Jplus 2015 10 11 lores

Vol. 2 No. 47 I OCtober 11 - 17, 2015

READY FOR HIS CLOSE-UP

CORNELIO SUNNY JUMPS FROM INDIES TO ACTION FLICKS IN THE SPIRIT

TASTE-DRIVEN TEQUILAS

WANDERLUST

UNDER SOUTHERN STARS

STRESS AND THE CITY

JPLUS’ ANTI-‘GALAU’ GUIDE

Editor's note Last Action Hero We’re pleased to present Cornelio Sunny as our cover story this week. I first met the actor a few weeks ago, when he was representing Ismail Basbeth’s Another Journey to the Moon.

As we spoke about the film, which he starred in, I learned that Cornelio would be headlining the action flick 3. After watching the trailer for the film, currently in cinemas, I knew we had to profile Cornelio – and to talk a little about Indonesian action films.

We forget how much fun local cinema was in the 1970s and 1980s, when horror and action movies exploded on screen.

The genres flourished under Byzantine New Order rules, when local exhibitors could import foreign films only if they made several local films first. Since quantity, not quality, was the criteria; hundreds of lowbudget exploitation films were made.

The movies, with bizarre special effects and recycled story lines, had their own charm – and still find audiences today, both here and abroad. To see how warmly the

films are remembered, enjoy our Table of Friends and Firm Favorites section, both of which have action themes.

It's hard to see such movies these days.

While Grade-Z bootleg copies can be streamed (without regard to copyright) on the Internet; the Kineforum in Cikini, South Jakarta, manages to liberate some decaying prints for screenings from time to time.

As a movie lover, I’m obsessed with film, especially genre film – and the old-school type of movie-going experience.

I was at the Benhil Raya Theater for its very last screening in 2010, sitting in its hard backed unforgiving seats amid a rogue’s gallery of patrons.

I remember the lobby in its decaying glory – full of elaborately carved bas-reliefs,

Check List including one depicting the Javanese legend of Jaka Tarub and the bare-breasted bidadari (nymphs) who tempted him (see photo).

There’s still one place left in the capital to see movies that way: the Mulia Agung Theater, in Senen Central Jakarta. I reckon that it has only 35 mm projector still operating in the city.

Yes, the film prints are full of splices. Yes, people smoke during the screenings. Yes, there's no air conditioning.

But the ticket price is only Rp. 5,000. And some movies, especially these period action movies, lend themselves to this kind of grindhouse presentation.

It's an experience I'm glad I had, although I won't be repeating it.

Wherever Sunday takes you, please enjoy the weekend!

WE GET FROWNED UPON FOR OUR GENDERLESS PARENTING STYLE Words Ika Krismantari

JPlus October 11, 2015

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paris fashion week

The bandana is back!

JPlus Team

A call for super dads

2

ENTER THE NAGA

Action movies, local style

Chris Razukas jplus@thejakartapost.com

mark my words

Parenting is a tough job, full of 24hour days with no pay and no vacation time.

As a mom, I know I can’t do it alone – so props for all the single mothers and fathers out there.

I believe that all mothers are superheroes, but, if I’m not mistaken, superheroes also need sidekicks. Don’t they?

That is why before committing myself to parenthood, I asked my life partner to do this mission together. Luckily, he was up for the challenge.

Four years on, we’re still struggling and learning to become good parents.

Our aim is simple – to make our daughter happy. Hopefully, in the process, she’ll turn into a good individual.

However, we’re still not clear as to the best way to achieve that goal. Parenting, for me, is a process that requires day-by-day adjustments and modifications based on our little one’s needs.

So far, we’ve had only one basic principle: We don’t divide work based on sex. This means dad can do anything mom is expected to, such as the endless diaper washing, cooking and household chores – and vice versa. As my sidekick, my

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husband is supportive and helpful. He’s the quintessential hands-on father.

A hardworking man, my husband doesn’t mind waking up in the middle of the night to change diapers so I can get enough sleep.

I can argue that my husband is just another mom to our daughter. He cooks when I don’t cook and plays with our girl for hours when I am busy with my work.

Actually, in some areas, he’s even more accomplished than I am, such as in cooking or babysitting. My husband is even more patient than I am when dealing with a stubborn child – and everyone agrees that he’s a better cook.

The one area where I do better is breastfeeding, thanks to some God-given assets.

But even so, my husband is a good nursing partner. At nights, when I am too tired and cannot open my eyes, he is always in standby mode to ensure that our baby is breast-fed.

Friends say that I’m lucky to have such a partner. Maybe I am. Living in a patriarchic society, where domestic chores and child caring are perceived as mom’s job, my husband is perhaps one in million.

But our genderless parenting style is often frowned upon and questioned by those who accept the centuries-old consensus that men work in the office while women tend to children and the house.

I don’t mind the criticism, though. What matters most is that he’s happy, I’m happy and, of course, that our daughter is happy.

Maybe some women don’t mind doing all the domestic work while gladly watching men pursue their careers. As long as those families are happy, I don’t see any problem.

What I don’t like are closed minds that rigidly divide parenting roles between men and women and judges those who don’t comply.

Although we’re in the 21st century, gender equality in parenting is still seldom celebrated.

A recent report from The Wall Street Journal shows that women continue to do a disproportionate amount of childcare and housework in two-career marriages in the US. In my house, my husband and I don’t have exact times allocated for parenting.

We’re flexible. If I’m busy, my husband will take over. When he is on deadline, I will cover for him. These arrangements work for us.

This makes parenting more fun, as the hard work and heavy burdens are shared – and we’re less dependent on nannies, which is crucial for us, since we like to travel and can’t afford to bring nannies along.

Our parenting style also affords our daughter an early education about gender.

When looking at mothers and fathers switching parenting roles, children can see that men and women can do doing anything, regardless of gender.

But in the end, if every mom is a super mom, would it be cooler if a super dad can also join in this parenting journey? Having two superheroes in the house is better than one, isn’t it?

So, super dads, are you up for the challenge?

Mark My Words shifts its focus between food, fashion, parenting and travel each week.

Editor Christian Razukas Art Director Budhi Hartono Graphic Designer Hengky Wijaya Marketing & Advertising Sales & Marketing Director Ady P. Pamungkas

ady.pamungkas@thejakartapost.com

Marketing Executive Deasy Rasjid

deasy@thejakartapost.com

@JPlusSunday JPlusSunday

SundayJplus jakplus.com

ON THE COVER Cornelio Sunny Photo Arief Suhardiman Stylist Ananda Adityasanti Grooming Bun Lay (08159910482) Wardrobe Jackets by BURBERRY, Senayan City, South Jakarta

table of friends

Everybody loves

As a companion piece to our cover story on Cornelio Sunny, now appearing on screen in MVP’s action film 3, we asked a few cinema fans about their favorites from the local action genre. Unsurprisingly, everyone spoke highly of the films of the 1970s and 1980s, when local schlock cinema enjoyed a golden age. Here’s what they had to say. –JPlus

Hanung Bramantyo

@isfansyah

@hanungbramantyo

Ifa Isfansyah

Filmmaker (Sang Pencerah, [The Enlightener]; Soekarno)

I think Jaka Sembung was probably the first action film I saw. Some scenes from that movie still stick with me [and] the last Indonesian action movie I saw was The Raid 2. What makes Indonesian action/martial arts films special are the fighting styles and special effects – like when Jaka Sembung faced off with Rawa Ronteg.

