Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy
starting Friday, May 22
Do you like Mexican food?
The Strand has a movie for you to watch at home.,, and support the Strand at the same time.
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy is an intimate, candid perspective into the curious world of cookbook author and British ex-pat Diana Kennedy -widely regarded as the world's expert on Mexican cuisine.
At five feet tall and 97 years old, Diana is larger than life: a foul-mouthed fireball far more feisty and energetic than her age and petite frame let on. Author of nine Mexican cookbooks, she has spent over 60 years researching and documenting the regional cuisines of Mexico. Kennedy has lived 'off-the-grid' on an eight-acre ranch outside Zitácuaro, Michoacán since the 1970's: composting, growing her own crops, and using solar power to run her home. Aware of her own mortality, she is working tirelessly to solidify the legacy of her life's efforts, with the hope of turning her home into a foundation for culinary education in Mexico.A two-time James Beard Award winner, Diana was decorated with an Order of the Aztec Eagle from the Mexican government and became a Member of the Order of the British Empire from the UK in 2002. Despite her notable achievements, Diana is difficult to categorize. Often referred to as the "Julia Child of Mexico," but Diana prefers a different title: "The Mick Jagger of Mexican Cuisine.
Diana Kennedy:Nothing Fancy explores Diana's vibrant, unconventional life, blending vérité with archival footage, photographs and interviews. Viewers accompany her in intimate settings at home -cooking, gardening, and traveling to accept awards and speak to audiences. The film features interviews with notable chefs and friends including Alice Waters, José Andrés, Rick Bayless, and Gabriela Cámara, along with footage from Diana's TLC cooking show, "The Art of Mexican Cooking." Whether she is instructing chefs at her infamous "Boot Camp" cooking school, blazing her truck over the cobblestone roads of Zitácuaro or sunbathing with a scotch on her balcony, Diana is captivatingly bold, spirited, and unapologetically herself.
The Strand has a movie for you to watch at home.,, and support the Strand at the same time.
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy is an intimate, candid perspective into the curious world of cookbook author and British ex-pat Diana Kennedy -widely regarded as the world's expert on Mexican cuisine.
At five feet tall and 97 years old, Diana is larger than life: a foul-mouthed fireball far more feisty and energetic than her age and petite frame let on. Author of nine Mexican cookbooks, she has spent over 60 years researching and documenting the regional cuisines of Mexico. Kennedy has lived 'off-the-grid' on an eight-acre ranch outside Zitácuaro, Michoacán since the 1970's: composting, growing her own crops, and using solar power to run her home. Aware of her own mortality, she is working tirelessly to solidify the legacy of her life's efforts, with the hope of turning her home into a foundation for culinary education in Mexico.A two-time James Beard Award winner, Diana was decorated with an Order of the Aztec Eagle from the Mexican government and became a Member of the Order of the British Empire from the UK in 2002. Despite her notable achievements, Diana is difficult to categorize. Often referred to as the "Julia Child of Mexico," but Diana prefers a different title: "The Mick Jagger of Mexican Cuisine.
Diana Kennedy:Nothing Fancy explores Diana's vibrant, unconventional life, blending vérité with archival footage, photographs and interviews. Viewers accompany her in intimate settings at home -cooking, gardening, and traveling to accept awards and speak to audiences. The film features interviews with notable chefs and friends including Alice Waters, José Andrés, Rick Bayless, and Gabriela Cámara, along with footage from Diana's TLC cooking show, "The Art of Mexican Cooking." Whether she is instructing chefs at her infamous "Boot Camp" cooking school, blazing her truck over the cobblestone roads of Zitácuaro or sunbathing with a scotch on her balcony, Diana is captivatingly bold, spirited, and unapologetically herself.
And
to enhance your enjoyment of the film: Foodies take note. To celebrate
the May 22 virtual cinema release of DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY about
the James Beard-winning master of Mexican cuisine, a virtual Q&A
will take place with director Elizabeth Carroll, chef Alice Waters (Chez
Panisse), chef Gabriela Cámara (Contramara & Cala), and The New
York Times food writer David Tanis.
Saturday, May 23 @ 8pm ET/5pm PT
The Virtual Strand?
Watch a film/support the Strand
Back in March I introduced Parasite by
professing my love for Vicksburg, the Strand, and the folks who come out
to see our programming. A few things have changed since then...But we still love you and miss you at the Strand.
And we hope you miss us: breathing in the smell of the fresh popcorn as you open the door; catching up with friends old and new; checking out this week's beer selection; finding the perfect seat (until some tall person sits in front of you)... and then watching a new or classic film with an audience - those were the days. And hopefully all those little things will return to our lives soon. Or eventually.
Until then some of our film distributors have come up with a plan to keep you thinking about the Strand and even supporting the Strand by partnering with us to offer unreleased films you can watch at home. Typically these films are available for a week or two or three, and once rented can be watched over a 72 hour period. The easiest way to watch them is on a computer, or tablet, or phone, but they can usually be cast to your TV using Airplay or ChromeCast or something similar. Also a cable which connects your device to your TV by HDMI can be used.
Okay, it's not the same, but these are brand new films of the caliber we would be presenting on our screen, and if you choose to watch them, the Strand gets to split the ticket price.
Click here to get more info and to purchase screenings of all our
Virtual Strand Films