C A L I F O R N I A
S T A T E
U N I V E RS I T Y ,
F U L L E R T O N Men’s basketball begins Big West tournament this afternoon against Utah State
INSIDE NEWS: Once a scarce commodity, mush4 nrooms are now springing up everywhere DETOUR: Well-known novel turned play 6 nportrays war through the eyes of a young girl
—see Sports page 7
T h u r s d ay
Vo l u m e 7 2 , I s s u e 1 3
M a r c h 8, 2001
Student faces charges after dorm break-in nCRIME: Sigma Pi member is in police custody for allegedly kicking down a door in Cobb Residence Halls
By Kathleen Gutierrez Daily Titan Staff Writer
A Cal State Fullerton fraternity member was arrested at the Sigma Pi house on Monday for vandalism and possession of a deadly weapon. The student, 21-year-old Michael Ryan Schreiber, pled not guilty to charges at the Fullerton Municipal Court House on Wednesday afternoon and remains in custody. His bail was lowered from $50,000 to $7,500. Campus police arrested Schreiber for allegedly breaking down the door of a student’s room in Cobb Residence Halls and for allegedly attempting to assault him and other students with brass knuckles. He was allegedly searching for his ex-girlfriend, who lives in the dormitories, when he was told she was out with a male friend who also lives in the same facility. The report, taken by campus police, said Schreiber beat on the door of the male student. His roommate looked through the door viewer, saw Schreiber and the brass knuckles he allegedly wore, and refused to open the door. The roommate yelled to Schreiber that the male student was not home and then Schreiber kicked the door down. A part of the door’s framework was taken in as evidence against
Schreiber. “He literally kicked the door right in, breaking the hinges off and everything,” said CSUF Detective Thomas Gerhls. Schreiber told police that he did not know how many people were in the dorm room, so he wore brass knuckles to protect himself. Gerhls also said that the harassment against the female student has been ongoing. Schreiber allegedly resorted to this action after a series of attempts to contact his ex-girlfriend were unsuccessful. The ex-girlfriend submitted two harassment-related e-mails from Schreiber to campus police as evidence of intent. According to the police report, the roommate said that after Schreiber kicked in the door, he was demanding that he reveal the male student’s whereabouts. When he refused, Schreiber got into his car and drove back to the Sigma Pi house. Responding to a call from the roommate, campus police drove to the house and found Schreiber’s blue Camaro parked outside with the engine still warm. Another Sigma Pi member allowed police inside and took them to Schreiber. Police found Schreiber in his room where they arrested him for terrorist threats, possession of a deadly weapon and vandalism to CSUF property. To protect their privacy, campus police requested that Schreiber’s victims remain anonymous pending further investigation of the case. The pretrial hearing is slated for March 14 at 8 a.m. at Fullerton Municipal Court.
Camera cops stay vigilant on the corner of Westminster Avenue and Brookhurst Street in Garden Grove.
Mayra Beltran/Daily Titan
Red light runners beware nTREND: Mounted cameras catch drivers who break the law
By Marlayna Slaughterbeck Daily Titan News Editor
Zoom, click, you’re busted. Gone are the days when drivers speeding through yellow lights merely had
to keep their eyes peeled for police cruisers to avoid a ticket. Camera cops—cameras mounted at busy intersections, designed to nab drivers who run red lights—are rapidly sprouting up throughout Southern California. Although Fullerton has yet to take advantage of the relatively new technology, Lt. Greg Mayes of the Fullerton Police Department said it would not be long before it does. “You’ll probably see more and
more cities phasing in the cameras within the next year,” Mayes said, adding that although in Fullerton the project requires the city council’s approval, there is already a good deal of support for the program. In Beverly Hills, where the cameras have been in place since 1998, there is also some resistance. While much of the controversy is based on concern over Fourth Amendment privacy rights, some take issue more with the cost of
the ticket itself, rather than the possibility that their constitutional rights have been violated. At $270 per citation, the average camera cranks out 2,000 tickets per month, potentially generating more than half a million dollars each for the city. The steep penalties combined with the fact that offenders are often not aware they’ve been caught or that they have even broken the law until
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Space and the Web meet nSCIENCE: Students design an Internetbased communication model for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory By Samantha Gonzaga
Daily Titan Asst. News Editor
david rivera/Daily Titan
Senior Tai Vo and Professor Charles Hung Lee are involved in a research program with JPL.
Dr. Charles Hung Lee and Dr. William Gearhart want to make information about space satellites more accessible. Today most scientists must rely on expensive software to get this data. But Lee, Gearhart and seven math, computer science and engineering students are striving to eliminate this reliance. A small room with four computer
stations, two space posters and an electric fan the size of a walk-in closet is one of the places where they work. This tiny area is where they streamline their project dealing with the use of a Web-based tool for space communications. As the end of the month nears, the group will discover if the yearlong project will earn the approval of Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This cooperative research is a project in which CSUF is the only university collaborating with JPL. The premise presented to the students involved is the creation of a Web tool that will enable scientists to access JPL information on the Internet. “JPL has many telecommunications planning tools mainly used
By Kelly Mead
Daily Titan Staff Writer The Titan Shops gave back $13,726 in redemption gift certificates this semester.
Redemption Week is a biannual event that gives students $5 for every $100 they spend at Titan Shops. Last term the store gave away $16,368. “Predominantly the spring semester is less than the fall semester,” said Chuck Kissel the customer service manager for the Titan Shops. More than 1,000 students redeemed their receipts this semester. The largest gift certificate was for a student who spent $1,000 at the store. He received a $50 gift
certificate. The next Redemption Week will occur between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23. Students will get money back for purchases between late July and early September. “Students can get the tail end of it,” Kissel said, referring to summer session students. The store has given $117,084 since Redemption Week started in the fall of 1997. Nearly 10,000 receipts have been redeemed.
JPL/ 3
Titan
Redemption Week gift certificates exchanged for bookstore receipts nRETAIL: The Titan Shops gave students an opportunity to receive $5 for every $100 spent on books
for NASA missions,” Lee said, a professor of mathematics. “But it is not centralized. The goal is to see how good the communications link is.” Currently, scientists who wish to access information in JPL must employ the use of several software systems in addition to their authorized clearance. Since not every computer has these programs installed, it restricts the way scientists can get the information they seek. “Anyone in the world with an authorization can log on and get access,” Lee said. Since such important information will be online, security is an important issue. Senior Tai Vo, one of the students working on the project, said,
extras online n
Check out the Daily Titan online this year at http:// dailytitan.fullerton.edu.
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A total of 10,000 receipts redeemed over $100,000 in vouchers.
