Kushikatsu

Kushikatsu (串カツ) is a Japanese-style of deep-fried kebab. In Japanese, kushi (串) refers to the skewers used while katsu means a deep-fried cutlet of meat.Kushikatsu can be made with chicken, pork, seafood, and seasonal vegetables. These are skewered on bamboo kushi; dipped in egg, flour, and panko; and deep-fried in vegetable oil. They may be served straight or with tonkatsu sauce.-Wikipedia





Kushikatsu has been loved by Japanese for a long time, especially with of course, beer. its just so easy to eat, and the variety of it is endless. Salmon Kushi, Shiitake mushroom kushi, pork kushi, beef kushi, you name it, its delicious.

Being deepfried with this fine japanese bread crumbles called "Panko" makes it crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. The manner of eating Kushikatsu is "no double dipping" Since most of Kushikatsu restaurant offer their sauce in a bin, and everyone shares. Everyone dip their Kushikatsu in the same bin while they chat, laugh, and drink. ah I love it.

Today my gal friend and I picked "Nishimura-ya" which is located under Namba parks, this big shopping mall/movie theatre downtown.


We ordered the lunch set, it had salad, Tuna sashimi, sticky potato, picked veggies, Kushikatsu, miso soup and rice. The total comes to 880yen, which is about 8 dollers+tax. well worth it.







My gal friend and I had lunch and a beer, and we headed up to the movie theatre to see "Social Network,"then we went to Karaoke after that. It was a nice Sunday funday.

Critter's Burger. They deliver.

OH CRITTERS BURGER. How tasty you are.

I was craving some giant burger since I've moved back to Japan, I mean, after living in Californian for almost 10 years, I'd be crazy if I didn't.

My favorite burger place is the Prather Ranch Grill burger at farmer's market at Ferry Building in SF to this day, nothing beats Prather Ranch Grill's burger on Saturdays under the beautiful SF sky... check it if you live in SF area http://www.foodnut.com/236/prather-ranch-meat-company-review-san-francisco/
Farmer's market at ferry building... Oh how I miss thee.

Anyway, since SF is a bit far for me now, I found one place that is pretty good over here. Quite Americanized looking cafe-style resto in Downtown Shinsaibashi, Osaka called Critters burger.




They make their own buns using wheat made in Hokkaido, the northern part of Japan. Their bun is slightly crispy on the outside but super fluffy and nice on the inside. their juicy mouth watering meat patty is 100%beef (?)...it was written on their website...http://critters.jp/






The one above is Avocado cheese burger, their hospitality is quite amazing, they give you this burger holder made with paper, so that your hands don't get messy. How nice. They also have Bacon cheese burger, vegetable burger, mozzarella mushroom burger, teriyaki egg burger, and so on. well they gotta represent right? Teriyaki it up. Imma try Teriyaki burger next <3

They have fish n chips, nachos and other side menus too. bit scared of Nachos though... i believe in Californian nachos.

What makes this place the shit though, is that they deliver. me like it.

Good Eats: Italian in Japan

When I was 23 years old, I had just finished my junior college, and was about to transfer to a four year college. We just found out that my dad got Leukemia for the first time. I decided to take a break from school and came home here to be near my dad for a year. I got some jobs here and one of them was a server/bartender at this Spanish Tapas bar.

I became real close with the head chef Kiyomi there. She and I used to go to this Italian restaurant her friend owned called "IL PIATTO," it's in Minami disctrict in Osaka, super tiny Italian restaurant that holds about 9 people or so. The food was so good, it was definitely our fave.

This time I came back, It's been about 4 years, and it turned out, the owner Suehiro-san has opened the second restaurant called "Shinmachi-Icchoume." "Shinmachi" is the name of the area, "Icchoume" means 1st division. Basically he took the address of the place as the name of the restaurant. Neat huh?

Although Suehiro-san wasn't there, it was still pretty damn good. They had basically the same menu as "IL PIATTO", so busy that there is no way we can get a seat without a reservation!! I bet he's making hella bank. Good for him ;)



Above is the Antipasto for two, it includes

chilled corn soup shot, Unagi-eel quiche, marinated veggies, grilled zucchini, marinated octopus, spoonful crab mousse, seared albacore tuna, sliced pork with Parmesan cheese and Italian parsley, prosciutto wrapped fresh peach...etc.

We had Gorgonzola cheese pasta for entree, then prosciutto and cheese pizza. That was wussup. SUPER YUM.




The girls I'm with are all ballerinas, danced in ballet companies in NY, Estonia, Russia, Japan etc, international girls night out it was. we all went to a chanpagne bar after, then went home feelin pretty saucy. I slept like a baby that night.

YUKI - メランコリニスタ

Japanes Pop Super Star. again, Yuki, you are God. Too cute.

yuki JOY

Her name is Yuki. She was in a band called "Judy and Mary"I fell in love when they came out. I was like 13 I think. I still am in love with her. There is nobody like her. She definitely is one of a kind.

木村カエラ butterfly バタフライ LIVE.mpg

Her name is Kaera Kimura, she started off as a model, then became a singer and an actress. at the moment preggo. She looks like this cute little doll, reminds me of Twiggy.

愛をこめて花束を Superfly