Korean Film Breathless (Ddonpari) out now in selected cinemas

The debut film from Yang Ik-Joon is out now in selected cinemas. The film has won international acclaim and awards and is about a loan shark who befriends a schoolgirl. Time Out has called it "an extra-strength cinema experience".
I hope to see the film shortly and give you my review.
Breathless is showing at the ICA in London and at other independent cinemas. Distributed by Terracotta.

Playlist 28th January 2010

Reggae Rocksteady guitarist Lynn Taitt sadly passed away last week. I shall be playing tracks from his career in music over the series. RIP.
Jamaica Observer Obituary.

• Red China - Skatalites (King Edwards 7" 45)
  
• 2046 Theme - Shigeru Umebayashi (2046 Soundtrack CD)
  
• Chinese Ghost Story Theme - Leslie Cheung
  
• Duppy Conqueror - Bob Marley and the Wailers (African Herbsman LP)
  
• Zombie Jamboree - Lord Jellicoe (Dip And Fall Back (Classic Jamaican Mento) CD)
  
• Chinese Title - Wong Ching Yian (7" 45 from Singapore)
  
• You Have Caught Me - Lynn Taitt
  
• Mr Dooby - Lynn Taitt (Exclusive Rocksteady 1966-1968 Vol.01 CD)
  
• The Hula Hula Twist - Grace Chang (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Twistin' Pneumonia - Roy C (Ember 7" 45)
  
• Suddenly - Eric 'Monty' Morris (King Edwards 7" 45, B Side to Red China)
  

Lucky Cat Toilet Paper

From jlist.com

Thanks Morgan for drawing my attention to this product. I wouldn't mind a Lucky Cat slip mat for my turntable, anyone seen one?

Dried Shrimp Pancakes

Economical and Delicious

To make one pancake use...
For the pancake mixture:
2 desert spoons gram flour
A little water
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon Tianjin preserved veg (salty cabbage)
1 spring onion, chopped finely
A few beansprouts
1 desert spoon dried shrimps
A little veg oil

First mix the water and gram flour in a little bowl with a fork and try to make a smooth mixture.
In a small pan heat up the oil and put in the spring onion, dried shrimps, preserved cabbage and beansprouts. Pour the batter mixture over and cook (low heat) until ready to flip over. Serve with some chilli sauce and a few more beansprouts as garnish.

This is an amalgamation of a dried shrimp pancake recipe I found at Rasa Malaysia and an Indian pancake recipe a friend gave me. If you liek extra heat add fresh chilli to the frying pan.

Playlist 21st January 2010

Episode 1 Series 4 of Lucky Cat on Resonance FM

• Duck Soup - The Drumbago Allstars
  
• Who Does Not Care - Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings LP)
  
• Tonight - Chang Loo (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Sixty Minute Man - The Dominoes (Risque Rhythm & Blues CD)
  
• Soul Food - Lynn Tait & The Jets
  
• Cabbage Greens - Champion Jack Dupree (Triumph of the Blues Vol 9 CD)
  
• Couples and Pairs - Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings LP)
  
• Talking About Fighting Skill - Siao Fong Fong & Chan Pao Chu (Steal the Red String Box soundtrack EP)
  
• Chinese Mambo - Chang Loo
  
• Crying in the Chapel (Jamaican Style) - Elvis (7" Remix)
  
• Oh Susannah - Chang Loo & Xiao Loo (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Hey Good Looking - Hank Williams
  

Lucky Cat Series 4 On Air Tomorrow

Lucky Cat returns to Resonance FM for a fourth series tomorrow night at 7pm on Resonance 104.4FM.
An assortment of vinyl and mp3 treats from Kowloon to Kingston, movie reviews, live music, guests and recipes. Check this blog for details or sign up to the Lucky Cat mailing list by emailing me at luckycatzoe at gmail.com
Alternatively if you're on Facebook then join the Lucky Cat Radio Group.

Listen live on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

Spirit Warriors - CBBC Goes East!