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2 Thursday, March 8, 2001
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A guide to what’s happening
BRIEFS Online Job Fair by Titan Connection Cal State Fullerton students can make job connections online. “March Madness Virtual Job Fair” aims to facilitate student search for internship opportunities and professional job offers. Up to 10 versions of a resume can be uploaded. Those with Titan Connection accounts receive a daily update of the jobs available to both students and alumni. Those interested in opening an account, and are interested in the job fair can get assistant in registration from the Career Planning and Placement Center, or by calling (714) 2782135. “March Madness Virtual Fair” ends March 31.
Cal State Fullerton Leadership Acknowledged by the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering CSUF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science was presented the Long-Term Organizational Leadership Award. Richard Rocke, acting Dean of ECS, and Jesa Kreiner, engineering division chair, received the award given by The Institute for the Advancement of Engineering its annual banquet. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of National Engineer’s Week. CSUF’s record of success show more than 45,000 engineering students who have earned degrees, and now hold positions such in state and federal government agencies. 0
Denise Smaldino Vu Nguyen Joel Helgesen Collin Miller Gus Garcia Darleene Barrientos Marlayna Slaughterbeck Samantha Gonzaga Darla Priest Raul Ascencio Damian Calhoun Magda Liszewska Jamie Ayala Lorraine Dominguez David Rivera Lori Anderson Caesar Contreras Rita Freeman Debra Santelli Darleene Barrientos Gus Garcia Kari Wirtz Robert Kelleher Jeffrey Brody Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Sports Main Photo
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Computer science students involved in software design and its related areas. High ranking in nationwide competitions was also something that the awards committee considered. This encompassed both student and faculty achievements — students for their design projects and faculty for their extensive research studies. Certificate programs and close interactions between students and engineering professionals in the Orange County area has largely to do with facilitating leadership qualities.
CAL E NDAR NTS C ALEND AR OF E OF EVE VENTS Campus A 24-hour study hall is now available in the Titan Student Union at the West Food Court. It is open Monday through Thursday. A band will perform today at noon in the TSU Round Table Pizza Pub. A free film will be shown today at 5 p.m. in the TSU Titan Theater. A ping-pong tournament is scheduled for Friday, March 9 at 2 p.m. in the TSU Underground.
A Guitar Gala Concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Tickets are $8. Discounts available. The Pacific Symphony Institute Orchestra will perform on Sunday, March 11 at 5 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Tickets are $ 13. Discounts available. A jazz concert is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14 at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Tickets are $8 at the door and $5 with advance Titan discount.
A symphonic band will perform on Thursday, March 15 at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Tickets are $8 at the door and $5 with advance Titan discount.
Community The musical, “Jerry’s Girls,” will be performed on Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. in the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton. Tickets are available at the CSUF Performing Arts Center Box Office for $20 and $25. Discounts available. For more information call (714) 278-2434.
The Brother’s of St. Patrick is hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Family Festival on Sunday, March 11 on the grounds of The Brother’s of St. Patrick (between the 22 and the 405 freeways at 7820 Bolsa Ave. in Midway City). Tickets are $10 at the gate. A St. Patrick’s Day concert with the Irish-American group Solas will perform at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on Saturday, March 17 at 8 p.m. For more information call (949) 854-4607.
School Daze by T.W. O’Bryan
Santa Ana seeking volunteers for Youth 2001 Santa Ana’s Parks and Recreation Department is searching for volunteers for its “Youth Expo” on Sunday, March 18. The “Youth Expo” is a daylong activity planned for boys between the ages of eight and 18. It aims to inform youths of the opportunities and assistance that await them in the areas of career and characterbuilding. Music, food and entertainment will be part of the festivities. Information on colleges, career opportunities and government employment will be provided by local businesses, schools and organizations. Check-in for the “Youth Expo” begins at 10:30 a.m. The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m. It will be taking place at the Santa Ana Stadium, at Flower and Civic Center Drive. For more information, contact Michelle Santana at (714) 571-4230.
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The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Tuesday through Friday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan and its predecessor, the Titan Times, have functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The mail subscription price is $45 per semester, $65 per year, payable to the Daily Titan, College Park 670, CSUF, Fullerton, CA 92834. Copyright ©2001 Daily Titan
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CAMERAS n from page 1 they receive the ticket in the mail, has led some to question issues such as prevention versus punishment. Does the technology actually help to prevent the mayhem caused when stressed out commuters run red lights, or is it simply a way for the city to capitalize on the problem? Traffic school instructor Dean Baker said he believes issues like this are why the average citizen takes exception to the system’s legitimacy. “Most people really hate the idea that they’ve been busted by a camera,” Baker said. “Especially because they don’t find out until several days later—it gives them the creeps.” Aside from the system’s preventive efficacy and its federal constitutionality, there are also questions about whether the use of these cameras constitutes a speed trap, which has been illegal in the state of California since 1923.
Thursday, March 8, 2001 The device is triggered when an automobile trips a sensor at the entrance of an intersection when the light turns red. To determine if the driver has broken the law, the device measures the interval of time taken to cross two different sensors in the pavement, determining velocity based on how long it took to get from the first sensor pad to the second. If that time exceeds two-tenths of a second, a photo is taken and a ticket is issued. Another issue in question is the fact that the system is operated by an outside company—US Public Technologies in San Diego—rather than a governmental agency, as is required by law. Because there is no departmental expert on the force, US Public Technologies, which receives $25 per conviction, is responsible both for maintaining the equipment and, more importantly, for issuing citations. Although each ticket is first sent to the department for approval and verification, Baker said many complain that
the process is a mere formality and does not ensure legitimacy. “Besides not liking the idea that ‘Big Brother’ is watching, most people in traffic school for camera citations think the program is corrupt when they find out how it works,” Baker said. Although camera cops can be found in Orange County, the closest being in Garden Grove, many O.C. residents are unfamiliar with the program. “I’ve never even heard of them,” said sophomore Jeff Lieber. “But I’ll definitely be looking for them now.” Lieber likened the issue to the recent news that people at the Super Bowl had been photographed upon entering without either their permission or their knowledge. He said that although he is unsure how he feels about the constitutionality of the program, on a personal level, it does seem rather invasive. “Sure you can’t expect total privacy when you’re in your car or in a public place, but the idea that the government may have pictures of you without you even knowing is a little disturbing.”
