Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999)

"Tasty Titles" are movies with food names that are not movies about food or cooking. I thought it would be fun to watch them and talk about them on the site.

Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (2000)

Directed by: Chi Moui Lo

Starring: Paul Winfield, Chi Moui Lo, Lauren Tom

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Rated: PG13

Synopsis: Dwayne and his sister Mai are Vietnamese siblings who were adopted by an African-American couple. Now in his mid-20s, Dwayne is very comfortable, enjoying a good relationship with his parents and his African-American girlfriend. Meanwhile Mai is less satisfied with her life, Because she was adopted at age ten while Dwayne was just a young boy, Mai has many memories of her birth mother and is consumed by the desire to reunite with her. Mai's efforts eventually pay off and a reunion with their mother is soon at hand. For Mai, hopes of finally being able to grasp her identity cause elation. For Dwayne, the impending reunion shakes the solid foundation he's spent his life building. ~Source: Hollywood.com

I really enjoyed this movie. I wouldn't outright call it a comedy though, there are some funny scenes and dialogue, especially when Dwayne (Chi Muoi Lo) fantasizes about what his birth mother is going to be like, but for the most part, this is much more of a drama. The story of how the children came to live with Harold (Paul Winfield) and Delores Williams (Mary Alice) is told in flashback sequences of when Mai ( Lauren Tom) and Dwayne first arrived in America. The pacing of the movie is a little slow, and there were times when I couldn't decide if Mary Alice's character was supposed to be ditzy of if her acting was a little off. One thing that I did have trouble with in the movie was the lack of emotion and communication that each character had with one another. I just felt that for all the love that the characters were supposed to have for one another there was very little of it coming across on screen, especially between Dwayne and his fiancée Nina (Sanaa Lathan), it made the movie seem unrealistic to me. Criticism aside, this was an entertaining way to spend 119 minutes and it just goes to show once again, that you don't need big budgets and fancy special effects to make a good thought provoking movie.

An interview with Chi Muoi Lo and a movie review.

Additional movies with Paul Winfield:

• Brother John (1970)
• It's Good to Be Alive The Roy Campanella Story (1974)
• A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (1978)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
• The Terminator (1984)
• Go Tell It on the Mountain (1985)
• Cliffhanger (1993)
• Breathing Lessons (1994)
• Jirimpimbira - An African Folktale (1995)

Additional movies with Mary Alice:

• Sparkle (1976)
• To Sleep With Anger (1990)
• Down in the Delta (1998)
• Sunshine State (2002)
• The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

I thought it would be fun to include a recipe for fish with black bean sauce, but bear in mind I haven't tried this recipe myself so I can't vouch for whether it tastes good or not, but it probably does.

adapted from FoodNetwork.com

Chinese Whole Fish with Black Bean Sauce

• Peanut oil or vegetable oil, for frying
• 2 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) Petrole soles, scaled and eviscerated, head off
• 2 tablespoons Chinese fermented black beans, rinsed well and drained
• 4 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Red Pepper Dipping Sauce, recipe follows, accompaniment
• Steamed white rice, accompaniment
• 1/4 cup green onions sliced on the bias, garnish

In a large wok or pot, heat the vegetable oil to 400 degrees F.

Make 2 or 3 slashes diagonally across the flesh of each side of the fish.

In a small bowl, mash the black beans and garlic. Add the rice wine, oil, ginger, sugar, pepper flakes, and salt, and whisk to combine. Rub the mixture over the outside of the fish, rubbing onto the slashes.

In a shallow bowl, combine the cornstarch and flour. Dredge the fish in the mixture and shake to remove any excess. Carefully slide the flour-coated fish into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes, turning as necessary with tongs. Remove and drain on paper towels.

To serve, arrange the fried fish on a platter with the red pepper sauce and rice. Garnish with the chopped green onions and serve immediately.

Red Pepper Dipping Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried red chile flakes
• 4 1/2 teaspoons peanut oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

Combine all the ingredients in a decorative bowl and mix. Set aside at room temperature until ready to serve.

Yield: about 1/3 cup

Episode#: EMSP29

Written by Deb on January 10, 2004 11:45 AM