Continuation of the Creepiest Ad Ever.....

OMG..Creepiest Advertisement Ever.....

And yet...I feel like some ice cream right now....

Pizzeria Bianco @ 623 East Adams Street, Phoenix

I love a wood fired oven Pizza; it's classic but overlooked cooking method that makes such a difference; from the roasted, smokey toppings to the carbon black, speckled, crunchy carb bottom, it's an all-in-one (every major food group: carbs and yum) gift from heaven.

Pizzeria Bianco is nationally recognized as one of the best Pizzerias in the U.S. and having passed by on numerous occasions, the wait time can be as long as three hours!  Thank god it was relatively bearable outside and there's no denying that the surroundings are quaint, just remember to eat right before you arrive...you'll be hungry by the time you're seated.

The Manliest Man Man Way to Make & Eat Ramen

Damn.....I want what he's making!!!! (notice:I didn't say selling)....

Le Thai @ 523 Fremont St, Las Vegas

I'm a big fan of the Downtown area, it's gelling into an authentic urban streetscape that makes me want to move to the area just so I can see it realtimes...albeit I like it more at night than in the daylight hours... (less visible decay)... don't hate me...

I wanted to get more involved with Downtown, and when The Downtown Project presented a panel series of inspirational speakers, I decided it was time to climb out of my nested cocoon and head on down.  And to piggyback the event, I wanted to try Le Thai, a much raved Thai restaurant that recently opened on Freemont Street.

Town Kaimuki @ 3435 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu

This is where the real fun begins: that pivotal moment when you become accustomed to a city after multiple trips; you have a general lay of the land, you've been suckered to all the tourist traps and now you get to really explore the hidden gems and local favorites.

So I'll start my review with my final verdict:
I LOVE Town!!! It's a quintessential local restaurant; the ambience, location and food creates an inviting experience highlighting Hawaiian hospitality with locally grown organic ingredients and innovative combinations that can only be conceived here on this heavenly island of dreams.

Happy New Year! Starbucks Bearista Year of the Snake

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

Japanese New Year's Day Tradition: Osechi Ryori @ Aburiya Raku

Happy New Year!  While the customary tradition in Las Vegas is the influx of yacky tourists on the strip freezing their asses gawking at subpar fireworks, the locales spend it quietly indoors, or on occasion drive out onto a highpoint to see the entire Valley in fireworks (it's a beautiful site). Having been on both sides of that coin (2 hours stuck in traffic on Koval at 1:30am is living hell, possibly the stupidest thing I've ever done.....oh wait) I prefer enjoying it quietly, but not calmly (it was a mad house in the kitchen)...

In the Japanese tradition, there's a little less partying (at midnight, it's a loud gong along with a moment of silence, followed by an early morning rush to temple to give a 2 second clap n' pray and get your year's fortune). You come home to a banquet of food, prepared during the prior week, so that for New Year's and two days after, no one has to cook and the house is at rest, (which is bung anyways, but the sentiment is there).  Which makes the week before New Year's a living hell -so much to be made and usually makes everyone crazy.  

Happy New Year!!!

So with everything going on with the Holidays; family, travel and generally gorging myself to death, I have reduced my Blog to a dither of random pics and other noncomittals.... But I'm back and with a vengeance; more reviews will be posted later this week with more cities on the horizon!!!

Thanks to everyone who has checked out my blog, even with the sparse content I appreciate your diligence and loyalty!!! Have a great year everyone!!!

Halekulani: Morning View of Diamond Head