Today's Entertainment

M arcus Samuelsson, a chef on ABC's "The Taste," has such international flair, it's hard to pinpoint his accent. Born in Ethiopia and adopted by a Swedish family, he speaks Swedish, German, English and French. Samuelsson lives in Harlem, a few blocks from his restaurant, Red Rooster. Deeply affected by 9/11, Samuelsson adjusted his menus and outlook after the attacks. "I wanted to eat things that made me feel good and warm and comforting," he says. "That was sort of the starting point for me in that sense. That is how I looked at it. "It changed a lot of things for me," Samuelsson continues. "Before that I did food that was high risk and very precise in its nature until moving to Harlem, where Red Rooster is all about comfort food." Samuelsson grew up with traditional Swedish fare. The first thing he recalls making, at about age 6, was meatballs and gingersnaps with his sister and grandmother. Trained at the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, and having worked at many restaurants, Samuelsson says the difficult part of the Thursday show has been pulling back. "Normally as a chef, I am the one cooking; I am in charge of it," he says, "But here you are constantly challenged. I am not allowed to cook. I can only guide and want to jump in and do it. But the purpose was to coach these individuals with mixed experiences to cooking, to get the most wonderful taste in one bite as possible." Besides cooking, Samuelsson enjoys mingling with diners. To be conversant in different topics, he watches the news and immerses himself in the culture of New York. He frequents the Apollo Theater, the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center. "Places like Harlem and Brooklyn that has discoveries of raw talent, whether art, music or food," Samuelsson says, "it is one of the reasons to live in New York. You have this constantly bubbling scene of emerging talents." What are you currently reading? "I just finished a book about a fellow Swede, an immigrant, a good book, 'I Am Zlatan' (by Zlatan Ibrahimovic). His journey as a fellow Swede is very interesting." What did you have for dinner last night? "A stew that I cooked, cabbage and potatoes and dark chicken. I did a beer- based sauce, cooking down beer and onions." What is your next project? "I am in the middle of it, pushing and having fun with 'The Taste.' It is an exciting time for me. I continue to evolve with Ginny's Supper Club, here in the basement of Red Rooster. I am really excited about 14, 'The Taste,' and I know what we have upcoming in our restaurant." When was the last vacation you took – where and why? "Me and my wife went to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. We just needed to get away. It was a great relaxing trip we needed." BY JACQUELINE CUTLER BEST SCREEN VALENTINES "Blue Valentine" (2010) Michelle Williams is a heartbreaker in writer-director Derek Cianfrance's tale of the rise and fall of a young romance, earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her work here. Co-star Ryan Gosling was also Globe-nominated. "Valentine's Day" (2010) As he would do a year later with "New Year's Eve," director Garry Marshall uses a holiday as the backdrop for a variety of stories – love stories, of course – brought to life by Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx and more. "My Bloody Valentine" (2009) Yes, it's a slasher movie, so if that isn't your thing, forgive its inclusion on this list. By the genre's standards, though, it's – sorry! – a cut above most, thanks to a well-thought-out plot and a cast of familiar faces including Jensen Ackles ("Supernatural") and Jaime King ("Hart of Dixie"). "Shirley Valentine" (1989) "Bridget Jones's Diary" meets "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" in this British romantic comedy adapted from a play by Willy Russell. Pauline Collins ("Albert Nobbs") was Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of the disillusioned housewife who gets a new outlook on life during a vacation in Greece – a role she'd played in the original West End and Broadway productions. "The Lost Valentine" (2011) A World War II-era bride (Betty White) who's never given up hope that her missing-in-action husband is alive tells her story to a reporter (Jennifer Love Hewitt). If this Hallmark Hall of Fame production doesn't leave you weeping, check yourself for a pulse. "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" (1975) You're never too young to have your heart broken, as some members of the "Peanuts" gang learn in this classic animated special. After it premiered, kids all over the country sent valentines to poor, forgotten Charlie Brown, proving that you're also never too young to have your heart touched. "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" (1967) Directed by Roger Corman, this crime drama recalls the day in 1929 when Al Capone's (Jason Robards) forces took control of Chicago's organized crime scene with a bloody attack on rival Bugs Moran's (Ralph Meeker) gang. Michelle Williams BY BEVERLY FOSTER SEINBERG Jensen Ackles Jennifer Garner 8 The Goshen News • TV Spotlight • February 10-16, 2014

• Cover