Gate, I looked across into the bleak and unhappy eastern sector. The Berlin Wall was lined with simple gravesites, flowers and memorials to young men who had tried over the years to escape and were shot down by the guards. Many of those who tried to escape were blown up by booby-traps planted along the wall. Standing at the 12-foot-high concrete wall was a strange experience, facing the painful reality that those people on the other side were separated from loved ones-family and friends-and freedom. I took a tour bus into the eastern sector through one of the 21 Checkpoint Charlies. We were told that if we carried any West German currency on us, it would be confiscated. Guards carefully scrutinized our passports, searching the bus inside and out, and they rolled huge dollies
with mirrors along the undercarriage of the bus, checking for people trying to cross the border. Entering the checkpoint, I observed steel-enforced concrete walls and barbed wire fences in a tight maze of hairpin turns, thwarting any escape attempts by the East Berlin citizens. Besides which— there were guard towers containing soldiers with binoculars and rifles visible everywhere. It was like a scene straight out of a WWII movie. East Berlin had socialized medicine and no unemployment. In fact, the government needed manpower so desperately that they imported workers from Poland and other neighboring countries. The brighter students were sent to the universities, while the rest were sent to trade schools. Citizens were not allowed to leave the eastern sector until they reached the age of
JPL
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MAYRA BELTRAN/Daily Titan
Camera cops are somewhat camouflauged against stoplights.
Experiencing Cold War
nCULTURE: Ten years before the fall of Communism, the Berlin Wall served as a symbol of division By Terry Jolliffe
Daily Titan Staff Writer The terms, “Iron Curtain” and “Checkpoint Charlie” may not mean much to many students at Cal State Fullerton, because so many were small children when the Berlin Wall was torn down. But in 1982, while the wall still separated East and West, I decided to tour the “Russian sector,” which turned out to be a very enlightening adventure. Standing at the Brandenburg
65-when they were no longer considered productive or of use to the government. We were allowed to exit the bus only when they wanted us to view Communist monuments. And at lunchtime, we were herded into a small restaurant. It was the only restaurant we were allowed to eat in, the guide told us. There was a lot of hostility toward Americans in Europe during that Cold War period. One West Berliner told me that Germans feared that if war broke out, it would again take place in Europe, and they didn’t want American missiles in their countries. In a small southern town in Germany, we saw posters in storefronts, pictures of Ronald Reagan with missiles pointing out the top his head, with the words, “Americans, go home!” At one point, we were told the
hotel had rooms available when they saw the German plates on our car. Once they saw our American passports however, the hotel was suddenly full. Nearly 20 years ago, we paid over $3 a gallon for gas in Europe and citizens were more than willing to tell us what high taxes they paid and how spoiled we Americans were. Even back then, West Berlin had a highly esoteric and intense nightlife. The punk rock movement was very evident throughout the city. Of course, in 1989 after 28 years of a city divided, the wall was brought down. Last year, a 10-year anniversary celebration including concerts, fireworks and speeches, three former leaders, Russia’s Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Helmut Kohl of Germany, and George Bush, were honored for their part in the diplomacy that helped to topple the wall
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“Security will be very tight and something that will be ensured.” The model that the team will be introducing on March 31 is but a prototype. Should JPL find the model applicable, designing features such as security will be left entirely to their personnel. It has contributed $20,000 to the project, which was matched with approximately $50,000 by CSUF. “This is a task that will mutually benefit CSUF and JPL,” Lee said. Indeed — the project has spurred the birth of another telecommunications project by seniors Suzanne Sindi, a mathematics major and Tai Vo, a double-major in mathematics and computer science. “It’s a hands-on research that has helped me apply class material straight to this [project],” Vo said. There is also a lot of overlapping between mathematics and computer science.” The off-shoot of the Web-tool project is a feasibility project that uses a math model to schedule communication between satellites and the ground stations on Earth. Functions will not be limited to communication, and will include retrieval of data, such as relaying signs of possible volcanic activity on a planet. The application of math is heavy because the project is an analytical model. Geometry is employed since it will determine which satellites can “talk” first. “Anytime you have receivers, you’ve got senders,” said mathematics professor William Gearhart. Let’s say you’ve got several satellites in space. Not all of them can ‘talk’ at the same time. This is a model that will see who gets the right of way, who gets to ‘talk’ first.” Lee hopes to lobby for a bigger grant if the project is successful. “With this capability, people can use these tools without conflict problems,” he said.
4 Thursday, March 8, 2001
news
Mushrooms and taste great!
cleanse the body
The mighty fungus has gained popularity in the United States regularly appearing at supermarkets in dozens of different forms.
the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), sales of the 19992000 U.S. mushroom crop were 867 million pounds, a record high Everywhere you look theses days, an and 1 percent above 1998-99 and 6 extraordinary bounty of exotic mushpercent from 1997-98. Mushroom rooms is turning up on restaurant menus consumption increased 192 perand at grocery stores. cent between 1970 and 1994, It wasn’t long ago that fresh shiitakes according to the U.S. Department were a rarity; now they regularly appear of Agriculture (USDA). in produce bins along with the more Shiitakes are said to be familiar cultivated varieties—white butthe favorite mushroom tons, creminis, portobellos, and oysters. in Japan, according to If you’re lucky, you may even find wild USDA’s Cooperative mushrooms such as morels, hedgehogs or State Research Service. black trumpets in season. For mushroom As many as 200,000 lovers, that’s reason enough to rejoice. Japanese cultivate these A recent survey of the top chefs forest fungi as a seaconducted by the National Restaurant sonal cash crop from Association, “What’s Hot…What’s Not,” logs of the Shii tree. showed 80 percent ranked specialty and The U.S. shiitake proexotic mushrooms first among 20 curduction is rising, from rently hot and trendy foodstuffs. nearly zero in 1980 to 3 lorraine dominguez/Daily Titan The perks of the abundant selecmillion pounds in 1987. Different mushrooms provide a plethora of health benefits. tion of mushrooms are not lost on Chef Shiitake production could Roberta Dean of Caper’s Catering in Los Harold McGee took on this bit of kitchen mean jobs for at least 20,000 U.S. tamic acid, a natural version of monosodium Angeles. farmers, said Dr. Gary F. Leatham, a glutamate—that yummy salty flavor found lore in his book “The Curious Cook”. He “As little as eight years ago all you in some Chinese food that can be associated reasoned that mushrooms are already 90 USDA research chemist. could get your hands on were your basic percent water, so what difference could a Exploiting non-traditional food with headaches and high blood pressure. white buttons and on occasion enoki “Mushrooms are a natural flavor enhanc- few drops more make? Harold weighed 23 resources could lead to substantial nutrimushrooms,” Dean said. “Today the varitional breakthroughs