Dinner in Tokyo

I am somewhere in Tokyo.   

A huge city, gazilions of people, endless streets zigzagging to nowhere and everywhere at the same time, countless restaurants, choices that are to many to list.  A taxi, the subway, we walk, turning left then right then right again, over and over and over, meandering through the crowds, passing door after door, finally ending here.  A few Japanese characters painted on the wall, the door opens, down we go.  

A very simple setting, an old couple hard at work.  She is the server, he is the cook.  Half way through the meal a post-teen shows up to help with the dining room, which contains only about 6 tables.  The decor is stark, the focus is not the ambiance, other than the jazz music playing very loudly in the kitchen, which is open to the dining room.  This place is all about preparing and serving great food.

A wonderful meal, awesome drinks, great company.

Enjoy

We must always start with beer.  This I like

This was very similar in flavor to pickled herring, but obviously more refind and super delicious

Potato salad.  I was kind of like "WTF???"  Really?  Potato Salad? Until I tasted it.  Soo good.

The menu is created fresh every day.  Hand written.  Creative and delicious.

Shochu

A Japanese distilled alcohol.  I was drinking it on the rocks.   Others mixed about half and half water.  We killed 3 bottles I think, and not small bottles either.  I liked this stuff!!*#&#!!!!!!!

Yeah, we had fun

Sashimi

Tuna belly, red snapper, squid, giant clam (I think)

Looks like Wagu beef

Freshly grated wasabi

Sea Urchin

A shit ton of it

Creamy and delicious

Some sort of stir fry.  Scallops, shrimp, mushrooms, asparagus, garlic cloves, etc...

This was my favorite dish of the night.

Salmon

I think THIS was my favorite actually!

Uhmmm, yeah, THISSSSSSSSS  was totally my favorite!  So tender and flavorful.  Not sure if I've had a better, more perfectly cooked, aweome tasting piece of cow ever.   Terrific!

The silver and greyish one is Mackerel, the brownish is a type of Sea Eel

Both were great

A really good trip, a really great meal.

Peace out from Tokyo

DVA

Tribute Pizza, San Diego, Father's Day 2013

I'm quite a tardy man with the scribing of this post.  Alas, I am a busy one these days.

But tardy as it might be, it is now upon us.  

Read it for sure, enjoy it I hope

http://www.tributepizza.com/

I really am having a tough time figuring out where to start this one.  The day was amazing, the surprise was awesome, the pizza was more than delicious.  I guess we'll start there.

Father's Day, 2013

My daughters son in-law came over to spend some time with me in the afternoon and share a meal.  I was told none of the details, not that it was presented as a surprise, I was just told not to ask, that everything was taken care of, chill, enjoy the company, food would happen when it happened.  So we chatted, opened cards, and I was getting hungry, ready to eat.

The next thing I know a dude rolled to the door of my apartment with 3 pizza boxes and a big smile

You've probably already picked up on two things.  

One, this guy kicks ass.  

Two, these photos are going to suck.

I simply wasn't prepared, didn't know that this was going to go down.  I grabbed my phone and shot what I could, and I missed a lot.  So enjoy this half-assed post and try to glean what you can from it, knowing that this was some of the best pizza I have ever eaten, anywhere, anyhow.

Tribute Pizza

it isn't the greatest and best pizza in the world, just a Tribute

Already this is great.  Jack Black quote????  Hell to the yes!

This guy, I think his name is Matthew, but I'm not sure, loves pizza.  Everything about pizza. There is no restaurant, no way to go and enjoy it when you want.  He performs "pop-up" events and you can also order through his website, but not at the moment you want the pie.  This is special event pizza, planning ahead pizza, days in advance, from what I gather.  All I know is the dude rolled in with pizzas he made in a commercial kitchen in North Park and finished them in my kitchen.  They were already cooked, he just finished them with olive oil, parmesan cheese, etc., whatever.  

Now, sit back and enjoy the terribly blurry photos and no explanation of the toppings

Lame, I know, what can I say?

Three pies.  From near to far, a margherita type, then an arugula and white type, then a hard salami thicker rectangle type,
(this one was the favorite.  All were super delicious, this one was just a bit more wowzer)

awkward photo, sorry dude

And then, like a ninja, he was gone

I MISS YOU (and your pie) PIZZA DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  COME BACK SOON!!!!!!

I love this guy, his deal, his pizza.  I want to eat it every day.  The crust was sent from heaven.  A pure work of art.  Soft on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside, and not too much of either.  Simply perfect.  A master craftsman.  

If you'd like to enjoy the best pizza availabe anywhere in the world, and it's right here in San Diego!!!!!!  then check out the website and EAT THIS PIE!!!!!!!

My crew, they are awesome too.  Thanks guys, a great day for sure

A very happy Father's Day 2013

P.S.  A big hi to Casey and Lauren too!  You guys are awesome and we all miss you here in San Diego.  Come out soon!!!!!!!!

Lots of love to everyone

Dad out

GO EAT SOME PIE!

Japanese Toilet fun

Hello there folks

This is not pie related nor mouth related

The purpose of this post is to bring you the joys of the automated toilet

I am not referring to a simple bidet.  This is a fully automated, adjustable toilet for all of mankind, to clean yourself after doing some serious, or an attempted serious, amount of work, privately.

I filmed this in my hotel room in Tokyo

I love this so much that I even sit down to pee.  It's like a taking a mini bath, minor clean up on aisle two, a spritzer on a busy day to keep you going, a refreshing mountain breeze.

Click the link, sit back, enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqSjmsBG-sk&feature=youtu.be

DVA

Favorite Japanese Restaurant in Japan, Okayama City, No idea of the name tho.....

Yes, this is my favorite Japanese food in Japan.

No, I don't know the name.

Not only that, I don't know what most of the stuff I ate was.  

Doesn't mean it can't be amazing, and it is, consistently.

This is my second visit to this place.  It's located in Okayama City, about 6 blocks east of Okayama Station, straight down the main street from the station, on the left side of the street.

As you may already have surmised, this is going to be one of those posts where I won't provide much info (cause I don't have much).  So just sit back and enjoy the photos.  I'll comment where I can.

Itadakimasu

This following is the name, entry way to the restaurant.  I believe it's the name of the chef/owner

Stunningly beautiful place-setting

Always start with beer

First course

I was going to say homemade tofu but EVERYTHING here is homemade, so I'll dispense with that from here forward

Sesame tofu under sea urchin in a light ponzu type sauce

And, some sort of small shredded fish topped with salmon roe, and lots of other stuff

As you will see with everything, the presentation is as amazing as the flavors

Best tasting and best looking food I've ever eaten

Broth with some fish that I was told was extremely expensive.  The name wasn't easily translatable so we simply enjoyed eating it

FINALLY some sake!

On the right was Okayama sake and the left Niigata

I have to say the Okayama sake was the winner that night, had to be

Pick a cup, or two

Separate cups for each

A small ice boat with fish and squid.

The best tasting textured squid I've ever had.  It was perfect

Mackerel in ponzu and grated daicon

Cod and sweet potato

The most perfectly cooked piece of fish I think I've ever eaten

Yes please, more sake

A steamed custard with sea breem inside and shrimp on top.

Incredible

Sofaking good I can hardly look at the photos without crying

Handmade ceramic sake cups

More sake

Tempura

Red miso and rice, just the best way to begin to close out a meal

Desert

Green tea ice cream, red beans, something soft and giggly in cocoa powder (no idea what)

Green tea

Another great food experience in the books.

DVA - Sayonara