I’ll sometimes grab a salmon-on-multi-grain-rice onigiri from Mamaya on Shirokiya’s second level for a snack after work on days I linger in town instead of going straight home. Today, they had something new – Hatogarashi onigiri. The English translation on the label said “seasoned redpepper [sic] leaf†so I gave it a try. The flavor was similar to a takana onigiri, but with a hint of smokiness, and maybe the suggestion of tea. The rice was seasoned, so was slightly tan, and also had shiro goma (white sesame seeds) mixed in. With that whole pepper leaf thing going on, there was a light capsicum burn in the aftertaste. Very good. Continue reading ‘Mamaya Hatogarashi Musubi (Onigiri)’
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Dave at Mojo Tactical actually got these in at the end of May, but I didn’t get in there until this past Friday. This Weyland Corporation patch from Orca Industries in desert colorway references the early iteration of the sinister company in the Alien/Predator/Prometheus canon. From Aliens on, it’s the post-merger Weyland-Yutani Corporation, so this is from the Alien versus Predator to Alien timeline (which Prometheus falls in the middle of). Again, like most of Orca’s homespun patches, I don’t know if this is licensed or not. Still cool though. Patch measures 3″ x 1″. The hook-and-loop backing on this one isn’t as tenacious as it should be, especially at the acute top corners. Wear yours to the movie premiere!
$8 USD plus sales tax.
Recommended for fans
While I was finding price for new cv shafts ($1400, ouch) I went over to check out the Scion FR-S aka Subaru BRZ aka Toyota GT86. It being the second day available to general public it was fairly busy. Took the automatic out first since the standard was on the road. Finally being able to sit in one, the first good thing is the seat is a nice fairly snug fit. Not anything close to astronaut cockpit fit of Dave’s M Coupe, although that means it’s pretty easy to get in and out of. Not luxe like leather, but the cloth is grippy. Didn’t notice any weirdly placed seams that bug my butt like the Yaris. Recline, fore-aft, seat height and headrest height adjustment, all manual. Telescoping & tilt adjust wheel. Can gets good driver position as opposed to Yaris monkey arm ergonomics where I can’t get quite comfy.
Having missed this the first time around, I was glad to get the chance to get one, but at the same time I was a little disappointed how quickly it came around in the special bi-weekly flavor rotation. The woman working was unfamiliar, but she made my taiyaki in short order, and even left on the mold flash how I like it. I’m sure that is more an issue of laziness rather than adherence to rustic appearance traditons! After taking a bite I felt a bit let down – perhaps because I was denied last time and the anticipation of this maboroshi flavor made me expect more out of it than it had to offer. The filling was essentially coarsely crushed and moistened Oreo cookies. It is good, but it isn’t the end-all of the myriad alternative taiyaki fillings: I’d take the conventional anko filling over the Oreo without a second thought. There is a slight residual crunch from some of the larger cookie pieces. This one might appeal to those who don’t like really sweet things. Continue reading ‘Akimune-an Oreo Taiyaki’
Once again, Nagoya’s Jiraiya is back at Shirokiya selling their ebi-tenmusu – mini musubi rice balls built around a small breaded shrimp ebi tenpura. For $7.95 USD plus tax you get six slightly-too-big-to-be-a-mouthful tenmusu and a scant pinch of kyarabuki (a tsukudani made from fuki, Petasites japonicus) – they’ve gotten pretty Chang with that. That’s about the going rate, since a pack of five at the Meibutsu Tenmusu Senjyuu at Nagoya Centrair is around 735-yen. The rice in the Jiraiya ones is a bit on the gummy side compared to Senjyuu, but that could be related to adapting to the loaner equipment in the temporary space. I do actually prefer the taste of the Senjyuu ones, but I’m not flying all the way to Nagoya on a whim for them! Continue reading ‘Jiraiya Tenmusu’
Jackie and Eric from Chinatown Boardroom dropped me a line last Friday that there was going to be an opening reception for Yumi at Mu’u Mu’u Heaven in Kailua. A First Friday art show that wasn’t downtown and was on my way home was very attractive, especially if I could check out some nice artwork and meet some old friends and hopefully make some new ones. Traffic was light on the Pali, and there was ample parking. The video crew that did the live feed for Fuyuki’s show were there doing an interview, and the same organizer dude that made the arrangements with the Boardroom last time was there on hand too. I wandered around the rest of the shop and gallery space until the shoot wound up. Continue reading ‘Yumi at Mu’u Mu’u Heaven’
Vince will probably get a kick out of this. Dave at Mojo Tactical has them in stock. A cursory internet search indicates that they are from Orca Tactical, but I’m guessing they are not licensed. Quality is good.  They are available only in the desert tan colorway.
I wonder if for every dozen packs of Leffe Blonde they get one of the Brune. The Blonde is being carried by many supermarkets now, I first saw it at Foodland. But then one evening I spotted a sixpack of the Brune. Unusual, but I had a full stock of beer already so passed. I have never seen it again. Fast forward a few months, I see that Safeway is carrying the Blonde also, and then wonders of wonder I spy a six pack of the Brune. I do not make the same mistake & grab it. Turns out it won’t even scan at the registers!
Anyway, on to the beer. This Belgian abbey ale pours a dark brown with a moderately strong head that persists. Can immediately detect aromatics and alcohol, even though the content is only 6.5%. There’s a fairly strong spicyness then a subtle roastyness and a pretty smooth bitterness. There’s a bit of the syrupy going on. I actually prefer this beer as it warms up, it seems to mellow it out. Not huge ABV numbers, but for some reason these Leffe’s kick my butt! 3 out 4 monatsic monkeys.
Touted as a Pilsner style summer lager, pours clear yellow with strong head. Quite “dry”/karakuchi and a pretty strong bitter, but not very strong floral notes. It’s a good beer to acompany food with strong assertive flavors, but as a beer to just drink I’m not liking it as much. I’d probably give it the higher side of 2 out of 4 pilsy monkeys.
I was a bad boy today. Mojo Dave had a nice Jones Tactical belt in Multicam in large, so I jumped on it. I’m not going to get too heavy into the technical details, since you can go to the Jones website or probably find a boatload of reviews online. It is 1.5†wide. My waist is 34, and there is like another inch, maybe inch-and-a-half left on the loop Velcro for the adjustment tab. The body is made from heavy coyote brown webbing overlapped on both sides with printed Multicam webbing with the joint nicely hidden and finished. The adjustment webbing is 1†printed Multicam webbing with Multicam printed loop Velcro under the tail. The buckle is a 1†Cobra buckle. At $75 USD, it is quite spendy as belts go, more toward the price range of some designer Italian trouser belt than a run-of the mill single-layer scuba webbing tactical belt. The material and build quality justify the price in my opinion. Continue reading ‘Jones Tactical Cobra 1.5†EveryDay Belt’