According to the script, to keep Rawa Ronteg from coming back to life, his body had to be severed and mutilated without hitting the ground.

The effects used remain stuck in my mind. It was a very original idea, and very Indonesian.

My favorite action stars are Barry Prima, Advent Bangun, and, of course, Iko Uwais. Jaka Sembung will always be my favorite Indonesian action film – that’s why I want to remake it.

Dimas Jayasrana

Filmmaker (Pendekar Tongkat Emas [The Golden Stick Warrior]; Sang Penari [The Dancer])

My favorite Indonesian action film is Saur Sepuh I: Satria Madangkara. Maybe it’s the romantic aspect of it being the first martial-arts movie I saw in the theater with my grandmother. I was awestruck. But I respect and admire The Raid. I still watch Indonesian action films. I watched The Raid 1 and 2 - and I still rewatch old action films like Walet Merah [Red Swiftlet], Saur Sepuh and Si Bongkok [The Hunchback].

Indonesian action films are special to me because of their cultural familiarity [and] the stars I admire are Yayan Ruhian and Barry Prima.

@anarkibumi Film curator and researcher

My favorite local action film is Pembalasan Rambu [Rambo’s Revenge] by Jopi Burnama from 1986 and Jaka Sembung: Sang Penakluk [Jaka Sembung: The Conqueror] by Sisworo Gautama Putra.

If you include Rama: Superman Indonesia as an action film (although it’s more of an action fantasy), then it would be the first action film I saw. If not, then the first one I saw was Si Buta Dari Goa Hantu [roughly translated as “The Blind Warrior from the Cave of Ghosts”]. Indonesian action films are actually quite banal, but that’s what makes them delicious. They’re fun in their ability to create their own universe using period and mystical elements that contribute to giving these films their very own unique character. Ratno Timoer will always be my favorite Indonesian action star and Pembalasan Rambu is my favorite action film.

Correction

In the "Talk of the Town" brief titled “Gudang Garam Holds Indonesian Art Awards” published on page 3 on Oct. 4, we did not identify correctly the second place winner. The artist winning that honor is Indarto Agung Sukmono. We apologize for the error. -The Editor

Lasja Fauzia

Paul Agusta

@paul_agusta Filmmaker (At the Very Bottom of Everything, Parts of the Heart) I grew up being obsessed with local horror and action films, especially films that mixed both elements like Sisworo Gautama Putra’s work.

The Jaka Sembung films were my favorites. I think the first local martial arts film I saw was Jaka Sembung.

Advent Bangun and Barry Prima will always be my favorites, especially Advent Bangun because of his stone-cold face. The strong inclusion of local mystical and cultural elements are what had always drew me to Indonesian action films.

I still watch local action films. I really, really liked The Raid, but I wasn’t a fan of Merantau because as someone of Minangkabau heritage, I felt that the film got a lot of the cultural elements wrong.

Filmmaker (Cinta Dari Wamena [Love from Wamena] Tutur Tinular is my favorite Indonesian action film, although I’m not sure what the first action film I saw was. But I’ve always loved Indonesian martial arts and action films because I love reading martial arts comics, as well. I still watch Indonesian action films. What makes them special is our own martial arts style and loads of local legends to tell. My favorite local action stars are Advent Bangun, Barry Prima, and Iko Uwais - because Merantau is my favorite local action film.

JPlus

October 11, 2015

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talk of the town GIK CELEBRATES 2ND BirthDAY

Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Central Jakarta

Oct. 10 is a special day for Galeri Indonesia Kaya (GIK).

It marks the art stage’s anniversary. This year saw the gallery celebrating its second birthday with a series of events from Oct. 3-10.

Dewi Gita dan Woro Mustika opened the anniversary celebration with a music show that featured the traditional Indonesian vocal art of sinden. They sung classical Javanese sinden tunes for visitors as well as modern popular songs with an added sinden touch.

Dewi and Woro each represent different age groups. Their collaboration represented the coming together of different generations in the name of preserving Indonesian art.

In the two years that it has been around, GIK has hosted more than 700 art shows and has welcomed 200,000 visitors.

HOLLAND ALLIANCE SETS UP SHOP

at last, PRADA lands IN indonesia

Holland Alliance recently launched its “Destination Holland” campaign, along with the soft opening of a representative office in Jakarta, with a reception and dinner at the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski.

The alliance between NBTC Holland Marketing, KLM Royal Airlines, Amsterdam Airport Schiopol and Amsterdam Marketing, aims to raise the awareness of local tourists and travel agencies about the Netherlands.

“With the opening of this representative office in Indonesia, we hope that more than 45,000 tourists will visit The Netherlands in 2015,” Kunto Aji, the general manager of Aviareps Indonesia, said.

Kunto added that people could download the “Visit Holland” app for Android and iOS, “like” the “Ayo ke Holland” Facebook fan page or visit the Indonesian language section of Holland.com.

July 7 marked an important date for Prada. It was the day the brand opened its first store in Jakarta, inside Pacific Place Mall.

Designed by architect Robert Bachiocchi, the space covers approximately 420 square meters on a single level and houses leather goods, accessories, footwear and women’s and men’s ready-towear collections.

In attendance at the store’s Sept. 16 opening ceremony were the crème de la crème of Indonesia’s society, influential media members, bloggers and top celebrities.

The store is designed as a succession of rooms, each featuring a different atmosphere. The area for women’s leather goods collection, for example, is defined by Prada’s signature black-and-white marble checkered flooring.

Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, Senayan Central Business District.

Pacific Place Mall, South Jakarta

travel tips

start planning operation: vacation with this travel intel CHINA’s GLASS BRIDGE OPENS FOR BUSINESS

EMIRATES CHEF EARNS EXPO AWARD

Not an acrophobe? China’s latest tourist destination might very well turn you into one. The country has just opened a fully operational glass bridge sure to offer visitors a passage filled with unforgettable thrills.

The bridge, called “Haohan Qiao”, which means “Brave Men’s Bridge”, is suspended 180 meters above a sheer drop in China’s central Hunan Province.

But just in case this formerly-wooden bridge is not scary enough, there is another, bigger glass walkway at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon that thrill seekers can set foot upon, one that is scheduled to open later this year.

That particular passage will cover 430 meters between cliffs and sits 300 meters above the ground.

experiences while flying.

If you’re traveling with Emirates airline, though, that is a whole other story. One of its chefs has recently won the title of Best In-Flight Executive Chef at the 2015 International Flight Services Association’s Exhibit Hall Chef’s Competition.

The chef in question, Ajay Rana of Emirates Flight Catering, took home the title after another Emirates chef had won the exact same award last year.

Judges were reportedly impressed by all the competitors, which should leave travelers with no doubts as to the quality of food they can expect while flying with Emirates.

