tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124988631408008162024-03-21T03:52:53.570-07:00PabulumA blog about sustenance of the mind and body.... in other words; a blog about books and food.
While there is no rhyme or reason to where I dine, what I order, or what I read; these are two passions I have and I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences. This is simply my opinion and my tastes- you may find they are wide, varied, and possibly not akin to your own experiences or tastes; however, I humbly offer these musings on the topics of food and books for your perusal. Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-39121474090104601402014-05-03T13:00:00.000-07:002014-05-09T11:35:18.128-07:00Ziggy's Pizza; Wichita, Ks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ziggy's Pizza in the College Hill Neighborhood, Wichita, Ks</div>
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A friend of mine moved into this really quite awesome area of Wichita and last summer after moving them in we started exploring the very walk-able neighborhood. One of the areas that was just down the road is a little shopping village of small little house like buildings on a bit of a square. Soon we found this awesome little pizza joint that has a really awesome outside patio and some amazing pizza selections. This is a fabulous stop if you are ever in the area! </div>
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So one of my favorites on the menu is their Mamacita's Taco Pizza. Why, well it has the thin layer of refried beans, taco sauce, ground beef, onion, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and is topped off with Dorito's. This is the way Taco pizza should be. You get all the flavor and the crunch of a traditional hard corn taco shell. It is fantastic! (Note: the blurry picture below does not do this pizza justice).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tIVowaXwdk6kTSPJZtWw6d77MvY1dh6dVvz0y5BkKrGaVwXs-N2SolvHGhSiQXr568JPKUIDGoDL2e9PEQskFVoZYi3l-zgt_E_vT34mdyeuAdt_jqqy_O5Ra9Q7DyuA5BLo35olgfs/s1600/20140503_125744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tIVowaXwdk6kTSPJZtWw6d77MvY1dh6dVvz0y5BkKrGaVwXs-N2SolvHGhSiQXr568JPKUIDGoDL2e9PEQskFVoZYi3l-zgt_E_vT34mdyeuAdt_jqqy_O5Ra9Q7DyuA5BLo35olgfs/s640/20140503_125744.jpg" height="320" width="240" /> </a> </div>
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Some of the other great options that I would recommend: </div>
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The house salad with the Italian dressing that has so many great flavors packed into every bite it could be a meal in itself.</div>
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The Kickin' Chicken pizza with buffalo sauce and jalapenos- this one is tailor made for you spicy food lovers. This pizza defiantly packs a bang in every bite. </div>
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The White Delight Pizza is a wonderful option for those who are not huge marinara fans. This chicken pizza is made with cream cheese, bacon and peppers served with marinara on the side. It is delectable goodness that is creamy and super tasty.</div>
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Price Range: $8-15 per person</div>
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http://www.ziggyswichita.com/</div>
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http://www.ziggyswichita.com/images/Ziggys_menu_7-12.pdf</div>
Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-67137514646702813762014-03-21T18:00:00.000-07:002014-05-09T11:15:04.623-07:00Scoeboard Sports Bar and Grill; Emporia, Ks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Scoreboard Sports Bar and Grill; 6th and Mechanic, Emporia, Ks</div>
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This little Sports Bar and Grill is a very recent addition to the Emporia Dining Scene. The name says it all and the menu is exactly what one would hope to find at a Sports Bar. The appetizer menu is expansive and mostly of the "fried stuff with cheese" variety. The burgers are large, have a tendency to be greasy, and are loaded with every topping but the kitchen sink. It took a while for me to get in there to check this place out for an actual meal. The decision on the burger option was difficult but finally was narrowed down to the Bobby Burger and the Slayburger. So my dining partner got one and i got the other!</div>
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The Bobby Burger comes with an optional hot sauce which I asked for on the side. The hot sauce was a salsa blend and for me, there was not much "heat" to it at all. It seemed to be more of a simple tomato salsa that did not have any of the traditional peppers to add the heat. The burger was topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, bacon and french fries. Since french fries came on the burger I elected to get the fried Mac-n-cheese triangles as my side. Overall the flavor was okay, nothing to rave about in the world of burgers, but a good hearty meal. </div>
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The Slay burger is served on a pretzel bun with bacon and a fired egg. I only had a bite of this one and found pretty much the same thing as I did with my burger- it was good. </div>
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This new spot in Emporia is working on it and trying hard. The service was sometimes a bit slow but they were trying. The food is okay and there are lots of TV's to watch your favorite sports events while you eat. This is a nice alternative for a quick bite to eat in the Emporia Downtown area. Next time you head to a sporting event at White Auditorium, stop in and check it out.</div>
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Price Range: $8-12</div>
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http://openmenu.com/restaurant/013d06aa-592d-11e3-aee9-00163eeae34c</div>
Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-32383290560302980912014-02-22T19:00:00.000-08:002014-05-09T10:58:11.264-07:00W A Japanese Restaurant; Lawrence, Ks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
W A Japanese Restaurant on Mass Street, Lawrence, Ks</div>
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So there was an occasion to head out on a nice day trip to Lawrence, Ks and celebrate a birthday. What better way to celebrate than by heading to try out W A Japanese Restaurant. After dining in Okinawa, Japan last fall, I will admit that my expectation is sometimes a bit high when eating Japanese style food in the states. So, keep that in mind.</div>
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Dinner started with Miso soup and this is one dish that defiantly has been watered down (quite literally) in the states. The fish broth has very little of the strong fish flavor found in many of the Miso soups I tried in Okinawa. This soup was a very simple broth that was warm and had very mild flavor that would be palatable for just about any customer. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYSM9hwzfCCVQdz7RMNEhcEM5JQIVTHNFh_KDehtb-686h4X9vdDKtTmWZpHCV9UGEEvf2f-u7kxo_5Kfxti25N_SDR2oD-gWk_9oDB1GxxTmoPthbD3EMkwjX_PyFb7FoQe9F3RYKeI/s1600/20140222_174938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYSM9hwzfCCVQdz7RMNEhcEM5JQIVTHNFh_KDehtb-686h4X9vdDKtTmWZpHCV9UGEEvf2f-u7kxo_5Kfxti25N_SDR2oD-gWk_9oDB1GxxTmoPthbD3EMkwjX_PyFb7FoQe9F3RYKeI/s640/20140222_174938.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a> </div>
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The main course was the the Love-Boat selection of Sushimi, California Rolls, Tempura, and Teriyaki Chicken. This only works if all diners in your party are fans of this type of food and open to the variety. This was a great way to sample a variety of the offerings at WA and seriously push the bounds on how much I can actually eat in one sitting. This was absolutely delicious! All the fish was cut well and the rolls were made tightly and stayed together when you picked them up with the chopsticks. Additionally, the fish selections were very flavorful. The Teriyaki chicken was good and the sauce had a very nice balance of sweet and tangy. The tempura batter was a bit thick on some of the selections but it had very nice flavor and was cooked perfectly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV0QzEzSKs1z-2gmfExFCTRWMAqCbFhbTZjLpf_7McJDtbqQmTUErSgVYGLeimXtG2R-C9_xSoD_WLNYnsc5dCQUkF2L2tjbQnxwmRZxkwE8LhkpsG-oyLjA4fpZwvYX8bnRYsjIEePM/s1600/20140222_180224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV0QzEzSKs1z-2gmfExFCTRWMAqCbFhbTZjLpf_7McJDtbqQmTUErSgVYGLeimXtG2R-C9_xSoD_WLNYnsc5dCQUkF2L2tjbQnxwmRZxkwE8LhkpsG-oyLjA4fpZwvYX8bnRYsjIEePM/s640/20140222_180224.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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After stuffing myself silly with the delicious array of sushi and sushimi it was time for my favorite Green Tea Ice Cream, and I was a little disappointed. This particular dish was very heavy on the bitter side of Green Tea Ice cream and did not have a pleasant consistency. It was really quite a let down as I had not had the pleasure of having this delectable dessert since my trip overseas. So if I go back to WA, will probably skip this addition.</div>
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Overall this was a nice new place to check out. The service was fantastic and very friendly which always goes a long way with me. Generally the food is on par with other Midwest land locked sushi restaurants. The reality is that there is going to be a little bit of taste sacrificed because of that. The ambiance of the restaurant makes it a really nice place to go on a date or other special occasion dinner. </div>
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Price Range: $15-35 </div>
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https://walawrence.com/</div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-14443592458546454112014-02-22T13:00:00.000-08:002014-05-09T10:30:28.181-07:00Amanda's Bakery & Cafe; Emporia, Ks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Amanda's Bakery & Cafe in Emporia, Ks</div>
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It is a lovely little cafe that is nestled in the Southwest corner of the Cress Building at 7th and Commercial street in Emporia. This great little lunch stop offers those big windows to allow a host of people watching while you enjoy the made to order, fresh and tasty lunch that sits before you. The menu offers a variety of delectable sandwich combos served on fresh baked bread with fresh sides that will please any palate. </div>
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On this visit the selection was a Southwest Kickin' Chicken Panini and potato salad. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB2oy4vyRZyrHUYTzGddeIYtDW3wb5N4-YlcJ2GcJJ4i1xvFfbMp6AOTxSZwXaZ_NVWkVG4V5Y35cVBt2w6jgKFQkREH3RwcrKAn7xwnkdil5dztpRFNJrw6o7MLlCEhlO4iF3Me86wM/s1600/20140222_113532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB2oy4vyRZyrHUYTzGddeIYtDW3wb5N4-YlcJ2GcJJ4i1xvFfbMp6AOTxSZwXaZ_NVWkVG4V5Y35cVBt2w6jgKFQkREH3RwcrKAn7xwnkdil5dztpRFNJrw6o7MLlCEhlO4iF3Me86wM/s640/20140222_113532.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a> </div>
