Food ‘n Flix Round Up for Crazy Rich Asians

Welcome to February’s Food ‘n Flix!   This month I hosted Crazy Rich Asians.

I’m not sure I was ready for the world of Crazy Rich Asians.   This mad hatter, down-the-rabbit-hole world of the über ultra rich, their lifestyles and spending habits left me truly amazed.   Kwan is a master at painting his characters bigger than life but also making them human.   I’m glad, however, that I saw the film before I read the novel.   Putting faces with some of the names helped me keep the characters straight as I started to read.

But, today’s post is about the film.  You have another month to participate in our cross-club venture with Cook the Books.   (More about that later.)

Camilla at Culinary Adventures was first up on February 1!   I was hoping someone was diligent enough to make homemade dumplings and Camilla delivered.   She also makes the note about the title:  “‘Crazy rich’ is a single descriptor, not ‘crazy’ and ‘rich’, but ‘crazy rich.’ ”  Exactly.

Camilla was able to watch the film twice on some international flights before she bought the film for this event.

Here’s her “Eat the Baby” dumplings.  If you missed the reference in the film as the explanation for these little bundles of joy, check out her post.

Wendy (A Day in the Life on the Farm) was next up with a little libation.   She used a Singapore Sling as a perfect way to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

As is often the case, Wendy found the book more enjoyable than the film version:  “I wish I could say I loved it as much as I loved the book, but alas, as is often the case, the movie was a disappointment after the novel.  I liked the actors that they chose for the characters and it wasn’t a bad movie.  It just didn’t have the same appeal to me as the novel. ”   I think if I’d had this drink when I watched the film, I would have loved it!

It was serendipity that Amy (Amy’s Cooking Adventures) was able to view the film on a recent flight to Disney World.  As Amy the Librarian typically finds herself saying, the book was better than the movie.   (She did admit the movie was enjoyable “in a train-wrecky kind of way.”)

Amy’s Ginger Pork Pot Stickers are amazing, as is she for making her own wrappers!

Despite an illness and jet lag, Evelyne from CulturEatz still contributed to the round up.  She whipped up a tall icy glass of Bandung, an adaptation from the popular Indian Rose Milk.    

She describes the film as one of a “frivolous rich setting: new and old money, Singaporean, Hong Kongese, the lesser viewed mainland Chinese, and ABCs (American Born Chinese). ”  The movie’s light and fun just like this drink.  (Hope you are feeling better soon!)

Lynda from Reviews, Chews, and How-Tos posted another savory dish:   Chicken Satay.  

(I love the accompanying veggie noodles and egg roll!)  In comparing the novel and the film, Lynda writes that the movie “captures a lot of what happens in the book and keeps the frothy tone of it with a few significant modifications.  The biggest one is the way Akwafina’s character takes on her sparkling over-the-top-ness, making her quite different from the book version, who is actually one of the most grounded secondary characters involved.”

Bringing up the rear is your host.  I posted another beverage, albeit sans alcohol.  (That’s kind of unusual for us at EE.)   

I will have to say that my Mock Singapore Sling was tasty and refreshing.

That’s it for this Crazy Rich Asian  roundup, the Food ‘n Flix edition.   You have an entire month to read the novel and participate in Cook the Books.  Remember, Claudia at Honey from Rock is hosting.  Please play along.   Myself, I am going to do my best to post a savory dish for the CtB round before the end of March.

For more information on Cook the Books and participating, click here.

As for Food ‘n Flix, plan on revisiting a animated classic this month.  The Lego Movie is scheduled for the March feature and is hosted by Simply Inspired Meals.    For the most up-to-date info on FnF, check out our Facebook page.  (I can’t wait to view The Lego Movie.  The last time we tried to watch it we were at an outdoor event and ended up helping make popcorn bags.  We missed most of the movie.  Sad face.)