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JPlus October 11, 2015

EVA AIR WINS KUDOS

Airline meals are notorious for being the butt of all jokes. You shouldn’t expect to get any unique gastronomic

It’s easy for travelers to find beautiful destinations to visit during the holidays. Much harder to do is getting travel services that are consistently reliable and accommodating.

Taiwan’s Eva Air is one such example of tried-and-true quality. It was recently ranked top 10 in customer service in a poll spearheaded by Fortune and Travel + Leisure.

The two New York-based publications asked readers to rank international airlines using criteria including customer service, frequent flier programs and airport lounges.

In the survey, Eva Air placed ninth in the poll for the 2015 Top International Airlines for Customer Service for Business Travelers. It also ranked second in the magazine’s poll for best international frequent-flier programs and alliances.

QANTAS GOES PINK FOR BREAST CANCER

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is when the fight to end breast cancer is put to the front of the world stage.

The cause has found its latest ally with Qantas Group, whose pilots are swapping out their normal gold epaulettes for pink epaulettes to show their support.

Qantas Group pilots will use the month of October to raise money through a number of activities, including National Breast Cancer Foundation collection tins in crew rooms and Qantas airports, and Pink Ribbon Breakfasts around the country.

Proceeds from the FlyPink campaign will go directly to life-changing breast cancer research projects around Australia.

in the Spirit

An ancient winemaking style

on the rise

THESE SIMPLE, RUSTIC SPARKLERS ARE WINNING FANS WITH THEIR VERSATILITY AND FUNK

N

aturally sparkling wines have been made for centuries, and now one of the oldest methods of producing them has made a resurgence.

Pétillant-naturel (natural sparkling) is a catch-all term for practically any sparkling wine made in the méthode ancestrale, meaning the wine is bottled before primary fermentation is finished, without the addition of secondary yeasts or sugars. (This is in contrast to méthode champenoise, the method used to make Champagne and other more-common sparkling wines, in which a finished wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle with additional yeasts and sugars).

The ancient method produces a simpler, more rustic sparkler than Champagne, one that is traditionally cloudy, unfiltered, and often bottled with a crown cap (like a beer) rather than a cork. The end product is also unpredictable: Opening each bottle is a surprise, evocative of the time and place where it was bottled.

Colloquially shortened to “pét-nat,” the wines can be white, rosé, or red in color, making them super-versatile for pairing with a wide range of foods. They vary in carbonation from effusively effervescent to tiny, prickly bubbles. And thanks to those natural yeasts and sugars, most are a little funky but ultimately gulpable, clocking in at around 10 percent alcohol (several degrees lower than most still wines).

WORDS Justin Kennedy PHOTOS Bloomberg

Modern Origins While the method may be ancestrale, the name pét-nat is thoroughly modern.

Jorge Riera, the excitable but laid-back wine director at Contra and Wildair on Manhattan’s Lower East Side says it sprang up sometime in the ’90s in France’s Loire Valley when two natural winemakers there, Thierry Puzelat and Christian Chaussard, began rediscovering the method of producing sparkling wines in this style.

“Puzelat and Chaussard were running around the Loire calling their sparkling wines ‘pét-nat,’ and from there that name just caught on and took off.” The term is now popular with winemakers far outside the Loire region, in such places as the Languedoc, northern Italy, California, and even New York State, where such wineries as Bellwether in the Finger Lakes and Southold Farm & Cellar on Long Island are making naturally sparkling wines under the pétillant-naturel moniker.

Rising Popularity One of the best places to try a variety of pét-nats is Xanadu, the rooftop bar at the McCarren Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Owner Joe Carroll says the style’s main appeal is that it’s deeply satisfying on a visceral level. “The wine is so enjoyable that you just want to drink it down,” adding that sparkling wines like Champagne “are more of a heady drink.”

Carroll dedicates most of the 40-plusbottle list to sparkling wines, many of which are pét-nats. “They have this almost umami-like flavor that pairs great with food, especially the little fried stuff and grilled foods we serve here.”

They’re also a (surprisingly) easy sell.

In terms of price, pét-nat wines have a low barrier of entry: Most are below US$25 per bottle retail or $50 per bottle in a restaurant.

And helped by a little explanation from his staff, that cloudiness is not necessarily a turn-off. “The whole unfiltered thing may be a nonstarter with some of the wine people, but not to newcomers,” who he says are eager to try new wines. Lastly, its almost a given that pét-nat’s “nothing added” ethos meshes especially well with today’s foodie priorities.

Crowding Market At Oakland, California’s Ordinaire, a shop and wine bar specializing in natural wines from the state, wine director Quinn Kimsey-White says pét-nat is an opportunity to show off the whimsical side of winemaking.

“In its best and purest form, pét-nat is unpredictable, extroverted, and pleasing. It can also reveal a winemaker’s more playful side, which at the shop helps us present a more colorful picture of their approach and personality.”

Carroll, meanwhile, sees pét-nat as a way of branching the chasm between beer and wine drinkers. At his esoteric beer bar Spuyten Duyvil, near to Xanadu, he says that pétnat has huge crossover potential to appeal to beer and cider drinkers who haven’t fully explored the range of wines.

“Pét-nats show a lot of similar flavors to dry ciders and sour, funky beers,” he says, “so it’s an opportunity to turn beer drinkers on to something new.”

JPlus

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cover story

ACTION STAR CORNELIO SUNNY ON THE THRILL OF GETTING INTO CHARACTERS Words Sebastian Partogi Photos Arief Suhardiman

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JPlus October 11, 2015

cover story approached by a university professor in Japan who asked him how the film portrayed the Moon.

“I told him that Moon isn’t about symbolism [but about] the habits of the Moon, which is rejection. The Moon looks beautiful from afar, but when you approach it, the gravity will push you away. It’ll reject you,” he said.

THE MAINSTREAM BREAK The movie 3 was Cornelio’s break into mainstream Indonesian film after acting in seven independent movies, three of which were directed by Ismail.

He has also directed The Love Stories omnibus (2012) and a short movie called Truth, Sex and Lies (2013).

According to Cornelio, 3 is about three friends: Alif (Cornelio), Lam (Abimana Aryasatya) and Mim (Agus Kuncoro) who grow up at the same padepokan silat, or traditional Indonesian martial arts dojo.

“However, they believe in their own versions of truth, leading to different paths,” Cornelio says.

“Alif becomes the government agent, Lam becomes a journalist and Mim becomes a cleric because he believes in religion.

The bomb attacks in

I

t was a loud Sunday afternoon on Sept. 29 on the main stage of the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) convention hall in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The Jakarta Comic Con was going on, yet something had added to the excitement: A press conference for MVP’s new futuristic action movie, 3 (Three), which was released on Oct. 1.

The dystopian film, heavy with martial arts scenes, is set in 2036, when Indonesia has become a “liberal” country.

A wave of bomb attacks shakes Jakarta. Who is responsible? That’s the riddle that the film poses for Cornelio, who plays one of the lead characters, Alif, a member of an anti-terror detachment.

Back at the JI Expo, it’s no wonder why people were screaming: The movie was produced by a well-known television host and actor, Arie Untung, and features other stars such as Abimana Aryasatya, Agus Kuncoro, Cecep Arif Rahman and Prisia Nasution.

