Recently, I went to Okinawa for a vacation. While on vacation, I bought
this small bottle of an energy drink made with extract from the habu (a
snake that is found in Okinawa). Can Dining Dojo overcome the bite of
the habu?
The habu snake energy drink was very interesting in its smell and taste. When smelling it, you will think that you are smelling some sort of medicine. The ginseng smell really comes out. The smell is off putting which would surprise some when you realize that there is snake extract in this energy drink.
The taste of this energy drink was actually quite tasty. If you are used to drink energy drinks like Red Bull or Monster, then this drink will surprise you. The usual burn that you will find in energy drinks is absent in this beverage.
Now, the question is that does this drink really bring more energy to you. After drinking this drink, I went to the gym to do a workout. I could definitely feel a difference when I took this energy drink and when I drink a Monster or Red Bull. If you take any sort of pre-workout supplements like Jack 3d, you will find the same sort of energy and response when taking this drink.
Would I drink this again in the future? Definitely, YES!!
Valentine's Day is a popular holiday worldwide. However, Japanese people have adopted new customs for this day. Unlike in the West where people mutually exchange gifts, Japanese women give mostly chocolate to men on this day. Men are not expected to give women any presents to women on this day. Men are expected to give presents to women on White Day which is on March 14th.
Here is an entry from Wikipedia discussing Valentine's Day in Japan.
Japan
In Japan, Morozoff Ltd.
introduced the holiday for the first time in 1936, when it ran an
advertisement aimed at foreigners. Later in 1953 it began promoting the
giving of heart-shaped chocolates; other Japanese confectionery
companies followed suit thereafter. In 1958 the Isetandepartment store ran a "Valentine sale". Further campaigns during the 1960s popularized the custom.[76][77]
The custom that only women give chocolates to men appears to have
originated from the translation error of a chocolate-company executive
during the initial campaigns.[78][citation needed] In particular, office ladies give chocolate to their co-workers. Unlike western countries, gifts such as greeting cards,[78] candies, flowers, or dinner dates[74] are uncommon, and most of the activity about the gifts is about giving the right amount of chocolate to each person.[78] Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during this time of the year.[78]
Many women feel obliged to give chocolates to all male co-workers,
except when the day falls on a Sunday, a holiday. This is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"), with unpopular co-workers receiving only "ultra-obligatory" chō-giri choko cheap chocolate. This contrasts with honmei-choko (本命チョコ, favorite chocolate), chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning "friend".[79]
In the 1980s the Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association
launched a successful campaign to make March 14 a "reply day", where
men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates
on Valentine's Day, calling it White Day for the color of the chocolates being offered. A previous failed attempt to popularize this celebration had been done by a marshmallow manufacturer who wanted men to return marshmallows to women.[76][77]
Men are expected to return gifts that are at least two or three times
more valuable than the gifts received in Valentine's Day. Not returning
the gift is perceived as the man placing himself in a position of
superiority, even if excuses are given. Returning a present of equal
value is considered as a way to say that you are cutting the
relationship. Originally only chocolate was given, but now the gifts of
jewelry, accessories, clothing and lingerie are usual. According to the
official website of White Day, the color white was chosen because it's
the color of purity, evoking "pure, sweet teen love", and because it's
also the color of sugar. The initial name was "Ai ni Kotaeru White Day"
(Answer Love on White Day).[76][77]
In Japan, the romantic "date night" associated to Valentine's Day is celebrated on Christmas Eve.[80]
In a 2006 survey of people between 10 and 49 years of age in Japan, Oricon Style found the 1986 Sayuri Kokushōsingle, Valentine Kiss, to be the most popular Valentine's Day song, even though it sold only 317,000 copies.[81] The singles it beat in the ranking were number one selling Love Love Love from Dreams Come True (2,488,630 copies) and Valentine's Radio from Yumi Matsutoya (1,606,780 copies). The final song in the top five was My Funny Valentine by Miles Davis.[81]
This year, there is a new trend in chocolate buying and giving called 自分チョコ zibunchoco (myself choco) which is chocolate that you buy for yourself. Recently, Japanese news has reported that zibun choco has increased 40 percent.
