2013年6月25日火曜日

22 Excellent Reasons to Drink Whiskey from Buzzfeed.com

For a while now.  I have been a whiskey fan.  When I was younger, I did not care for whiskey.  Since I have gotten older, I getting the chance to appreciate the different complexities that whiskey brings to the table.  Recently, I was buzzfeed.com, and I saw an excellent article listing the various reasons to drink whiskey.  Here is what I found.

22 Excellent Reasons To Drink More Whiskey

As if you needed any.

1. Whiskey is low-carb and fat-free, so your thighs will thank you.

Whiskey is low-carb and fat-free, so your thighs will thank you.
One shot has zero fat and .04 carbs, guys…so you can wear your skinny jeans and drink a highball too.

2. The word whiskey means “water of life.”

The word whiskey means "water of life."
Whiskey comes from the Gaelic word “Uisge Beatha,” which means “water of life.” That phonetically became “usky,” and eventually was pronounced as “whiskey.” Drink that water, friends!
Source: web.stagram.com

3. In frontier country, whiskey was as valuable as gold.

In frontier country, whiskey was as valuable as gold.
In 18th century Pennsylvania, the favored currency was whiskey — which was used for cooking, medicine, and drinking, among other things. That whiskey loyalty would eventually lead to the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion, where farmers fought against the taxes that threatened their liquor livelihood. That’s a fight worth fighting, if you ask me.

4. Whiskey can help prevent cancer.

Whiskey can help prevent cancer.
In 2005, Dr. Jim Swan, speaking at the EuroMedLab conference in Glasgow, said, “Research has shown that there are even greater health benefits to people who drink single-malt whiskies. Why? Single-malt whiskies have more ellagic acid than red wine.”
That ellagic acid, also found in most fruits, is an antioxidant that may absorb rogue cancer cells in the body. More research needs to be made to make this conclusive, but let’s drink up and hope Dr. Swan is correct.
Source: imgur.com

5. Drinking whiskey can lower your risk of having a stroke.

Drinking whiskey can lower your risk of having a stroke.
To be clear, drinking large amounts of alcohol is related to a higher incidence of stroke. However, if you can master the art of moderate consumption — meaning one drink a day — that may provide protection against an ischemic stroke. In fact, having one drink per day is better than no drinks per day when it comes to protecting against ischemic stroke.
Source: imgur.com

6. It also may reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

22 Excellent Reasons To Drink More Whiskey
A 1998 study found that a big shot of whiskey can help protect against heart disease, and boost the body’s defenses against disease by raising the body’s level of antioxidants.
Source: imgur.com

7. Drinking one to six glasses of whiskey a week can lower an adult’s risk of dementia.

22 Excellent Reasons To Drink More Whiskey
A 2003 case study with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that the odds of incident dementia were lower among those adults who consumed moderate alcohol, rather than none at all!
Source: imgur.com

8. Hillary Clinton chugs whiskey on the regular.

Hillary Clinton chugs whiskey on the regular.
And we all wanna be like Hil.
Source: vh1.com

9. Winston Churchill drank whiskey and water for breakfast…and lead a nation through World War II.

Winston Churchill drank whiskey and water for breakfast...and lead a nation through World War II.
The whiskey soda washed down his eggs and cigar, naturally.
Image by Keystone / Getty Images

10. And Jack Donaghy uses it to help him rule over Kabletown.

And Jack Donaghy uses it to help him rule over Kabletown.

11. Oh, and did I mention that Mark Twain was a big fan?

Oh, and did I mention that Mark Twain was a big fan?
Source: pinterest.com

12. A closed bottle of whiskey will be good for 100 years.

A closed bottle of whiskey will be good for 100 years.
And after you open a bottle of whiskey, a half-full bottle will remain good for five years.
Source: web.stagram.com

13. Drinking whiskey is the American thing to do; Tennessee and Kentucky are two of the world’s primary whiskey-distilling regions.

Drinking whiskey is the American thing to do; Tennessee and Kentucky are two of the world's primary whiskey-distilling regions.
Bourbons like Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey are made in Kentucky, while Tennessee is home to Jack Daniel’s.
Source: web.stagram.com

14. There are over 5,000 types of single-malt whiskey, and they’re not going to try themselves.

There are over 5,000 types of single-malt whiskey, and they're not going to try themselves.
We all have a lot of drinking to do.
Source: web.stagram.com

15. Whiskey might be the smartest investment you’ll ever make. Probably.

Whiskey might be the smartest investment you'll ever make. Probably.
Unlike wine, whose taste deteriorates in the bottle, the fact that whiskey lasts almost forever means its value can appreciate in a big way. So, instead of that 401k plan, just buy a couple of rare bottles and watch their value soar! (It’s a whole lot more fun that way too.)
Source: web.stagram.com

16. George Washington, the father of America, also founded one of the country’s largest whiskey distilleries..

George Washington, the father of America, also founded one of the country’s largest whiskey distilleries..
So whiskey-drinking is basically in the Constitution.
After his term as the first president of the United States ended in 1797, Washington’s Scottish farm manager encouraged him to build a whiskey distillery. It was the largest of its kind in America, producing 11,000 gallons of whiskey in 1799.