INDIE SPIRIT Cornelio, who is positioned prominently on the poster for 3, previously cut his teeth in various independent ventures.

For example, just a few days before

the film bring the friends back together again.

Cornelio said that his character, Alif, was a wrathful person who only believed in his own version of truth.

“He blames himself for the death of his parents, because he couldn’t protect them. He chooses to become a government agent to destroy all the criminals in this country so that nobody has to go through his experience,” he says.

“However, no matter how many criminals he destroys, it never satisfies his insatiable thirst for vengeance. He’s like the Indonesian version of Batman, Bruce Wayne, always angry. I have to maintain the anger, the vengeance [on screen],” he adds.

Cornelio said that the toughest part was acting in action scenes in a sevenkilogram commando outfit.

“It’s a bit tough because I didn’t use stunt men. There is one scene where Alif fights around 30 guys on two floors, all done in one shot. I had an oxygen mask on my sleeve. Every time I took a break I had to breathe in – good thing I’m a workout freak,” he said, adding that shooting took 26 days.

For Cornelio, the film is a departure from local genre films, as it takes on religious-based terrorism and features

the convention, he was in Japan for the Fukuoka Film Festival.

He was representing an independent movie directed by Ismail Basbeth titled Another Trip to the Moon.

The film, which features Cornelio as a shape-shifting dog, also received acclaim at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in the Netherlands and the Moscow International Film Festival in Russia.

The Mexican-Indonesian actor, who grew up in Canada, said he felt at home in Japan.

“I felt ‘alienish’ in Canada, while in Indonesia I‘m still a foreigner, where people always call me ‘Mister’. While in Japan, people dress up the way they want to, and nobody actually gave a damn or stared at me,” Cornelio said, smiling.

“Japan brought me a different experience, where I was able to interact directly with the audience, unlike the press conference for 3, where there was distance between me and the audience.

The Fukuoka audience was more reserved. They look at themselves and ask contemplative questions, whereas the Comic Con audience was wildly enthusiastic, but they didn’t ask deep questions.”

To illustrate, Cornelio said that he was

JPlus

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cover story

characters that do not have simple black-orwhite motivations, but who instead exist in a grey area.

ORIGINS Cornelio was born to an Indonesian mother and a Mexican father in Surakarta, Central Java, 30 years ago.

He went to Canada when he was young.

After his father died, he was sent to boarding school.

“Life was tough in Canada,” Cornelio says of the period. “I grew up in a very strict boarding school and I was bullied.

Fortunately, I found an outlet in martial arts, studying karate at 16. But I got the wrong mentor, got into street fights, which I later realized was not what martial arts was about.

Later I went into capoeira and silat,” he said.

He started acting when he was in the fifth grade, playing St. Michael in a school play.

“I remember when my character died.

I could see the whole front row crying.

That was when I found satisfaction in acting,” Cornelio says. “Acting requires you to manage your body, manage your voice.

Acting serves as a good outlet for me.”

He took some acting classes when he was 19, landing parts in several plays staged by a local theater group while making amateur films with his friends.

Opportunities were limited in Canada, however, he adds. “Hard to get acting jobs there. I did jobs I didn’t really want to do, including being a telemarketer for a check guarantee company. The majority of audiences there are Caucasians and African-Americans. It’s hard for Mexicans, Indians, Asians to get lead roles. Lately it’s happening, but back then you didn’t see that happening too often,” he said.

Furthermore, breaking into Hollywood needs money.

I felt alienish in Canada, while in Indonesia I'm still a foreigner, where people always call me 'mister'.

“For example, you participate in a screen test that lasts for four hours. Just calculate the money you have to pay for a parking ticket when you don’t have a steady job,” Cornelio says. “The competition is very tight.

You go to the US, you see homeless people under the bridge – half of them are actor wannabes.”

Things changed when he visited a cousin’s wedding in Yogyakarta in 2008.

“I did some modeling job where I met actor Haidar Salim and he connected me with Ismail,” he said.

Cornelio has lived in Indonesia ever since.

Another Trip to the Moon director Ismail recalls meeting Cornelio.

“Haidar told me Cornelio was looking for a director for his script. I agreed to take the job. With the help of X-Code Films owner Viko Amanda, we accomplished it. It was called Fixation.”

Ismail said that he continued collaborating with Cornelio because it turned out that the men shared the same vision. “It’s bliss when you’re able to gather and chat with like-minded people.”

Another break came for Cornelio when he caught the attention of Japanese filmmaker Kiki Sugino at a film festival in Rotterdam when Moon was screened.

Cornelio was offered the role of Wayan in Taksu (Yokudo), released in 2014, where sharing the screen with the Japanese actor Takumi Saito.

In 2014, Corenlio played a small role in Haji Backpacker, where he met Abimana, who encouraged him to

screen test for 3.

The rest is history.

Currently, Cornelio is involved in Halfworlds, an HBO series directed

by Joko Anwar.

“I’ll try to pick scripts that I believe in and don’t repeat a role I’ve done before,” Cornelio says.

“I’ve played quite a diverse range of characters, from a gay gigolo in Andri Cung’s The Sun, The Moon

and The Hurricane (2013) to a dog in Moon.”

Asked about his vision for the future, Cornelio’s mind wandered back to Fukuoka.

“Ismail and I were really happy while we were in Fukuoka, so we came up with the idea to shoot a film there. The project is still upcoming, once its status is clear, I’ll say more about it,” he said.

Off camera What is your dream film to remake?

I would remake Blood Diamond (2006) and play Danny Archer. He is a grey character.

He is selfish and cruel but can also be kind.

I love grey characters because playing them poses a challenge: How will we take their perspective without justifying their behaviors?

How about your spare time?

I play Play Station adventure games. They really help me to really get inside a character’s head. I learn a lot about plotlines and characters. My favorite is Until Dawn, where there are eight teenagers trapped in a mountain and my decisions will determine whether all of them will survive or die. Games feature moral dilemmas and grey characters - two things that fascinate me.

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JPlus October 11, 2015

FirmFavorites

of warriors &

deadly duels THREE CHEERS FOR INDONESIAN ACTION MOVIES WORDS Makbul Mubarak

F

ilms come and go and so do stars and icons. In Indonesia, however, there are a few films in a specific genre that remain warmly remembered.

That genre is action.

The films are famous for their immense appeal to audiences who came to theaters looking for laughter, sadness, and, above all, thrills.

And for local audiences, the stars of those films still shine brightly.

Among the most memorable local actors to have carved, cut or karatechopped a name for themselves in local action cinema are two men: Barry Prima and Advent Bangun.

photo credits kapanlagi, VCD resellers

THE WARRIOR Barry Prima starred in Jaka Sembung, the Citizen Kane of Indonesian action movies, which as a genre had its heyday

in the 1980s.

The film, released in the West as The Warrior, tells the tale of a local hero, Jaka Sembung, who protects the weak from the abusive power of the state.

Set during the colonial era (and, lest we forget, filmed during the New Order dictatorship), Jaka Sembung features Barry cutting the throats and stabbing the eyes of the colonial soldiers defending a corrupt regime.

