Aung Maylika- Burmese Cuisine in Benicia

I treated Ditas( my youngest daughter)💚 on her 61st Birthday last night (Sunday) to a Burmese Restaurant in Benicia, Aung Maylika. In our party were: Dinah, my oldest daughter, Dodie ( my oldest son) and his wife, Ruth Carver. This was my first time to enjoy Burmese food. My impression is : It is delicious and flavorful and it reminds me of some Filipino dishes that I love. We ordered the tea leaf salad, samosa soup, eggplant/shrimp dish, mango lemon shrimp, pork and vegetable in oyster  and both white and brown rice. 

 The samosa soup has both tamarind and curry. So it taste like the Filipino sinigang and the Indian curry soup. Burmese Food like all Asians Cuisines has to be Shared. 

I took some pictures during and after our dinner as follows:  

My Two Daughters- Dinah and Ditas 

Dodie and Ruth

   

Waiting To Be Seated

After Dinner we went back to Dodie's House, Play Chinese Mahjong and open Ditas gifts. Ditas won our mahjong game with her 7-pair hands below.  

Playing Chinese Mahjong-13 Tiles, Point System ( Minimum 8 pts to win) and No Jokers  

Ditas 7-pairs Mahjong Winning Hand-24 points

Ditas Birthday Card- Destined to Fly

Meanwhile, here's the AI overview of the Restaurant:

Aung MayLiKa

 is a family-owned Burmese restaurant located in Benicia, California, known for its authentic home-style cooking and fusion dishes. While it previously operated a second location in Concord, that branch closed in April 2024. 

Location & Contact

• Downtown Benicia (1st Street): 333 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510
  • Phone: (707) 361-5152
  • Hours: Monday–Thursday & Sunday (11 AM – 8 PM); Friday–Saturday (11 AM – 9 PM)
• Popular Dishes & Menu Highlights
• The restaurant specializes in fresh, from-scratch Burmese favorites. 

• Tea Leaf Salad: A signature dish frequently praised by reviewers for its unique flavors.
• Burmese Chicken Wings: Deep-fried and seasoned with paprika, onions, and bell peppers ($11.00).
• Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup: A rich and comforting traditional soup.
• Other Favorites: Pumpkin Salmon, Eggplant Garlic, and various Palatha (flaky fried bread) options.
• Dietary Options: Offers extensive vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-freeoptions. 

Dining Experience

• Atmosphere: Casual, cozy, and contemporary with a "hidden spot" feel.
• Amenities: Features a gorgeous back patio for outdoor seating.
• Service: Known for fast, friendly service; the staff often explains Burmese cuisine to first-timers.
• Booking: Reservations are accepted via Yelp but are generally not required as there is rarely a long wait. 

Ordering Options

For those not dining in, you can order for pickup or delivery through platforms like DoorDash or directly via the Aung MayLiKa website. 

Website:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/aung-maylika-benicia-5

Personal Note; I am now 50% in my goal to taste all Southeast Asian Food. In my list for future tastings and outings are Indonesian, Cambodian and Malaysian cuisines. 

💚https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/12/who-is-ditas-katague-from-chatgpt.html

When Fall is Coming- My Recommended Movie for Seniors

My Recommended Movies for Seniors

When Fall Is Coming - A Quiet Film for the Autumn of Life

Recently, I watched a French film on Prime Video with English subtitles, When Fall Is Coming. It is not the kind of movie that grabs you in the first five minutes. There are no loud scenes, no dramatic music pushing you along. Instead, it unfolds slowly, almost gently and before long, I realized I was completely absorbed.

At this stage of my life, I find myself drawn to stories like this. When I was younger, especially during my professional years, I preferred films with strong plots, clear direction, and a sense of accomplishment at the end, much like my own life at that time. But now, at ninety-one, I appreciate something different. I look for reflection rather than resolution.

This film is about relationships, particularly family and how complicated they can become over time. It touches on aging, memory, regret, and the quiet tensions that exist even among those who love each other. Nothing is spelled out clearly. Instead, the film leaves room for interpretation, which I found both intriguing and very true to life.

What stayed with me most was the uncertainty. Was what happened intentional, or simply an accident? The film never fully answers that question. And as I thought about it afterward, I realized how much of life is like that. We often look back and wonder about our own decisions what we meant to do, what we actually did, and how others experienced it.

In my own life, I have seen many seasons, raising a family, building a career, and now living a quieter, more reflective existence. These days, my happiness comes from simple routines: playing bridge several times a week, writing my daily blogs, and hearing from my children. The pace of life has slowed, but in many ways, it has also deepened.