17. Whiskey was originally crafted only by monks, making it a holy spirit.

Whiskey was originally crafted only by monks, making it a holy spirit.
(LOL, SPIRIT, get it?) That practice changed in 1541, when King Henry VIII dissolved all of their liquor-ridden monasteries. Poor sober monks.

18. Cold is no match for whiskey; even below-freezing temperatures won’t freeze it.

Cold is no match for whiskey; even below-freezing temperatures won't freeze it.
Nothing proved that more than when a crate of 100-year-old whiskey was unearthed in Antarctica. And even though it suffered through the -30 Celsius temperatures, the bottles and liquor were all in great condition.
Source: project-404

19. Whiskey is measured in “fingers” — your body is the only pouring tool you need!

Whiskey is measured in "fingers" — your body is the only pouring tool you need!
To measure out whiskey, all you have to do is hold your finger horizontally against the glass and pour out a finger’s width. Or two, if you’re feeling frisky.
Source: mhaithaca

20. Did I mention that whiskey looks GREAT on bars?

Did I mention that whiskey looks GREAT on bars?
Source: web.stagram.com

21. Especially if it’s served with a bacon garnish.

Especially if it's served with a bacon garnish.
Source: chicagoist.com

22. But let’s be honest: The very best reason to drink whiskey is because it’s delicious.

But let's be honest: The very best reason to drink whiskey is because it's delicious.
Simply put. If you’re still looking for your perfect go-to bottle, scope out our eight favorite (cheap) whiskeys over here.
Here is the link to the story: http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/excellent-reasons-to-drink-more-whiskey

Next time you are at a bar or a liquor store, pick up a whiskey and see for yourself that wonderful times that whiskey can bring to your drinking experiences.  

2013年6月24日月曜日

Dining Dojo Drinks: Kentucky Tea!

Recently, Suntory released another product in the Tory's line of whiskey.  Tory's is considered an economical line of products in terms of price when compared to the other Suntory products.  Tory's recently became popular with drinkers of whiskey highballs.  For the last few years, highball styled drinks have becoming popular amongst the Japanese public.  Tory's has released highball drinks in cans for easy convenience.  Also, Tory's released a line of flavored whiskeys ranging from honey to sweet tea versions.  These versions should not be considered  a part of the whiskey line.  Tory's whiskey comes in at 40% ABV, while, the honey and sweet tea products are 20% ABV.  Also, they are classified as liqueurs.

When I bought the Tory's Sweet Tea for the first time, I decided to have taste the drink by itself on the rocks with a little water.  When tasting alcohols for the first time, it is wise to taste them on the rocks (not too much ice) and some water.  The water will allow the drink to expand and release more its flavor.  The flavor profile of this drink is interesting.  The essence of the tea comes out.  Also, you will notice the distinctive Tory's whiskey smell.  Tory's has a strong alcohol burn when nosing it.  The Tory's Sweet Tea is sweet.  I believe this helps mask the strong Tory's whiskey flavor and brings out the tea a little more.

On the side of the bottle, Tory's lists different ways in which you can enjoy the product such as having it on the rocks, with hot water, or in a highball.  After trying the product on its own, I decided to make a cocktail using it.  I wanted to combine the Tory's Sweet Tea with a bourbon whiskey in order to bring out the sweetness of the product with a bourbon that could compliment the drink without overpowering it.  I decided to use Maker's Mark bourbon whiskey as the base in the cocktail.  Maker's Mark has balanced sweet note in the drink.

Also, I decided to use lemon juice in the drink to bring out the flavors more in the drink by bringing a sour note to the drink.  Plus, lemon is a great compliment to tea. Additionally when I was deciding on the garnish to this cocktail, I decided to use a lemon twist to bring more lemon flavor to the drink.  When initially drinking the cocktail, the first flavor that will hit your nose will be the lemon oils that were expressed by the lemon twist.

This cocktail combines the great flavors of tea, lemon, and bourbon in one drink.  If you are looking for a new bourbon cocktail that is a little sweet and tart with a hint of tea, this drink is for you.

Kampai!!