Film historian and critic Seno Gumira Ajidarma, speaking in Garuda Power: The Spirit Within, a recent documentary on Indonesian action movies, says local heroes like Jaka Sembung were popular during the New Order as icon of rebellion.

Although the action only took place on screen, audiences were relieved, because they could see somebody stand

up against the state - something that was impossible to do in real life.

ADVENT BANGUN A second iconic actor was Advent Bangun, a karateka-turned-actor who gained fame through the film Golok Setan (The Devil’s Sword).

In the film, Bangun plays Banyujaga, a fighter commissioned by the Alligator Queen (played by Gudhi Sintara) to wreak havoc in a village.

Banyujaga has a showdown with Mandala, again played by Barry Prima, who needs to find an ancient sword in order to stop Banyujaga.

Bangun is known for his astonishing career in karate, as he was the country’s national champion in 1971. During his career, Bangun starred in no less than 35 movies, principally popular action movies.

A TOUCH OF SAMBAL Jaka Sembung and The Devil’s Sword were films with huge commercial appeal and a groundbreaking sense of aesthetics for action movies.

Both were adapted from comic books, like most of the action flicks at the time.

The films went off in an Indonesian direction, which was notable, given that many other action films from the period desperately copied American action-superheroes, such as Rama, Indonesian Superman, or mimicked Hong Kong martial arts movies, as was the case with The Deadly Duel (Duel Maut, 1977).

Jaka Sembung and The Devil’s Sword paid homage to the graceful aesthetics of traditional Indonesian martial arts, which, at that time, were seen as something violent and not beautiful.

In Jaka Sembung, there are magical elements, such as flying swordsmen and dead people coming back to life, which were closer to traditional Indonesian stories than the more corporeal storytelling style of Hong Kong movies or the more scientific bent American action flicks.

One legacy from the local films is the ajian rawa rontek, a mystic martial art movement (jurus) where wounded, or even separated, body parts could be healed in a

blink of an eye.

Even today, some believe that the movement exists in life. In fact, the movement doesn’t even exist in comic books from which the films were adapted.

According to director Imam Tantowi in Garuda Power, the movement was added merely to make the film more interesting.

Films like Jaka Sembung and Golok Setan were also popular

because of layar tancep (literal translation: “stuck screen”), the cinemas that would travel from one village to another to show Indonesian films.

Thanks to this, people from countryside did not need to go to cities to access to these films.

It was proven that cinema culture could also grow outside of the commercial cinema chains.

REBIRTH Entering the 1990s, the Indonesian film industry collapsed under the foot of imported films. The economic crisis that led to the fall of the New Order in 1998 also reduced the flood of local films made in the

1980s to a trickle.

It was not until Merantau (2009) that young cinemagoers started to move on from their memories of Barry Prima and Advent Bangun to the new icon who stars in Merantau, Iko Uwais.

Directed by Gareth Evans, Merantau received numerous accolades for its masterful filmmaking technique and careful craftsmanship of martial arts.

Departing from pencak silat, a Sumatran tradition of martial arts, Merantau told the story of a young man, played by Iko, who faces a violent life in Jakarta upon his decision to leave his hometown in Sumatra.

Evans followed Merantau with The Raid and The Raid 2, both which received overwhelming praise after runs on the international festival and exhibition circuit.

The series, which combined Indonesian martial arts fighting and showdowns full of weapons and cracked skulls, were well received both by local audiences and international markets – just like their predecessors.

But unlike Jaka Sembung, Merantau and The Raid were not followed by dozens of new films in the genre.

With few exceptions (such as Hanung Bramyanto’s Genting Sriwijaya, Ifa Isyanfa’s Pendekar Tongkat Emas and the recently released 3), Evans’ films stand alone in an industry that favors teenage horror, biopics and religious drama.

And although all these movies are good, fans are still waiting for the action masterpiece that can deliver an ajian rawa rontek for the genre.

JPlus

October 11, 2015

9

wanderlust

Under the Southern

relax AND SAIL AWAY WITH STAR CRUISES on a 46-night southern hemisphere adventure on board the superstar virgo

Stars

A

s the saying goes, “life is a journey” and “you only live once”.

And what better way to experience life, then to travel and see the world.

Travelers searching for a truly unique holiday experience will be pleased to know that Asia-Pacific’s leading cruise line, Star Cruises, is offering travelers the chance of a lifetime to cruise on a special 46-night voyage across the equator to the Southern Hemisphere onboard its flagship, SuperStar Virgo.

Get ready for the ultimate adventure at sea from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, 2015, and experience the diversity of lands and cultures from our corner of the world.

SuperStar Virgo is all set to bring the best of Asia and the Southern Hemisphere right to your doorstep, stopping at 21 ports of call across Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

If vacation time is not on your side, fret not. Travelers can also pick and choose the Southern Hemisphere experience of their choice, with options to embark and disembark at various ports of call across the region.

With such flexibility, there is no reason why you still can’t be part of this special inaugural cruise to the Southern Hemisphere. But for those who yearn for a long and relaxing holiday, it’s a dream voyage like no other.

UNDER WAY

Down the mega waterslide

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JPlus October 11, 2015

Your 46-night voyage begins when you embark from one of the most thrilling cities on the planet, Hong Kong, where you are greeted by upscale restaurants and duty free shopping, world-class live entertainment shows and exotic spa treatments, all onboard SuperStar Virgo.

A Room with a view

Your next stop is Sanya, a premier beach community on the southern end of China’s Hainan Island, which claims to be the “Hawaii of China”. Sanya’s Yalong Bay is praised by lonelyplanet.com for its first-rate beach with a series of plush international resorts.

The excitement doesn’t end there as you’ll be cruising next to Da Nang, Vietnam’s fourth largest city, with bustling shopping attractions and endless historical sights. For adventure thrill-seekers, water sport activities here are especially popular, from fishing, water-skiing, diving to yachting.

A stop at Ho Chi Minh City just a day later is designed to complete your Vietnamese experience. Join locals and foreigners in sampling Vietnamese street food at Nha Hang Ngon, shop for quirky souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market or pay a visit to Khanh Van Nam Vien Pagoda, known for its colorful statues of Taoist disciples.

Next, SuperStar Virgo makes its way to the popular Garden City of Singapore, a shopping haven with plenty of delicious Show time at The Lido!

parthenon pool onboard the superstar virgo

the Grand Piazza

Asian delicacies to sample. After a brief stop in Singapore, the journey continues closer back home to Jakarta and then to the island of the mighty Krakatoa Volcano.

STYLE AND COMFORT

While cruising onboard the 13-story SuperStar Virgo, the experience is every bit as memorable as the shore excursions. Get ready for some serious duty free shopping in more than 600 square meters of retail space and indulge in a wide variety of onboard entertainment and leisure, which includes a show lounge, dance lounge, private karaoke rooms, activity center and video arcades.

Don’t miss the LIVE International onboard performances, such as the stunning ‘HOT! HOT! HOT! – A Brazilian Dance Show’, ‘Starstruck’ – a highly visual production that blends colors, lights and sounds - and much more.

