Eat Drink Man Woman & Tortilla Soup

1. Eat Drink Man Woman &Tortilla Soup Similarities

2. Similarities Eat Drink Man Woman Tortilla Soup Mexican cultureCalifornia Three Naranjo daughters: Leticia, Carmen, Maribel No mother Gomez, father’s chef friend passes away Martin Naranjo marries his daughter’s friend, Yolanda Middle daughter is a businesswoman with a chance to move to Barcelona • Chinese cultureTaiwan • Three Chu daughters: Jiachien, JiaJien, JiaNing • No mother • Old Wen, father’s chef friend passes away • Mr. Chu marries his daughter’s friend, Jingrong • Middle daughter is a businesswoman with a chance to move to Amsterdam

3. Similarities Continued EDMW Tortilla Soup Leticia is a chemistry teacher who marries a P.E. teacher Leticia—Christian Love letters from students Martin’s taste returns in the end Carmen doesn’t go to Europe and buys the family home to turn into a restaurant • JiaChien—chemistry teacher who marries a P.E. teacher • JiaChien—devout Christian • Love letters from students • Mr. Chu’s sense of taste returns in the end • JiaJien doesn’t go to Europe and buys the family home

4. More Similarities EDMW Tortilla Soup Martin Naranjo prepares daily lunch for Yolanda’s daughter Hortensia (Yolanda’s mother) has designs on Martin Martin gets a medical check-up so he can marry Yolanda • Mr. Chu prepares daily lunch for JingRong’s daughter • Mrs. Liang (JingRong’s mother) has designs on Mr. Chu • Mr. Chu goes to the hospital for a medical check-up so he can marry JingRong

5. More Similarities EDMW TS So does Hortensia. Carmen’s boyfriend is a cheater Maribel’s poet boyfriend used to be her friend’s boyfriend Maribel moves out of the family home • Mrs. Liang faints when she hears the news of the marriage. • JiaJien’s boyfriend is a cheater • JiaNing’s poet boyfriend used to be her friend’s boyfriend • JiaNing moves out of the family home

6. More Similarities EDMW TS Martin is a jogger Carmen wanted to be a chef & is the most beautiful Martin is closest to Carmen Martin killed chickens for cooking “Old maid” Leticia interrupts a softball game to get Orlando’s attention • Mr. Chu is a jogger • JiaJien wanted to be a chef & is the most beautiful • Mr. Chu is closest to JiaJien • Mr. Chu killed chickens for cooking • “Old maid” JiaChien interrupts a volleyball game to get Chai’s attention

7. Possible Writing Ideas • An article for a food magazine about a possible menu for an important family dinner (use examples from both Chinese and Mexican cooking) • Advice column—how food can improve relationships • Recipes (personal & creative) example? • Blog post about the difficulties of getting good Chinese or Mexican food outside of those countries (criticism of P.F. Chang’s)

8. More Writing Ideas • Blog for a businesswoman who wishes she were a chef • The 3rd daughter’s boyfriend (philosophical) • Interview with Carmen about the opening of her restaurant • Interview with Mr. Chu about his hypothetical new restaurant • Interview with a Chinese and a Mexican chef about the importance of their cuisines

9. More Ideas • Blog post—how to cook without a sense of taste • News article for a high school newspaper in Taipei or Los Angeles about the student pranksters who wrote the fake love letters • Mr. Chu creates a new type of cuisine (fusion) • Indigenous Taiwanese? Old Mexico/California • Economics/business news article about real estate

10. More Ideas • Government report on the connection between heart attacks and rich food • Foods ranked by popularity & region • Medical report on Mr. Chu or Martin’s health • Advertisements for the restaurant or a company ((2nd daughter’s) • Advertisement to sell the family home • Poster for the 3rd daughter’s art exhibit