Kentucky Tea

2 oz. of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz. of Suntory Tory's Sweet Tea
1/2 oz. of lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish

1.  Combine the Sweet Tea, Maker's Mark, and lemon juice to a shaker tin.
2.  Add ice to the shaker and shake the drink.
3.  Strain into a cocktail glass.
4.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

2013年6月16日日曜日

Dining Dojo Drinks: Get curious with Castro with a Curious Castro!!

    Recently, it has been hot and humid.  I been wanting to drink something refreshing but a little different.  I have been a fan of the the Cuba libre (basically a rum and coke with a squeeze of lime) for a a while now.  However, I wanted to try something new.  I have been experimenting with different flavors and tastes.  
 
    With that being said, I want to the store and picked up a bottle of Fentiman's Curiosity Cola.  If you have never had this before, give a this a try.  After drinking this, you will not be drink Coke for a while. The Curiosity Cola combines the flavors of cola, ginger, and some other botanical properties that give this cola a unique spicy twang. 

   I was recently thinking on how to improve on the Cuba libre.  Then, a thought hit me:  why not add Curiosity Cola instead of Coke to the drink and see what happens.  The ginger and botanical notes of the cola really compliment the lime and the rum in the drink.  The distinctive flavors of the cola become pronounced in the drink. 

If you are looking a spicy Cuba libre, give the Curious Castro a try.  Here is the recipe for the Curious Castro.

1 oz of Havana Club rum
3 oz of Fentiman's Curiosity Cola
1/4 oz of lime juice.
A lime wheel for garnish

Put ice in a glass.  Pour the rum and the cola into the iced glass.  Squeeze the lime juice over the drink.  Stir to cool and dilute the drink.  Garnish with a lime wheel.  Enjoy!!

While drinking the the Curious Castro, consider listening to this song.

2013年6月7日金曜日

Dining Dojo Drinks: Kinshachi Green Tea Draft Beer!!

On this episode of Dining Dojo Drinks, we are going to the answer the question of what happens when you mix green tea and beer. 

Recently on a trip to one of my favorite stores, Yamaya, I saw a very interesting beer, the Kinshachi Matcha Draft.  This really surprised because I have never seen or even heard of a beer that is made with green tea.  Needless to say, I was intrigued by this product.  So, I decided to pick it up and do a tasting of it.

Here is what I found.

First of all, this beer is brewed by the Kinshachi brewery, a local brewery in the Aichi Prefecture.  The actual brewery is located in Inuyama City.  Also, Kinshachi is owned the Morita Group.  Morita is a well known brewery of nihonshu (sake to those not living in Japan).  Kinshachi makes a number of number of beers ranging from lagers flavored with miso to outstanding pale ales.  (BTW...you might be wondering what is a kinshachi?  Kinshachi are ornamental sea creatures that are placed on top of castles to ward off fires.  The kinshachi is a symbol of Nagoya due to Nagoya Castle having golden kinshachi on its roof instead of the regular stone ones.)   

Second, lets talk about the look of this beer. This beer according to the Kinshachi website (http://www.kinshachi.jp/beer_catalog.asp) is a free style light ale.  The beer is a light brown in color.  Light comes through the beer.  When poured into a glass, the head of the beer dissipates rather quickly.  There are few if any alcohol legs in this beer.  The ABV of this beer is at 5%. 

Third, the smell of this beer is amazing.  The beer has a unique smell due to the green tea used in this beer.  The brewers took pride in making this beer because they used the green tea that is grown in Nishio, Aichi, Japan.  Nishio is a famous city in Aichi for green tea.  The amazing light aroma of the green tea comes through the light ale.  If this was a regular ale, the delicate aroma of the green tea would have been lost in the beer.  The other smells of this beer are usually associated with light ales such as a light bready note due to the malt and wheat used in making of the beer.  It is a great smelling beer.

Fourth, the taste is uniquely familiar and different at the same time.  At the front of the mouth, the light malty taste of the beer will hit your taste buds.  Then in the middle of the mouth, you will find hints of the green tea laden throughout the beer.  At the end of the mouth, you will find a hint of bitterness due to the hops.  This is not by no means an overpowering beer.  The light beer really accompanies the green tea rather nicely.

If you are looking a for a unique drinking experience, give this beer a try.  This beer would be great on a cool summers night. 

Cheers!!  Enjoy the video!!

2013年6月5日水曜日

Dining Dojo School Lunch!!

School is now in session.  Are you curious to see what Japanese students and teachers eat for school lunch.  Below is another video showcasing some of the school lunches that I ate when I was at work. 