Besides that, if staying in shape is your thing, sweat it out at the gym or take a dip in the jet current exercise pool. Other sports and health facilities include a jogging circuit, steam room and sauna, a Japanese plunge bath and

a golf driving range. For additional recreational fun with friends and families, be sure to check out SuperStar Virgo’s Mega Waterslide that includes a spectacular 5-meter-long Plexiglas (see-through) tube at 25 meters above the ocean surface, allowing sliders to experience the thrill of flying above the ocean.

Onboard the liner, your gastronomical journey is brought up a notch by the presence of more than 13 restaurants and bars that serve everything from light snacks to fine dining, from classic Asian specialties to Mediterranean buffet, from Italian gelato to Chinese dim sum.

Be it exotic delicacies or the authentic home cooking your palate demands, the crew will make sure you get what you desire. Also, with the holiday season in December, don’t miss the chance to experience Christmas at sea with SuperStar Virgo’s very own Winter Wonderland celebration.

In addition, with a selection of plush premium suites to staterooms with balconies and ocean views, and budget friendly inside cabins, travelers can always retreat and relax in their very own secret havens. That is, until they get to the next destinations on the agenda.

UNDER SOUTHERN Stars

Continuing down under, the liner takes travelers through the majestic continent of Australia, making stops in Geraldton, Fremantle, Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin. On the way back to Asia, expect pleasant tropical surprises along the way as SuperStar Virgo stops by in Bali, Johor Bahru (Malaysia) and Bangkok (Thailand), before reaching Sihanoukville in Cambodia. Here in this deep-water port city, travelers get to unwind in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the white sand beaches of Cambodia’s premier beach town.

Before heading back to Hong Kong, SuperStar Virgo makes one last stop in Hue. In this Central Vietnamese city that is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, palaces, pagodas, tombs and temples, culture and cuisine speak of the pride and glory of old Vietnam. It’s a city where splendor meets tranquility in the most attractive ways.

Just in case you haven’t planned your next vacation, here’s an idea. Relax and make plans to sail away to the Southern Hemisphere with Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo.

JPlus

October 11, 2015 11

a la mode

The

bandana’s

back

PARIS CATWALK SHOW BRINGS BACK THE 1970S WORDS MARC BURLEIGH PHOTOS AFP

O

n the Paris catwalk Monday, a reappearance of bandanas – those paisley kerchiefs that were hot back in the 1970s, remember? – proved the lesson that old can become trendy again if you just wait long enough.

Japanese brand Sacai dusted off the accessory and updated it for its Spring/Summer collection, tying it around models’ necks to complete layered outfits that were floaty affairs aimed at next year’s

warmer season.

The fusion of hipsterness and hippyness, rolled out by Sacai’s founder and creative designer Chitose Abe, was heightened by the addition of floral embroidery and pointy boots.

No other brand represented at the Paris Fashion Week took up the trend, but points to Sacai for showing clothes hoarders can also be clothes horses.

Sharapova aces Stella’s show Outfits were flimsy and at times transparent in Stella McCartney’s show, held Sunday under the ornate chandeliers of Paris’s gilded Opera Garnier.

Underlining her collection’s sporty tilt, and her thick black book of celebrity friends, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova turned out to cast an appreciative eye over Stella’s colorful collection.

What she and the rest of the gallery saw were gossamerthin dresses running long or up to mid-thigh, some in bold colors or bolder nothingness, other boasting slanted checks and lines and asymmetrical tops.

The British designer’s own cast back to the past brought up oversize aviator sunglasses.

The reign of McQueen Victoria

Intemporal Hermes

The Alexander McQueen show, conceived by designer Sarah Burton, skipped further back in time, to the Victorian age.

Models sported long and romantically intricate numbers that would not have looked out of place in a regal late 19th century garden party – excepting the occasional sheer number that definitely would not have met with the approval of the “widow of Windsor”.

Overall though, it was a triumph of embroidered flowers, lace and feathers, with long earrings and silver chains accentuating the sinuous silhouettes and adding a gothic touch.

Instead the overwhelming themes for these collections were pleats and colors.

Hermes being Hermes, there was little in the way of time travel at the prestigious French label’s show. But celebrity sheen on the front row came in the form of American singer Janet Jackson.

There were no wardrobe malfunctions of the type that Jackson made infamous. Instead, the collection exhibited coolly elegant designs in cream and other muted colors -- outfits that sought to make no statement other than timelessness.

Pantsuits, leather tops and skirts and cleanlined silk dresses succeeded each other, carried along on upmarket sneakers or simple footwear.

These were simple clothes meant for simple outings, albeit for a moneyed set who knows that fashion can just be, with no need to borrow from the past.

Designer Nadege Vanhee-Cybulski said backstage that she sought to present “an elegance that is sophisticated but at the same time is free [...] everything is allowed, what’s most important is really this sort of accidental chic”.

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JPlus October 11, 2015

well being

NO TIME FOR

‘GALAU’ Steps you can take to overcome anxiety

PHOTO Credit CREATIVE COMMONS, crossbow productions

M

iranti (not her real name), a 27-year-old creative professional from Jakarta, says she often cannot handle pressure at the office.

“My boss never praises me for a job well done,” Miranti said in a recent interview.

“He also keeps pushing me to get a certain job done without offering any help so as how to overcome the challenges in completing my task.”

She says that when she tells her boyfriend about her problems, he puts her down instead of providing emotional support.

“In times like these, I become galau,” Miranti says.

Her experience is typical. Galau, which is local slang for a feeling of melancholy and unease, is a popular word these days.

Just enter #galau on Twitter and you’ll see many postings from people who are confused or don’t feel good about certain things in their lives.

Despite occasional brushes with the emotion, nobody seems to really know what galau is, what its causes are or how to overcome it.

Psychiatrist Hervita Diatri, who practices at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta and teaches at University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine, says that galau is a temporary setback of mental health, signified primarily by anxiety and confusion.

This condition, however, does not impair a person’s day-to-day functionality.

According to psychologist Rahajeng Ika, the founder of online counseling service Jangan Bunuh Diri (Don’t Kill Yourself ), more people are anxious these days as a result of isolation brought on by life in the big city.

“If an accident occurs, do you see any motorist willing to stop and help the victim?” Rahajeng, who practices at Puri Cinere Hospital, told JPlus in a recent interview. “Even if we stop and try to help the victim, we will be greeted by motorists honking their horns.”

“When you no longer have people who care about you, or praise your good deeds, you’re prone to anxiety,” Rahajeng says.

REMEDIES Hervita and Ika, however, advise people not to worry, as there are ways to alleviate anxiety despite daily hassles. The professional offered several suggestions for coping with and overcoming anxiety.

Healthy Body Healthy Mind “You need to have a balanced diet while increasing your consumption of green

Words Sebastian Partogi

people, you will not be afraid or embarrassed to speak about problems openly and honestly.

It’s easy to find new friends, Ika says. “If you like koi fish, for example, just go to a koi store. It’ll be easy for you to engage people in conversation and make new friends if you have common interest,” she suggests.