in developing coun- er, so any dish they are in will automati- fresh mushrooms, soaked them in water for eties are endless, lending to exotic and tries facing malnourishment. In Pakistan, cally have a richer, deeper and fuller flavor,” five minutes, and weighed them again. They interesting recipe ideas.” barely soaked up any water-only 6 grams, or the increase in population is creating an Schulz said. Mushrooms cleanse the body, defend True mushroom fans, of course, can’t less than half a tablespoon, among all those alarming situation regarding food producagainst illness and even speed recovery. tion, said Dr. Tahir Hussain, author of find enough ways to prepare them. While mushrooms. These may seem lofty orders for a mere There are 3,000 varieties of mushthe book, “Growing Mushrooms: A New attending culinary school, I found adding fungus, but scientists are uncovering new Horizon in Agricultural.” Mushrooms are mushrooms to many traditional dishes gave rooms to-date, some of which can be deadly. evidence that some mushrooms, at least, A single mouthful of a certain mushroom easy to grow and can be grown from the recipe a new twist. Mushrooms absorb any liquid that is belonging to the Amanita family can bring on the barks of trees, taking up limited added to them, this makes their capacity to one of the most agonizing illnesses, according to the Encyclopedia of Cooking. Death space and pre- take on and hold flavor unbelievclaims about half of those stricken. Yet venting trees from able. Whether you’re preparing the Amanita is said to be so delibeing cut down. a simple sauté with garlic and cious that, just before being shaken Mushrooms are olive oil, or adding bounby the first seizure, one woman asked referred to as an tiful foreign flavors, the the cook for the recipe. Most poisonous alternative food options are endless with mushrooms, however, are not so virusource. They are these little fungi. I’ve always heard lent, bringing stomach upsets rather high in protein than death. One of the Amanita causes and economical to that you should never intoxication, rather than a sick feeling. grow, according to wash mushrooms under water because they soak it up Others of the Psilocybe species, found the USDA. in Mexico and South America, induce a In addition to like a sponge. Conventional w i s d o m their health ben- says to clean mushrooms with a soft brush or visionary state and have been revered as efits, mushrooms wipe them with a damp paper towel. That’s sacred by Indian tribes for generations. Mushrooms continue to increase in their are extremely low fine if the mushrooms aren’t too dirty to in fat and calories, begin with. I like to use a brush because it’s demand, not just for cooking, but for medicinal purposes as well. So the next time you’re and full of flavor. a little easier and tidier than paper towels. Washing really isn’t necessary for sanitary in the mushroom section at your supermarThat means they can add lots of reasons. Commercial mushrooms are grown ket, instead of grabbing your traditional punchy flavor to in a sterile medium, such as peat moss, so white buttons, succumb to some exotic variall sorts of dishes they are safe to eat if they only get a light ety and be inspired by their magical flavors. without adding brushing. But cleaning a bunch of really additional fat. dirty mushrooms one at a time is downright They also intensi- tedious. And if you use paper towels, you’ll fy the taste of veg- go through a bunch of them. To save time, etables and light I’ve been known to defy the critics and wash meats because mushrooms under the faucet. Turns out, I’m lorraine dominguez/Daily Titan they’re rich in gluin good company. - See page 8 for recipes More and more gourmet chefs are using a variety of mushrooms to add flavor to their recipes.
By Debra Santelli
Daily Titan Copy Editor
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really do have medicinal properties. For example, the shiitake, which is widely used both as food and as medicine, contains a substance called lentinan that’s been shown to have cancer-fighting powers. In a study by Japanese researchers, patients with either stomach or colorectal cancer who were given a purified version of lentinan, along with chemotherapy, survived longer than those treated with the drugs alone. One theory about how lentinan works is that it boosts the potency of tumor-killing drugs. But it also seems to stimulate the body’s own defenses against cancer. And there may be other benefits. Shiitakes contain eritadenine, a substance that appears to reduce blood levels of cholesterol and also contain a fair amount of fiber. However, from a strict nutritional standpoint, the scale seems to teeter back and forth. According to Gordon M. Wardlaw’s book “Perspectives in Nutrition,” mushrooms contain chromium —and high doses of chromium picolinate may cause cancer. “They are a great food—but not a cure-all for any ailment,” said Cal Sate Fullerton Nutritionist Ada Schulz. “Foods go in and out of fashion—whatever is currently ‘in’ is touted as the new wonder food.” “In,” they must be, because according to
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8 Thursday, March 8, 2001
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A night of intimate poetry and By Taylor Goldman
Daily Titan Staff Writer Rhianne Bergado, a member of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance, spoke of her innermost emotions through poetry to a crowded room. “Justify to me hate in the name of God, injustice in the name of Allah and bigotry written into our laws,” she said in a poem she recited from memory that was inspired by Matthew Shepard. The LGBA held its second annual Perceptions Poetry Night on Tuesday in the Tuffree room of the Titan Student Union. David Atilano, a co-chair of the club, said that this event was held in the spirit of creating mutual respect and understanding throughout all of Cal State Fullerton. He explained that guests usually realize that the person performing is sharing something deep and personal with a crowd of strangers. “I always feel nervous until I realize that everyone is there to support me,” Atilano said. He chose to recite lyrics from the song “Alma Matters” by the gay artist Morrissey. Atilano said that these words have meaning for him because the artist defies those who don’t agree with his lifestyle. In the song, he has somebody in the world that loves him regardless of other people’s opinions. Ben Quan, secretary for LGBA, said that Perceptions allows all individuals to see how LGBA members view the world around them through expressions of poetry, music or artwork. “It is a reflection of how they view
the world,” Quan said. Quan read a poem that he wrote along with one that a friend wrote but did not feel comfortable reciting in public. In his poem Quan said, “For the sun never saw the moon’s beauty inside because the sun could not swallow its pride.” “Sometimes you don’t know what’s there until it’s gone,” Quan said, referring to the excerpt. He said that people sometimes see things in others that they never saw before, which seemed to be the theme of the evening. Bergado, the main coordinator of the event, said that members of the animation club and members of the Associated Students Executive Board attended the event. Perceptions also appealed to poetry fans throughout CSUF. This event is intended for “all different walks of life,” Bergado said. In addition to being an opportunity for members of LGBA to perform in front of a crowd, Perceptions also served as a fundraiser. Bergado explained that there is a stigma attached to LGBA, so it is hard for the club to earn money. Although not required, it was suggested that each guest pay $5 at the door. The money raised through this event is intended for the club’s major event of the semester, Pride Culture Night. Quan said LGBA planned to have 40 to 50 people attend the event, and 16 people are planning to perform live. “Hopefully poetry will rid stereotypes or prejudices that people might have,” Quan said.