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This meal is the perfect size to be filling without overdoing it. The bread is absolutely delicious and really makes the sandwich pop with flavor. The fresh fruit side option was overly tempting as it all looked extremely juicy and perfectly ripe, but the potato salad won out on this particular visit. The potato salad was creamy with a nice balance of flavor that was not overpowering. Overall Amanda's Bakery & Cafe is a really perfect downtown lunch stop while out shopping, running errands, or simply escaping the office for lunch. Stop by and check out this great Emporia treasure on your next lunch break!</div>
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Price Range: $6-10</div>
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http://amandasbakeryemporiaks.com/</div>
Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-70472658797885534442014-01-07T09:48:00.004-08:002014-01-07T09:48:49.967-08:00The Home Cafe, Emporia, Ks<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who spent time enjoying Emporia, Kansas nightlife previous to 2010 you may remember a small greasy spoon out on Highway 50 called the S&S Cafe. It was sort of a staple for a long time and filled in after country kitchen closed and before Village Inn opened, then again after Village Inn stopped serving all night, that little greasy spoon was there. In fact, it was a 24 hour dining establishment next to the S&S gas and Weigh station. There were many people that enjoyed the greasy fare in that small cozy little space that had great tasting food. Sadly this establishment closed down a few years ago but a a new place has opened in the space- and it is pretty tasty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Home Cafe" is only open from 6 am to 2 pm and are shooting for more of the old diner feel than a greasy spoon. The new owners put in a lot of work to lift a long existing layer of grease and grime from the interior floors and walls. The booths have been removed and new tales with a light maple wood top and mauve cushioned chars now fill the small dining area. Additionally they did not try extra seating in by placing tables uncomfortably close together. In fact it is one of the few time when I have sat in a chair in a restaurant that when I pulled it out it didn't slam into another chair or wall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The service is friendly and quick without an hovering, which I appreciate. My coffee was refilled promptly and often without interruption to the conversation. (Always a sign of an experienced wait staff). The menu was pretty basic, covering your usual diner breakfast staples. They also have a limited lunch menu but there is often a lunch special like meatloaf. There is also a small selection of home made pies available- yum! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On this visit I went with my standard order of a ham and cheese omelet, hashbrowns, and toast. The omelet was cooked well with a good sizable portion of diced ham and a heavy handed portion of blended cheese. This made for a really great ratio of egg to ham and cheese throughout the entire omelet, not just the center. The hashbrowns were a perfect golden crunchy exterior with the light buttery perfectly cooked texture underneath. Hashbrwons can often be the make or break indicator of a god breakfast diner and the Home Cafe does not let you down.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally the price range was $5-8 per meal so it is comparable to other diners and chain restaurants. This is a place that is definitely worth stop to try out if you are looking for a new place to try in the morning.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Address:</span> 4601 U.S. 50, Emporia, KS 66801</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 4px;">Phone: 620-343-3338</span></div>
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Hours: 6:00 AM- 2:00 PM Tue- Sun</div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-1168256075327828852014-01-02T16:10:00.002-08:002014-01-02T16:10:16.982-08:00China Buffet Emporia, Ks<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well after a very full fall it is time to start a new year. In the spirit of starting over I had my first meal out at a restaurant that is also starting over with an interior make over. Hopefully there will be people who are willing to give it another chance in the new year, and based on the crowds on New Year's Day, I would say that it has a chance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The China Buffet located on Industrial Road and Highway 50 in Emporia, Ks has undergone a little transformation. The interior remodel inspired confidence in the quality and improvement in the food as well. This is a typical buffet of Chinese food that offers a little bit for everyone. Lunch price was $6.99 and the dinner price is $9.99. The tables were sparkling (they are glitter infused Formica table tops) and clean. The food was hot, fresh, and generally well seasoned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nice part for families is that there is a selection of American cuisine for those picky eaters in your family. There were chicken nuggets, fries, and even pizza available. The buffet is well organized and grouped in ways that make sense and make it easy to find the food you are craving. Highly recommend the Crab Rangoon, Garlic Chicken Dish, and the Cucumber Salad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wait staff was pleasant, friendly and for the most part efficient. Dirty plates were taken from the table quickly and politely. Everyone who was working seemed to generally be smiling which indicates a good environment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I would recommend that if you like Chinese buffets in general to give this one a shot or a second chance (as the case may be). You might be surprised by what you find.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Address:</span> 2804 U.S. 50, Emporia, KS 66801</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 4px;">Phone:</span>(620) 343-6688</div>
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Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm </div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-46585875775617656502013-11-03T08:22:00.000-08:002013-11-03T08:22:00.573-08:00Children of the Mind by O.S. Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Children of the Mind </i>by Orson Scott Card (4th book in the Ender Series)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you have read any of the posts about books on my blog you already know that I divide books based on how they feed my brain. There are the brain Candy books that are just fun to read but require little digestive effort; the Light Snacks that give you a little taste and require a little bit of brain digestion; Meals for the Mind that are full of thought and sustenance to feed your brain knowledge and insight.... Then there are books that are just hard to digest- the 7 course meal of the literary world. The Ender series by Orson Scott Card has gone back and forth between the last two categories and this last installment was the perfect 7 course meal of books to wrap up the story lines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some may think that these types of books are daunting, and often they are. In my modest opinion most of the books that fall into this category are the classics that you almost have to force yourself to finish. However, with Card there is an easy prose style that makes you want to keep reading. He created beautiful characters that embody all of the characteristics that we hope (or wish) we had, as well as all of those characteristics we fear lie just beneath the surface. His understanding of the foibles and struggles of the human mind burst forth in an allegorical story line that push our moral, ethical and political consciousness to a new level. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a book that challenges the reader to think and examine the world in which they live from a safe distance. The book allows for questioning of all beliefs in a safe distant false reality that feels all to real while reading. Though the heart of the book seems to be this moral, ethical, political dilemma that everyone must face at some point of their existence; it is the over arching theme of communication and knowledge that, for lack of a better phrase, slaps you across the face in the last few pages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This book series is marketed as young adult literature; however, this is also one of those books that as your knowledge and ideals grow over your life, so will the things you take away from this series. Yes, this is a book series that teens would enjoy; but, it is also a book series that warrants rereading, revisiting, re-digesting at different points in your life. Although I did not read these books until I was much older, I doubt my teenage self would have had the full appreciation of the subtlety that Card uses to probe grey areas of the age old question of right and wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a book series I recommend to everyone. Even if you are not a Science Fiction fan, at its heart it is a book that dolefully explores the reality of our human existence in a way that is meaningful, life affirming, and sustaining of deep thought.</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Series:</b> The Ender Quintet (Book 4)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mass Market Paperback:</b> 384 pages</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Publisher:</b> Tor Science Fiction (June 15, 1997)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Language:</b> English</li>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-39303537292875436362013-10-15T12:00:00.000-07:002013-11-03T07:28:54.078-08:00Ad Astra, Strong City, Ks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">Anyone who says that small towns are dying out has not been on Cottonwood Street in Strong City, Kansas on a weekend evening. This small town has seen a boom in the local traffic on weekends thanks to the opening of a superb local eatery called Ad Astra. This wonderful little establishment has found a niche that some might find surprising. The intriguing menu is full to bursting with locally raised products, many of which are organically raised. This is not a mom and pop restaurant, a small town diner, nor a fancy eatery. This is a unique blend of the feel and tastes of all of these styles rolled into one. It is a small building and reservations are a must! The popularity of this Flint Hills treasure has made it a destination spot for many foodies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">On a recent visit I was able to try out some new delectable dishes that were wonderful. Started off with a Goat Cheese, Fig Jam and Caramelized onion Flat-bread Pizza starter. This dish was sweet enough to be a dessert pizza. The flavors melt seamlessly into each other much the way they melt over the light flat bread crust. For me it would be too sweet to eat solo or as a meal substitute, but to share as an appetizer OR dessert works perfectly. This dish is a hit on the menu. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Another starter are the Wings which have become an American staple on many menus. Why these are better lies in the size and taste of the product. The cooks prepare the sizable wing portions with a nice sauce that glazes perfectly. The overall flavor is great in that way that it is balanced so that it is not a bland experience, nor is it a clear out the sinuses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">For the main meal it was the Spicy Slaw Burger on a Pretzel Bun with homemade chips that called my name. For burger lovers, this restaurant offers some great flavor combos and selection of the type of patty- beef, longhorn, or bison. For this visit I selected the longhorn patty. This burger had a nice juicy flavor and the crisp crunch of the slaw was fabulous. This burger was a hit. The chips are really good as well, but they can be a little dry. Would love to see this establishment add a unique sauce to go with their chips.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNk6eVKC6c5xvNhBs3vmDWcyCmIhL4X0g2UO8tAiRAQREdi68cXkAFJc9Deb0lF2Nro4vP-j9-uCwfIjI-cCQk4rCQbi2QOAhCKvg6zrUYC-fDt-fICEqrMujDreBTpHNhLnNxR-NK9c/s1600/20131012_190407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNk6eVKC6c5xvNhBs3vmDWcyCmIhL4X0g2UO8tAiRAQREdi68cXkAFJc9Deb0lF2Nro4vP-j9-uCwfIjI-cCQk4rCQbi2QOAhCKvg6zrUYC-fDt-fICEqrMujDreBTpHNhLnNxR-NK9c/s640/20131012_190407.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">To be honest, this restaurant is always a hit with me. The menu variety meets the need of most any craving and the nightly specials only enhance that fact. The wait staff is friendly and although busy, tend to do a good job taking care of guests without making them feel rushed. The interior is kitschy with a wonderful homey feel that encourages conversation and enjoyment. Some weekend, if you find yourself heading to the Flint Hills area of Kansas, take the time to call ahead to Ad Astra for a reservation (if they can get you in) for a relaxing and tasty dining experience. Remember- they are only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! </span> </div>
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For more information click here <a href="http://www.adastrafood-drink.com/">http://www.adastrafood-drink.com/</a></div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-81627583658888028992013-10-05T13:44:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:47:09.478-07:00Olpe Chicken House; Olpe, Ks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Olpe Chicken House</i> has long been a treasure of the small Kansas town located on Highway 99 south of Emporia. It is also a beloved destination for the surrounding area residents for nice, hot meal that has not been changed or influenced by trends in food or cuisine. This diner that was established in 1958 has long been a favorite of many family and friends. There are many reasons to love this small town treasure and the food is just one of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu has not changed much over the years. Occasionally there might be a new addition but mostly this menu has stayed consistent through, at least, the last 25 years. Dinners always come with tea or coffee, rolls, salad, and potato choice (baked, hashbrowns or fries- with or without gravy ~mashed available on select days/times only). These are heart meals like grandma used to make. The restaurant is best known for the Fried Chicken (which is delicious) but you can also get the Whole Catfish (yes head and all) option which is also quite tasty. What is it that makes this place so good? Well that is a question that has long been debated among regulars. Some say that it is because they are using the same recipes they did back in 1958; others say it is the seasoned equipment that has been in that kitchen since the 70's (the restaurant burned to the ground in the 70's and was rebuilt). What ever the reason- fans of this diner are as die hard about it as any sports fan out there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now on to the food from this visit. My family has a bit of a tradition addiction in general and when we dine at the Chicken House, there is a tradition to our ordering. We are big fans of the appetizers that are offered at the Chicken House. On this visit we limited ourselves to three because there were only 5 adults dining (this is conservative for us). On the left are the ever popular Cheddar Crisps, in the center the unique Onion Rings, and on the right Fried Okra. I have always agreed with Joey from "<i>Friends</i>" that the best food group is fried stuff with cheese. The Cheddar Crisps are the right size to pop in your mouth and enjoy (though they are usually quite hot when they arrive, so caution on that). The Onion Rings are not your typical solid breaded number, rather these are very thinly sliced onion rings in a really delicious thin batter that are then fried to a perfect golden complexion. The Fried Okra is a staple from the farms of the area and is a delicious treat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is something about the salads at the Chicken House, there is a very unique flavor that you don't find with most house salads. The lettuce and cabbage are very finely chopped with thinly sliced carrots on top. our family is split on the perfect dressing as some like Dorothy Lynch and others the Creamy Italian (pictured here); personally I like the vinegar and oil option.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years I have learned the hard way about our family tradition of ordering several fried appetizers. I used to order the Chicken Fried Steak diner with gravy covered hash-browns when I was younger and could eat that much. These days I have learned to opt for a liter finish to the meal. My favorite is a bowl of Cottage cheese and a BLT. This combo is a perfect way to balance out the grease laden first course yet still have a bit greasy goodness with the bacon. The toasted bread is layered with fresh lettuce, ripe tomatoes, a small dab of real mayonnaise, and perfectly cooked bacon. This is a common order and it has never been anything less than perfectly prepared. The cottage cheese is a nice counter flavor to all of the grease. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a lot of reasons that could account for the success of and love for the Olpe Chicken House. Personally, I believe that it is the loyalty of the staff and the highly respected family that has run it through the years. In the 25+ years that I have been going to the Olpe Chicken House, the faces that have waited on me have been significantly fewer in number than you would expect. Many of the staff are veterans of the food service industry that have been there for a long time. That is a phenomenon you do not see very often in food service. After working in that industry for many of my early years I found myself saying "If you really want to know if a restaurant is good, pay attention to the wait staff. Do they eat there? Do they want to stay there?" This will tell you more accurately than any review is the place is a winner. Evidently the Chicken House is.</span></div>
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<a href="http://olpechickenhouse.com/">http://olpechickenhouse.com/</a></div>
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Look out Oklahoma Joe's there is a new kid on the block.... but you may not have to pay too close attention. Taco Republic, a well known food truck in the KC metro area, recently opened a permanent location right across the street from the original Ok Joe's location, 47th and Mission Road. This new hip restaurant has been creating a bit of a stir in the neighborhood surrounding it and not always in a positive way. The location selection may be ideal considering that it is directly in eyesight of an established BBQ joint that rarely has a slow night. There is the potential to draw away potential customers that are stuck in a long line of fellow BBQ hounds.... but it will likely only happen once. The restaurant is brightly painted and has fold away exterior walls allowing for an open air dining experience- too bad winter in Kansas is coming on fast, heat bills will likely be high. </div>
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All that aside- it is really the food that matters. Granted the restaurant has only been open a few weeks. The benefits of that fact is they have more wait staff than they will actually need, so service is pretty prompt and generally friendly. Down side is the food has likely not yet hit a consistency and the over populated wait staff want to turn over tables quickly so they can make more money. Stopped for a late lunch around 1:00 pm but there was still a pretty good crowd (fighting for a "legal" parking space).</div>
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A standard in many Mexican or even Tex-Mex restaurants are the Chips and Salsa that come with your meals. This is available but must be requested and is actually a menu item at $2. This is not that odd considering they are going for a higher end feel. The rojo sauce (their salsa) is a finely pureed version that had a decent spice to it. The chips were a bit on the greasy side and were a mix of flat tortilla and puffed tortilla chips (there were also a few pork rind crumbles in the bottom of the basket). </div>
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There are several menu options to select from but of course it is the tacos that the restaurant wants to be known for. A positive aspect of the menu selection is that there are many gluten free tacos available for those with this particular dietary restriction. So the tacos that were sampled were the "Old School" ground beef taco (both baskets), the "Mole" chicken taco (left) and the "Feliz" chicken taco (right). </div>
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The "Old School" taco had a nice flavor to it. There was no strong overwhelming spice or pepper taste, just a blend of the ingredients that worked nicely with each other. The "Mole" was disappointing as a taco. The combination of chipolte slaw, grilled chicken and mole sauce seemed like a good pick for a slightly spicy kick. However, this was very bland and the flavors did not work very well together. The "Feliz" however did have a nice kick to it that was not overpowering in spice. If you like really spicy food then opt for some different selections and none of these were, what most would consider, "spicy". </div>
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Again, its the hip NEW restaurant to check out and hopefully the balance of a strong consistent dining experience will set in- but it is not there yet. Service was good, parking was a pain, food was ok. Tacos are priced out individually so if you are hungry, take that into consideration. Can have two tacos, chips and salsa for abut $10 per person. </div>