Here's the trailer for the new children's drama series Spirit Warriors created and written by Jo Ho for CBBC. Watch the first episode this Friday 22nd January 5:45pm on CBBC (freeview) or tune in to BBC 2 on Sunday 24th Jan at 9:30am.
Links:
www.missjoho.com
Dimsum.co.uk review

Chinatown London 1947

I've only recently discovered this excellent resource site - Pathe newsreels are archived and available to watch online. Whilst doing a random search for 'calypso' on the site (as you do) I came up with this little gem and what do you know, London's Chinatown is featured straight away! The calypso nightclub is in Reel 2 and well worth checking out (great jiving moves from the customers). It is a little like a round the world tour, designed to show the capital as a multicultural entertainment zone where you can eat chop suey followed by Russian vodka and Calypso Be-Bop dancing.
After the war rationing was still in place and this is mentioned in the film - rice was not available for instance. I love the line about the pandas in the zoo being the only ones who could get real bamboo shoots!
I have searched for further info on the Chinese restaurant Leyons but not come up with anything so far. It looks like it opened in the late 1930s because of its wonderful Art Deco style.

LONDON'S NIGHTWORLD - reel 1

Lucky Cat 13th January 2009 Podcast

Lucky Cat 13th January 2009

Lucky Cat

The missing Episode 2 of Series 3 now intact! Thanks Robin for recovering it from the Resonance FM archive for me.
This episode is Tetsuya Nakashima special with reviews of 'Kamikaze Girls' and 'Memories of Matsuko'. I am joined by the editor of 'Electric Sheep' film magazine Alex Fitch and comic artist Dan Lester.
The Dim Sum Lunchbox contains a Japanese pickled herring dish.

Playlist: # Isechoukou Blues - Aoe Mina # Talkin' Girls - Shonen Knife (Let's Knife LP) # I'm Blue (The Gong Gong Song) - The Ikettes (Hairspray soundtrack LP) # Since He Likes You - Kayama Yozo # Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall - Ella Fitzgerald (Ella: The Best Coral LP) # Yesterday's Memories - Lillian Leach & The Mellows # 九ちゃんのﾂﾝﾂﾝ節 - Sakamoto Kyu / 坂本九 # I am Coming Home - Pat Kelly (PAMA 45 b side) # Munasurabi Tokyo - The Peanuts # If It Don't Work Out - Pat Kelly (PAMA 45 a side) # 禁じられた恋のボレロ - Mizuhara Hiroshi / 水原弘

East Asian Film Season at the Prince Charles Cinema

The Prince Charles Cinema in London's twinkling West End is putting on an East Asian Film Festival:
http://www.princecharlescinema.com/events/#asian
Starting with the ultimate monster movie from Japan (Godzilla) and ending with everybody's favourite cheongsam chocked Chinese romance In The Moood for Love.
18th Jan - 22nd Feb, handily located near my favourite Chinese restaurant Mr Kong's in Lisle Street.
(Takeshi Kitano's Hana-Bi is pictured above, showing on 8th Feb)

Podcast - Lucky Cat, Ep 3 Series 3 (20th Jan 2009)

Lucky Cat 20th Jan 2009

Lucky Cat

I am joined in the studio by Mark Wu, graphic designer and creator of Visible Chinese and One Inch Punch. Sweet and Sour Sauce showdown in the dim sum lunch box.
To follow mark's East Asian travel adventures visit mangovine.net

RIP Wu Yingyin (吳健秋) 1922-2009

Shanghai born singer Wu Yingyin passed away December 2009 in Los Angeles. She was one of the seven great singing stars of Shanghai in the 1940s (along with Yao Lee and others found on the Shanghai Lounge Divas compilation CD). Wu Yingyin sang in nightclubs in Shanghai and was signed to Pathe/EMI in the late 1940s. She had many hits and was still performing into her 80's. There is a clip of a Shanghai 2003 concert of her on Youtube.

I love this style of singing and music, thank you Wu Yingyin may you sing in the stars.

Tribute to Nasal Song Queen

Live Journal article

NYE Menu

Snacks:

• Wasabi Peas
  
• Green Pea Crisps
  
• Cuttlefish Crisps
  
• Mixed Salted Nuts

First Course:

• Edamame Beans
  
• Mini Veg Spring Rolls
  
• Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Mon Pla)

Second Course:

• Kimchi Dumplings
  
• Prawn Dumplings

Third Course:

• Vietnamese Sticky Spare Ribs
  
• Mini Roast Potatoes

Drinks:

• Cosmopolitans
  
• Sidecars
  
• Lots of Cava and Prosecco

Most food was purchased at the excellent large See Woo shop in Greenwich. I also found there an amazing crispy chilli prawn condiment made by Tean's Gourmet of Malaysia. I have been looking out for a chilli oil laced with crispy prawns for a while, this one is great as there is not much oil plus the added bonus of crispy anchovies, shallots and garlic.