Gourmet mushroom recipes Roasted Stuffed Mushrooms I’ve had too many mushrooms dribble down my chin at parties. Then I learned a secret, roasting the caps before stuffing. Roasting not only cooks the caps; it draws out excess liquid. Sprinkling the mushrooms with coarse salt before roasting helps extract maximum moisture without overcooking and helps flavor the mushrooms. You need large white mushrooms for this recipe. The stems will get chopped and used in the stuffing, but sausage is the key player. Its quality will make or break this recipe, so pick a good one-mild or spicy it’s up to you. Asiago cheese has a big flavor that can stand up to the sausage. Grate it fresh — it’ll melt better and hold the filling together. Makes 24 appetizers. Work time takes approximately 20 minutes, while cooking time takes 20 minutes. Toss with 1/2 cup olive oil; roast: 24 large white mushrooms Kosher salt Brown: oz. Bulk Italian sausage Add and Sauté: 1/3 cup yellow onion, finely chopped cups fresh spinach, chopped Stir In: cup Asiago or Parmesan cheese, grated 1 t. cayenne pepper Top With: 1 cup dried breadcrumbs Portobello Perfection
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Here’s a terrific entrée that uses feta cheese and spinach and only takes 15 minutes to prepare. 4 large or 8 medium-size Portobello mushrooms non-stick cooking spray, preferably garlic flavored 1-tablespoon fresh basil 1-tablespoon olive oil 3\4 cup diced tomatoes 1\3 cup diced onions 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup white wine 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled salt and pepper to taste 1 package fresh baby spinach leaves 1\4 cup parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Cut off stems and discard. Scrape out and discard mushroom gills. Place mushrooms caps rounded side up on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven; preheat broiler. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add onions, garlic, tomatoes, and sauté 5 minutes. Add white wine, simmer 1 minute. Add spinach, basil, feta, salt and pepper, cover and cook until liquid is mostly absorbed. Turn mushrooms over and fill with spinach mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top. Broil until cheese is golden brown. Garnish with basil leaf. Sautéed Mushrooms
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Vinaigrette Sautéing is probably the most popular way to cook mushrooms. It shows off the best a mushroom has to offer in flavor and texture. The trick is doing it right. Here’s the deal. Mushrooms are nearly 90% water. When they cook, all that water comes out. Now, the water carries a lot of flavor, which you don’t want to lose. Sautéing evaporates just the water, leaving the flavor concentration on the mushrooms. First, don’t pack too many mushrooms in the skillet — cook them in batches if you have a lot. If the pan’s crowded, the water can’t evaporate, and you end up braising instead of sautéing. Braising results in a Grey color and soft texture. You want golden, firm-yet-tender mushrooms. Second, cook mushrooms over a relatively high heat. This helps the water evaporate quickly. If it takes too long, the mushrooms will get rubbery. Sautéed mushrooms put a twist on typical vinaigrette. They give it body and flavor. This hearty vinaigrette is delicious over roasted vegetables, such as asparagus or root vegetables. Try it with grilled chicken breast, pork, or tuna steaks. Or toss cooled vinaigrette with greens.
Thursday, March 8, 2001
Titans set sail on playoff nBIG WEST: The Anaheim Convention Center is the backdrop for the CSUF’s opening round tussle By Damian Calhoun
Daily Titan Asst. Sports Editor
Kira Horvath/Daily Titan
Chris Smith elevates for two in the Titans’ win over UCR on
You can call it an 11th hour reprieve, but the Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team has received new life as the 2001 Big West Conference Tournament begins today at the Anaheim Convention Center. After weeks of fighting and clawing to just make the postseason, CSUF was given new life and combined with a 70-59 win over UC Riverside and an Idaho loss to UCI Irvine, the Titans not only made the tournament but improved their seeding to 7th. “Our guys are real excited about getting in and starting the 3rd season,” CSUF head coach Donny Daniels said Monday during the pretournament teleconference. CSUF faces defending conference champion the Utah State Aggies (24-5, 13-3), immediately following the Long Beach State-Boise State game. The Titans-Aggies tilt should begin around 2:30 p.m. Utah State finished second, two games behind the regular season conference champion UC Irvine. The Aggies are led by senior forward Shawn Daniels and senior guard Bernard Rock, both players were honored as first
Women dealt early round KO by UC Santa Barbara The Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball team had its season ended last night with a 79-50 loss to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the first round of the Big West Conference Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center. The top-seeded Gauchos were led by freshman center Lindsay Taylor who had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds in only 21 minutes. Taylor, who won Big West Conference Freshman of the Year, also had five blocks and was 11 of 12 from the free-throw line. Senior forward Nicole Greathouse also scored 19 points on eight of 10 shooting from the field.
The Titans were unable to stop the offense that flowed off of the Gaucho bench. Four Gaucho reserves combined for 45 points on 15 of 29 shooting from the field. UCSB and CSUF battled through the first half. The Gauchos took a 12-point lead into halftime 39-27. CSUF shot 30 percent from the field in the first half, while UCSB shot 43.2 percent. The second half was all Gauchos. A 36-10 run over the first 17 minutes of the second half, sealed the Titans fate as they fell behind 75-37. The Gauchos burned the nets in the second half, shooting 51.9 percent, while the Titans could only make 32
percent of their shots. Freshman guard Tamara Quinn again led the Titan attack with 14 points. The All-Freshman team member shot five of 15 from the field. Junior Chante Gifford was the Titans’ second leading scorer with nine points. Heather Hansen chipped in eight points and nine rebounds for the Titans. CSUF finished the season at 127. The Guachos will continue their ascent up the Big West Conference ladder with a noon game against the Long Beach State-Boise State winner. —Daily Titan Staff Reports
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team All-Big West selections. Utah State also had junior guard Tony Brown receive 2nd team honors. Brown led the Aggies with a 12.2 scoring average and Daniels was a close second at 12.1. Daniels also shot a team-leading 60.5 percent from the field. “They have a lot of weapons, they’re wellcoached, they make their shots and they run various sets,” Daniels said. “Rock makes them go and he knows what Morrill wants, it’s like having an extra coach on the floor. And when things aren’t going their way, they throw the ball into
Daniels and cures their ills.” T h e Titans leading scorer t h i s season w a s senior forward I k e Harmon. Harmon averaged 13 points and six rebounds in only 18 games this season. Freshman guard Ryan Dillon led the Titans with a 38.3 shooting percent from the three-point arc. Harmon has dealt with stress fractures in his left foot on two separate occasions and coach Daniels doesn’t even worry about his senior not being ready for this game. “He’s never played a game in shape this season. With the injuries, he has always had to play himself in shape,” Daniels said. “He’s playing in pain and that’s a tribute to him.” “He looks good to go,” Daniels added about Harmon. Go“I’m glad for his senior year that he’s to- guy Ike going to have a chance to play in a Harmon will tournament.” In the previous two meetings look to slam this season, the Aggies defeated the home a victory Titans 76-52 in Titan Gym and 58-46 tonight over 2nd at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. “We got hammered at home and seeded Utah State.
