. 

While the heart of the story is compelling with actors delivering strong performances, some of the production values, including the set and costumes, were lacking in refinement and creativity. I did not get the sense that Titanic was a grand, sprawling floating city. The lacklustre, barebones set includes three ladders and a second level deck on stage. There is very little variety among costumes and the garments of the first-class passengers are far from extravagant. However, the musical showcases a myriad of raw emotions that the real victims and survivors of the disastrous voyage must have experienced. The vocal ability of the cast is among the most impressive I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. 

There is a lot of nautical jargon used by the ship's commander, Captain Smith (Philip­ Rham) and owner, Ismay (Simon Green). My father, who accompanied me to the show, sailed as a marine engineer on cargo ships and was able to explain a lot of the terminology to me. Ismay tells Captain Smith that he wants to have the Titanic reach its destination of New York ahead of schedule to generate press for the remarkable vessel. To Captain Smith's dismay, he requests that the ship's speed be increased to 22.5 knots per hour. My father mentioned that even the most sophisticated and modern ships that he has sailed on do not travel at such high speeds. I was able to better comprehend the severity of how the Titanic collided with the iceberg.

Titanic: The Musical is emotionally stirring and a day after I saw the show, I was still thinking about the victims, survivors and the harrowing ordeal that they endured. You will experience a flurry of emotions as you see this show and listen to the cast's powerful voices as they singing Yeston's haunting score. 

Titanic: The Musical plays at the Princess of Wales Theatre until June 21, 2015.

Directed by: Thom Southerland

Written by: Maury Yeston

Book by: Peter Stone

Photos by: Cylla von Tiedemann

Burger Time at The Harbord Room

Meat lovers rejoice! Today is National Burger Day. Toronto boasts many restaurants with excellent burgers. My favourite burger, in particular, can be found at The Harbord Room. The narrow and intimate restaurant prepares select international dishes from charred leek and eggplant borani with za'atar, pomegranate seeds and crispy pita ($9) to house-made rigatoni with spicy sausage ($17).

However, the dry-aged 'West Grey Farms' beef burger ($19) is the pièce de résistance. Served on a fresh egg bun with sharp cheddar and caramelized onions, the medium rare burger is juicy, tender and seasoned to perfection. The delectable burger is accompanied with crispy fries and tangy slaw. While it can be quite messy to eat, you won't be bothered, as here, taste is king! 

For dessert, try the sweet brown butter cake ($9) with house-made vanilla bean ice cream and panna cotta, which is perfect for sharing. Service and food are exceptional at The Harbord Room.

For more information, visit theharbordroom.com

Theatre Review: Odysseo

Odysseo by Cavalia is a theatrical spectacle featuring equestrian arts and daring acrobatics that are visually stunning. Over 70 majestic horses grace the stage along with extraordinary performers underneath The White Big Top. As I settled into my seat, I had an inkling of what to expect and as a lover of horses, I was keener than ever to see the creatures up close. However, I could never have imagined the stunts, tricks and enthralling imagery I was about to take in. 

The story unfolds with humans interacting with horses that take them on an epic journey throughout the world. After the opening scene, which features a three-dimensional enchanted forest that comes alive with horses galloping full speed on the stage, I knew I was witnessing something completely unique and special. From green pastures to mystical sand dunes, the horses lead the way as they encounter energetic and enthusiastic people around the globe. 

Rich imagery unfolds and live melodic music plays to delight the senses. Images of vast landscapes are projected on a screen that is three times the size of an IMAX theatre screen; it's big, bold and beautiful. The international cast of both horses and humans take us on a dreamlike voyage where anything is possible

One of the most vivid scenes, is that of a revolving carousel with horses encircling it. Acrobats dangle precariously from long, narrow poles as they contort their bodies and gracefully swing from them. The daring partner work is romantic, ethereal and breathtaking. 

I am in sheer awe of equestrian director and choreographer, Benjamin Aillaud. His vision is boundless and with Odysseo, he has created poetry in motion. The larger than life production takes us through a magical forest, rolling hills and a lake where horses trot gracefully to music as they splash about. Although the show is choreographed, there are elements of unpredictability and improvisation with the horses, as instead of trotting off stage, they would rather roll about on it. 

Odysseo is a great spectacle that captivates audiences every night. Go on a mystical journey with Odysseo and have the ride of your life!

