Catastrophic flooding and crop losses in Thailand, the world’s leading rice exporter, are raising concerns that another food crisis may be in the offing. Further disquieting is the possibility that the world may have already entered a new era where persistently high food prices are the “New Normal.”At a time when policymakers are grappling with a host of thorny economic issues, the possibility may be unwelcome, but must not be ignored.Although volatility in commodity markets is nothing new, ther

  Oahu’s fresh farm-to-table cuisine captivates international gourmandsOAHU, Hawaii ― When Manny Miles, 27, looks out from his farm field across the majestic Waianae Valley in Oahu, he sees a bright future for the food industry in Hawaii.Hawaii is a tourist paradise and has a long history as a favorite destination for honeymooners, but the tropical islands are now trying to receive high marks for its culinary scene.And young farmers like Miles have been at the heart of the farm-to-table movement

Classical Music“Trio Owon”: Classical music group Trio Owon, led by cellist Yang Sung-won, will hold its debut concert in Korea at the LG Arts Center on Nov. 6. The other two members are pianist Emmanuel Strosser and violinist Olivier Charlier. The name “Owon” comes from late Korean painter Jang Seung-up (1843-1897), who was depicted in Im Kwon-taek’s 2002 film “Painted Fire.” The trio will showcase German Romantic musicians in the 19th century -- Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Tickets range

The King of Pigs (Korea)Opening Nov.3Thriller/Drama. Directed by Yeun Sang-ho. Kyung-min, a 30-something CEO impulsively kills his wife after his business goes bankrupt. He seeks out his long-lost friend Jong-suk, whom he was close with in middle school. The two meet up and talk about their middle school days where both of them were severely bullied by their classmates. At the time, they became friends with Chul, an outsider who helped them avoid abuse from the class bullies. Chul had planned a

SPO, Chung fly with Mahler No.1 Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra“Mahler Symphony No. 1”(Universal Music)After releasing the debut album “Debussy and Ravel” under Deutsche Grammophon, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and its music director Chung Myung-whun will launch their live recording of Mahler Symphony No. 1 “Titan” on Nov. 3. The program was recorded at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Nov. 3, 2010, as part of the SPO’s “Mahler Series” concerts and was hugely popular among classical musi

If British comedian Rowan Atkinson had any doubts about his international appeal, they’ve been put to rest by stories he keeps hearing from English aid workers returning from trips to Africa.“They go to these African villages where there are four thatched huts,” said Atkinson, 56. “There is nobody in any of them except one, where the entire village is crammed in there. There’s a tiny black-and-white TV set being powered by a car battery, and there’s a ‘Mr. Bean’ VHS tape being played.”Mr. Bean i

MIAMI ― Michael Schwartz, one of Miami’s top chefs, is bringing his star power and farm-to-table cuisine aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, designing all-new menus for one of the ship’s fine-dining restaurants, 150 Central Park, beginning with the Oct. 29 sailing.At first glance, it looks like an odd fit.Schwartz, owner of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in the Design District and two other restaurants, specializes in rustic dishes, simple preparations and local, seasonal ingredients. Th

Tantalizing images set in a new lightThe Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales By Chris Van Allsburg and contributing writers(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)For 26 years, it‘s been one of kid lit’s greatest mysteries: Who was Harris Burdick, and why did he leave 14 of his cryptically captioned illustrations with one Peter Wenders back in 1984?If author Lemony Snicket’s introduction is to be believed, Burdick is by now “either very old, quite dead, or both.” The 14 chronicles

Anne Enright doesn’t believe in leading readers gently into anything ― certainly not an affair. In “The Forgotten Waltz,” the Irish writer plunges us headlong into the world of Gina Moynihan, young IT consultant and adulteress at large.Gina is not so much an unreliable narrator as someone obsessed with her own unreliability. Dissecting her love affair with married man Sean Vallely, she constantly doubles back on her own thoughts and memories, gamely trying to pinpoint the moment when her convent