Also, there is another new and somewhat strange and sad trend that popped this year for Valentine's Day called chocolate insurance (チョコ保険). According the site valentine-hoken.com, a person can buy an insurance plan for 500 yen through PayPal, and you are guaranteed chocolate from a beautiful woman on Valentine's Day. What is even more strange, the further you look on the website, you will that the website claims that this site is for exclusively selling chocolate and not insurance.
Plus, there was a reported protest by small group of men protesting ValentIne's Day. They claim that they do not want chocolate from woman, and people should stop the practice of giving chocolate on Valentine's Day. This was a very small protest, about 20 to 30 people showed up.
If you are looking to buy some chocolate for a friend (tomochoco 友チョコ) or chocolate for yourself (zibunchoco 自分チョコ), you can go to any major department store to go chocolate shopping. Japanese department stores have special chocolate events selling various types of boutique chocolate. You will find some major brands such as Godiva or Laudree and some famous chocolate makers from across Japan and abroad. Takashimaya Department Store is holding their special chocolate event called "Amour du Chocolate" (Love of Chocolate).
Besides department stores holding special Valentine's Day events, you can find chocolate sales at most stores including Don Quixote.
Here is a collection of pics that I took that highlights the different chocolate events in Japan.
Also, local breweries are producing chocolate beer. Kinsachi from Nagoya released their Imperial Chocolate Stout and Chocolate Draft just in time for Valentine's Day. Dining Dojo will doing a review on both of these products.
Valentine's Day is just another day that people celebrate their love for one another. If you are a chocoholic, this day is heaven is for you. Just remember to you love your special someone everyday. Just do a little more on Valentine's Day, and you will be safe.
From Dining Dojo to everyone out there: Happy Valentine's Day
If you are looking for a cheap yet tasty beer, then you should definitely check the Abbey Beer from Traditional Brewery, Saint Omer, France. This beer reminds me of a Belgium blond ale (think Duval) with a bit of dark maltiness. It has deep malt flavor throughout the beer with hints of hop in the background. When drinking it, you would think that you are drinking a Belgium beer even though it is made in France. Saint Omer, where this beer is from, a city that is near the French border with Belgium. This beer comes at 6% ABV which is a bit stronger then the typical Japanese beer. This beer does not have an overwhelming alcohol burn, but you know it is there in the back taste of the taste.
This beer is a great beer to have at home. At the 198 yen price point, this beer is cheap yet it tastes great. If you are looking for a foreign beer that is not expensive, then you should check this beer
Today in Japan, it is Setsubun or bean throwing day. On February 3, people throughout Japan throw beans at demons and eat sushi in a certain direction in order to ensure luck in the new year. Setsubun is traditionally celebrated on the day before beginning of spring is usually celebrated. It is part of the Spring Festival (春祭り). Setsubun came to Japan in the eight century from Japan. It is closely associated with the Chinese custom called tsuina (追儺).
If you a go a Japanese supermarket in late January and early February, you can buy the special roasted soybeans called fukumame (副豆) and, also, special maki rolls called ehomaki (恵方巻）which loosely translates to lucky direction roll.
This year's setsubun dinner!! 今年の節分の晩ご飯！！いただきます！！
The fukumame is used is a ceremony called mamemaki (豆撒き: bean throwing). This practice started in the Muromachi period in Japan. During this ceremony, people throw the fukumame at the oni (demon), a person wearing a demon mask, who comes to the house on this day. When performing the mamemaki, people scream 鬼が外！福が内！(Demons out! Luck in!) in order to ensure good luck and fortune for the house in the new year. Besides throwing the fukumame at the demon, people eat the fukumame in order to bring good luck and health to themselves. People usually eat the the same number of beans as their age. There is another tradition in Japan where people eat the same number of beans as the age plus one more bean in order to ensure luck in the new year.
