Dinner and a movie

The second in a series of at home food and movie pairings.

The Talented Mr. Ripley and Venticello’s Ristorante Italiano

By Cinema Cat & Gourmet Gracie Your Two Minute Movie Review this month almost satisfi es our thwartedby-the-pandemic travel bug. Take a spectacular tour of Italy while taking in the psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley. By his own account, Tom Ripley, played by a young Matt Damon, is talented at forging signatures, telling lies, and impersonating pretty much anyone. But it only took a borrowed jacket and a little white lie to whisk him into an expenses-paid tour of Italy and an up-close and too-tantalizing taste of the lives of the über rich.

How will the secretive and sly interloper secure his place in a life not his own? Maybe he’ll befriend Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) who is heir to the fortunes of his father’s shipping conglomerate, looking as good as any self-centered cad ever has. Or, our Mr.

Ripley could ingratiate himself with Dickie’s girlfriend, played charmingly by Gwyneth Paltrow, whose gentle vulnerability wins all hearts. But before anything else, he must outmaneuver his foil, the astute Freddie Miles (Philip Seymour Hoff man), who sniff s out our anti-hero in an instant. Complications multiply as Tom Ripley tags along with the stunningly wealthy trio, covering fabrication with lie on top of falsehood. Meanwhile, we get a window seat with fabulous views of the seaside village of Corricella – dubbed “Mongibello” in the movie – Naples, Rome, Venice, and San Remo. So much majesty! So much mendacity. Directed by Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, Cold Mountain), 1999, Nominated for fi ve Oscars. 2 hours 19 min, Rated R

9 out of 10 Whiskers www.cinemacat-tdp.blogspot.com

Venticello’s Ristorante Italiano

All the Italian mystery and intrigue from The Talented Mr. Ripley, makes me hungry! Try the lovely Venticello’s Ristorante Italiano, a mainstay for great Italian food since 2004. First up, try the superb antipasto eggplant. Stuff ed with three cheeses, served with hearty marinara sauce. A great way to get your daily vegetable! Ha. Or, the Calamari Fra Diavolo: calamari steak with a spicy marinara sauce is a very special treat. Can you say Gorgonzola? Gracie gives a gourmet rating for the yummy Gorgonzola Chicken with fresh spinach, onions and tomatoes in a light, creamy marinara Gorgonzola sauce, tossed with rigatoni. Topped with more Gorgonzola! The popular Chicken Dill with peas and capers in a creamy dill sauce with bow tie pasta is also a favorite. All entrees come with the soup of the day or house salad. Whole wheat and gluten free pasta are also available. Lots of vegetarian options. While we’re in Venice with Matt Damon. Sigh. Let’s talk about those desserts… Cannolis! Chocolate covered pastry fi lled with ricotta and chocolate chips, covered in whipped cream with a scoop of vanilla bean gelato. Afogato! Vanilla bean gelato, espresso and whipped cream.

Buon Appetito!

Enjoy the friendly outdoor service, and the comfort of lovingly prepared food. Thoughtfully packaged takeout available. COVID recommendations followed. Call to inquire about dessert and wine specials and for limited outdoor seating.

911 First Street, Benicia www.venticellos.com 707.747.5263 or 707.747.6724.

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Fall Fashion Trends 2020

Christina Strawbridge

Most fashion enthusiasts rely on what they see on the streets in order to predict trends for a season. In major cities around the world, the streets are empty because of quarantine and stay at home orders. There has also been civil unrest that accompanied the pandemic, bringing protests to the streets, some peaceful, others violent, in the fight against racial inequality. Many fashion houses and manufacturers have had to lockdown their operations and, in some cases, have not reopened. Apparel sales have dropped 40% this year with companies looking to excite customers to shop.

For those top designers that were able to complete their collections for Fall 2020, the runway looked more like a battlefield with hooded parkas and protective padding. Paco Rabanne reflected on a religious theme honoring Saint Joan of Arc, with armor and chainmail. Marc Jacobs and Gucci tried for a look of innocence with nun-like wide white collars and short hemlines. What to do when streetwear has been transported to Zoom-wear? One strong message coming out of fashion is comfort. After months of wearing sweats and athletic wear at home, adapting the look to adventuring outside takes a bit of imagination. Trends are showing cropped tops and fitted tanks with baggy pants. This look may not be a great option with additional curves from COVID eating, but there are beautiful knit designs that offer comfort while giving a pulled together look. Designers that showed evening wear attempted to give hope for post-pandemic with the use of sequins and brocade. We can dream, can't we?