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<a href="http://eattacorepublic.com/">http://eattacorepublic.com/</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeEIg07gPLGOqI7Z90Cf8n7YjttZAcxcdOmevADrH0oyMWImnYBdgHRTT0O4Mo2Ij0mI5Z4FUqsfPmoaiVV-2orxcdVoSM-h_aso9YDMzHC0wox_yKoMuIGtrQvQgaVM99wTCdV5Etms/s1600/20131017_141023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeEIg07gPLGOqI7Z90Cf8n7YjttZAcxcdOmevADrH0oyMWImnYBdgHRTT0O4Mo2Ij0mI5Z4FUqsfPmoaiVV-2orxcdVoSM-h_aso9YDMzHC0wox_yKoMuIGtrQvQgaVM99wTCdV5Etms/s640/20131017_141023.jpg" height="320" width="240" /> </a> </div>
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<i>The Falls</i> by Joyce Carol Oates</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you were a fan of <i>We Were the Mulvaneys</i>, then this is a book that you will also like. To be honest, I am not a big fan of Oates' prose style and have a hard time connecting with her characters. Although this book borders on a Meal for the Mind, it was more just a Light Snack for the Brain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The setting of her book is an interesting historical element. Based in the Niagara Falls area, it delves into the Love Canal crisis before it actually made front page news in the 70's. This story line element is what almost pushed it into a meal for the mind, but alas that part was never a focus or fully developed question for the reader so it fell short.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What she does develop is a lost and guarded woman who in fact remains guarded even to the reader, who has a life of tragedy in some ways and extreme happiness that she can never seem to be content with. This is a waiting for the other shoe to drop kind of female lead. Throughout the book there are a host of loose story lines that never seem to go anywhere; as well as story lines that are developed but don't seem to tie into the main story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This maybe what some readers connect with however. Oates seems to create these family dynamics and characters that are like people we know with flaws and issues. Like those friends, neighbors, co-workers, we seem to only get to know some aspects of the characters and never really feel fully tied to them. The story lines too are like life, messy and complicated, and she never pretends to tie everything up in neat bow at the end of the books. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was an okay read. I was compelled to finish the book even though I never felt fully vested in the characters or the outcome. However, if you are a fan of her particular writing style (which is very unique) then this is a book you might want to pick up at your local library.</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Series:</b> P.S.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Paperback:</b> 512 pages</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Publisher:</b> Harper Perennial (August 2, 2005)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Language:</b> English</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ISBN-10:</b> 0060722290</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ASIN:</b> B005DIAE9G</li>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-70254237756031729402013-09-20T12:55:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:50:42.967-07:00Vending Machines Okinawa, Japan<h4 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I recently traveled to Okinawa, Japan and although this is not what I would typically include on this blog, I was fascinated by the vending machine options I encountered. Vending machines are a big thing in Okinawa; in fact, you can hardly travel two blocks without passing one. Even out in the middle of the farming areas, you will find (see) a lone vending machine waiting to be used. Often the vending machines are paired- a Coca-cola machine that has more "American friendly" beverages and a second machine that offers more native beverages. Sometimes these machines offer both hot and cold drinks. As the temperature was a humid 80+ on the days we were there, I stuck mostly to the cool drinks. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often as I selected my beverages I had no idea what they were called, but most bottles could be deciphered based on the pictures used on the labeling. I am an adventurous one, so I tried a little bit of everything. Some were really tasty and some did not have the best taste, but were none the less refreshing on a hot day and quenched my thirst.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The left hand picture is of a sparkling peach soda. Very similar to flavor sparkling waters in the states, it had a light refreshing taste with an interesting combination of tart and sweet aftertaste. The picture on the right is one of many green tea options. This is particular one is a straight chilled green tea that taste like many green teas I have had in the states. If you enjoy green tea in general, as I do, this was a good option.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The left hand picture is of another tea option but not one I would recommend to anyone who does not drink a variety of tea flavors. This is a flower infused tea (jasmine or hibiscus maybe) and one might say it smells like sweaty socks. It does not have the most pleasant flavor, yet on a hot day I found it more thirst quenching than some of the other drinks I tried. The beverage on the right is actually a Coke-cola product that I really liked (I actually selected this beverage several times on the trip especially after I caught a cold). The C.C. Lemon is exactly what it seems like. I high vitamin C, carbonated lemonade. It was tart with a nice bubble tanginess that I really enjoyed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The next two are fruit based beverages. The one on the left is a green apple infused beverage that is crisp and very tart. I tend to prefer tart drinks over sweet so I liked this one quite a bit. The one on the right is a cherry infused beverage. This one was actually one of the sweetest beverages I had while over there. Most of the drinks are lower in sugar than many states (in fact there are not "diet" drinks although you can find Pepsi Max and Coke Zero- that is about it). This one was a bit too sweet for me but it had a really nice cherry flavor and was a big hit with younger audiences.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last two are again tea based. The one on the left I believe was a honey and lemon version and was really quite tasty. The one on the right was a coffee infused tea that was pretty strong in flavor, but I really liked it. If you enjoy both coffee and tea in general, this would probably be a good selection. I also really liked the label on this one.... it seemed perfect for me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"..to enjoy your meals and talks on dining."</span></div>
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If you are interested in reading more about vending machines in Okinawa and Japan in general, there are several websites that have additional information. Although I did not see any, I have read about vending machines that sell live crabs and other interesting items. Just Google search "Vending Machines in Japan" to find out more. </div>
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UNITED AIRLINES TRANS PACIFIC FLIGHT FOOD</div>
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Say what you will about airplane food: To be honest, this was my first time dining on a flight so I was a bit excited. I did not have high expectations because most of my preconceived notions come from TV, movies, and years of bad press. Okay, it is not fancy or super high class. It is edible, it does have flavor, and in my experience it was served with a smile and friendly demeanor. United Airlines also fed me a lot. Granted, each meal was not extensive, but three (four if you count the pretzels) different servings adds up over 12 hours. </div>
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After the light pretzel snack was the Chicken and rice steamer with salad, roll and a brownie for dessert. All the food was fresh and hot. Not overly flavorful but the Honey Dijon dressing gave it enough boost to suit me. The brownie was delicious. Can't really go wrong with chocolate. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVhLNp-s-DpDp9xjruoqwhuSSACkDjNfDo0-etFmj3NbTnN9Ig45ANhXn1fs1T67E-po1ABGW8KxH72mH5f9JD3HPTkaY9g-sHUCgNX8S6G5hGLdU4Q0sJIbJO6purjwbck6MG0WIHXs/s1600/20130903_141043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVhLNp-s-DpDp9xjruoqwhuSSACkDjNfDo0-etFmj3NbTnN9Ig45ANhXn1fs1T67E-po1ABGW8KxH72mH5f9JD3HPTkaY9g-sHUCgNX8S6G5hGLdU4Q0sJIbJO6purjwbck6MG0WIHXs/s640/20130903_141043.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a> </div>
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Next up was a light snack of a turkey sandwich and Vanilla Gelato. Tasty and light it hits the spot and to be honest, after being served this I thought no more food till I disembark the plane... but I was mistaken.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L1KFz4JbdA8pnjq_khET_01aIKil13ckHlqseLUyv52nVA9_hoW7XtW3O0oa10IwldFcn2W9s-jPolq2ZVO4pYwQ-S528CmZd4zKNaaOW3MCw3gk5hGjAlbh3nVjPwcDsEvVpqfv_vk/s1600/20130903_185505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L1KFz4JbdA8pnjq_khET_01aIKil13ckHlqseLUyv52nVA9_hoW7XtW3O0oa10IwldFcn2W9s-jPolq2ZVO4pYwQ-S528CmZd4zKNaaOW3MCw3gk5hGjAlbh3nVjPwcDsEvVpqfv_vk/s640/20130903_185505.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a> </div>
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About and hour and a half from our arrival at our destination they stewards again came around with another meal. This time it was an omelet, spinach kiesh and sausage patty, roll and almond cookie.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpCFbrsq1eY3gGHTMp6729iaxgZmJjNHaJhZrixMrvgp1lTHQa3-uPo73OgWOLtuikGhvoTjp3KLi-M8GmxMH9tcGDkLJwWk7qwe-Mob3-IHE2SWp3jo3inCcbbVhg5pB6_9WT7V1IXA/s1600/20130903_224113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpCFbrsq1eY3gGHTMp6729iaxgZmJjNHaJhZrixMrvgp1lTHQa3-uPo73OgWOLtuikGhvoTjp3KLi-M8GmxMH9tcGDkLJwWk7qwe-Mob3-IHE2SWp3jo3inCcbbVhg5pB6_9WT7V1IXA/s640/20130903_224113.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Granted it was not five star dining, but it was good, it was hot, and it was edible. It was not much different than what I might make for myself at home from a microwave meal; but, I was okay with that.</div>
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On the return trip I found a very similar dining experience but there were some different options to select from. After the pretzel and beverage service came the first in-flight meal . I selected glazed salmon with rice option. The flavor combination was quite tasty. The standard garden salad was fresh and crisp, which I always appreciate. The roll was fresh but a very dense bread as it was on the trip out so it was not my favorite. However, the packaged brownie was the chocolate fix I needed after a mad dash through the airport to catch the flight. </div>
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The mid flight snack was pretty much the same, though the sandwich was a carved ham instead of the thin sliced lunch meat. The "ice cream" was a plain vanilla, but light and refreshing.</div>