Artistic direction: Norman Latourelle
Direction: Wayne Fowkes
Equestrian direction and choreography: Benjamin Aillaud
Set design: Guillame Lord
Odysseo runs at The White Big Top, 383 Lakeshore Bldv East until May 31, 2015.

Photos by: François Bergeron, Color-ish Company and Shelley Paulson.

Headwaters Getaway

Earlier this month, I went on an incredible getaway in the Headwaters Region of Ontario, which is a mere 40 minutes drive northwest of Toronto. The Headwaters Region is a great travel destination for the urban dweller who needs a break from the fast-paced city life. The region includes the picturesque communities of Caledon, Dufferin County, Erin, Mono and Shelburne. I immersed myself in novel experiences and saw beautiful unspoiled nature, rolling hills and rural farmland as far as the eye can see. 

Where to stay: I relaxed in a luxurious suite at the Best Western Plus in Orangeville, which is in close proximity to the Hockley Valley Golf & Ski Resort and the Island Lake Park Conservation. My suite was quite large with two queen sized beds, a seating area and a kitchenette. Enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast to start your day on the right track. Take a dip in the pool to cool off after a busy day of hiking. Other amenities include room service, a fitness centre and complimentary WiFi.

Where to eat: Cabin is a chic and modern restaurant located at the Hockley Valley Golf and Ski Resort. Serving gourmet fare, Cabin sources local produce and fresh meat and fish. I enjoyed a delectable feast consisting of multiple courses. To start, I had the asparagus salad with beets and greens. The divine cheese ravioli with fiddleheads, ramps, peas, asparagus and crema provided excellent combinations of textures and tastes. The main course was a juicy and flavourful beef tenderloin accompanied with mushrooms, bacon and rapini. The perfect ending to the meal was a creamy rhubarb and strawberry panna cotta with delightful white chocolate popcorn. Great service and gourmet food await you at Cabin. 

For a truly unique and authentic country-style experience, I highly recommend paying a visit toLandman Gardens & Bakery. My fellow travellers and I were taken on a tour of the Landman farm, where we saw week old chicks, pigs and learned how goats are reared. After the tour, we dined in an intimate Blackhouse, which is a small a dry stone house built by the owner of the farm. We enjoyed delicious food, including pickled asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, homemade goat cheese, fresh salads with ingredients plucked right from the garden beside the Blackhouse and a smorgasbord of meats and cheeses. The intimate setting is perfect for a special occasions with family and close friends. 

Things to do: Go on a sightseeing flight over the sprawling countryside and view checkpoints of the Pan American Games torch relay route. I marvelled at the Cheltenham Badlands, which is an eroded section of dry land that is rust in colour and has small rounded hills. An experienced pilot at theBrampton Flight Centre showed me the sights of Caledon, Belfountain, Inglewood and Alton in a Cessna 172, which has room for three passengers. After your exhilarating flight, visit the neighbouringGreat War Flying Museum, which houses replicas of WWI aircrafts. 

Caledon is informally known as horse country and the highly anticipated Pan American Games will be held at the newly renovated Caledon Equestrian Park in July. Attend jumping and dressage equestrian events at the park, which will play host to 14,000 visitors and offers entertainment and an eatery on site. 

Take a cooking class with the Chef Pam Fanjoy at the Friendly Chef Adventures Inc. Chef Fanjoy is a dynamic and hands-on instructor that teaches practical kitchen skills. We were taught tips, tricks and knife skills that she had learned while training at the famed George Brown Culinary School. We made quick and easy chicken rice paper rolls and simple, yet delicious cashew nut chicken stir-fry. After we cooked, we enjoyed a communal meal together.

Handcraft your own jewellery with instructor Carol-Ann Michaelson at the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre. I exercised my creativity by fashioning tubular shaped, colourful earrings. I worked with polymer clay using the Japanese metal-working technique called mokume-gane, where the materials are fused together to create a unique pattern. 

Take in an entertaining performance of a play or musical at Theatre Orangeville. The company encourages productions featuring Canadian talent and stages plays by one of Canada's preeminent playwrights, Norm Foster.

