Diverse Reviews

DVD: Casablanca. This is the new 2-DVD special edition release. Having seen innumerable showings on various channels, I can only say one thing of the quality and sound:

Wow.

The picture is pristine, sharp, and bright. No scratches, end-of-reel prompts, or wavery sound. It is, in short, gorgeous.

The extras are great, too. You get a 90-minute documentary about Humphrey Bogart, narrate by Lauren Bacall. There are two shorter documentaries, a tribute to the film itself and a conversation with Stephen Bogart and Pia Lindstrom (Ingrid Bergman's daughter). There are a few outtakes and a missing scene; unfortunately neither has sound, although the missing scene is subtitled. Also included on the disks are the Looney Tunes spoof, "Carrotblanca," the original radio show production of the movie, and the first episode of WB's failed Casablanca series.

The movie also has two commentaries. Indeed an embarrassment of riches.

New Restaurant Dish: Spaghetti Warehouse's Shrimp Scampi Ravioli. I don't know if Spaghetti Warehouse is the same as the "Old Spaghetti Warehouse" I've seen mentioned. This place is in a building that is made to resemble an old warehouse. We go there when we have coupons, which we did. The shrimp scampi ravioli sounded delicious.

It was okay. Not worth raving about, but worth eating with the coupon. James thought the sauce was a bit Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee-ish, but I didn't think it was that overly sweet; it was very orange! This came with diced fresh tomatoes and peppers on top of garlic bread. We also had Italian wedding soup, and we got to sit in the trolley. Yes, the trolley. The left half of the dining room has an old trolley--not sure if it's a reproduction or not--in it. The seats have been replaced by tables.

If you want really, really, really good specialty ravioli, go to Olive Garden and try either the seafood ravioli or the three meat ravioli. In fact, go with a friend. One orders one, one orders the other. Then sample the one you don't have. Bellissima!

----------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . . noted and logged by Linda at 11:19:00 PM

Comments: Post a Comment