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Alas the picture quality on the last meal is not great- turbulence and picture taking evidently don't go well together. The last meal was really tasty pasta dish that was served at just the right temperature. </div>
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All in all, I would say that in-flight dining has come a long way from the stories I used to hear. Granted, it is pretty similar to food that I could heat and eat in my own kitchen, but it fulfills the need of a weary traveler. I enjoyed the food and overall the service on both flights was pretty good. If you are heading across the Pacific, United Airlines does a nice job of making a really long flight a bit more comfortable. </div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-25533362783931166232013-09-18T13:37:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:50:27.962-07:00Blue Seal Okinawa, Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BLUE SEAL- OKINAWA, JAPAN</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the treats of traveling is trying new things. Granted, I have the luxury of being able to be very adventurous when it comes to food. I have no known allergies and almost no strong or overwhelming dislikes of food or flavors. This was a great benefit when traveling overseas. Even at an Ice cream joint, there are options that you wouldn't normally encounter in the States. The first two pictures illustrate some of the options available (though you may need to zoom in on the pictures to really see the various flavors) both unique and familiar. Blue Seal is a staple in Okinawa and can be found in several locations, serving up both hot food and cold deliciousness, it is a recommended stop for travelers. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So on my first visit to Blue Seal I selected a Beni-imo shake. Beni-imo is a local variety of sweet potato that is very common in local cuisine. The purple color comes out in the cooking process and makes for a lovely lavender colored dessert. If you like American sweet potatoes than this dish will not come as a shock. The flavor is similar and makes for an interesting taste sensation. On the right, is one of my favorite treats that is available in the states in limited locations. Green tea is a staple of Japanese cuisine and it is a flavor that I enjoy. Green tea ice cream is one of my favorites because I generally prefer tart or tangy flavors to sweet. Green tea ice cream is a wonderful closer for a rich meal. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are an ice cream lover this is a fabulous stop while traveling. Though I did not dine there, the hot food smelled delicious and for those less adventurous, covered most of the American staples you would find in a Braum's or Dairy Queen. As was my experience in all the food establishments in Okinawa, the service was quick, efficient, and eager to ensure clear understanding of what you wanted. Depending on exchange rates most of the ice cream dishes averaged $3-5 in American Dollars.</span></div>
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<a href="http://en.blueseal.co.jp/museum.html">http://en.blueseal.co.jp/museum.html</a></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">After a fun midday shopping excursion on Kokusai Street in Naha, we stopped to grab a lite bite to eat and get out of the incoming drizzle of rain. However, we popped into a restaurant that was more of a fine dining place than a lite snack. After perusing the menu we decided to order a meal and simply share it. The Lady Set seemed to be the perfect selection (as we were all ladies).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">The lady set is a full meal that had a lot of variety to it. Starting in the lower left hand corner: White rice, sea grapes in a vinaigrette, salad with a Japanese dressing, tofu in a cucumber glaze, custard, soy sauce, miso soup, steak and vegetables. Each dish had a unique flavor that was almost like a taste roller coaster. The beef was cooked perfectly to my taste preference (medium) and the vegetables were soft but still had a lite crisp to them. The big surprise was the pickled sea grapes, which if you like pickled foods I highly recommend trying. They were tangy and delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">This was one of those accidental dining experiences that was a good, but made you wish you had stopped for a full meal instead. The menu had many delicious options that would have made for a really nice evening meal. The flavor and presentation of the food was wonderful and the service was (as always) courteous and efficient. Cost depending on exchange rate will be about $15-20 per meal.</span></div>
<br />Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-1766804765251430162013-09-17T09:53:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:45:09.002-07:00Sushi-Go-Round, Okinawa; Japan<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh how I love Sushi! So of course I was excited to try out the sushi scene in Okinawa. This particular restaurant is just outside of the American Village shopping complex in Chatan. When you arrive you can be seated at the bar or in a booth that has a sliding partition to make the dinning experience intimate to your party.The great part about this restaurant is the options and variety. If you have a particular craving you can simply order from the extensive menu (complete with pictures for ease in ordering).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgruW-fwmnyRQt6s5apJUDd_ygRzDu_ZyGEWvsfWnn4qGUYxoMvI57UQ-0SYDdOFRdhJbsxvCUUIpiaxyNLAV1q1_IwcX25hWZHrJNFsHdcSjCkQjNdtxmklaSe9k63AOP2WjQ6nS9-s/s1600/20130912_213829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgruW-fwmnyRQt6s5apJUDd_ygRzDu_ZyGEWvsfWnn4qGUYxoMvI57UQ-0SYDdOFRdhJbsxvCUUIpiaxyNLAV1q1_IwcX25hWZHrJNFsHdcSjCkQjNdtxmklaSe9k63AOP2WjQ6nS9-s/s1600/20130912_213829.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedlDHcWvVV0ctWjR3NOpH1A4MoTTpKaB5goSJg49Dsx7DlDb2cqZVcCCT6r_HK-fIZVPbMgR_zk-IVbCGz0s1wctU909OGfBssvd_TzKKm5HCSmaKvZhgK5Z5v6kYQ1pLuPHVrB9Kgek/s1600/20130912_213841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedlDHcWvVV0ctWjR3NOpH1A4MoTTpKaB5goSJg49Dsx7DlDb2cqZVcCCT6r_HK-fIZVPbMgR_zk-IVbCGz0s1wctU909OGfBssvd_TzKKm5HCSmaKvZhgK5Z5v6kYQ1pLuPHVrB9Kgek/s1600/20130912_213841.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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However, if you want to try a little bit of a variety of options then sit back and watch the options come to you. The center of the restaurant is the prep area and surrounding that is a conveyor belt of deliciousness. As you sit in the booth you can watch various sushi rolls pass you and when you see something that tempts your taste buds, simply reach out and pluck the desired plate from the belt. Pricing for the conveyor belt is based on plate color. There is a chart both on the wall of the restaurant and on the side of the booth below the passing belt. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uGBL9yHpSYUA8FTCTlitZZV7PjUqJR9eS3XnmuVTFOge38CSvN2ikZnMFmrpvy_rtIlTJyRP3Q6m4Kkg22x1KmXP9sDsnlsDHGhl-i7_pWiYSxX1QJzoEr_JGt4s_ZCsBjwF9BClxG0/s1600/20130912_210643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uGBL9yHpSYUA8FTCTlitZZV7PjUqJR9eS3XnmuVTFOge38CSvN2ikZnMFmrpvy_rtIlTJyRP3Q6m4Kkg22x1KmXP9sDsnlsDHGhl-i7_pWiYSxX1QJzoEr_JGt4s_ZCsBjwF9BClxG0/s1600/20130912_210643.jpg" height="240" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQAqXwn9GN5FEpqD4MMi2JRlXBG24gJGGfBQ_EZinKp2-E7i_COjLd0r4O1U-BLVOU5CGXf9uZcky09VIECjhd1GAD7lTuWZcf6elrmTVcGqrMQbnWGHhIL2glE9Cm4syvXUm7FE8otw/s1600/20130912_210650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQAqXwn9GN5FEpqD4MMi2JRlXBG24gJGGfBQ_EZinKp2-E7i_COjLd0r4O1U-BLVOU5CGXf9uZcky09VIECjhd1GAD7lTuWZcf6elrmTVcGqrMQbnWGHhIL2glE9Cm4syvXUm7FE8otw/s1600/20130912_210650.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another great feature about this restaurant is the Green Tea. On the end of the booth next to the prep area is a hot water tap and a canister of powdered green tea, maccha. Dump in the desired amount and fill with hot water for a warm tea to enjoy while dinning. The following pictures show the various rolls that I selected to try... sad that I could not try them all, but a stomach is only so big. In the first picture there is a yellow plate with a seaweed wrapped tuna and avocado roll. This roll had a tangy dressing drizzled over it giving it a crisp and delightful flavor. The blue plate was a seafood salad wrapped in seaweed. Although this roll did not have a powerful flavor, it was a light and creamy taste that was enjoyable. The white plate was a shrimp roll which paired with a soy/wasabi mixture was a delightful taste sensation.</div>
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The next two taste adventures were a tempura mackerel roll on the left which was crunchy and delicious. On the right is a seared soy infused mackerel roll which was awkward to eat but had a pleasant burst of flavor.</div>
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The dinning experience was great and I thoroughly enjoyed sampling a variety of delicacies that were offered. At the end of the meal the waitress comes to your table and scans you stack of empty plates to create your ticket. Depending on how much you like sushi and how hungry you are the price range varies quite a bit. You will likely spend about $8-10 (depending on the exchange rate) at the minimum.</div>
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After our sushi lunch we headed across the street to the second level of the main pavilion in American Village to grab some dessert at the Frozen Yogurt place. In general, this does not vary from stateside FroYo establishments except for a few of the options of yogurt and toppings. It is the same- fill the bowl and weigh it at the end system so your price range is $5-10. </div>
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Below are the flavors that I tried out and enjoyed very much.</div>
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The Maccha is a green tea flavor and the Litchi is a very tart and tangy flavor. I paired these with the mango and some granola for a really great flavor combination that was an excellent way to finish off a great lunch stop.</div>
