OK, Here we go..... I think it only fair to start with this photo as this trip to Tokyo, and the inspiration of these two guys with me in the photo, really kicked off my interest in exploring food, photographing said eats, and sharing/explaining my impressions of my experiences. So, to you David Chang and Anthony Bourdain, Cheers, and thanks. As I begin I think it only fair to explain a bit of what my purpose with this blog is. As you know, I do not participate in Facebook, and I wont go into why here, but I NEEDED a vehicle to communicate and connect with those in my life, both near and far. As the name implies, this will primarily be a blog about pizza. However, as this is mine, I will feel free to do and say as I damn well please, as it pleases me. So I hope to not offend or tiptoe too far over the line of appropriateness, but if I do, that's just too fucken bad. Enjoy. Pizza, food, life experiences, thoughts, feelings, rants, and more food. This is what you will find here. Please feel free to share and pass along to anyone you think might have an interest, as I hope you will as well. Sincerely yours, DVA

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Owl Cafe - Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan

Cat Cafe?  That shit is boring.

Owl cafe is where it's at!


Is this really gonna be a thing????


Owls, seriously?  In cages right?  Behind glass, viewing only, right??


Negative.

The real deal.

Welcome to the Owl Cafe.


Owls with people.  No talon attacks nor pecking out of eyeballs.

Harmony with nature.....


Owl Brothers


Sketchy Owls



Mini owls


Fucken owls are everywhere!!!!!


Sleeping Owls


WTF IS HAPPENING?!?!?!?!?!  Is this really a thing?!?!?




Yeah, it's real.


 Owls







Please don't bite my face off?!!!!!!


I'm lost for words


Why Owls?  Why not Ferrets?  What about Leopard Cafe, Rhino Cafe, Porcupine Cafe, Cobra Cafe?

What I really want is a Spider Monkey Cafe

Why can't we have a Spider Monkey Cafe!?!?!?!???!!!

DVA

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Cat Cafe - Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan

 I'm just walking down the street, minding my own business, and for some reason I happen to casually glance skyward, and I'm like "what???"  

Cat Cafe

What the hell is a Cat Cafe?!?!

Should I check it out?  Dare I go up???

Of course, let's roll.


Now to clarify a bit, it's 90 degrees and 90% humidity outside.  It's the middle of the day and I've been walking in the sun for an hour and I'm a tattoo'd American in shorts and a t-shirts that is soaked through with sweat.

Do I care?  Of course I do, but I'm still going in.

The sign at the elevator provides no answers to any of my questions.  Do I need to bring my own cat? Can I pet yours?  Is this a viewing thing only?  Do you have something cold that I can drink?  And please have the A/C on......


Apparently the official name of this place is Mocha.


And there are rules, and costs.

$3.50 for all the cold drinks you want and $2.00 for each 10 minutes spent with the cats.

Take off your shoes, wash your hands, enjoy.

Meow


Finally I'm able to spy a bit through the window.  I'm still like WTF?!?!?!?


Take some time with this photo.  Scan the crowd, take it all in.  I'll be waiting for you below.


Crazy

Most of the people are just watching.  Watching the cats being fed and watching them just laying there, and paying money to do it.




It's a good thing that the temperature is right and I'm able to enjoy a nice cold tea. Me and this loner cat are chilling, trying to stay clear of the weirdness over there.


Don't get me wrong, I love cats, and I'm all for people spending their own time and money doing whatever they want.

Or am I...

DVA



Saturday, July 9, 2016

Park Side Restaurant - Best Italian Restaurant in New York



Correct, best.

I know, I know, I know.  You've been to this restaurant or that, and it's your favorite and you love it and blah blah blah.  But, compared to this place, I'm sure that your place sucks.   Park Side not only has terrific food, good solid American Italian food, but the atmosphere and ambiance to boot.
Here's what your eyes feast on when you first enter:


It feels like there's gonna be a "hit" taking place in the alley out back later.  Fah-get-aboutit!

Old school?  This place is so Old School it makes it feel New again.

Love it, loved it.

We roll in without a reservation on a Wednesday night and the place is packed.  We are lucky enough to get a seat and the first thing that arrives, complimentary I might add, is this basket of bread, AND....


This plate of apps, FREE, everyone gets free stuff!

Sliced cured meats, hand chunked parmesan, bruschetta, wowza wowza!


1/2 carafe of the house wine please.

This was the only disappointment of the night.  It was super sweet and tasted like they just made it yesterday.  They could have listed it as grape juice and it would've been more accurate.
I still drank it all....


Lady hook, not under the table.  Nice.


The app special was octopus sauted in garlic and oil and and other stuff.  I wish there was smell-a-vision on this.  It was incredible.  AND, we didn't need to look around or ask anyone for more bread CAUSE THERE'S A BASKET OF IT ON THE TABLE!!!   Woohooo!


Standard Caesar Salad.  Classic and perfect.


We are sitting back and relaxing and enjoying the slow meal.  The people watching was also pretty epic.  Not only the guests but the staff as well.  It's like we are in a movie.


Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Over linguini.  Slightly spicy, rich deep marinara flavor, perfectly cooked shrimp.  It was wonderful.



HG had the special, stuffed rigatoni, stuffed with spinach and ricotta.


The first photo doesn't look that great, but it was super good, I helped her with a few bites  :-O


The plates are cleared and more free stuff.

Wow

Homemade biscotti.  Mmmmmmmmm


For desert we had the Tiramisu.  It was really good.  The ratio of cream to cookie was a bit out of balance, but it was a nice finish to a fairly heavy meal.


They had a housemade fig grappa that I really NEEDED to try...  And I loved it.  Not too sweet and didn't have that lighter fluid taste that some lesser quality grappa's can have.  I'd order it again every time.


And, just for the pure journalistic-ness of the event, I needed to try the standard, non-housemade grappa.  Again, good quality, no throat burn, smooth and fairly complex.

What more can I say?

If you are ever in or near Queens NYC you really have to try this place, cause it's the best.

DVA


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