Story and photo by Eugene Yi
More than 100 activists filled the city council chambers on Wednesday to reiterate their threat: they would sue the city unless it redrew L.A.’s political boundaries to place the Wilshire Center/Koreatown neighborhood council in the 13th council district, which has an open seat in next year’s city election.
The map under consideration by the council would place the vast majority of Koreatown into the 10th council district, which is currently represented by city council president Herb Wesson, who is reviled by many activists in the community.
The disaffection with Wesson became one of the bigger stories in Los Angeles in recent months, with the L.A. Times expounding on it today.
The story discusses many of the allegations that have been voiced at the redistricting hearings over the past few months: Herb Wesson uses Koreatown as a lucrative source of campaign donations, in some cases — residents claim — pressuring businesses into donating, all while neglecting the needs of the neighborhood. Wesson denied all charges, adding that he was surprised by the ire coming from Koreatown activists.
Alex Cha, a lawyer who has helped organize Koreatown activists in the redistricting fight, said that though he wished the L.A. Times story could have been more critical, he was glad for the effect it would have at a time when Wesson should be setting his agenda after becoming the first African American city council president.
“It’s Wesson’s time to be basking in the limelight,” he said. “But he’s out there defending himself, him and his staffer [Michael Bai]. Politicians do not like defending themselves.” Continue Reading »
by Monica Y. Hong
Though an empty feeling fills the tube this week with no Edward Lee in sight, our spirits are lifted with the appearance of our last KA hopeful Beverly Kim in full snow gear ready to battle the elements. Y’all Top Chef Texas has relocated to Canada and traded summer for winter for the remaining episodes. What’s that aboot, eh?
One of the themes this season has been the utterly, unforgivably outrageous and just plain dumb challenges that the Bravo producers have been pulling out of their asses. But this week wins the prize, or gold medal, shall we say.
The meeting to come up with this week’s episode probably went something like this:
Producer #1: Hey, we’re in Vancouver. Didn’t they have the 2010 Winter Olympics here?
Producer #2: Oh yeah. Whoa, let’s have the chefs compete in our own culinary games!
Producer #1: Wow, what a totally awesome idea. Hey, it’s butt booty freezing up at Whistler – let’s have them cook up there! High altitude, below zero temps and fine dining make for super TV!
Producer #2: OMG. This is the best idea we’ve ever come up with. We should get promoted.
Or fired! This show used to be about cooking and now it’s about tomfoolery! That’s right, I said it, tomfoolery! Sigh. Let the games begin. Continue Reading »
by Monica Y. Hong
Last week’s cliffhanger filled us with anxiety, but this week’s episode is a straight up tearjerker and totally messes with our emotions. I would compare it to a roller coaster ride, but that seems too predictable with its requisite highs and lows. Perhaps, I should liken it to the perfect soufflé. So beautiful in height and so full of accomplishment. The first bite so utterly satisfying, but then the soufflé falls with that first puncture and by the end you’re just disappointed that it’s gone. All gone. Why, Padma, why?
Perhaps I should explain.
She’s baaaaaack. That’s right, none other than Beverly Kim won Last Chance Kitchen. What is she going to do next? She is going back into the Top Chef kitchen! In it to win it, Bev moves back into the house and unpacks her knives. It’s go time. Continue Reading »
by Monica Y. Hong
And then there were five. Holy guacamole we’ve been tuning into Top Chef Texas for three months now! And Ed is still alive. He deserves a giant piece of cake and a huge glass of milk. Insert your favorite snack here and offer it to chef Edward Lee!
The episode starts off with Ed throwing off the covers, getting out of bed wearing a suit jacket and a button down shirt with crazy wolverine hair saying, “It’s all about business today.” Wolfman Jack has the right attitude, but he needs to put some pants on! His silliness helps preface an episode which stars guest judge Pee-Wee Herman! I know you are, but what am I?
For the quickfire challenge, the five remaining “cheftestants” have 20 minutes to serve up some of their most creative and delicious pancakes for Pee-Wee and Padma. Ed decides to draw from his favorite parts of the breakfast treat by making little crispy drizzles of batter rather than a whole silver dollar or full-pan pancake. He plates these scrumptious buttery bits with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, bacon and brûléed marshmallow. Hand it over!
Ed impresses Pee-Wee with his whimsical play on pancakes, beats out some predictable lemon ricotta offerings and wins his first quickfire! And five grand! We can officially say we are proud of Ed for bringing home the bacon. Continue Reading »
by Monica Y. Hong
This week on Top Chef we put all our weight behind Chef Edward Lee, our last Korean American hopeful. Six chefs remain in San Antonio and with last week’s near perfect meal, the “cheftestants” cannot screw this up. Roll tape. Check out this week’s misfires.
Cut to the quickfire challenge where the chefs are tested on their precision and ability to think, well, quick. They have to prepare a dish highlighting the ingredients of shrimp, corn and pasta in 40 minutes. There is, of course, a catch. Within that 40 minutes, they have to peel, de-vein and butterfly two pounds of shrimp, shuck a crate of corn and make a pound of fettuccine from scratch.
To make sure everything is done perfectly, judge Emeril Lagasse and guest judge Cat Cora are there to check their work. Whatever time remains once all the prep is finished is the time they’ll have to cook their dish.
The chefs make three teams of two and Ed is paired with Paul. As soon as the clock starts, Ed begins making the fresh pasta while Paul shucks the corn.
“Whenever Ed and I are on a team, I’m bad luck for him,” says Paul. Cue menacing sound effect. Continue Reading »
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Featured Event
One of the the biggest Asian cinema events to hit Southern California opens on May 10. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, features the latest works by established and emerging filmmakers, along with seminars, panel discussions and symposiums on topics relevant to Asian Pacific cinema.
Opening Night features “Shanghai Calling,” directed by Daniel Hsia and starring Korean American Daniel Henney, who plays a Chinese American expat lawyer navigating his way through the mean streets of Shanghai (the picture above also indicates he is a raisin smuggler). But does he take off his shirt? Go watch the movie to find out! read more
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