Some other important essentials this season: Sneakers are a great option for changing a look, even paired with fl owing skirts and wide pants. Ladies, put the stilettos away. The jacket has been pared down to be more form-fi tting. Having the right cover up to throw on during a Zoom meeting is crucial, especially since working remotely seems to be the mode of operation for the next few months. Cardigan sweaters are a must for layering, especially in vibrant colors and soft textures. They are a great alternative to the jacket. A return to grunge with oversized sweatshirts and lots of fl annel and ripped clothing. Say goodbye denim, for now. Jeans and denim are reported to be losing out to comfort. Levi's has announced plans to cut 700 corporate jobs because of plummeting sales. The comfort of an elastic waist wins the moment. Jeans sales have slowed the last few years and companies like True Religion, Lucky Brand and G-Star Raw have fi led for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Athleisure has gotten a lift with retailers like Lululemon and Gap's Athleta showing growth in sales of leggings, yoga pants, and joggers. Finally the "Mask!" Wearing the mask is now universally known to be essential and, in a lot of cases, mandatory. The top accessory for 2020, it seems as if everyone has gotten on board creating a version of face coverings. Designers have replaced their clothing designs with mask collections. Arturo Rios, a famous hat and fascinator designer, has taken his elaborate designs and turned them upside down, creating spectacular masks for the next gala on your calendar. 2020 will not only be known as the year of Covid-19 but will be remembered for survival fashion. 2021 can't come fast enough for fashion enthusiasts and everyone else on the planet!

Left: Vogue Street Style Photographed by Phil Oh; Collage by David Vo Above: Vogue GoRunway.com; Collage: Durrant Santeng #growtogether Your Local Provider of Premium Potting Soil and Organic Soil Amendments

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FOLLOW the FLOCK

Patty Gavin You can follow the news, follow the path, and follow the leader, and now, you can follow the fl ock. What, you might ask, is that all about? Soroptimist International of Benicia, like all service clubs, needs to raise funds to benefi t it's many good deeds and worthy causes in the community. In times of COVID-19, that can be especially challenging. So, here comes the fl ock...of fl amingos...pink fl amingos... pink plastic fl amingos. Yes, there are pink plastic fl amingos in Benicia, six fl ocks of ten that have "fl own" into town. You probably have seen them, staking out their territory on the front lawns of Benicia residents. How do you raise funds with pink plastic fl amingos in the front yards of lucky residents? Soroptimist club member and leader of the fl ock, Kelly Baldwin, explains: Residents will have a fl ock of 10 fl amingos placed on their lawn, along with a sign that reads "I've been fl ocked by Soroptimist International of Benicia," and a fl yer posted to the front door explaining why fl amingos are invading their yard. The fl yer gives options for payments (donations) to have the

fl amingos removed and sent along their way. The resident may indicate where they want the fl amingos to roost next. A whimsical way, and some might say a kitschy way, but without a doubt, a fun way to solicit donations to support the various projects and programs of the club. Because of COVID, the club had to cancel its Fall fundraiser, the SIP with Soroptimist wine tasting event, which has been its major fundraising tool for the last 4 years. However, Soroptimist of Benicia is determined to work hard to raise the needed funds to give back to the community. This year, the Flamingos are the kick-off fundraiser and will be followed by another unique fundraising event, "Savor Benicia." This event will allow participants an intimate look into the heart of our Benicia restaurants. Soroptimist will team up with Restaurants/Bars here in town, each of whom will provide a unique recipe that highlights their Restaurant/ Chef/Owner/Mixologist. Once a month, for 12 months, participants will receive a mailed keepsake recipe card and an email giving them access to a demo of the unique recipe. The recipe card

will include ingredients, directions/ tips/tricks, and highlight the creator/ restaurant/bar. The demo will be recorded to allow participants to watch at their own pace. Sounds like a perfectly unique Christmas gift for family and friends...gourmets and gourmands alike! Look for more information and details down the road... Soroptimist International of Benicia continues to be passionate about its commitment to provide women and girls, in particular, those who are disadvantaged, with access to the education and training they need to fulfi ll their dreams of success.

Need a fl ock? Contact Kelly Baldwin: 707.319.6392, or email: KellyBaldwin@ HamannRealEstate.com.

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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

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