A Quick Dining Dojo Drink: Kuradashi Draft Beer from Sapporo

Sapporo Brewing just released a new seasonal beer called Kuradashi Draft Beer (蔵出し生ビール).  It is 4.5% ABV.  If you are familiar with Sapporo Black Star beer, then you will notice the similarities between the two products.  Kuradashi Draft is a lighter version of the Sapporo Black Star.  In other words, it is a Sapporo Light. 

If you are a fan of the regular Sapporo beer, give this one a try.  It is lighter in taste, but you will still get the same flavor that you are used to drinking.  If you are a fan of light beer, give it a try.

Dining Dojo Drinks: 新潟麦酒 エスプレッソビール Niigata Espresso Beer

Dining Dojo just tried a new beer from the Niigata area.  It was a Espresso bottle conditioned beer.  This beer highly resembles a porter in style.  This is an excellent beer.  When I opened the beer, the scent of espresso quickly permeated the air.  From that point on, I was intrigued with this product.

When pouring the beer into the glass, it poured like a thick motor oil.  There was a 2 finger mocha colored head.  There was no light coming through this beer.  It resembled a porter completely in look.  Then when smelling this beer, you can definitely get the espresso scent right away.  It smelled like a fresh brewed espresso.  Also, there was a hint of alcohol in the scent of the beer.  This beer is really drinkable.  You will get the espresso coffee bitterness when tasting it.  After the initial espresso hit, you will get a hint of alcohol, which I can understand since this beer is 7% ABV.

If you are fan of black beers like porters, I would definitely recommend this beer.  Even if you are not a particular fan of this style, give this beer a try.  Also, this beer is affordable.  A 350 ml bottle costs around 370 yen (about 4.30 US dollars), which is quite reasonable for Japanese craft beer especially a beer in a glass bottle. 

Cheers!! 

Burger King Ringo Burger: A Burger King Japan Exclusive

Burger King Japan released another special product to their menu: the BK Ringo Burger.  Ringo in Japanese means apple.  This is Whooper Jr. with a cinnamon apple slice, and a honey mustard sauce.  That's right!!  Burger King Japan has a burger with an apple on it.  This is something that you are unlikely to find in America or Europe, but you never know.

Recently, Dining Dojo went to a Burger King in order to try the BK Ringo Burger.  You can purchase the burger in a set with a medium drink and a choice of medium onion rings or french fries for 490 yen (about 6 US dollars).  After tasting the burger, I was disappointed.  The burger patty itself was cooked nicely but the sauce and apple did not compliment the burger.  You would think that the tartness of the apple and sweetness of the honey mustard sauce would compliment a hamburger.  However, that is not the case with this burger.  The honey mustard sauce was over sweetened and the apple was soggy and rather unappealing.

 If you are at a Burger King in Japan, do not try this burger.  It is not worth it.

Nagoya Supper Club's Taiwan Ramen Night

Nagoya Supper Club just hosted their first event.   We enjoyed dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Nagoya called Kamesennin (亀仙人）that is famous for Taiwan Ramen.  Taiwan ramen is a Nagoya original dish created by a chef in a Chinese restaurant in Imaike, Nagoya called Misen in the 1950's.  Taiwan ramen is known for its spicy soup loaded with garlic and red chili peppers.  Unlike your usual ramen that is topped with stewed pork, Taiwan ramen is loaded with ground beef.  Kamesennin's Taiwan ramen was of high quality.  It was not spicy which would cater to those individuals who do not like spicy food.  With that being said, there is some heat but nothing overpowering like what you would find with your typical Taiwan ramen.  The other dishes that we tried were the fried rice and gyoza.  If you are looking for another place to try in Nagoya, go check out Kamesennin, and you will be pleased.  The restaurant tends to be busy.  You may have to wait for a table.

The Nagoya Supper Club is a brand new group in Nagoya dedicated to food and drink in Nagoya and its surrounding area.  Once or twice a month, Nagoya Supper Club members meet up and go out to a new restaurant or bar.  We try to go to new places that people have not been before.  Also, its gives group members an opportunity to share their favorite places and hidden gems.  Nagoya has great restaurants.  Lets go out and discover new food and drink.