When Fall Is Coming feels like a film made for this stage of life. It does not rush. It does not try to impress. It simply observes, much like we do as we grow older watching, remembering, and occasionally questioning.

This is not a movie for everyone. Some may find it too slow or too subtle. But for those who are willing to sit with it, especially those of us in the later chapters of life, it offers something meaningful: a chance to reflect. I recommend it highly for senior citizens. 

And perhaps that is what autumn, whether of the year or of life, is really about.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview: 

When Fall Is Coming

 (original French title: Quand vient l'automne) is a 2024 film directed by François Ozon that blends a quiet retirement drama with the undercurrents of a psychological thriller. 

Plot Overview

The story follows Michelle (played by Hélène Vincent), a retiree living a peaceful life in a Burgundy village. Her tranquility is disrupted when her estranged daughter, Valérie, visits with her grandson, Lucas. 

• The Catalyst: During the visit, Michelle prepares a mushroom dish that accidentally poisons Valérie. While Valérie recovers, she uses the incident to forbid Michelle from seeing Lucas again.
• The Turning Point: Michelle finds new purpose and companionship in Vincent, the son of her best friend Marie-Claude, who has just been released from prison.
• The Mystery: As their bond deepens, a tragic "accident" occurs, leaving the audience to question the true nature of Michelle's past and whether certain events were coincidental or calculated. 

Key Themes and Style

• "Autumncore" Aesthetic: Critics noted the film's lush, earthy color palette and cozy rural setting, often described as "autumncore" or "cottagecore".
• Deceptive Calm: While the film appears to be a gentle character study, it is a "tonal bait-and-switch" that slowly uncovers family secrets, guilt, and moral ambiguity.
• Ambiguity: Ozon purposefully leaves key moments off-screen, forcing viewers to decide for themselves who is "guilty" or what truly happened.
• Ageism Rejection: The film is praised for portraying an older female protagonist with complexity, agency, and a "complicated past" rather than as a one-dimensional "sweet grandmother". 

Critical Reception

The film has been highly praised, holding a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of early 2025. Reviewers from The Guardian and Variety highlighted Hélène Vincent’s performance as masterfully nuanced film that doesn't rely on typical thriller.

REVIEWS

“French filmmaker François Ozon has cooked up a little mystery and an enigmatic heroine. A sleek, modestly scaled entertainment about families, secrets and obligations, it features fine performances and some picture-postcard Burgundian locations…Looks can be deceiving, though, as we’re reminded, and as Ozon’s movie goes along, that picture grows amusingly slyer.”
– Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

“[A] crackling autumnal thriller…France’s most prolific filmmaker returns with another crisp delight.” 
– David Opie, IndieWire

★ ★ ★ ★ “A small gem of a mystery…Hélène Vincent is a treat as a devoted grandmother who isn’t quite what she seems in this understated tale of family dysfunction…This spry little French-language picture, which delights in subverting our expectations and leaves us with teasing questions about culpability and a crime, shows the director at his most understated, the better to foreground the excellent, intriguingly layered performance from Hélène Vincent.”
– Wendy Ide, The Guardian

“A darkly funny French drama worth savoring…has a number of Ozonian elements that devotees of the prolific French auteur will cherish: intentional plot holes that keep things spicily ambiguous; characters who appear boringly bourgeois but are hiding secret pasts or proclivities or both; a tiny dash of the supernatural; and an irony in all its forms that runs through everything…a rock-solid demonstration of his control over storytelling, technique and ability to get the best from actors.”
– Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter

“An elegant, slippery game of tonal bait-and-switch, WHEN FALL IS COMING finds the ever-unpredictable Ozon in mellow, pensive mode…Nobody is exactly who they appear to be, but Ozon’s nimble, perceptive little film takes that as a given: When winter and mortality are beckoning, the past only counts for so much.”
– Guy Lodge, Variety

Lastly,  Why is 'My Way' popular?

"My Way" is a timeless classic that has remained popular across generations due to several factors:

Universal themes: The song's themes of self-reflection, perseverance, and individuality resonate deeply with listeners worldwide.
Iconic melody: The song's catchy and memorable melody, combined with Paul Anka's English lyrics, has made it an enduring favorite.
Cultural significance: "My Way" has been associated with various cultural icons, including Frank Sinatra, who popularized the song in the late 1960s.
Timeless appeal: The song's message and melody transcend genres and age groups, making it a staple in popular culture.
Versatility: "My Way" has been covered by numerous artists, including the Virtuosos Talent Show's version featuring Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Dimash Qudaibergen, and HAUSER, introducing the song to new audiences.

These factors combined have cemented "My Way" as a beloved classic that continues to inspire and entertain people worldwide.