played them close at their place,” Daniels said. “We’re going to try and control the tempo because we’re not a run and gun team.” “Just because we’re playing in Anaheim, nothing is in our favor. It’s going to be nice to have our fans, but I haven’t seen fans win a game yet,” Daniels added. “No one touches the floor until game time and if we make our shots and get some defensive stops, then we have an opportunity.” In Logan, Utah back on Feb.10, the Titans battled all night and trailed 42-37 with 14:24 left in the second half, but that was as close as they would get. CSUF struggled mightily from the field shooting a dismal 31.4 percent, including a combined 1 for 18 from center Babacar Camara and guard Kevin Richardson. “At least we don’t have to worry about their fans getting into their heads and making them take shots that do not have to take,” Daniels said. “Hopefully they will make some shots this time.” However, in both games the Titans played without their senior leader, Harmon and Utah State head coach Stew Morrill knows how Harmon changes the Titan game plan. “Fullerton scares us to death, especially with their all-league player back in (Ike) Harmon,” Morrill said during the pre-tournament teleconference. “He’s a very explosive player that adds a lot to their team and that is what gives them a chance to win.” “He’s a great post-up player that can step out and hit the three,” Morrill said of Harmon. “Since he has returned, you can tell that the level of play of the rest of the team has improved. They only lost to Irvine by three and lost to Long Beach State by one. By no means are we looking ahead to a second round game, we will have our hands full with this one.”
arts & entertainment March 8, 2001
Viva Mexican!
!
First-time pairing of Hollywood prince and princess on screen brings a surprising but entertaining result. By Magda Liszewska
Daily Titan Detour Editor It would seem that putting Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt in the same movie would make for hugely successful two hours, but while evoking a few laughs, "The Mexican" does not turn out what it is set up to be. The film is titled after one of the gadgets, the main characters share few scenes, and a supporting actor steals the show. The two heartthrobs barely share a few scenes and even then, no sparks are flying, which might be disappointing for some fans. In the opening scene, Samantha (Roberts) and Jerry (Pitt) are in their Los Angeles apartment. Their love nest crumbles when Samantha finds out that before Jerry can fully commit to marrying her, he needs to finalize his divorce with the mob. He has one more job to do before he is free of his boss’ influence. He is to travel south of the border to retrieve a priceless antique pistol called "The Mexican." Furious, Samantha throws a fit as Jerry promised to quit the mob and go to Las Vegas with her. She shows a complete disregard to the fact that if he does not get the gun, he will be killed, throws his things out the window (how original) screaming hysterically and breaks up with him. While her ex-beau goes to Mexico, she gets into her VW Beetle and heads for Las Vegas. Her plans are interrupted when she gets kidnapped by Leroy, a hit man whose job is to "regulate funkiness" in case Jerry screws up. Known to most viewers as Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini carries the role with charisma, which by
itself makes the movie worth seeing. Gandolfini demonstrates how skillfully portrayed character can regulate a mediocre movie. He creates a multidimensional character with surprises and thus steals the movie. By far the most likeable character, Leroy reveals his emotional side without turning into a sissy and does not hesitate to kill when the situation calls for it. Sam soon discovers that Leroy is not an average mobster. "You're a very sensitive person for a cold-blooded killer," she observes. She also learns that her kidnapper is gay and that is when their scenes together become a true pleasure to watch. Gandolfini has much better chemistry with Roberts than Pitt does and he brings out the best in her. Sam and Leroy quickly become friends and start working on each other’s relationship issues. Forget diamonds, "The Mexican" shows that a gay man is a girl’s best friend. Roberts overacts in a few scenes but she is delightful in her interactions with Gandolfini. Pitt on the other hand, carries his role more on his looks than talent in a far from outstanding performance
to create a character worth caring about. The movie misfires in a few aspects and occasionally looks as if it was thrown together from scraps in the editing room. Why would any selfrespecting mobster send a doofus like Jerry to run another errand after he had already screwed up several times, remains a mystery throughout the film. It is also never clear what exactly Sam sees in her goofy boyfriend who manages to "Forrest Gump his way out of trouble." The movie ends in quite a clumsy way when characters kill people for the first time and it does not make any impression on them. Nor does it carry any consequences. "The Mexican" may disappoint
Jerry (Pitt) and Sam (Roberts) reunite after numerous adventures.
Courtesy of Dreamworks
Courtesy of Curtis Theatre
From left to right: Richard Corneau as Mr. Frank, Brandi Walker as Miep Gies and Alan Schneider as Mr. Kraler in “The Diary of Anne Frank.”
Of love and war The award-winning drama brings to life war experiences of a Jewish girl as written in her diary. By Elana Pruitt
Daily Titan Staff Writer "The Diary of Anne Frank" premiered March 2 at the Curtis Theatre and succeeded in illustrating the true story about the Holocaust and a Jewish teen-age girl's best friend, her diary. Danielle Kincebach fell naturally into character as the lights brightened up the first scene. Playing Anne Frank, Kincebach brought her diary alive with clarity, confidence and emotion. Kincebach was completely in tune with Anne's written thoughts as she expressed them in voice-overs while the audience watched a courageous Anne writing and speaking the words in unison. For the virgin eyes that have never read Anne's diary pages in a novel form or have witnessed its live performance that reflects recent Jewish history, it is a remarkable story that has a tragic ending. This Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning, non-fictitious drama began in 1942. The Franks, Anne's family, avoided being deported with millions of other Jews to concentration camps. They secretly hid in an attic above Mr. Frank's business with another family and an elderly man, while Christian friends risked death to keep their hiding a secret. These eight people lived in the "Secret Annex" for two years until they were discovered by Nazi soldiers bullying them into death camps. While they were hiding, Anne wrote in a diary, which was a gift from her father the day they arrived in the small annex, so her mind did not rot from loneliness. She wrote about tolerance, love and pubescent sentiments. The only person to survive from Anne’s family was her father. Otto Frank discovered her miraculous diary in 1945, after visiting the annex one last time. He is credited for making her diary public and famous. Kincebach spoke and acted out Anne's words with studied knowledge of her character's fear, pain, hope, and trust in God, which the young girl was forced to face for two long years in seclusion. Most of the actors were talented in becoming real people that went through injustice than others, and C.C. Deere is one of the believable ones. She played Mrs. Van Daan, the mother and wife of the adjoining family. She was witty, bold, sarcastic and hilarious. Deere used a shreeky know-it-all voice that connected with her "don't touch me" attitude toward Mr.Van Daan's sexist and mean attitude toward her and their son Peter. Though, she was already molded into a homemaker with domestic duties. Her conflicting traits of feminism versus domesticity conflicted one another portraying the time period and old views. To live with eight people for two years without fresh air and sunlight except for a window with a yellowish tint, music and news radio, friends and relatives, healthy food, and sanitation should cause depression, bitterness and illness.
