corporategrunt

I am Visiting my folks in Japan soon, I am looking for some good B-kyuu food around Ichigaya. I plan on having enough time to travel to various parts of tokyo but it will be great to have places to go eat within reasonable walking distance.

I've used guru-nabi but it is still pretty hard to come up with definite-must destinations. Also if someone can point me to a good monja spot that is on par with the good spots from Tsukishima (my parents used to live there and it is pretty amazing to see that some places can fuck shit up so badly - I used to think they're all the same), that will be much appreciated.

Thanks folks

I go to Punjabi Deli on 1st st between A n 1st Aves... $2 buys you a deceptively filling indian meal, quality isn't great but with that kind of savings, i think quality becomes somewhat secondary.

there's a new burger shop going up on 5th st. btwn a n b - next to Le Gamin...i think it's called Black Iron Burger - hopefully it will be decent.

I haven't been to Zaitzeff in EV, looks pretty pricey. I understand this is an offshoot of one by wall st.? anyone been to either of the locations?

who's this, every girl who shops at the LES whole foods?

hahaha touche (I've seen that hipster queen girl in there few times - but see your point), many of them are good looking though...and from the way they shop, quite wealthy.

i am not entirely serious here but:

Whole Foods on Bowery - you go on a right day at the right time, they have ample amount of samples (cheese, deli section, dessert section, etc.) that one can get a decent snack in by just walking through the joint. say hullo to princess coldstare chick while you're there.

Did the hot waitress at Minca have a husky voice that is a bit of a mismatch to what she looks like? then i concur with herp's assessment. I thought about making stalking plans to go back to Minca, but I've been too busy, too health conscious, and the pricepoint vs. quality debate always leaves a native japanese like myself grumbling - ramen is supposed to be way easier on the wallet....girl like that must get hit on by dudes every shift...

last time i was at minca, there was a pretty good looking waitress with a husky voice - that was a plus.

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I will go with your recommendations for the next bottle.

I wish if i could go on a month long trip to Scotland and just travel, drink and learn, collect nice bottles, ship em to the states.

Another round of Small Cool started on Apartmenttherapy - I like well designed/thought-out living quarters but for several factors 1)not balling 2) renting 3)nyc 4)old ass apt 5)no time - i can't bring myself to put in a serious effort to make my apt nice. the contest does make me envious though.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/2008/small-cool/

I am relatively new to drinking Scotch - I've been drinking for about a year but I really really enjoy getting drunk from Scotch. It is unlike getting drunk off anythingelse. I guess I am already an old man.

I can't buy anything really expensive (although I do receive occassional gifts). I try not to finish a bottle before purchasing a new one - that way i can compare tastes.

My recent bottles are:

Lagavullin (wrong spelling?) 16(?) year - liked it alot.

Glenfiddich Gran Reserva (Rum cask finish) 21 year - kinda novelty-ish, ok

Bowmore 12 year - ok

McCallan (oak cask finish) 15 year - thought it would be better because I think McCallan 12 year isn't the worst thing around.

if anyone has more recommendations, please help out by all means.

I usually get whatever is on a decent sale at Astor Place Wine - I was told on an internet Whiskey message board that they have good selection at the most reasonable price, at least in my 'hood.

I recently gave my friend two mini bottle set of Yamazaki and Hibiki(? i think it was a blend) - he was impressed with both.

I think that is the case with most of these Japanese chains, Santoka, Setaga-ya. Ippudo also seem to have some people who are sent in from japan, but I am sure they will take off once they think the place will be ok with local hires.

Santoka and Setaga-ya have both dropped off in terms of quality. But I recently walked by Yoshino-ya and saw that they do pretty well (one by Time Sq). I guess bastardized food sells better than authentic shit. If you think that is bad, you haven't seen nothing yet - some of the 'sushi' spots in New York are straight-up scary.

Went to Ippudo last night (soft lauch switched from lunch to dinner last night). I see that they spent good amount of dough on the interior (benefits of that is a different topic).

They had lots of workers probably for training purpose.

Had the Shiro-maru. I thought it was good - but not necessarily a knockout. good soup - bit on the sweet side, good hakata style thin noodles (I am fan of thicker type in general), Cha-shu was very thin and only two slices - disappointing, decent veggie selection but not enough in terms of quantity. Overall pretty good.

13 plus tax and tip came out to 17 - which is kinda dough.

I will go back and try the aka-maru soon. thought other stuff on the menu like salad was totally uncalled for though.

went to Five Guys, I've been to one in Georgetown before, one in Gtown was better but it was pretty good. very filling.

Ippudo update

http://www.ippudo.com/news/event33.html

comment section at www.leveragedsellout.com ?

I've sat next to a really really old man on a Rome-NY flight - he smelled like death, like his internal organs were just rotting away. I came really close to yakking it up few times.

Another complaint I have about flying is that I never ever get seated next to an attractive female - I wonder if they are assigning me seats next to old people because I seem like a chump who would help them with their bags, put up with their terrible stories...or is it because I look scuzzy and may grope hot strangers sitting next to me?

Great stuff, this is what I really want from SuFu, people travelling to unique destinations and sharing it with others.

Analyst, gotta + rep you when the thing allows me to...

muchas gracias.

Turning tricks.

on a somewhat more serious note, I had a friend who was an English lit major at cornell, very bright guy. But his thinking was very similar to yours and he didn't get a job for quite some time. luckily for him, his parents can support his status but it took a considerable emotional toll on him. I wouldn't go as far as say he is a shell of his former self but it did hurt his self esteem and general confidence level.

I guess you shouldn't be too picky and hope for an ideal situation if you don't have a specific carrer in mind as of now. I am sure you pay enough attention to the news that there are plenty of financial institutions that has put in varying degrees of hiring freeze, and that considerable amount of people still see a real recession around the corner.

Sometimes you should be content and grateful for the fact you can cover your rent, basic necessities, and have a job that pays for insurance - that state doesn't have to last forever anyway.

^ i saw her match two nights ago, she was being jeered heavily towards the end because she kept on complaining about line calls. the commentator said she lost some weight and she is moving better - it did look like she shed some baby fat.

this continuing influx of hot russian/eastern eruo girls is really great for the sport - although they are probably prime targets to be approached by the euro mobs to fix their matches.

good find indeed! I am assuming it is going to be cold but i may have to get in line for this one...rent is due you know?

now someone tell me when ippudo is opening!

Nora Zehetner

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0954253/

Where/who are you teaching (English?) with?

please tell me you got an offer from NOVA

the weather is shitty in NY right now...whenever it's like this you usually see shit like:

"hey, it's nasty out, wanna fuck?"

the fight is this saturday...

I really don't think Hatton is gonna be able turn this fight into a brawl to suit his style and strength, say what you will about that pretty boy Floyd and his money flinging ways, his defensive boxing skills are just superb. A non boxing fan may get pissed off at Floyd for what may appear like a bitch-esque moves through this fight, but he is gonna do what he is gonna do to win...my call: Floyd will get the nod, no KO though

Hatton-Mayweather 24-7 and DeLaHoya-Mayweather 24-7 has been two of 2007's best TV programming.

Where's the pictures of all them hot girls!!!???

that aside, I seriously do envy you for making the trek over there...I have yet to set a foot in South America...Brazil is definitely a place I'd like to visit before I die.