Japanese school lunches are relatively healthy.  When the people in charge of making the school lunches think about the type of dishes that are going to make, two things seem to come into mind: cost and health.  Japanese cities play a heavy role in the school lunches that the children eat.  Caloric intake is always on the mind of the preparers of the school lunch.  Most cities have a dietician that supervises the school lunch menu.  Also on most school lunch menus, the amount of calories and the ingredients are always listed. 

Enjoy the video.  Also, think about how these school lunches are different and similar to ones that you are used to eating.  Itadakimasu!!

2013年6月3日月曜日

Cage Fighting in America ( a great documentary)

As you may already know, I practice mixed martial arts.  I, also, love watching MMA fights online and on TV.  Recently, I watched an interesting documentary on MMA that looks the behind the scenes of up and coming fighters and the stories.  The video features a segment of a pastor of church who preaches fighting and the Bible.  Yes, this place really does exist.  Also, it shows ordinary people trying to become professional fighters and their coaches who fight in order to put money on the table.  If you are fan of MMA, a fighter, or a person who is thinking of doing MMA, watch this video.

2013年6月2日日曜日

Dining Dojo Local Eats and Drinks!! Grillman!!

Introducing a new Dining Dojo segment, Dining Dojo Local Eats and Drinks!!  This feature will focused on local restaurants and drinking establishments in and around Nagoya, Japan (where I am currently living).

If you are living in or around Nagoya and are interested in going to new restaurants, bars, and events with like minded individuals, then check the Nagoya Supper Club and the Nagoya Adventure Club!! 

Two days, the Nagoya Supper Club went out for dinner at a relatively new restaurant in Nagoya called Nagoya Craft Beer and Wine Grillman.  The main focus of restaurant is to celebrate local food and beer.  This place has a nice selection of local Japanese beers and wine.  Plus, the food is well thought and is a great partner to the great beverages.  They have a great selection of steaks, salads, and two great hamburgers.

The hamburger that I ate was the Grillman burger.  The Grillman is a thick burger served with cheese and various toppings on a soft brioche bun.  One of my friends had the Nagoya burger.  The Nagoya burger is the Grillman's take on tebasaki, Nagoya's famous chicken wings.  Essentially, this burger is a chicken burger.

As for the beer, they have a great selection of local beers from all over Japan.  I tried the Ginga Kogen African Pale Ale from Nagano.  This a great tasting beer.  It is a variation of the classic India Pale Ale.  The citrus pine tasting hops will hit your nose and tongue with surprise and great pleasure.  It is not an overly hoppy beer.  The other beer that I had tasted was the Hitachino Nest White Ale from Ibaraki, Japan.  Hitachino Nest is a popular microbrewery that can be found in Japan and, also, in America.  Their White Ale is a great tasting white ale that reminds of a Belgium white ale.  If you are fan of Hoegarden, then this beer would be for you.

The design of the restaurant is welcoming and inviting.  On cool summer nights, the front windows are completely open.  The wooden interior really adds character to the restaurant.  Also on one side of restaurant, there is huge bookshelf that runs the length of the restaurant.  It adds a modern cafe edge to the restaurant.

I will be definitely be returning to Nagoya Craft Beer and Wine Grillman.

The restaurant is located between Sakae and Fushimi Stations on the Higashiyama Subway line.  Here is some more info on the restaurant.
http://www.bar-and-restaurant.com/en/grillman.html

Here is the video!!  Enjoy!!

2013年5月26日日曜日

Dining Dojo Drinks: The Ginger Russian Donkey

Recently, I have been having a taste for Moscow Mules.  I was trying to create a new recipe while still be inspired by the classic recipes.  There are two recipes for the Moscow Mule.  Here is the history behind the classic Moscow mule of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer.
The cocktail was invented in 1941 by John G. Martin of G.F. Heublein Brothers, Inc., an East Coast spirits and food distributor, and "Jack" Morgan, President of Cock 'n' Bull Products (which produced ginger beer) and proprietor of the Cock 'n' Bull restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles popular with celebrities.[1][2][3] George Sinclair (2007) quotes from an article run in the New York Herald Tribune:
The mule was born in Manhattan but "stalled" on the West Coast for the duration. The birthplace of "Little Moscow" was in New York's Chatham Hotel. That was back in 1941 when the first carload of Jack Morgan's Cock 'n' Bull ginger beer was railing over the plains to give New Yorkers a happy surprise... Three friends were in the Chatham bar, one John A. Morgan, known as Jack, president of Cock 'n' Bull Products and owner of the Hollywood Cock 'n' Bull Restaurant; one was John G. Martin, president of G.F. Heublein Brothers Inc. of Hartford, Conn., and the third was Rudolph Kunett, president of the Pierre Smirnoff, Heublein's vodka division. As Jack Morgan tells it, "We three were quaffing a slug, nibbling an hors d'oeuvre and shoving toward inventive genius". Martin and Kunett had their minds on their vodka and wondered what would happen if a two-ounce shot joined with Morgan's ginger beer and the squeeze of a lime. Ice was ordered, limes procured, mugs ushered in and the concoction put together. Cups were raised, the men counted five and down went the first taste. It was good. It lifted the spirit to adventure. Four or five later the mixture was christened the Moscow Mule...
As suggested above and evidenced by an article run in Insider Hollywood the Moscow Mule was most popular in Los Angeles: "There is a new drink that is a craze in the movie colony now. It is called 'Moscow Mule.'" (Gwynn, 27 December 1942).
The Nevada State Journal reinforced the Mule's popularity in reporting: "Already the Mule is climbing up into the exclusive handful of most-popular mixed drinks" (12 October 1943).
In 2012, a Moscow Mule kit that included Cock 'n Bull Ginger Beer was included as part of Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Things list.
Besides the classic Moscow mule, many bars are making the Moscow mule by substituting the ginger beer with ginger ale.