The other traditional that is associated with setsubun is rather new. Eating the ehomaki (恵方巻), the lucky direction roll, started in the Kansai region of Japan. Recently, these sushi rolls can be found across Japan. Ehomaki is a typically a type of futomaki (太巻き), a huge maki that is packed with various ingredients. Also when eating the ehomaki, there is a certain direction in which a person should eat the roll in order to maximize their luck for the year. The directions are based on the Chinese zodiac. This year's lucky direction is south southeast (南南東).
Here is a sign at my local supermarket telling people this year's lucky direction.
Many of the culinary customs in Japan are tied to providing one with fortune, health, or good luck. Food plays an important role in Japanese society and culture because its show how food is an integral part of culture and identity. Furthermore, food and customs that are associated with eating and drinking provide a visual and sensual reminder of memories for people. Throwing the fukumame at demons and eating ehomaki in certain direction are only two examples that illustrate the connection between history and food. People tend to eat for two reasons: for subsistence and for celebration.
For all of you Nagoyajins (people of Nagoya) and beer lovers, this is for you. I am always looking for shops that sell craft beer or foreign beer. Most places that tend to sell lesser known beers (no major brews) are shops that specialize in foreign food or department stores or small liquor stores. However recently, I have found a great supermarket that sells great beer and liquor.
If you have ever been shopping at the Aeon shopping mall at Nagoya Dome Mae Yada in Kita-ku, you have probably missed one of best liquor selections in all of Nagoya. The liquor selection that I am talking about is in the Jusco supermarket on the first floor. Most people would dismiss the notion that supermarkets have extensive liquor departments. They are totally mistaken with this place. The liquor selection at the Jusco supermarket is a cornucopia of great wine, beer, and liquor.
If you are beer drinker and you love great foreign beer, this is the place for you. In their beer section, you can find great uncommon foreign beer. They have great American beer, and I am not talking about Budweiser (just joking) or Sam Adams. This is the only store in Nagoya that I know that carries Stone Brewing Ruination IPA and Stone Brewing Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale. Some of the beers they carry are the Bear Republic line of products, Kona Brewing beers from Hawaii, Anchor Steam beers, and, also, they have Brooklyn Lager. Plus, they have a great selection of Asian and European beers. They, also, carry an extensive line of spirits, liquor, wine, shochu, and nihonshu (sake to those live outside of Japan).
So if you are looking for a great beer to relax to or something to impress your friends, you should definitely go the Jusco supermarket at the Nagoya Dome Mae Yada Aeon. There is great beer in Nagoya, but you just have to look for it.
Please enjoy the short video and pictures that I took.
Here is the address for the Nagoya Dome Mae Yada Aeon.
名古屋市東区矢田南4
Nagoya City, Higashi Ward, Yada Minami 4
Its about a five minute walk from the Nagoya Dome Mae Yada Station on the Meijo Line (the purple line)
In early January, Dining Dojo went to Okinawa for a short vacation. While in Okinawa, I found this offering from Helios, a local brewery there. I have previously reviewed the 天使のRed Ale from Helios, and I really liked that beer. So, I wanted to try another offering from this brewery. While walking along International Street (国際道), I found this beer in of the shops there. It is should noted that so on the same street, there was a Helios Bar. Unfortunately, I did not go and have a drink there. When I was window shopping in the stores that were catering to tourists and hawking souvenirs, I say this beer everywhere.
I definitely wanted to try this. The two things that grabbed me to buy this product. First, it was a locally produced beer. I am fan of local beer. You can definitely taste the craftsmanship that it took to produced this beer. The second reason was that this beer was of the weizen style. I love weizen (wheat) beers, and recently, Japanese brewers have been producing really good weizen beers.
When I returned back to my home in Nagoya, I decided to taste this beer. When I opened the Blue Sky and Sea Beer, I could right now smell that this was a wheat beer. The wheat characteristic really came through. However when compared to a German wheat beer for example, the Blue Sky and Sea Beer was weaker but not by a whole lot.
The flavor profile of this beer is a wheat beer through and through. The taste was not heavily pronounced, but you could tell that this is wheat beer. This beer is very drinkable.
If you are not a fan of strong German wheat beer, give this beer a try. If you are being introduced to wheat beers for the first time. you will find this beer a nice primer to the style. If you can get hold of this beer, definitely do so.
