Food 'n Flix -- the Quiet Man

Food 'n Flix is a group of bloggers who get together every month to watch a movie, and then head into the kitchen and mix up something inspired by the flick. 

There is always room for another pillow in front of the tellie, and another chair around the table. So if you're a blogger who wants to join in the fun, please feel free to jump in at any moment.

February's Flick is chosen by Joanne from What's on the List and she has chosen The Quiet Man.

 The Quiet Man, released in the US in August of 1952, directed and produced by John Ford, is “an American romantic classic” starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara and Barry Fitzgerald.

 I chose to make some "Irish Roasted Salmon" for the occasion.  Why you ask?

 Where did I get my inspiration?

Well from the first scene of the movie, of course.

They say the fishing is fine, and the trout and salmon are running.

Of course, the Handyman, who watched the movie with me, could not keep up with my inspiration.  He would say I don't see them cooking anything,   I don't see how you get lamb from  that ( there are sheep on those hills.  I can get inspired by that! )

He was not  very good at food inspiration during the movie.

Anyway, I decided on some Irish Roasted Salmon for my Food 'n Flix dish this month. 

For the record -- it was a good marinade.  I'd try it again.  There was a slightly sweet, slightly Irish whiskey taste to it --- but not over powering.

Irish Roasted Salmon

• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¹⁄₄ cup cider vinegar
• ¹⁄₄ cup Irish whiskey
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 
• 1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets

 Mix together honey, vinegar, whiskey, thyme, lemon zest, oil, salt and pepper. Pour over salmon and marinate 1 hour on the counter, or 4 hours refrigerated.

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Remove salmon from marinade and place on a rack over a roasting pan.
3. Grill or Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, basting once with the marinade or until golden and white juices are just beginning to appear.

Now, on to the movie.

I have a horrible secret.

I don't like John Wayne.

Go ahead ... call me unAmerican.  Call me a fascist.  Call me unpatriotic.

My dad did.

I am none of those things of course, but it was an on-going  'tease' between my dad and I.  He loved John Wayne and I did not.

Having said that, I still think he is an icon, and American pop-cultural movie hero.

And that by itself makes me like him just a little. I just have to play the game, save face, say I don't like him.

This movie is one of Joanne's (the host of this month's Food 'n Flix) all time favorites.  It is close to her heart, because she watched it every St. Patrick's day with her dad.  

It means the world to her, so,  without further ado...., I will have to say John Wayne was good in this movie!  I did really like his character in this one.

I love old movies, and I am  1/8 Irish, and I love Maureen O'Hara.

The scenery was beautiful and I wanted to live in that cottage of theirs.

It's funny how times have changed tho --

all that 'rough man' stuff and John Wayne's character dragging her thru the country side? 

It bugged me a little, even tho I know, it was just a sign of the times.

And  (this might be a spoiler)

At first I thought

that she was a spoiled brat and wanted her 'stuff and her dowry' more than her marriage, but about 3/4 of the way thru the movie,  the story line revealed how important  Irish traditions were in a community and what that entailed and it seemed to tie it altogether.

There was an epic fight-- a wild rumpus-- at the end.

I'm glad I finally got to watch The Quiet Man.  Thanks Joanne.

It'll always be near and dear to my heart too, because it is the one movie where I actually like John Wayne!  (just kidding)

PS  isn't she beautiful?

PS --  my dad passed away last April, but the movie that will always be near and dear to my heart, in regards to him?

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

While watching the movie together he mentioned that I was always welcome to bring home anybody I wanted.

He meant in regards to me dating when I was older and I always knew that my dad was open and inviting and welcoming to all people... that is near and dear to MY heart!