        After discovering the two different recipes, I decided to make to both versions of the Moscow mule.  With the classic Moscow mule, I decided to use the Fentimans Ginger Beer.  For the hybrid version of the drink, I chose to use Canada Dry Ginger Ale.  When tasting both of the drinks, there is difference in taste of the cocktail.  The ginger beer provided a spicy ginger kick to the drink, while, the ginger ale provided sweetness and effervescence to the drink.  Both versions are tasty.  It all depends on whether if you like sweetness or a spicy ginger kick to your drink.

        This is where the idea of the Ginger Russian Donkey cocktail came to mind.  I wanted the cocktail to have the sweetness and a ginger kick.  For the sweetness, I decided to use the N.E.O. Professional Ginger Syrup (a Japanese product), Fentiman's Ginger Beer, vodka, and lime juice.  The ginger syrup provides a sweet ginger kick to the drink that balances out the ginger beer.  The addition of lime juice to the cocktail provides a hint of sour citrus that cuts through the ginger and sweetness of the syrup rather nicely.

Here is the recipe of the Ginger Russian Donkey!! 
 Put ice in a cocktail glass.
150 ml of vodka
50 ml of lime juice
25 ml of ginger syrup
Top with ginger beer
Garnish with a lime wedge






2013年5月13日月曜日

Dining Dojo Drinks: Toyama Black Cider

     Recently, I went to Toyama Prefecture, Japan, during Golden Week for a short vacation.  My wife and I took a bus trip to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.  During one of the scheduled breaks that we had, we went to a convenient store to pick up lunch and something to drink.  When I was in the store, I noticed this drink called Toyama Black Cider.  Toyama is famous for black ramen that is made with black soy sauce. 

      You maybe saying to yourself that soy sauce is already black, which is true.  However, black soy sauce (黒醤油) is darker in color and heavier in taste.  If you would taste regular soy sauce and black soy sauce, you would be able to tell the difference between both of them right away.

     Also for those of you who are unfamiliar with Japanese soft drinks, cider is a popular soft drink that is more akin to Sprite or 7UP without the lemon lime taste.  There is no alcohol in the drink what so ever. Most ciders that you buy are clear not black.  Why is this called black cider though?

      As I noted earlier that Toyama is famous for black ramen.  The black cider is marketed as a drink to go with the black ramen.  The black cider is flavored with soy sauce and sesame. 

      When smelling the drink, you will notice the soy sauce right away.  Its a pretty interesting smelling drink to say the least.  The taste of the cider is also unique.  At the front of the mouth, you will get a lot of carbonation just like with any soft drink. In the middle of the mouth, the soy sauce flavors become more prominent in the drink but nothing overbearing.  You can taste the soy sauce without any of the salt that is associated with it.  At the back of mouth, you will find the roundness of sesame seeds and soy sauces mingle with each other.  It is somewhat surprising for the first drinking it.

      Overall, would I buy this drink again, yes but only if I could find it where I live.  This drink is mostly sold in Toyama.  If you are living in or visiting Toyama. do yourself a favor and try a unique Japanese beverage.  You will not be disappointed.

Here is the link to my video review.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05UcrY_vJx8

For more information on the Toyama black cider, visit
http://www.tombow-b.jp/toyamablackcider/
(this site is in Japanese)

2013年5月12日日曜日

Chicago Tangent: Chicago is rated one of the best food cities in the USA

Recently, I read a great article on the Huffington Post talking about how Chicago is now ranked one of the best food cities in America.  Here is the article for those who did not get a chance to read it.