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<br />Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-61836246955033456892013-09-12T10:23:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:46:46.640-07:00Gajumaru Treehouse; Naha, Okinawa; Japan<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Gajumaru Treehouse is a restaurant that sits off of Highway 58 just outside of the Naha Airport. It is visually hard to miss and is one of those restaurants that the exterior simply begs for you to stop in and dine. The parking for this restaurant is a bit messy as it sits right next to a rental car company and tour bus company. Although this was a fun experience, I can't say that the food was as impressive as the exterior. Just for clarification, this is not a natural tree. The entire facility is man made with an elevator to take you up to the dinning area. The interior does offer some very nice views of the bay and surrounding city, but it is very small so seating is limited.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is some fun glow-in-the-dark artwork inside the elevator to enjoy on the short ride up to the dinning facilities. Next to the hostess stand there is a framed article that gives the information about the Treehouses claim to fame, Shabu-Shabu. There are both tables and a version of Japanese style seating available.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a reservation for a large party (a tour group we found out) that took up the entire table area of the restaurant so we were seated in the Japanese style section. This is not fully traditional as there is an open area under the table for your legs and feet. It will show your age and agility though when you try to get up with people sitting around you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WLFqVBZ-pEfJwU7J9GdkGHMsbrr99ZLFELoNnmmsuprsvBngWGWVm55lCaFSRL8_oWWiePgRHLQKuMBHhd63U7s0Q3YzqBCgDwK9vFLHMGLS-O79nS24NgDe9nPCS2fHtzFVMRSCJk8/s1600/20130911_212427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WLFqVBZ-pEfJwU7J9GdkGHMsbrr99ZLFELoNnmmsuprsvBngWGWVm55lCaFSRL8_oWWiePgRHLQKuMBHhd63U7s0Q3YzqBCgDwK9vFLHMGLS-O79nS24NgDe9nPCS2fHtzFVMRSCJk8/s1600/20130911_212427.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When entering this seating area you must remove your shoes and place them on the shelves provided. There are slip on shoes that are available when you leave the area, which you do for drinks and salad. There is a drink bar that has water, a variety of teas, and coffee to select from that you can simply go over to at anytime. I tried the jasmine tea which was quite delightful. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu is compact and easy to read/ understand. I selected a spicy chicken dish while one of my dining companions ordered the Shabu-Shabu. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was an interesting food experience in the combination of the dish. In the top left corner you have Miso soup, which is a fish broth. The strength of this soup varies by restaurant; sometimes with an overpowering fish base taste, sometimes just a hit of fish thus making it more broth tasting. The dish in the upper middle was a fried reedy vegetable that was similar tasting to fried okra though it was not served hot. Upper right is a dish of white rice. The chicken was not as spicy as I thought it would be, in fact it was more just like an herb pan seared chicken. The flavor was not bad but the chicken was a bit on the dry side. Then there was a floret of steamed broccoli, a stem of the reedy vegetable that is similar to okra, three potato wedges and a small bit of what I would call cavatini (noodles and a red sauce)</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I am not sure if the portion sizes of these or the combination was more interesting. None of the flavors were off putting but neither were they sensational.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Shabu-Shabu was an interesting experience just to watch. There is a hot plate built in to the table that the wait staff turns on when they deliver your basket. The basket is simply a wire basket with what looks like a piece of wax paper lining it, then filled with water. The basket sits on the hot plate and the water slowly comes to a boil. You are given plates of ingredients like tofu, vegetables and the meat (in this case bacon) of your choice, that you can add into the boiling water to cook. Directions were provided to help guide you through the process. There were also dipping sauces, soy and a mustard sauce, to use as you preferred. Overall, my dining companion indicated that there was no overwhelming flavor to her concoction, but it was okay. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an experience, and when you are traveling that is what you look for. It was a fun place to checkout and now we can say that we have been there and tried it. The service was good and there were some nice aspects. The price rang, depending on exchange rates, will fall in the $10-15 range per meal.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gajumaru-treehouse-diner">http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gajumaru-treehouse-diner</a></div>
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<br />Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-77683835618245785502013-09-11T10:32:00.000-07:002013-11-03T10:36:18.077-08:00YYY Club: Ie Island Resort, Okinawa; Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Off of the Northwest coast of the Okinawa Island lies Ie Island. A short ferry ride will take you to this scenic and beautiful get away that has lovely white sandy beaches. This little side trip while staying in Okinawa was a wonderful adventure of sights and food. After arriving, getting checked in and taking a trip to the beach; we stopped in for a quick bite to eat at the YYY club resort restaurant. Being an adventurous eater, I opted for the Mt. Gusuku burger, and a mountain of burger it was. Layered with lettuce, tomato and beef; this towering burger was hard to get your mouth around. The burger was juicy and hit the spot after a morning of lounging on the beach.</div>
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A multi-course dinner was included with our stay, so after a relaxing afternoon we headed down to a culinary experience that made my night. There were three options: Japanese, Western or BBQ. I selected Japanese while my less adventurous traveling companions selected the Western (One hoping that would mean avoiding fish- but alas that did not pan out quite as planned). First is the Western Dinner.</div>
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Seven Course Western Menu</div>
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Table Settings- can you figure out which utensil goes with each course? (Even our knowledge of Pretty Woman did not help with this). </div>
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Course 1: Salsa Infused Fish Cocktail- Tuna, Squid, Octopus with Cilantro, lime, and Mango Salsa</div>
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Fresh baked bread rolls and baguette</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqfg3lfE6yPtMPBfGTazrxuEUljcvONxrHlhhpXCIM6WELlFLSiahZP71ikZ8fXpiV_K5QQKhJ9uXY1rwFgkNMu_ljEisgiYkelzzT4qO58aAyCr6Cwtty1hJguMzU-u2-NOECEoUdOI/s1600/20130910_044513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqfg3lfE6yPtMPBfGTazrxuEUljcvONxrHlhhpXCIM6WELlFLSiahZP71ikZ8fXpiV_K5QQKhJ9uXY1rwFgkNMu_ljEisgiYkelzzT4qO58aAyCr6Cwtty1hJguMzU-u2-NOECEoUdOI/s640/20130910_044513.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D6LwJ-ZCpqL9YdEr2zSTQNNbCODpy4CyEm6aVuVBqiprkCNT5bCjbLU2PDx6rGAcsilefgCEVP8IMF02ZDdF1OWAONXIrtQDI1TSmBu_yXSbHM69sq6WDrKiHWrA4MvMEGBDxjDYFLw/s1600/20130910_045221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D6LwJ-ZCpqL9YdEr2zSTQNNbCODpy4CyEm6aVuVBqiprkCNT5bCjbLU2PDx6rGAcsilefgCEVP8IMF02ZDdF1OWAONXIrtQDI1TSmBu_yXSbHM69sq6WDrKiHWrA4MvMEGBDxjDYFLw/s640/20130910_045221.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> Course 2: Pan fried Chicken on bed of Greens </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDAD_EaN-OnEXZm33a8WTihKPQmPi2LyG8VgqwVcJOAEu8tCN-6x-ysop0-Z85xlrVrRQ_vobQvZbmsnDF9BbqmyIT3IJ31c0nWEFAL813Suty3IxY3TGvAFMmnUPuYyPX1Aq0c8Zhpk/s1600/20130910_045929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Course 3: French Onion Soup<br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDAD_EaN-OnEXZm33a8WTihKPQmPi2LyG8VgqwVcJOAEu8tCN-6x-ysop0-Z85xlrVrRQ_vobQvZbmsnDF9BbqmyIT3IJ31c0nWEFAL813Suty3IxY3TGvAFMmnUPuYyPX1Aq0c8Zhpk/s640/20130910_045929.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezgK0vu46abS_SOsQZnSlSe-QzDqjY7_3aKfq7Bt-Edv_MEaUfxSIjlAQazgwBMYey8ENhdV1uv9Xs_AbInm-n8xD79CXr5ik4s_5B-yOf9Y7BqnUaSq9-ao7tizcgWtiszRg347g-wE/s1600/20130910_050552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">Course 4: White Wine Orange Sauce with clams and white fish</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezgK0vu46abS_SOsQZnSlSe-QzDqjY7_3aKfq7Bt-Edv_MEaUfxSIjlAQazgwBMYey8ENhdV1uv9Xs_AbInm-n8xD79CXr5ik4s_5B-yOf9Y7BqnUaSq9-ao7tizcgWtiszRg347g-wE/s1600/20130910_050552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezgK0vu46abS_SOsQZnSlSe-QzDqjY7_3aKfq7Bt-Edv_MEaUfxSIjlAQazgwBMYey8ENhdV1uv9Xs_AbInm-n8xD79CXr5ik4s_5B-yOf9Y7BqnUaSq9-ao7tizcgWtiszRg347g-wE/s640/20130910_050552.jpg" height="320" width="240" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iXtvu82t5pP9IdBlmjT1Km54_EyqM84ceDE43s13ivAnKBabO6Jo9rupoox9hg2HtZCTSWJb8Xz76UVNjwHV7-l6s-qUODWv4VLu1abHfehqyK867KPn1TxqZv9RbC3aUlOKqnrWzGE/s1600/20130910_052149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Course 5: Garden Greens Salad with tomato, corn and sesame dressing</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iXtvu82t5pP9IdBlmjT1Km54_EyqM84ceDE43s13ivAnKBabO6Jo9rupoox9hg2HtZCTSWJb8Xz76UVNjwHV7-l6s-qUODWv4VLu1abHfehqyK867KPn1TxqZv9RbC3aUlOKqnrWzGE/s1600/20130910_052149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iXtvu82t5pP9IdBlmjT1Km54_EyqM84ceDE43s13ivAnKBabO6Jo9rupoox9hg2HtZCTSWJb8Xz76UVNjwHV7-l6s-qUODWv4VLu1abHfehqyK867KPn1TxqZv9RbC3aUlOKqnrWzGE/s640/20130910_052149.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6V9l-LciThgONcHbVJaTehTMO9kx4mdgbEJgk1DdSxHm-Tk-j4Ymh3ZxCZPVUiPt-_FG0Ha5dgAyc-HO6gfAfUf98nh4hXoIekSGOubp75s19Zz-yT0w1M0Z4lDcz0iS5xH794pZqtE/s1600/20130910_052405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">Course 6: Grilled Sirloin with corn, zucchini and carrot </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6V9l-LciThgONcHbVJaTehTMO9kx4mdgbEJgk1DdSxHm-Tk-j4Ymh3ZxCZPVUiPt-_FG0Ha5dgAyc-HO6gfAfUf98nh4hXoIekSGOubp75s19Zz-yT0w1M0Z4lDcz0iS5xH794pZqtE/s1600/20130910_052405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6V9l-LciThgONcHbVJaTehTMO9kx4mdgbEJgk1DdSxHm-Tk-j4Ymh3ZxCZPVUiPt-_FG0Ha5dgAyc-HO6gfAfUf98nh4hXoIekSGOubp75s19Zz-yT0w1M0Z4lDcz0iS5xH794pZqtE/s640/20130910_052405.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6V9l-LciThgONcHbVJaTehTMO9kx4mdgbEJgk1DdSxHm-Tk-j4Ymh3ZxCZPVUiPt-_FG0Ha5dgAyc-HO6gfAfUf98nh4hXoIekSGOubp75s19Zz-yT0w1M0Z4lDcz0iS5xH794pZqtE/s1600/20130910_052405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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Course 7: Dessert Selection On the right is a Roll Cake (Nutmeg based) with coffee; on the Left triple layer chocolate cheesecake with hot tea</div>
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Some of the other dessert options were: apple tart, New York Style Cheesecake, Beni-umo cheesecake, White Chocolate and Beni-umo Cheesecake, and Chocolate cake. All of them looked fabulous and sad that I could not try them all.</div>
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Multi-Course Japanese Menu</div>
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I was extremely excited about this meal and could hardly contain my enthusiasm. I tried every item although there were a few that I did not eat much of. </div>
