This is where I ate this monster katsu sandwich –link
Posts tagged japanese
Ai Ootsuka – “Ramen 3 Minute Cooking” Concert Video
Japanese pop star singing about ramen. The song is three minutes long. So when it’s over, your noodles are done cooking. Thanks for the link, Sam.
Sakagura – The Hidden Japanese Restaurant & Secret Menu
Had a late dinner with Marcellus, who is making these great illustrated letters to his nieces & nephew. It’s weird how I often seek Marcellus’ knowledge on Asian culture in New York, even though I’m the one who’s Asian. So here we are at this hidden Japanese restaurant downstairs in the basement of a Midtown office building. They have a lot of small dishes on the menu, similar to tapas.
The young waiter stopped me when I was taking a photo of the menu. We were confused. He said it was customary at most places that you can’t take a photo of the menu, because it’s private. From what we got is that they don’t want people stealing their menu. I confirmed this social faux pas with Yoshie, who said it was common in Japan with menus and food. Weird, since I always assumed the food photo-taking culture came from teenage girls from Asia. Perhaps it’s mainly the older expensive restaurants. The waiter didn’t seem to have a problem when I was taking twenty photos of each dish though, just the menu.
Marcellus and I shared a few small dishes. My favorite by far was the Gindara Yuan Yak (grilled cod). One of the two pieces was cooked perfectly. Just fell apart so nice. Everything else wasn’t as memorable. I should have tried a couple more, but they were relatively expensive for the size.
In their restroom, there was a bidet seat on the toilet. I’ve never used one and was really tempted. I didn’t have to go, but did press the buttons to see what it would do. Nothing happened, but maybe you have to sit on it first. And maybe that was good, because it would have just squirted my face.
BTW, you can check out their secret menu on Menupages and even on their own website.
Sakagura – 211 E 43rd St #B1 (btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave) New York 10017
Here’s Marcellus’ latest Letters From Uncle Marce –full series here
Blimpie Sushi
Yesterday, I asked on the Serious Eats forums what I should eat for Groundhog’s Day …or Lost season premiere. One person mentioned Setsubun (Japanese bean-throwing ceremony), which is today. I asked Yoshie about this.
Yoshie: its insane. one person becomes “oni” (evil spirit) and we throw soy beans at them
me: whoa
Yoshie: and then we eat big rolled sushi (not the kind we eat here, only veggies and stuff) facing certain direction. you have to eat it in one bite
So I went to the Blimpie downstairs that has sushi. Yeah, it’s a weird combination. The place also has donuts. The sushi (Inaka Sushi) is actually a separate entity from Blimpie and has been there for a few years now. It’s surprising because I don’t think they get much business.
When I looked at their selection, the chefs were eager to help. Nothing has changed from the first couple of times I tried them when they first open. Not meaning that the sushi was three years old, but meaning they were very friendly, accommodating while seemingly eager for business –like Babu and his American restaurant when Seinfeld first walked in.
I picked the fattest sushi they had, Futomaki ($4.90). I enjoyed it. Surprisingly, it’s really not bad sushi for being in a Blimpie. I can’t say it’s great sushi, but everything considered. I hope they get more business. I feel like Jerry and want to help. What would he do? Make the suggestion of making subs or move into a Yoshinoya?
I told Yoshie about my Blimpie sushi. She tells me you have to eat it whole –uncut roll in one bite.
Yoshie: …but if they are cut, you lose the luck
me: crap. I just ate it.
Inaka Sushi – 67 West 23rd St (btwn 6th and 5th Ave) New York 10011
Matsukado NYC
Tried this new ramen spot with Yoshie of Ramen and Friends. She had the Udon (with tempura flakes, sweetened deep-fried tofu pockets, spinach) –which I thought was pretty good. I got the Ramen Matsukado that had a little bit of everything (pork, shrimp, squid, thick gravy over soy based broth). The gravy mixed up with the broth and it sorta turned into a big bowl of lo-mein noodles with lo-mein sauce. It tasted Chinese.
The grand opening special of the sho-yu ramen $5.95 and miso shio ramen $6.95 sounds like a good deal. I think I should have gotten one of those. But I was already so indecisive. The waitress came over at least five times to take my order.
Matsukado – 104 Second Ave (btw E. 7th & 6th St) New York, NY 10003
Ramen and Friends’ cross post review
Shabu Shabu & Deep Dish Pizza
Took a trip to Jersey to work on some music with Rik & Nancy. I almost thought about stopping by Medieval Times to food blog, but I’m glad I was fed by my gracious hosts instead.
Nancy made Shabu Shabu, which was great and now I want to get a hot pot. It reminded me of my first Christmas in New York. My co-worker, Crystal, invited me and a few other co-workers for Shabu-Shabu. Everyone kept using their chopsticks to pick out of the hot pot, but I noticed Crystal kept trying to give me other utensils to pick food out. I was drunk and insisted on using my chopsticks. The next day I realize why she did that. I had a big cold sore on my lip. I kept praying no one would get my sore. When we got back to work after the holidays, I saw Takashi with his own herpe. Uh-oh.
Rik was working on his Deep Dish Pizza recipe for dinner. He was really excited. Sausage, onions, fresh mozzarella and basil. He regrettably used too much pizza dough in the casserole dish. It was super thick and doughy, but I thought it was pretty good in a pizza version of chicken & dumplings kinda way. I think it could be a new dish.
Rik & Nancy kept feeding me food and small bottles of plum wine all day. It was like visiting my parents. It was awesome. Medieval Times, till next time.
Posts