Where to Shop: There are lots of quaint little shops offering a plethora of wholesome and homemade items. Woolwich Dairy offers gourmet, artisan goat cheese products that are made and sold in Orangeville. The Spirit Tree Estate Cidery offers sparkling apple, pear and apple cranberry cider, as well as hard ciders. Enjoy their cider with an array of homemade culinary delights like Normandy apple bread and chicken liver pate. As if the mayor of Mono, Laura Ryan was not busy enough, she still finds time to bake and sell the most delicious and freshest of pies at the Hockley Village General Store. I absolutely adored her blueberry fruit pie filled in a flaky, sugared crust. 

There are no shortage of activities to engage in, food to taste, and places to explore in the beautiful Headwaters Region. I was pleasantly surprised and will certainly return to escape the hustle and bustle of city life in Toronto. 

Discovered Chef Culinary Competition

I am a big fan of the Food Network's show, Master Chef, which features home cooks competing for a chance to win prizes and the title of Master Chef. While watching the show, I have wondered if the stress and pressure that the chefs face are as intense in real life as they appear on television. 

A friend of mine told me about the Discovered Chef Culinary Competition which I recently attended. Similar to Master Chef, the competition was created to find Canada's great undiscovered chef. Chefs compete to showcase their culinary skills in front of a live audience. I was very curious to see how they would exercise their creativity and handle the pressure of making multiple dishes in a short amount of time. The competition was held at Nella Cucina, where I had my first professional cooking class just a few weeks earlier.

Jamie Drummond, a sommelier, was the entertaining host for the night. The chefs had to each cook an appetizer, main dish and dessert over the course of two hours using ingredients given to them in mystery boxes. A panel of judges sampled and scored the food and eliminated one chef after the appetizer, main course and dessert until they had their winner. 

The Chefs

Cesar Andocilla - Cook at Harvest Kitchen

Taylor Sweet - 1st Cook at Keg Steakhouse & Bar

Magda Sylvestre Louis-Jean - Chef at La Creole

Kira Whittaker - Sous Chef at Jack Astor's Bar & Grill

The Judges

Zane Caplansky - Owner of Caplansky's Delicatessen
Alexa Clark - Blogger & Co-Chair at Second Harvest 
Christian Fontolan - Executive Chef at 7 Enoteca 

The judges were looking for creativity, playfulness and most importantly, flavour and taste.

Round 1 - The Appetizer

The mystery ingredients for the appetizer were mussels, ramps and Thousand Island dressing. Chef Whittaker struggled with the appetizer round, as she is allergic to seafood and was unable to taste the food that she was preparing. Chef Sweet also does not cook with seafood, so it was quite challenging for him, too. After the judges tasted and deliberated, Chef Whittaker was eliminated in the first round.

Round 2 - The Main Course

The chefs had to cook with breakfast sausage, duck eggs, Cap'n Crunch and collard greens. After observing the chefs in action, I could see that they were under a lot of pressure, as they were working against the clock and the chefs had never cooked with some of the ingredients before. With a live audience scrutinizing their every move, they were certainly feeling the heat. The competition had a lot of high energy and Chef Andocilla even cut himself, but like a trouper, he kept going. The judges both praised and criticized the chefs' skills and abilities. With Chef Andocilla, they wanted to see beautiful presentation of the food. They praised Chef Sylvestre Louis-Jean's creativity in use of the Cap'n Crunch ingredient as a garnish as well as incorporating it in her sauce. Chef Sweet was eliminated in this round, as his frittata was undercooked and flavour was lacking.  

Round 3 - Dessert

Chef Sylvestre Louis-Jean and Chef Andocilla went head to head to prepare a dessert, which had to include unique ingredients such as kombucha, meringues, blueberries and agar-agar. The judges did not like that Chef Andocilla used store bought cookies in his dessert. They loved Chef Sylvestre Louis-Jean's pudding and her use of the meringue. After the judges deliberated, they named Chef Sylvestre Louis-Jean as the winner of this week's Discovered Chef Culinary Competition. She was beaming and it was wonderful to see her supported by her family.

This experience was something out of the ordinary for me, as it made me realize that I can exercise more creativity in the kitchen. On my next grocery shopping trip, I am going to challenge myself by picking up an ingredient that I have never cooked with before.

If you would like to be a part of the live audience of the Discovered Chef Culinary Competition, visit facebook.com/discoveredchefs for more information.