Don’t exaggerate Have you ever felt galau and thought “Oh, I’m so depressed?”

“Nowadays, people often make simple matters complicated through the use of heavy jargon. Depression is a big deal. Unfortunately, a lot of people like to use the word ‘depression’ because the jargon makes them sound cool and smart,” Ika says.

Meanwhile, Hervita says that depression is a clinical condition that seriously impairs a person’s day-to-day functioning.

Ika acknowledges that the current trend of popular songs or soap operas to indulge in melancholy and drama reinforces people’s tendency to exaggerate their problems.

“Some people, due to a lack of compassion, even seek sympathy by posting galau statuses on social media. When a lot of people ‘like’ the status, their galau behavior is reinforced,” Ika says. “This is very sad.”

She suggests contacting a clinical psychologist if problems persist.

vegetables and fruits. Eat properly.

Drink milk. Make sure your body’s hydrated. Avoid stimulants like coffee or alcohol. Do exercise that has structured movements, like running or swimming,” Hervita says.

Know yourself Ika says that a person needs a measure of self-awareness to defeat galau.

“You need to know your strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you know that you often postpone your tasks – which leads to tremendous stress and exhaustion – then you need to improve your time management,” she says.

People also need to know the leisure activities they can do to overcome tension before it builds up.

“You don’t even have to go someplace far or spend money for that,” according to Ika. “For example, if you start to make constant mistakes in your work, you should remember that the best way to clear your mind is

to go outside and see trees, or go to a corner and drink coffee. You just need to do these things in order to rest your mind for a while so that it can function efficiently again.”

Miranti says that when things get rough, she takes a break and meditates.

“It calms me down and helps me to think again."

Accentuate the positive “You need to have a wide network of positive friends who pass on their positive attitude to you and enhance your knowledge,” Ika says. “When you have lots of knowledge, your skills and flexibility in solving your problems will increase, thereby decreasing your anxiety.”

She adds that it is important to befriend people who value you for who you are and appreciate your strengths.

This contributes to a positive selfimage and strong self-confidence.

Further, by befriending positive

YOU’RE NOT ALONE When the going gets tough and you need to talk to someone, try reaching out to these resources.

Health Ministry Hotline The hotline, 021-500454 ,was founded by the Health Ministry in 2011 to offer mental health solutions to those in need.

Jangan Bunuh Diri Founded by psychologists Tiwin Herman and Rahajeng Ika in 2010, the service offers an e-mail, janganbunuhdiri@yahoo.com, that provides aid and counseling for people who seek affirmation and strength.

Into the Light Indonesia Set up by several university students passionate about improving of mental health, this community offers real-time help and tips. They can be contacted at Twitter @IntoTheLightID, Facebook IntoTheLightID and e-mail intothelight. email@gmail.com.

JPlus

October 11, 2015 13

at your Leisure

TEQUILA REDUX

IN SEARCH OF A SLOW-SIPPING CASUAL EVENING WORDS Banyubening Prieta pHOTOS COURTESY Patrón TEQUILA

T

equila is one of the world’s most misunderstood liquors.

Fixing to change the reputation of the spirit away from hastily consumed shots, Patrón Tequila recently offered an exquisite Mexican experience for diners at Bengawan Restaurant at the Keraton in Menteng, South Jakarta.

The high-end distiller proved that tequila has a chivalrous spirit – and that the Mexican favorite is meant to be sipped and savored.

The blue agave-based spirit can be as fine as cognac or whiskey when enjoyed correctly, leaving a smooth sensation on your palate and imparting a subtle kick as you swallow, according to Milton Alatorre, Patrón’s marketing & strategy director for Asia Pacific.

“We want to show people that there are different varieties of tequila,” Alatorre said. “Allow yourself to discover the awesomeness of tequila. They are not aggressive at all.”

Alatorre introduced eight different Patrón creations that night: Silver, Reposado, Añejo, Patrón XO Café, Patrón XO Café Dark Cocoa, Gran Platinum, Gran Burdeos and its ultimate release Gran Piedra.

For the main focus of the dinner; Patrón introduced its extra añejo (meticulously aged) Gran Patrón Piedra in Indonesia.

Unlike as at other formal diners, no wine was served.

Instead, the evening featured a five-

14

JPlus October 11, 2015

course Silver-fused set menu, created by Mexican Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara.

Dishes were paired with seven sets of Patrón-based cocktails, blended by Kiki Moka, one the nation’s top mixologists.

On offer as pre-dinner optional cocktails were a summer swizzle Reposado-based cocktail with a tad of puree grapefruit and orange juice, a Buena Vida and Silver-based concoction shaken with fresh cilantro leaves and lime juice and a cilantro margarita.

While the Buena Vida left a fresh flavour on the palette, the cilantro margarita was refreshingly sweet, with a perfect hint of green.

“Silver is the basic tequila, but for a social occasion like this – especially over a cigar we can drink añejo,” Kiki said, adding that each variety of tequila had a specific merit, just as with wine.

A warm entree – a tableside-poured sopa de albondigas, or creamy Mexican meatball soup, was paired with Patrón Silver and accompanied by a crisp-tasting sangrita.

Not to be confused with sangria, sangrita (“little blood”) is a traditional non-alcoholic sipper served as an accompaniment to a tequila completo, in this case the Patrón Silver.

In Mexico, however, the Silver is often mixed and paired with salad, chicken or seafood, Alatorre said.

Next up was a tasty second starter of shrimp sautéed in an oak-flavored Patrón

Añejo and tangy red chile escabeche.

The dish was matched with tepache, an ancient concoction of fermented pineapple and spices with a tad of Erdinger Budweiser beer and Silver.

“The Añejo is a great pairing for spicy food. With 15 months of ageing, it is rich in wood flavor with some cognac aromas as well,” Alatorre added.

While Kiki admitted that this had been his first time in pairing cocktails with food, he said that he found a nice approach.

“I tried to create a contrast with the meals to balance our palate,” he says.

The final three set courses were splendidly paired.

A Reposadoinfused tamal de Pato, a sweet mishmash of slow braised leg of duck with corn masa wrapped in banana leaf, came paired with an exotic mix of Silverbased passionfruit and lime juice dubbed the Keraton Bramble.

For the last main, Chef Lamberto created a unique fusion of local red snapper with Patrón XO Café coffee liquor and green mole sauce, resulting a rich vibrant blend.

To balance out the opulent taste of the snapper, Kiki came out with a strawberry and basil margarita, a fresh twist on a classic.

While the gentle blend of an Arabica coffee extraction and caramel made the Patrón XO Café stand out, the addition of

dark Criollo chocolate in the Patrón XO Café Dark Cocoa will offer good company for a slow-sipping casual evening.

“Girls usually like the liquors,” Alatorre adds. “The Patrón XO Café and Patrón XO Café Dark Coco are the easy-drinking type that you can enjoy on-the-rocks.”

For those intrigued by liquor-based dessert, the sumptuous taste of dark cocoa mixed with plantain bananas was a heavenly union.

The Mexican versatile staple was put together with warm crepes filled with bittersweet chocolate ganache and goat’s milk-based cajeta ice cream.

