A Taste of Empire

(Paperback)

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Description

Everything we eat tells a story. In A Taste of Empire, delectable samples from a real-time cooking demonstration offer food for thought about colonialism and the ethics of modern-day food systems.
Food and Wine named him Chef of the Decade. In 2016 he was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Recently Microsoft released the hit video game Maximo Corts: Kitchen Gangsta. Youve seen him on television. Youve bought his bestselling cookbooks. Now for a limited engagement its the Demon Chef, the Madman of the Kitchen, the Grand Master of Imperial Cuisine Chef Maximo Corts.
The premise of the show is a once-in-a-lifetime cooking demonstration by Chef Maximo Corts, the renowned inventor of his signature-style Imperial Cuisine. The audience excitedly awaits Chef Maximos arrival, relaxing with cocktails and complimentary hors doeuvres served to their seats. Suddenly their complacency is broken when Maximos amusing assistant, Jovanni, appears onstage. The celebrity chef in unavailable, but no worries: Jovanni, too, is an expert at preparing the traditional Filipino dish Rellenong Bangus (Stuffed Milkfish), and the audience follows along on a journey filled with humorous banter and a silky milkfish, sharp chefs knife in Jovannis hand. As he cooks, he deconstructs the dish in humorous and surprising ways, serving up opinions on the European colonization of Asia, the state of modern agriculture, the ethics of food distribution and consumption only a few of the ideas sampled in this engaging performance piece. When the actual fish dish is cooked and ready to eat, audience members are given tasting plates and even more food for thought. A Taste of Empire is truly a feast for the mind and palate. We call it Iron Chef meets Guns, Germs, and Steel. Bon appetit!
Cast of 1 man.

Reviews

Funny, fishy and far-reaching, A Taste of Empire is fascinating international fare. Its one of the most expansive evenings of Canadian theatre in terms of geographical and political scope. A Taste of Empire is largely about looking beneath the surface of things The extent to which Jovanni Sys A Taste of Empire has anti-racist underpinnings is one of the fascinating aspects of the piece clowning as a socially acceptable alternative to anger.
BC BookLook

A Taste of Empire is a great success.
Globe and Mail

Author Bio

Jovanni Sy is a playwright, director, actor, and the Artistic Director of Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC.

In 2010, Jovanni wrote and performed A Taste of Empire which was nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Awards including Outstanding New Play. It was subsequently remounted by Vancouvers Boca del Lupo Theatre. A Cantonese version of A Taste of Empire was translated and performed by Derek Chan (with Jovanni directing) in 2016.

Other writing credits include The Five Vengeances, a comic kung-fu adapation of The Revengers Tragedy and the libretti to the chamber operas, Haiku Moments and The Cellar Door. Jovanni is currently developing the play Nine Dragons, a detective story set in 1920s colonial Hong Kong.

Jovannis directing credits include God of Carnage, Antigone, and Blackbird (Theatre du Pif in Hong Kong) and Closer Than Ever, Valley Song, and Harvest (Gateway Theatre). In June 2015, he directed Clifford Cardinals award-winning play Stitch for Native Earth Performance Arts.

Jovanni has performed with theatre companies across Canada and overseas.