The audience had to imagine sickly complexions with pale skin and loss of hair from lack of proper nutrients, in order for the passage of time to seem realistic. Stage make up should have been applied on the actors for authenticity. The Franks and the Van Daan's bickered with humor and love, though the love was not always obvious, and they got on each other's nerves. Though, the fact that these families knew they were safer than any other Jewish families caught under the stronghold of Hitler's wishes, always brought them back to terms with their temporary survival. Based on such an intense and horrid reality, all actors took their character seriously by staying focused in central as well as background scenes. The side moments of reading, sleeping, dressing, and preparing food were just as important as the highlighted scene, because it showed that they were consistent in stressing their normalcy despite their sad situation. The only characters that had accents were Otto Frank played by Richard Comeau, Mrs. Frank played by Laura Flores, and Mr. Van Daan played by Tony Grande, though their accents sounded like a mixture of Spanish and German. Yet, that aspect of the play was a small imperfection, because in attic in1942 everyone spoke Dutch. The lighting created significant changing moods for different situations, which evoked strong emotional connection from the audience. Brightness filled the stage as all actors shared equal importance in scenes at their meeting table. Then focuses shifted, such as lights shining on Anne and Peter Van Daan's intimate talk in his room as a dim mood set on the rest of the annex. Anne grew close with the teen-age boy Peter, played by a nervous Dennis Baker, receiving her first kiss as he gave her reason to wake up in the morning instead of always remembering the dark sky filled with death. The elderly Mr. Dusel, played by Douglas Ewen, also sparked personality in the play. His character entered in the third scene. He brought the sad knowledge of the Holocaust to tight quarters filled with hope. He was a lonely man in need of hiding. Anne was crushed with the news of her best friend's death, which forced everyone to forget about petty ordeals and be thankful for their life. After Mr. Dusel's appearance, the two families hoping to live in secrecy for only a short time ceased hope as false expectations gravitated to fear. Old black-and-white photographs of the real Anne sitting at her desk, Adolf Hitler, the Star of David and other Jewish symbols were shown on side walls of the stage between scenes. Mixed media is put to good use with melancholy music, hateful German voices, and the reading of Anne's diary serving as background to these pictures. It contributed to the fact that six million lives were killed in the Holocaust and more than one million were under the age of 16. "The Diary of Anne Frank" will continue to play through March 18 at the Curtis Theater, with Danielle Kincebach's lovely performance as a Jewish girl search-
From left to right: Dave Genn, Matthew Good, Rich Priske and Ian Browne
Courtesy of Atlantic Records
The young and the restless The band expresses emotional turmoil on the latest album, “Beautiful Midnight.” By Elana Pruitt
Daily Titan Staff Writer Matthew Good Band wants to be just that - straight-forward and nice. But clarity and poetry combine into a world of emotions that could be heavy with confusion for the simpleminded. The Canadian quartet creates interesting sensitive post-grunge rock with some blessed piano, some cheerleading spirit and some blunt affirmations of love, self-doubt and depression. Titled "Beautiful Midnight," lead vocalist Matthew Good lets us into his dark mind that is fixated on the time of day corresponding with certain feelings. Each song seems to illustrate thoughts corresponding with the time of day. Starting the game off strong, "5:00 p.m. - Giant," a female cheerleading anthem begins a tune with a cheer about success, which is Good’s intention that just does not get anywhere, "When you blow out like a dead star/ it reminds me how uniform your beautiful is/ we carry on like it’s easy/ like you’re all out and I’m your man."
The conflicting themes of success and scarred love nicely coalesce into a serene tune, with Good aware of his pain and in control of his anger by expressing the disgust of being used. The music illuminating this album varies with Good’s emotions, which can be low key then picked up with livelier drama in comparison to Matchbox 20. The more nighttime picks up and the sky turns dark, Good lets loose and can’t hold his tongue anymore. In "8:00 p.m. - Deep 6ix," he contemplates the pain of reliving past love and trying to make it anew, but just doesn’t know how. "I don’t know I don’t know/ pretend to know where you think/ you are deep six come to bare it’s midnight/ everywhere who knows who knows/ polyurethane people live in the rain." It is possible that listening to some of the songs in which Good slowly pours out his heart with dramatic guitar relaxation, an impressionable listener will probably feel saddened with his sultry voice that is closely in sync with the spiritual band Creed and romantic Bush. Only it is more playful, testing different sounds. This album should come with a warning label "Only listen to if already feeling lonely." Rolling past midnight, the goodness of this band releases its monsters and fears less poetically while the
subconscious does not hide its face from the truth. In "2:00 a.m.- A Boy and his....," things get frightening because the freaks tend to come out at night. "A boy and his machine gun/ don’t move stay right where you are/ talking can only give you away/ and there’s nothing to say." Band mates, Ian Browne, Dave Genn and Rich Priske stand behind evil-twisted gorilla masked Good throughout the CD booklet. Some of the colorful photos of these guys standing side-by-side with something to say blur into one, as lyrics are written unconventionally like a collage with scribble-scrabble brushing through each page. Like negatives of film, these picture show the guys in a series of still motion, but as the night goes on, these guys turn into dark maniac rockers. Then the beautiful midnight ends with a light-weighted "Sun UpRunning for Home." Piano keys are stroked and violins are bowed redefining classical music, while Good’s voice cries out like a calm baby who drank the last of his milk. "’I close my mouth now and I scream/ I open the door and there’s nothing left redeeming/ I saw your face before in rough/ you should wait around awhile cause your body’s bound to turn up/ so low for how high?/ well it’s too late tonight and I’m sure you’re right."
