The Ticket's food enthusiasts Oisin Davis and Aoife McElwain have joined forces with Le Galaxie to bring you a Ticket Movie Night Special. This year, Le Galaxie have chosen the 1987 transport comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles as their celluloid inspiration. (See details of how to join them for a festive feast at the end of this article).
Written, produced and directed by John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles sees Steve Martin as cynical city businessman Neal Page and John Candy as clumsy curtain ring salesman Del Griffith. The film chronicles Del's efforts to help Neal make it from New York to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving dinner with his family. Though well-intentioned, Del's efforts usually make matters worse with hilarious consequences.
This Wednesday, November 27th, as you follow Neal and Del’s troublesome journey home for Thanksgiving, the kitchen at Damson Diner will be serving up Turkey Burgers and Cranberry Cocktails in their honour. You can be part of the holiday magic too.
Ahead of the event, we talked to Le Galaxie about their love of the movie, their plans for the future and shower curtain ring earrings.
What is your favourite form of transport – planes, trains or automobiles? And why?
Definitely trains. Although we don't get to use them enough. Planes are fun but you might die and I'd rather strangle myself with my own jeans than ever get a stupid bus.
Have you ever made it home for a special meal against all the odds?
If by "home" you mean "to Supermacs", then yes. I once thought I wouldn't make it to Supermacs before it closed at 4am but then I did make it and it was awesome. True story.
What is your favourite Del quote from the movie?
"Like your work, love your wife."
What is your favourite exasperated facial expression pulled by Neal?
That "I am about to unleash hell" glint in his f***ing eye when he finally gets to the top of that f***ing car rental queue.
Do you cry at the end of the movie? We do.
Oh, without fail. It's such a punch to the gut. We "get it" almost at the same instant Neal does. And then the drums kick in on Power To Believe by Dream Academy. Oh my.
What is it about this movie that made you pick this for our Ticket Movie Night?
We've seen it 40 times together.
Will you be channelling the cynical city vibe of Neal or the eternally optimistic buzz of Del for your Olympia gig on December 13th (celebrating Nialler9's eighth birthday)?
We'll be channelling the spirit of teenage girls who buy shower curtain rings as earrings from Del. Innocent, fashion conscious and crazy about boys.
Looking back on 2013, what have been your highlights?
It's been a breathtaking year. Literally, in most cases. Looking out at thousands of smiling, screaming Body & Soul faces at Electric Picnic is a moment that changed everything for us. People are great.
What does 2014 have in store for Le Galaxie?
The second album is tantalisingly close to completion. And we're performing with Robin Thicke at the Kinnegad 2014 Bait & Fishing Tackle Expo.
RECIPES
LE GALAXIE'S TURKEY BURGERS & CRANBERRY COCKTAILS
By Oisin Davis
Ingredients for burgers (makes 4):
500g of turkey mince
1 tblsp of Worcestershire sauce
2 minced garlic cloves
75g of Gruyère cheese
3 thinly sliced scallions
40g breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of pepper
For each burger
1 burger bun
1 tablespoon of guacamole
1 baby gem lettuce leaf
1 beef tomato slice
Method
In a large mixing bowl combine all the burger ingredients gently with a fork. Shape them into four separate burger patties. Bring a pan or griddle to a medium heat with some oil in it. Place each burger on and cook until golden brown on each side. Let it sit while you toast your buns. For each serving, place a lettuce leaf and a tomato slice on one half of the bun. Then put the burger on top of that with the guacamole smeared on it. Place the second half of bun on top and serve.
CRANBERRY WHISKEY COCKTAIL
Ingredients
1 bottle of Jameson
500g of frozen cranberries
The juice and zest of 4 limes
150g caster sugar
150 ml water
1 sliced red chilli
1 tsp of coriander seeds
1.5 lts of pressed apple juice
Method
First, thaw out the cranberries. Place half of them in a pot and mash them with a potato masher for 1 minute. Add the water, sugar, chilli, lime zest and coriander seeds and heat until boiling. Then take the heat down and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Let it cool, then strain and add that along with all other ingredients to a punch bowl and stir with some ice. Pour into a long, iced glass, making sure each serving gets 1 or 2 cranberries.
PREPARE TO GIVE THANKS!
As you follow Neal and Del's troublesome journey home for Thanksgiving, the kitchen at Damson Diner, South William Street, Dublin 2, will be serving up Turkey Burgers and Cranberry Cocktails in their honour. You can be part of the holiday magic, on Wednesday, November 27th, for just €15 per person with tickets available from today through Damson Diner directly. Doors are at 7.30pm and the movie starts at 8pm. For €15, you'll get the movie, the Le Galaxie Turkey Burger, the Cranberry Cocktail and the chance to see one of the best Thanksgiving movies of all time. What's not to give thanks for?
Le Galaxie will play the Olympia in Dublin along with Young Wonder and special guests on December 13th, to celebrate the eighth birthday (blogday?) of nialler9.com. Tickets from ticketmaster.ie