Chicago Best Food City: Munchies People's Choice Awards Says Windy City Is Tops For Tasty Eats

Posted:   |  Updated: 05/09/2013 5:51 pm EDT
According to the latest Munchies Awards announced on Wednesday, Chicago is a food city that's second to none.
Foodie website The Braiser dubbed the prizes the "backyard version of the James Beard Awards," and noted the Munchies: The People’s Choice Awards skewed heavily toward the Midwest when it came to winners of the nation's best chef, food magazine, website and cuisine-specific eats.
The somewhat new Bar Toma won the hearts (or tastebuds) of Muchies voters for best pizza, while Lincoln Park's The Butcher and the Burger came out on top for its patty perfection.
(Read chefs' thoughts on the city's culinary scene and their favorite Chicago food spots below.)

Not only did Chicago beat out New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland for the distinction of America's "Best Food City," the Hog Butcher of the World made a strong showing across several cuisine-specific areas, too.
Chicago chef Paul Kahan (who recently notched a major James Beard nod) ranked among the finalists for Best Chef, while Big Star, Black Dog Gelato and Intelligentsia were in the running for best tacos, ice cream and coffee, respectively.
Nominees were chosen by panelists (which included highly opinionated Chicago food powerhouse Graham Elliot) and set to a public vote.
Recently, the city's iconic Super Dawg received the honor of America's Most Life-Changing Hot Dog, (pictured above) and Chicago nabbed another nod from Esquire for our indisputably awesome pizza.
Though the local food scene has had no shortage of accolades from industry kingmakers like the James Beard Foundation and the Michelin Guides, the Munchies show it's always nice to get love from the voting (and eating) public.
This is great news for me.  Even though, I am now living in Japan.  I am originally from Chicago.  I still love Chicago.  I remember going to some great restaurants and bars with friends and family.

    When talking about food and which city has a bigger food scene, people would argue that New York City has the one of the most vibrant food scenes in America.  I would not know this personally because I have never been to New York City myself.  Food critics and other people in the food industry would sometimes pass up Chicago in order to go places like Miami, New Orleans, or Los Angeles.  However, people who live in Chicago know that we have a great food scene and hear that now Chicago is one of the best ranked food cities around really pleases me.

     Eventually for me, I will be returning back to Chicago to live, and I cannot wait to try all of the food that I have been missing over the years.  For a better understanding of what I am talking about and why I am so proud of my hometown, just watch these videos.  You will see that Chicago is known for not only bad weather, Al Capone, and the Chicago Bulls but also for great food.


2013年4月30日火曜日

Dining Dojo Editorial: Why is Golden Week so Golden?

Beginning last week Friday, Golden Week started in Japan.  For those readers who are not living in Japan, you probably have no idea what I am talking about.  Golden Week in Japan starts on April 29th, Showa Day (昭和の日) and ends on May 5th, Children's Day, Kodomo no Hi (こどもの日).  Golden Week, Ougon Shukan (黄金週間) comes originally from Oogata Renkyuu (大型連休), long consecutive holidays. 

During Golden Week, there are four public holidays and three regular days.  Most companies are closed on April 30th, May 1st, and May 2nd.  So, many people have about a full week of paid holidays.  Also, Golden Week may be extended if there are weekends.  Note that May Day is not a public holiday.  However on May Day, you can watch many demonstrations and protests in the streets and parks. 

Traveling during Golden Week is very common.  Be forewarned: if you do not large crowds of people, do not travel during Golden Week.  Many tourist places become very crowded during Golden Week.  The train stations and airports are constantly full of travelers.  Many Japanese travelers go overseas during Golden Week for vacation. 

You may be asking yourself, why is this week of long consecutive holidays called "Golden Week"?  According to Wikipedia:
The National Holiday Laws, promulgated in July 1948, declared nine official holidays. Since many were concentrated in a week spanning the end of April to early May, many leisure-based industries experienced spikes in their revenues. The film industry was no exception. In 1951, the film Jiyū Gakkō recorded higher ticket sales during this holiday-filled week than any other time in the year (including New Year's and Obon). This prompted the managing director of Daiei Film Co., Ltd. to dub the week "Golden Week" based on the Japanese radio lingo “golden time,” which denotes the period with the highest listener ratings.[4]
  ゴールデンウィーク」の名称は、映画会社の大映松竹と競作して1951年(昭和26年)に同時上映となった獅子文六原作の『自由学校』が大映創設以来(当時)最高の売上を記録[3]し、正月映画やお盆映画以上の興行成績を残したことで[4]、映画界でこの時期に多数の動員を生み出すことや活性化を目的として当時の大映常務取締役であった松山英夫によって作成された宣伝用語であり[4][5]1952年(昭和27年) - 1953年(昭和28年)頃から一般にも使用されるようになり[5]、他の業界にも広まった。なお、このときの大映は続いて秋の文化の日を中心とした期間を「シルバーウィーク」と名付けたが、当時こちらは定着しなかった[4][5
If you are going to see a movie during this time of the year, just remember that this was the action that started the term "Golden Week".
 Also, it is interesting to note that Golden Week is not a Japanese celebration.  Golden Week is also celebrated in China. Once again from Wikipedia:

Golden Week () in the mainland of the People's Republic of China is the name given to a semi-annual 7-day national holiday, implemented in 2000:[1]
  • The "Chinese Lunar New Year Golden Week" begins in January or February.
  • The "National Day Golden Week" begins around October 1.
A third Golden Week holiday, which spanned May 1 and celebrated Labour Day, existed until 2007.
Three days of paid holiday are given, and the surrounding weekends are re-arranged so that workers in Chinese companies always have seven continuous days of holiday. These national holidays were first started by the government for the PRC's National Day in 1999 and are primarily intended to help expand the domestic tourism market and improve the national standard of living, as well as allowing people to make long-distance family visits. The Golden Weeks are consequently periods of greatly heightened travel activity.
 Have fun during Golden Week!!
 

2013年4月29日月曜日

Dining Dojo Kyushoku: A Mixture of Chinese, Western, and Japanese Dishes

Here are more Japanese school lunches that I ate last week.  For school lunches, Japanese children are given an opportunity to try many different dishes that can range from Chinese to Western to Japanese.  Itadakimasu!!

Penne pasta in a tomato sauce, cucumber and daikon (white radish), bread, quiche, and milk

 Rice, mixed vegetable tempura, stewed beans, egg drop soup with seaweed and tofu skin, milk, and a navel orange

 Rice, chop suey, grilled gyoza (potstickers), bean sprout salad, and milk

 Rice, grilled salted salmon (鮭の塩焼き), komatsu (Japanese potherb mustard leaf) and white radish with a sesame dressing, and stir-fried seaweed, pork and vegetables (ひじきの炒め煮)

Gochisosamadesita!!

Superfood for your Brain: Berries

I love blueberries!!  I put them in my smoothies, yogurt, and cereal in the morning.  Blueberries are extremely healthy for you.  They can help improve your vision, and now, they can help your brain.  Blueberries are a super food that people should start including in their diet if they have not already. 

Here is a great article from Huffington Post Food section.

Berries Benefit Brain By Clearing Toxic Protein Accumulation, Animal Study Finds

Posted:
Berries could play an important role in clearing the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, according to a new study in mice.
The research, presented at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting, showed that the brains of rats that consumed berries for two months were better protected against radiation, which is meant to induce accelerated aging in the mice.
Specifically, researchers found that the berry consumption was linked with increased autophagy, which is the natural process the brain undergoes to clear out accumulation of toxic proteins. They noted that phytonutrients -- plant chemicals -- in berries may be responsible for this effect; berries are known to be high in anthocyanins.
Researchers said that the findings could be especially meaningful if they also apply to humans, since diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease involve accumulation of toxic proteins. The next step is a study, currently being conducted, on humans ages 60 to 75 to see if berries' have the same sort of effect.
Even though the findings have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal -- and thus should be considered preliminary -- a past study from Harvard researchers showed that eating berries regularly could help slow cognitive decline in older people, HuffPost's Catherine Pearson reported.
Berries Benefit Brain By Clearing Toxic Protein Accumulation, Animal Study Finds
Posted:

2013年4月24日水曜日

Dining Dojo Kyushoku: From April 8th to the 19th

At my job, I have an opportunity to try Japanese school lunch (kyuushoku 給食) at the junior high school where I teach at.  The school lunches are not made at on the school premises.  Instead, the school lunches are made at local school lunch centers that are located near the school.  One school lunch center is responsible for providing school lunch to the local elementary schools and junior high schools located in the neighborhood.

It should be noted that in Japan, high school students do not eat kyuushoku.  The students bring lunch boxes from their house or they can order a lunch from a shop that specializes in making lunch boxes.  High school education in Japan in not compulsory.

These are lunches in which I ate at the junior high school where I work at.  I am not going to disclose where I work at because schools and boards of educations take school lunch very seriously.  Each school has a person that is responsible for the dietary needs of the students.  With the school lunch centers and other dieticians, they are responsible for making the school lunch menu everyday for which school lunch will be provided to the students.

Here are the pics of the school lunch that was given to me.  Itadakimasu!!
Rice, sukiyaki, chikuwa (rolled fish cake) tempura, pickled vegetable, milk, and a strawberry crepe for dessert.