The liquor subtly pervaded the crepes, without any taste of bitterness.

For this ultimate closing, Kiki wrapped crepes, adding Patrón citrone liquor and Italian dry Prosecco, which resulted a delicious sensation – especially after a generously portioned dessert.

The Gran Patrón Piedra came just like a trophy for those who stayed until the end of the night.

It’s crafted according to the ancient time-consuming tahona methods, where a two-ton volcanic stone wheel tis used to slowly crush the steam-cooked agave.

“Piedra means ‘stone’ in Spanish and its distinctive flavor and smooth finish is due to the three years’ageing in American and French Oak barrels,” Alatorre said.

The Gran Patrón Piedra was amber in color with a complex aroma that clearly showed the benefit of the barrels.

The combination of a lavish oak taste with an undercurrent of sweet caramel gave the tequila a well-defined and slightly taste.

An absolute delight to end the night.

tasteBUD

FROM RUSSIA

WITH love

A RECIPE FOR OLIVER SALAD, NAMED AFTER THE CHEF WHO CREATED IT AT A HOTeL IN MOSCOW Words & Photos Theodora Hurustiati

I

t was my late aunt’s birthday last week. She was born in Moscow in the early 1960s while my grandfather was teaching at a university there. She was quite proud of the fact – there weren’t many Indonesians born in a country so far north. Even up to present day, I guess, Russia still seems a little out of reach.

This dish makes me think of her. In Italy it’s known as insalata russa – Russian salad, while in its country of origin it’s named Olivier salad, after Lucien Olivier, the French-Belgian chef who created it around 1860s (a century before my aunt was born!, at the once famous Hermitage Hotel in Moscow.

Fast forward about 150 years. The popularity of this salad has spread across pretty much every Eastern European, Balkan or Mediterranean country. It’s still a strong part of food culture in Russia, where it’s traditionally served for festive occasions, especially New Year’s Eve. The original Olivier salad was more luxurious, including expensive cuts of meat, crayfish and caviar. However, in Russian homes nowadays, it’s prepared with more accessible ingredients, like ham or boiled veal. In Italy, though, we tend to keep the salad meat-free and serve it as a starter.

I prepared this in the loving memories of my Moscowborn aunt, although, if she ever tasted it, the color of the peas might have been the only thing she’d like!

• •

Serves 4 300 g potatoes 150 g carrots 150 g frozen peas 30 g pickled cucumbers 1 boiled egg Salt

Mayonnaise 1 egg yolk ½ lemon, juiced ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon mustard 2 teaspoons cider vinegar 150 ml sunflower oil

• • •

• •

•

Prepare mayonnaise by placing egg yolk, lemon juice, salt, mustard, and vinegar in a bowl. Whisk to emulsify until the mixture slightly thickens.

Start adding oil gradually, one tablespoon at a time, while whisking continuously and vigorously, until all the oil has been incorporated.

Don’t pour in all the oil before the mixture thickens; otherwise you’ll end up just with a runny oily concoction.

Chill in the refrigerator and prepare the rest.

Boil peas in salted water for about 5 to 7 minutes, until they’re tender but are still slightly crunchy. Drain and put in in a bowl of icy water to block the cooking process and preserve the vibrant green color.

Peel and cut carrots into 1-cm cubes. Season with salt and steam for 12-15 minutes until tender.

Peel and cut potatoes into the same size as the carrots.

Insert them in a pan of cold water with a touch of salt and about a tablespoon of vinegar. Boil for 8-10 minutes until tender but still retain their shape. Drain.

Let the vegetables cool before adding the mayonnaise and the finely chopped pickled cucumber. Combine.

• •

Portion the salad and garnish with a slice of the boiled egg and the pickled cucumber.

If mayonnaise is made from fresh eggs, keep the leftover salad refrigerated and finish within 24 hours.

Caution!

Raw eggs may contain salmonella if not handled properly.

To be on the safe side, especially if you have young children, it’s better to prepare the recipe using a store-bought pasteurized mayonnaise. Children's delicate intestinal systems might have difficulties in resisting the dangerous bacteria.

Jakarta-born chef Theodora Hurustiati, a 13-year resident of Udine, Italy, was the runner-up in the TV cooking program La Scuola – Cucina di Classe (The School: Classy Cooking) in 2011.

JPlus

October 11, 2015 15

trendDIAL AEON GIMBAL

EMENELGILDO ZEGNA MASERATI

Celebrating years of partnership, Emenelgildo Zegna and Maserati have just released a special capsule collection of fine leatherwear and accessories. For this collaboration, Zegna created a pure silk fabric for car cockpits and seats, with dual color leather tones. Its distinctive patterned silk is elegant, featuring the Maserati trident and emphasizes the luxurious of both brands. Completing the collection, Emenelgildo Zegna and Maserati also released pure silk herringbone scarves, dark brown goat nappa driving gloves and metal foldable sunglasses with leather detail for the sports car enthusiast.

Having a GoPro is not enough when you can’t capture still images. So if you’re into extreme activities and seek good solid images, check out the latest AEON Gimbal. Unlike the previous iterations, this version comes with some futuristic features. It has nifty flush LED screen to use as a viewfinder while you record, a joystick that gives you full control to focus on objects and an accessory mount for your GoPro addons. It is carefully designed with pinpoint precision and is ideal for sports filming! As for looks, the gimbal is sleek and has a circular screen like no other and the camera is available in fun orange, dark blue, black and army green.

DEUS EX MACHINA “RED PILL”

the treasure

Sweet

the pleasure

Calling all surfers! Australian brand Deus Ex Machina has unveiled a custom twowheeler with a surfboard rack on its side called the “Red Pill”. Built on the Kawasaki W650, the bike offers a twist on sleek design from Jeremy Tagand. Low and lean, the Red Pill replaces its air box with re-jetted carbs, while the battery has been shifted to under the swing arms to get a compact slim look. Most importantly, the engine is now under the seat to get a streamlined appearance, thanks to Tagand.

PEDRO

Pedro has just released its Fall 2015 collection, for young professionals, taking “industrialized fixation” for its theme.

Available for both women and men, the series is full of classic and smart casual looks. For men, Pedro uses understated shades such as grey, black and navy that are accentuated by dashes of blue, red and yellow. The collection ranges from staple dressy oxfords and boots to sporty high-kick tops to dressy sneakers. While for women, Pedro takes neutral colortones, such as beige, taupe and cognac. The women’s series covers boots and booties that focus on style, form and function while also having a hint of androgyny in oxfords that are embellished with metal hardware and color play.

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JPlus October 11, 2015

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

The column’s headline, which comes from the John Dryden, the 17th century English poet, is best embodied here.

Combining fashion and activism, Vivienne Westwood is now championing climate change in a theatrical manner with a collection featuring some signature evening dresses with bouffant skirts and baroque swirls. There are also some oversize and mannish suits that also exhibiting dramatic flourishes, poufed sleeves and even hardware and crystals sewn onto jackets. But Westwood still drapes a mean dress, with fluid arty silk frocks. As the theatrical show went, all her pieces were casual yet head-turning, as always! + Banyubening Prieta