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First Tray- Starting from Bottom center and working clockwise: Squid Roll, Octopus, Seared Duck, Tuna and Squid with Wasabi , dish of soy. The squid/octopus roll was delightful and unexpected. I wish I could tell you what exactly was in this delicious confection, but there were some lost in translation moments throughout the evening. The raw octopus/squid on the right was chewy and had an ok flavor, but there was nothing really powerful about it. The seared duck was tasty alone, but I preferred it with a bit of the soy sauce. The raw tuna was absolutely may favorite on this tray. Dipped in the wasabi and soy mixture, it was delightful. </div>
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Tray 2: Pork Spare Ribs</div>
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What can I say about this dish that will make up for the blurry picture. This was a delight for the taste buds in its succulance and tenderness. The meat was so perfectly prepared that it just fell off the bone. It had a nice flavor with the right amount of spices and not overly salty as is common in the States.</div>
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Tray 3: Leaf wrapped barbecued white fish</div>
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This was a tangy dish which was unexpected from its appearance and smell. The fish, once unwrapped had a really nice sear to it but the glaze somewhat indicated a more tomato based flavor. Instead this fish had a nice citrus glaze that brought out the flavor of the fish and complimented it nicely.</div>
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Tray 4: Miso soup, white rice, </div>
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pickled cucumber, pickled eggplant, </div>
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and fried white fish with greens and soy broth.</div>
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This tray had some hits and misses for me. The miso soup is a traditional dish that varies per restaurant. Sometimes it is a lite broth with just a hit of fish and other times the fish is almost overpowering. In this case the fish was a bit strong but once I added a bit of the rice, I enjoyed it much better. Pickled dishes are not like American pickled dishes. These had a much stronger vinegar base and far less sugar to off set. The cucumber pickles were tangy and quite delicious, the eggplant however did not win me over, but I tried a bite before deciding. The fried white fish dish was really good, and I was a bit sad when it was all gone. The fish was crisp and the greens set off the taste nicely.</div>
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Tray 5: Green Tea and Sweet Potato Mousse</div>
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The meal was capped off with light and refreshing Sweet Potato Mousse (the sweet potato is a staple in many meals in Okinawa, but the potato turns a purple color when cooked unlike American varieties). This mousse was not a sweet dessert, instead it was a palate cleansing dessert that topped off the meal rather nicely. Coupled with the after dinner green tea, you felt full but not so painfully full that you wonder if you can move. </div>
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The Next Morning: A Breakfast Buffet Like I Have Never Seen</div>
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This was not your typical American breakfast buffet, no sir. This buffet had a blend of cultural staples from Japan and America. I did not get a picture of the fruit/salad bar which had extremely fresh pineapple; nor did I get a picture of the juice bar which had about 8 types of juice including guava. </div>
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However, below is a picture of the array of foods offered: </div>
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Hashbrown triangles/ Toast (with cheese, ham, cream sauce) Fried Rice/ White Fish Picata</div>
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Grilled Horse Mackerel/ Fried vegetable and noodles Loin Ham/ Sausage </div>
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Simmered Beef with Potato/ Scrambled Egg Steamed White Rice</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgD5LOvDfuqNKPiNWnok2C9-z6pk5F2YzSEVJJAVrqWie0SxcFDo6IdFWiNICDr5kosT6dnnlRPuyuhgSU2Yea00U6QV_UzTvYFaNBxRtIUovk6Zj0EGq8NiSRMDF5Kz4TUQZGKYfeic/s1600/20130910_183930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgD5LOvDfuqNKPiNWnok2C9-z6pk5F2YzSEVJJAVrqWie0SxcFDo6IdFWiNICDr5kosT6dnnlRPuyuhgSU2Yea00U6QV_UzTvYFaNBxRtIUovk6Zj0EGq8NiSRMDF5Kz4TUQZGKYfeic/s640/20130910_183930.jpg" height="150" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r7d6VWorEe3Hy5a2qadDLPfctacVwIoV2JFbU-vZQd0GogcVnvfJXFAoPwalkx0jyKZ70sxKG4ECGD3kLYtVu_gPzsc0GVv998ZXrjQvq3-tDtH0gSp9_wlntNcV89N9vTuq2naLH5Q/s640/20130910_184012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r7d6VWorEe3Hy5a2qadDLPfctacVwIoV2JFbU-vZQd0GogcVnvfJXFAoPwalkx0jyKZ70sxKG4ECGD3kLYtVu_gPzsc0GVv998ZXrjQvq3-tDtH0gSp9_wlntNcV89N9vTuq2naLH5Q/s640/20130910_184012.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Chinese Dumpling/ Mustard/ Soy Sauce Miso Soup/ Vegetable Soup</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe9fr5ltyxATkEJjcDTWWhR2NDOOVhNHPDeXsTGs4NBMgfphtcRtcHTkKZNUmr6SdiM8rrWVwBCaNr0QdXTOaeWv2HqUMj9EE-A9dc8ssux_82nOQlgWTOoYASUuGXtQpVhnunoNIeQU/s1600/20130910_183942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe9fr5ltyxATkEJjcDTWWhR2NDOOVhNHPDeXsTGs4NBMgfphtcRtcHTkKZNUmr6SdiM8rrWVwBCaNr0QdXTOaeWv2HqUMj9EE-A9dc8ssux_82nOQlgWTOoYASUuGXtQpVhnunoNIeQU/s640/20130910_183942.jpg" height="150" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fF4cgC1XI-024AUoBpxzjrgg5jaN0RpYj0jwOCAGNxfL9Z7yVDDUXgrLvFh5tqdevNPA7NCB0WDAkJ-YTCWJIcxZe23kQg5D0crSOTUuCGxWBYIcgcx9U1FIV5BsDLZywlJjjunIPXU/s640/20130910_183951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fF4cgC1XI-024AUoBpxzjrgg5jaN0RpYj0jwOCAGNxfL9Z7yVDDUXgrLvFh5tqdevNPA7NCB0WDAkJ-YTCWJIcxZe23kQg5D0crSOTUuCGxWBYIcgcx9U1FIV5BsDLZywlJjjunIPXU/s640/20130910_183951.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Fried Burdock Root/ Sauteed pork with egg Soy sauce/ Pickles (variety)</div>
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Assorted Breads (rolls, Pancakes)</div>
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I did my best to try a little bit of everything, but there was a lot! I failed to get pictures of the fresh fruit and salad bar which was absolutely the best part for me. The fresh pineapple was so juicy and full of great tangy flavor. There was also a huge beverage bar with hot coffee, hot/cold teas, and a variety of juices. This was a great finale to my food adventure at the YYY club. Everything was freshly coked, perfect temperature, and really quite tasty (even if it was a dish that felt odd to eat for brunch).</div>
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Climax Coffee in Okinawa Japan was an awesome meal stop in the morning before going out to do the tourist thing. This lovely little shop is similar to American IHops, Village Inn, Perkins etc... in that they are open late and serve an awesome selection all day. </div>
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There was quite an array of breakfast options that they offered and although the pancakes tempted my companions, I decided to go for an omelette like I have never seen before! If you have read any of my other food posts from Okinawa, you already know that I am a big green tea fan, so I had to try the Green Tea Latte as well (delicious).<br />
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This seafood omelette smelled so delicious when it arrived at the table. This is not your American omelette option, but a bowl of delicious flavors that will seriously make you mouth water for more. In the center of the plate is a mound of rice, ketchup fried rice to be precise. Warning, ketchup Okinawa style and ketchup American style are different in flavor. Covering this lovely mound of rice goodness was what appears like a scrambled egg, though this is not cooked to a fully solid consistency, there is just a bit of a runny quality to it. Then this mound is surrounded by a moat of creamy sauce filled with shrimp, squid, scallop, clam, broccoli and mushroom. </div>
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So good! The creamy sauce blended with the eggs for a soft and palatable blend of flavor. The seafood was tender and not overly chewy (though careful with the shrimp tails). The rice had a surprisingly complimentary flavor that I was not expecting and enjoyed immensely. This was a fabulous dish that hit the spot and was very filling. </div>
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Now for you pancake lovers out there, I did snap a pic of my companions dish of Banana Pancakes. As you can see there is a towering supply of whip cream to go with it. However, the pancakes are a bit more dense than American pancakes and the chocolate and cream is not as sweet. For me this seemed like more of a dessert than a breakfast meal, but to each their own!<br />
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<a href="http://www.climaxcoffee.jp/">http://www.climaxcoffee.jp/</a></div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-90331845630359663062013-09-07T15:55:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:48:26.271-07:00Pizza in the Sky; Okinawa, Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pizza- there are a variety of types, toppings, crusts, and locations for that delectable dish that Americans are so fond of. So, when our hosts decided to take us to Pizza in the Sky, I hoped that it would be something different from what I can get stateside. I was not disappointed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To start with the restaurant is an open air style that sits atop a mountain which allows some awe inspiring views of the surrounding cities of Okinawa below. There are fans and hats for you to don as you wait for seating. This is a hot spot in Okinawa and wait times are common, though there are games to entertain the kids or yourself and breathtaking views to enjoy while you wait. After being seated the menu is presented for you to select your meal. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Note the price of drinks; the exchange rate <i>was at</i> $0.98 = 100 yen.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did decide to order the Acerola Juice as it came highly recommended. It is a cherry flavored beverage that tasted similar to Hawaiian Punch, although the fruit flavor was more robust. The cute beverage coasters were mini tropical shirts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUVrThukPf05_ecJ78YUtSKCl7Nwb7N4ooDw0sumhygPNEuQ-8eaPEsCrjoj3Me5cM85V9vTWDcvP0SeNKmpyZjNTW7fRDrSrRf_o-hvBf_P4qWPmYBtitJdXPJGXmZgyzof4VVnipxk/s640/20130907_013235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUVrThukPf05_ecJ78YUtSKCl7Nwb7N4ooDw0sumhygPNEuQ-8eaPEsCrjoj3Me5cM85V9vTWDcvP0SeNKmpyZjNTW7fRDrSrRf_o-hvBf_P4qWPmYBtitJdXPJGXmZgyzof4VVnipxk/s640/20130907_013235.