Here are some other pictures from the night.

Where is Kamesennin (亀仙人）
愛知県名古屋市昭和区安田通6-6-1 三浩ビル１階



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Sambo- The Ultimate Russian Martial Art

For a while now, I am practicing primarily in Brazilian jujitsu and some kickboxing.  Recently, I wanted to learn some new techniques from other martial arts to add to my repertoire.  One day, I was watching the Human Weapon, a great tv show that features different martial arts from around the world.  I saw the sambo video that they did.  When watching this video, I knew that I wanted to learn some sambo techniques.  Sambo looked very similar to jujitsu but with some differences.  Sambo is very famous for throws and arm and leg locks.  I think its great to learn new techniques because it allows you to learn from a different perspective. 

On Youtube, I found a series featuring techniques from Ultimate Sambo in New York City.  The instructor on the video goes through each technique methodically.  You can really grasp on how to do the technique properly and effective.  Also, the video is in English which is huge plus for me.  I cannot speak nor understand Russian.  Please watch and enjoy!!  Keep on fighting!!

Kiriin's new seasonal chu-hai: Strawberry

Kirin just released Strawberry flavored chuhai, a highball type drink that is very popular in Japan.  This is only available for a limited time.  It seems that recently that the major breweries are releasing a strawberry-flavored drink in the chu-hai line. 

How does Kirin Strawberry stack up to the competition and to the other flavors in their chuhai line?  It is a very drinkable drink.  When opening the can, a hit of strawberry will hit you.  The drink contains 3.2 percent strawberry juice.  You can definitely taste the strawberry.  At 5% abv, it is a drink that you can easily enjoy after a long day of work.  You will feel a little burn from the alcohol as opposed to a stronger taste of alcohol that can be found in other drinks.

If you are a fan of chuhai, you should definitely try this drink.  It is a great addition to the Kirin chuhai line.

Only in Japan: Toilet Video Games

Japanese people love video games.  You can find all types of games in Japan from fighting games to shooters to RPGs.  Now, you can add one more type to the mix: a toilet video game.  Actually, it is a video game attached to a urinal.    The game encourages the user to aim while he is urinating.  The video game will measure how much urine is registered and encourages you to keep on going.  You can find these video games throughout the Tokyo subway system and game centers around Japan.

This is very Japanese.  Japanese culture is a part escapist and and part obsessive in nature.  Escapism can be seen throughout Japan whether you are looking at anime, video games, or the world of the mizu shobai (the water trade: bars, restaurants, and other nightlife establishments).  This product is very escapist in nature.  This video game allows to user to focus on the video game aspect of going to the bathroom instead of just going to the bathroom.

Leave it up to the Japanese to make going to the bathroom fun, entertaining, and disturbing at the same time.

Pepsi White

Pepsi Japan came out with a new seasonal Pepsi product called Pepsi White.  It has very interesting taste.  On the bottle, it says that the flavor is called 雪みかん, snow mikan.  When smelling the Pepsi White, you will notice the mikan smell.  However, there is no mikan juice in the drink.  It is only due to chemical that will allow you to smell the mikan. 

The taste of Pepsi White reminds of Calpis.  Calpis is a popular drink.  It is non-carbonated.  It has somewhat of a milky taste.  Think Pepsi White as a carbonated version of Calpis, and you will get the picture. 

If you see it in the stores, give it a try.  It is not for everyone, but for something new and different, it is not bad.

Happy New Year!! 明けましておめでとうございます！！

皆さん明けましておめでとうございます！！今年も宜しくお願いします！！　 Everyone. Happy New Year!!  I want to wish everyone out there a happy new year.  Thank your for visiting my blog last year!!  This year, I am planning some new changes and sections to this blog.  Also, you can follow my daily newspaper, the Dining Dojo Daily on paper.li.  Plus, follow me on Twitter at @diningdojo for up to date information.

Coming soon, I will posting some videos.  They will cover everything from some new restaurant outings to a special New Year's video to New Year's food.