Sekihan (Adzuki (red bean) rice flavored with sesame seeds and salt, deep-fried squid, stir fried burdock root (gobo in Japanese), seaweed and tofu skin (yuba) soup, and milk

 Rice, lotus root salad, pork red miso soup (tonjiru 豚汁), fried pork (yakiniku 焼き肉), and milk

 Pork steamed buns, cucumber salad, Chinese soup with noodles (chuukamen 中華麺), and milk.

Rice, spinach and bean sprout with a vinegar dressing, nikujaga (stewed pork, potatoes, carrots, green peas), steamed mackerel in miso wrapped in foil, and milk

Hamburger with bun, corn and cucumber salad, alphabet noodle soup, and milk
Strawberry yogurt, curry and rice, bread pork cutlet, pickled vegetables (a typical dish that accompanies Japanese curry and rice), and milk
Mapo tofu (tofu with ground pork in a spicy sauce), rice, pork steam buns, cucumber salad, and milk.
 Soup with fu (a type of rice gluten), takinomi gohan (rice with bamboo shoots and vegetables, sawara (Spanish mackerel with an onion sauce, hanami dango (skewered sticky rice balls, and milk

2013年4月22日月曜日

Dining Dojo Drinks: Thai Sugar Cane Juice.

 On this Dining Dojo Drinks: I tasted sugar cane juice from Thailand. Sugar cane juice is very popular in China and many Southeast Asian countries. In some of these countries, you can go juice stands, and they will grind fresh sugar cane into juice for you. The juice is very sweet as you would expect. Also, there are other flavor components in the juice to let you know that you are not just drinking sugar water.

This is a perfect summertime drink.  Also for those of you who visited Southeast Asia as a well as Hong Kong, it would bring memories and tastes.

I am wondering how to incorporate sugar cane juice into cocktail.  Stay tuned to Dining Dojo for an upcoming cocktail featuring sugar cane juice.

Here is the video of me tasting Thai sugar cane juice.



2013年4月20日土曜日

Whip It Good!! Getting a blue belt in Brazilian Jujitsu

Recently, I got my blue belt in BJJ. The video above shows a part of the graduation ceremony in which the promoted student must endure a whipping from every other student in the class. The newly promoted student understands that now they must face new challenges and are they willing to endure the punishment and hard work that comes with the new belt.

2013年4月16日火曜日

Dining Dojo Reviews Japanese School Lunch, kyushoku!!

  Introducing a new section on Dining Dojo!!  Due to recent events, Dining Dojo now has the opportunity to review Japanese school lunches and hopefully further the discussion on school lunches and the importance of nutrition and diet in schools. 
  I will be reviewing school lunches from the city in which I work at.  In Japan, each city tend to have different school lunches.  Some lunches at are made on the school premises, while other cities will have school lunch centers at where the lunches are made.  Plus, some cities hire a private company to provide the school lunches.
  I often hear that Japanese school lunches are healthy.  On the school lunch menu, they list the amount of calories that are in each meal.  Also, each school lunch has a glass bottle or carton of milk for the students to drink.  I found this surprising because Japanese people tend to be lactose intolerant.  Many of the students will drink milk.  However when a student does not drink their milk, I have seen on different occasions Japanese homeroom teachers almost forcing the student to drink the milk.  It all depends on the Japanese homeroom teacher.
   Also, I am thinking that this will be important for anyone to read who will teaching at a Japanese public school.  School lunches tend to surprise and even sometimes shock non-Japanese teachers.  I hope this section will shed some light on the Japanese school lunch.

Itadakimasu!!

2013年4月15日月曜日

Dining Dojo Resturants: Beef House Okuma

Recently, my wife and I celebrated her birthday by going to a great steakhouse named Beef House Okuma.  The restaurant is located in Sakae, Nagoya in the Matsuzakaya Department Store on the tenth floor.  The steak house features wagyu from Kagoshima which is located in the southern part of Kyushu.  We went there for lunch, and we had a very delicious lunch box.

The lunch box was for around 3000 yen ($35.00)  It featured simmered sweet potato, crab cream croquette, hamburger steak and mashed potatoes, sashimi (tai and katsuo), Kagoshima dry-aged wagyu, and roast beef.

Here are some pics of the individual dishes.






The lunch box also came with a bowl of white rice, a bowl of red miso soup, and some Japanese pickles.

After the lunch box, came desert.  The desert was hot coffee and pannacotta with strawberry syrup.


The restaurant tends to be poplar on evenings and on the weekends.  Reservations are advised.

The restaurant is located on the 10th floor of the Matsuzakaya Department Store in Sakae, Nagoya
http://goo.gl/maps/G85PP