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The salad was quite delicious and I unfortunately forgot to snap a picture because the finely shredded carrots were almost a work of art. The salad also has corn (a very common staple in the cuisine) and a tangy vinaigrette dressing that was very good. The deluxe pizza (supreme/ everything pizza) has pepperoni, bacon, onion, corn and peppers. Also ordered a pepperoni only pizza (Pictured on the right)</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crust is cooked thoroughly but has a very doughy texture making it difficult to pick up with your hands and eat. The only utensils provided at the table are chopsticks (though if you asked for a fork they would likely provide one) so the challenge was on. I learned how to cut and eat pizza with chopsticks. The everything pizza was great and had the right amount of melty, cheesy goodness to satisfy an American pizza lover. The main difference was the limited amount of sauce. There is not an overwhelming tomato flavor to the pizza, instead the flavor is really driven by the peppers and meat toppings. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a highly recommended stop if you are in the area. It is not the easiest place to find if you are unfamiliar with the area- so be sure to get good directions or go with someone who knows the area. Depending on exchange rates, you can get salad and a pizza for two people for $15-20. Great service, amazing views, delicious food this one hits it out of the park.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pizza-In-The-Sky/173172889361427">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pizza-In-The-Sky/173172889361427</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside the absolutely stunning aquarium in Okinawa, Japan there is a lovely little cafe you can stop and grab a bite to eat. This cafe sits along the floor to ceiling windows of the three story tank in the center of the main aquarium building. Inside of this tank you see a variety of aquatic life ranging from rays to whale sharks. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The tank is definitely a highlight of the aquarium visit and the little cafe provides a variety of light snacks to keep your energy up as you tour the vast complex.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I perused the menu options I was torn between the Taco rice and the Taco balls. At the time these seemed to be the most interesting options to me though neither sounded very Japanese in nature. However, I would later come to find out that Taco Rice is a very popular dish in Okinawa and is available in many of the restaurants. I decided however to go with the Taco Balls and some Green Tea Ice Cream. Yes- I am aware that this is not the most recommended flavor combination, but this is what I do surprisingly frequently. The taco balls were a finely ground beef with taco seasoning that had been balled, breaded, and fried. They were actually quite delicious and I found myself thinking, "gee, I am surprised that this deep fried concoction is not seen in the states..." I am sure that these have made a stateside appearance but I have not personally encountered them before. The green tea ice cream was delicious as always (I really really like green tea ice cream).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if the Okinawa Aquarium is on your tourist agenda, remember to leave a little room for a light snack in the cafe. There is something very surreal about sitting in front of a tank of aquatic life, most of which is bigger than you are, and snacking on some delectable treats gazing at the swimming forms. A trip highlight recommended to anyone heading to the area. Depending on exchange rates $5-10 per menu item.</span></div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-6430009330178905852013-09-06T19:00:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:49:33.647-07:00Mike's Tex-Mex, Chatan, Okinawa; Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tex-Mex was the last thing I thought I would be eating when I boarded a flight to Okinawa, Japan. However, the world is getting more and more culturally, socially, economically integrated so I suppose I should not have been surprised to find Mexican inspired restaurants in Okinawa. However, there were some different menu offerings that I decided to taste test. Chips, salsa and guacamole are a staple of the Tex-Mex dinning experience, and in that regard there was not a lot of difference here. The guacamole had fewer added spices leaving it almost straight avocado; while the salsa was very runny and almost sweet rather than spicy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most unique menu item was a Stir fry Mexican Rice dish. It was pretty fabulous even if I did eat it with a fork rather than chopsticks. The blend of corn, peppers and seasoning gave the dish a Tex-Mex flavor even if it appeared to be more of an Asian fried rice dish. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, not the expected cuisine but a nice surprise. Flavorful and unique it was a good stop. Service, as always was the case in Okinawa; was prompt, courteous and friendly. Depending on the exchange rate the cost was $12-15 per meal without drinks. Although this was a decent restaurant, I would not rate it as a must dine while traveling but more of a "if there is time" and you want to try something a bit familiar but unique.</span></div>
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Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-50334019716664007782013-09-06T14:43:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:49:51.935-07:00Jetta Burger Market Okinawa, Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who loves burgers? Evidently a lot of people all over the world. While working our way through an area in Chatan Okinawa, Japan called "American Village" stomachs began grumbling for lunch. After looking at several options we stumbled upon a gourmet burger joint called Jetta Burger Market. The menu offerings were vast, varied, and very impressive. There were so many delicious looking burgers it was hard to select only one. Now granted, this is not the Japanese food experience that was somewhat expected, it was a welcomed surprise. So what did I finally select? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A massive burger- The Big Joe burger. This was a mouth watering burger that was insanely difficult to get my mouth around. There was no middle bun like on a big mac- it was another top bun shoved in the middle. Lettuce, cheese, bacon, a barbecue type of sauce. The side options were fries or garlic fries, both of which our table ordered. If you like garlic flavor, then the garlic fries will be a big hit, they were very delicious. They were not just fries that were coated in garlic salt; No, they were fries that were cooked with minced garlic in the frying oil. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are also some interesting malt/shake options with your meal. A shocking discovery throughout my dining experiences was the cost of ordering a beverage with your meal. Sometimes the beverage will be as much as half the coast of the meal you order. Again- excellent service and great food. This was a surprising stop that I feared would be more "American" but had a real local variety and zest to the menu options. Cost depending on the exchange rate is about $8-12 per meal with just water.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CoCo Ichibanya, also known as The Curry House, is a wonderful treat that you can enjoy in a variety of locations. This was the first restaurant I dined in after arriving in Okinawa, and had the pleasure of having a second time before I departed (though I forgot to snap a picture the second time). The restaurant offers a variety of curry dishes that can be made to fit your specific flavor desires. Warned by our host that you should not order anything above a spice level of five (scale of 0-10) unless you have eaten here before, I was fairly cautious with my first dish. I selected the special (at least that was my understanding as it was on a separate insert) of Mincemeat and cabbage with root vegetables, spice level four. This was delectable and the perfect fit for my spice taste. The root vegetables were tender, flavorful, and complemented the pan fired mincemeat/cabbage patty. The rice and sauce was very filling and made the dish hard to actually finish. This dish was a hit for me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second time I ordered a chicken curry with a spice level of five because I had caught a cold on my travels. I am sure that my taste buds were not exactly as sharp as they normally are, but the spice level was perfect to help open up those sinus passage ways. I would agree with our host that anything above a five on the spice level is for people who specialize in highly spicy food. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, very filling and tasty. It was an interesting introduction to the restaurant scene in Okinawa. Service is friendly, patient, and really quick. I would recommend this stop to travelers in Okinawa. Depending on exchange rates, most dishes are in the $10-13 American dollar per person.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This company does have some Stateside locations in California, but based on the website, it appears there are some differences in menu options. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ichibanya.co.jp/english/">http://www.ichibanya.co.jp/english/</a></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F-qrK-MiP8aGA%2FUihv7spGFkI%2FAAAAAAAAAKo%2FkyDmlGrKFlI%2Fs640%2F20130904_215650.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4ZcuLuXfKrvJuX9OgQY_Ejr1SWNQEuglE4yXHJOOIgIWsS4sbiMJSJvOqi_w8o5H8tSKtjnXw22pc5bZA77YlLpLEuSEMxhQlRaNk1khJbs_73szAabsYD9kbEW0oP8uSFelNdf4CEg/s640/20130904_215650.jpg" -->Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412498863140800816.post-69826814404694639972013-09-03T07:18:00.000-07:002013-10-08T13:51:20.413-07:00Denver Airport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT</div>
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Every once and a while you end up in one of those restaurants were you are expecting in find the typical and mundane food you always find, but are surprised. That is exactly what happened on a recent layover in the Denver International Airport. Looking for a spot to grab some food and kill some time, popped into Colorado Sports Bar and Deli simply because it was close to the gate. After looking over the menu I selected the seasonal burger which changes toppings. The current toppings were: Coleslaw, fried pickles, and chipolte mayo. This came with several side options but I selected the sweet potato fries. The server recommended that I get the Rosemary dipping sauce (which is vinegar, sugar, and rosemary) to go along with it. Spot on! This was a taste adventure. The combinations of flavors played well together and the acid in the sauce and coleslaw hit the perfect spot without being to overpowering. The service was good though they were a bit understaffed for the amount of customers so occasionally had to wait a bit longer than one might expect to. Price was reasonable given that it was inside the airport $10 per (food only).</div>
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Highly recommend this spot. <a href="http://flydenver.com/fooddetails?URI=tcm:8-597">http://flydenver.com/fooddetails?URI=tcm:8-597</a></div>
Gilliganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376727551290836655noreply@blogger.com0