6 Thursday, March 8, 2001
DEtour
I can’t believe it’s not meat ! Meatless meats and other dishes at Au Lac satisfy vegetarians and meat enthusiasts. By Debra Santelli
Daily Titan Copy Editor Can’t a vegetarian get a decent meal anymore? How many vegetables, rice and tofu can someone eat before the thought of it becomes so dull that paint thinner sounds exciting. Most restaurants cater to meat-eaters. I figured I had to face facts -- most Americans devour meat, and lots of it. Bottom line – most Americans are overweight. Diets high in fat, cholesterol and loaded with meats are culprits in the fat-factor in America. At 17 my cholesterol was 217. The doctor gave me two options – pills or change my diet. A year after becoming a vegetarian it dropped to 121. Sure I’m an animal lover, but health was my initial reason for becoming a vegetarian. The problem I faced eating a vegetarian diet is it can become boring, especially if you’re a vegan, which means no meat, fish, eggs, or dairy. Au Lac gourmet vegetarian restaurant specializes in Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine has become my muse. Ironically, Mai Nguyen, owner of Au Lac faced high cholesterol from poor diet 10 years ago. At the time her friend had opened Au Lac, but after a short time the vegetarian restaurant was struggling. Nguyen helped get the restaurant on its feet and when it was faced with closing she offered to take Au Lac over. Without the support of her family, and only her firm belief in the philosophy of the restaurant she dedicated herself to it. The road to get to this point, Nguyen explained, was not easy. When she
first took over she had no prior experience in the restaurant business and was not a formally trained chef. The chef at the time was trained in Chinese cuisine and believed in deep frying practically everything. Nguyen did not want this for her restaurant; she wanted healthy food with great taste. She told me a story of the day she changed the chef’s mind for the better. Two customers were dining and Nguyen explained that today was buy one get one free day. Nguyen prepared their dishes healthy, simply sautéing with little oil and seasoning and the chef fried the same dishes. The customers enjoyed the less oily dishes, which convinced the chef to stay with Nguyen all these years. He in turn has readapted his cooking style, not to mention losing a significant amount of weight himself. That was in 1977, and today Au Lac is still here. Over the years Nguyen has become a self- taught chef. She explained wherever she went she would taste the seasonings and marinades, not the meat. Chicken in its pure form, unseasoned with no spices, tastes like a bland dough ball with a rubber consistency. Beef by itself, not even a little salt, has a bit of a foul smell with a bitter underlying taste. Americans crave the seasons, sauces, marinade and above all the salt used with meats. Of course meat is one source of protein but vegetarians can and usually get just as much protein in their diet. Nguyen bases her restaurant on offering "meat" tasting products that everyone is used too, without the meat. The base ingredient in all her "meat" products is soy protein. Basically the soybean is the starting
product for all "meat" imitation products. The soybean is packed with protein and can be made into what we all know as tofu. However, it can also be formed into products that have a fiber consistence that resembles the textures of meat. Once a soybean is made into tofu, it can only be worked with very delicately, since tofu can fall apart easily. Soy protein can look, feel and taste like meat with machines. I asked Nguyen how this is possible, because I’ll tell you, the dishes I had tasted like meat, chicken, pork, and shrimp -- surely not soy? She explained for instance, shrimp flavor comes from seaweed. By adding seaweed to the soy protein, forming it into little shrimp, even including the orange strips with natural coloring from seasons, there’s no taste difference. The difference is in the health factor. Normally I would not indulge in so much food, but I was in paradise so indulging was on my mind. I wanted to try as many creations of these so-called "meat" products as possible. The menu is divided into sections, so I ordered something from each section. The first dish I tried was Vietnamese eggrolls. They are served with lettuce, mint and purple basil that you wrap around the fried eggroll and a "fish" dipping sauce ($4.95). The eggroll was traditional in the sense of what most would be accustomed too, but by wrapping the eggroll in lettuce it gave it a lighter, fresher, healthier taste. Vietnamese crepes are a standard Vietnamese dish. French colonization in Vietnamese cooking is abundant from all the years of French infiltration in Vietnam. Au Lac does not use
any eggs or dairy products to make their crepes, but instead uses bean curd. Bean curd comes from the top layer of the water when soybeans are boiled to make tofu. This top layer is skimmed off which makes bean curd. By adding chopped up bean curd, rice and turmeric for the yellow color of eggs, the crepes are prepared. Stuffed with bean sprouts, tofu and lots of veggies. Anyone that’s indulged on savory crepes before will be pleasantly pleased ($4.95). Soups are a good way to gage a restaurant detail to flavor. After all what makes soups is the broth not necessarily the additional ingredients. Nguyen imports a veggie powder that is quite expensive, but none the matter she explains. This veggie powder is a key ingredient to many of her dishes because of its concentrated flavor of veggies and spices. This is the key ingredient in her vegetable soup broth. Tofu and meat slices are added as well as veggies making for a sensation flavor of spices, herbs and comfort ($4.95). In the section labeled "tofu paradise," I tried salted and peppered tofu ($6.95). This way of preparing dishes by lightly salting, peppering and flouring the product before a quick fry is a conventional Vietnamese style. The tofu was firm and the seasoned coating was savory and punchy with a hidden spice to it. Cha Lua, which is a traditional Vietnamese pork roll steamed in a banana leaf, is just beautifully tasting as well as looking. The "pork" is seasoned with veggie powder, sugar, salt and leeks, creating a bounty of flavor upon each bit. Banana leaves let off a wonderful flavor as well as preserving the food from bacteria, which dates back to the early years in Vietnam when refrigeration didn’t exist. My favorite dish was the soy beef with watercress ($7.50). This dish has a French influence with watercress and a vinegar \ sugar sauce. The taste was unbelievable; each piece of "meat"
Mayra Beltran/Daily Titan
Customers enjoy healthy, tasty food at Au Lac restaurant. was flavored with herbs, seasoned in a society that sides with meat as the this bitter but sweet sauce and present- first choice for dining, she is detered with bursting colors of greens, reds mined to fool and hopefully sway the and delectably looking "meat." biggest carnivore. In the tradition of the all-American dish chicken wings, Au Lac offers Au Lac drumsticks with plum sauce ($7.50). 16563 Brookhurst St. They even went as far as to put a Fountain Valley, Ca, 92708 little wooden stick for the "leg" of the (714) 418-0658 chicken. The sauce was a sweet fruity http://www.aulac.com flavor with a bit of a zing to it. Hours of operation: Next on the plate was fried "shrimp" Tues. – Sun. 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. ($7.50) … too cute! The soy shrimp M o n d a y was seasoned with salt and pepper, closed then lightly breaded and fried, no oily taste, just an eerie resemblance to shrimp. Served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, this is a must try. How much fun can a vegetarian have? The dishes to pick from are endless and inventive to no end. Nguyen says she constantly adds new dishes to keep it interesting and challenge herself. Challenging herself she does, facing