March, 2017

March!



Almost!



I love this fleeting season.



Made it to this legendary spot. No photo policy means no photos, except for this one I managed to snap while waiting for a taxi. Kyoaji is considered the best of the best kaiseki in Tokyo, if not Japan. Every dish is expertly matched with a Japanese dashi that enhances the natural flavors of whatever you are eating. The master is 89 years old I think, and he treats everyone with such care and attention.



Better start saving for the next reservation.


Florilege is such a special place. Every time is a memory that will stay with me. This time was particular, but that will wait until another day.




My ramen world is odd. In no particular order, these things happened.



I was blacklisted from a famous shop for not finishing my noodles.

I ate about 90% of the bowl and left. Soon after, I get a text from a friend. Did you just go to xxx shop he asked? The master was insulted, I guess, that I didn't crush everything, and told our mutual friend to tell me that I am not allowed back. Childish, in my opinion, but if that is the prerogative of some chef, I'm fine never slurping at his place again.

I won't name the shop. The above logo is not the shop.



I walked out of a TV interview.

I've dealt with strange TV shootings before. The Print & Media section on my site shows the extent of my work, and most have been with different production crews. One thing I've learned; give them a set-in-stone schedule. If you say you are free all day, they will work you all day. This time, I said I needed to leave at 5pm. The time comes about, and we had only shot about 10% of my interview, which was mostly them telling me to say things using different grammar. They wanted genius-level comments, while my Japanese food commentary ability is more fun-guy level. When I said I was out of time, the boss, a tiny guy with angry man syndrome barked that work is work, and you leave when the job is done. I looked him in the eye, said he had 5 minutes, and proceeded to finish he job. Then I stood and walked out.

I hope I get paid.



I taught myself video editing.

For the past few years, my Ramen Adventures YouTube channel has been done by a media company. They shot and edited. Recently, I started shooting myself, and now I'm also editing. Check out my first, 100% by Brian video:



I'm grateful for their help, but it got to the point where I felt intrusive. We would shoot a bowl that essentially goes to waste, something I don't want to be associated with. Ramen lover first, media dude second. I'm not some corny gaijin who eats a bite for the camera, then pushes the food away when they cut. At least, I don't want to be like that. I've done some long full-day shoots where I just can't eat anymore.



I was rejected from the silly ramen sticker club.

I have my own sticker in the Ramen Rally. Can you find it?



It's silly, even though some people take their collection very, very seriously. I don't. But when I roll into a shop that is part of the 100 or so in the collection, I feel a little bond. I rolled into the latest, asked the master if we could trade. His answer? No! You buy!

Rejected!



Ramen rants over!

February, 2017

フェブラリー



I've gotta get the hell out of Tokyo!



New levels of dumb everywhere I turn!



But first a fish burger made by a former Michelin 2-star sushi chef.

Delifucious.



And some deep fried fish sperm.



And some mochi strawberries.



That's better. Honored to learn about the craft of assembling knives from this 89 year old master. Every aspect of knife making is done by a different person. The supply houses assemble the blade with a handle, straighten the metal, and do some engraving work before shipping the finished piece off to its new owner.



Then off to a little island. Three of them actually.



Inujima.



Teshima.



Naoshima.



Protip: Naoshima is essentially a ghost town on Mondays. Take the early ferry to Inujima and Teshima. Problem solved.



Shikoku is always random.



Always.



Go home, Kochi Prefecture, you're drunk.



Eating well these days. I made an unofficial resolution to eat out less, but broke it within hours.



Also made an unofficial resolution to drink less.



Zomething wrong?



But my unofficial resolution of one rad vacation a month hasn't been hard to keep.



More to come. By the way, the map at the top is the first thing I see everyday, and hopefully I'll be moving red pins to all 47 prefectures soon. Anyone know a good ramen shop in Yamaguchi-ken?