Gyukaku; if you dont get happy hour, you go for $2 draft

during Feb, Gyukaku had $2 draft.

I noticed that this evening when I was leaving work and text messaged my girl friend who is actually busy but still can make time for cheap beer (gotta love her)!

The other day I was talking to my co-worker who also loves Gyukaku and we realized that we've been to Gyukaku so, many, times, but only have been there during regular price settings (=gasp! non-happy hour!!!) only twice or so lol

Today, I thought about not eating anything, but once I got there that seemed silly so we got Sukiyaki Kimchi Bibimpap and Goma Negi Ramen.

Yummmmm

But I still will only go back for happy hour next time♥

Yakiniku Takashi

I went to Yakiniku Takashi!!!

I went before but forgot how good it is!!! excuse my short term memory, but in a sense I'm lucky because I can easily be re-impressed lol

Beef Schmaltz, was AMAZING!! the faint truffle taste is a wonderful addition to the delicate buttery spread.  One bite and I instantly grabbed my beer lol

This plate is called, get this, the "Tongue experience"!!!

To be fair, it is quite interesting when you think of how all the very different meat actually is from one huge tongue (ok, you might not want to imagine it too much...)

Assorted Horumon plate.  You grill the white chewy ones forever before its edible but it's yummmmmm once ready!!

Tetchan (intestine)

This, was so chewy and good! I can chew on it forever!

Thank you Yakiniku Takashi! Thank you beef! gyuuuuuuuu~~

Bar room @the Modern

Lamb and Goat Cheese Terrine

Pan-Roasted Veal Sweetbreads

Coffee Caramel Dome

I am spoiled.

I am totally spoiled.

I ate at the Bar room@the Modern, and it was SO GOOD!!!!

I have to forget about it, cus this is NOT something I can eat everyday.

I am going to keep telling myself that this was a really good dream and that I shouldn't expect it to happen again, and if it did, I'm just lucky.

I ate at the dining room of the modern before but this was the first time I went to the bar room section, which was just as delicious!  It was also very interesting to go with someone who really knows wine, but kind enough to not make me feel like an idiot when obviously I have no knowledge of the grape juice!  Gochisousamadeshita♥

Valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's day♥♥

I brought hot chocolate to the office today instead of normal chocolate. 

In Japan, as legend has it, girls would give their crushes chocolate on Valentine's day. 

Of course it's a giddy little event for school girls&boys, but not so much for grown ups.

Instead we have this thing called "Giri Choco" which means we give chocolate because we feel like we have to, not too much because we want to.  My hot chocolate, although can be categorized as Giri-choco, I got it cus I wanted it, and if I want it I assumed everyone wants it, so in the end I got it for a not-Giri purpose.

It was gone in 20min.

My coworkers are heavy chocolate drinkers!!

Cafe Asean

this was my first time here, but Cafe Asean was so great!!!

I went late at night with a friend who already had dinner, but after seeing the menu he got hungry and had a full bowl of soup noodle himself :)

Mine (top picture) was a Laksa Lemak and let me tell you, it was SO GOOD!!!

It was a coconut flavor soup with tons of sea food & garlic chips!!! very tasty.

My friend's noodle soup was good as well.

It had two types of noodles!!! not sure if that was done on purpose but kinda funny!!

They have cute hanging lanterns all over the store (sorry, no pictures) and its such a cute cozy little place.

Apparently theres a garden area in the back where I am sure to come back to eat once my dreams come true and its SPRING again in NY!!!

Cannot wait!!!

Minca

Minca is my favorite ramen place in NY.

There, I said it.

Everyone wants to know where everyone's favorite ramen place is in NY, and mine's Minca.

Minca has been around for a while, and I know it has it's ups and downs, but all in all, I know I can count on them. 

This is Minca Shio, which has roasted garlic oil in it. Mmmmmmmm

Garlic is like the magic ingredient that will make any dish x100s better.

This with pork gyoza and a beer, need I say more?

Munchkins

the only time I ever go into Dunkin Donuts is when I need Munchkins.

I don't even buy them for myself, I get it for the office to share when we are busy and can use some sugar in the morning.

Problem is that I'm not too big of a fan of the jelly ones, but they filled probably half of the 50 count munchkin box with them, on top.

I have to wait till everyone eats those for me so I can get to the munchkins I like.....

Pan!

gotta love Sunrise (Midtown in this case) for the time sales they have!

5min before closing, I think they close at 9 or something, they have 2 for $1 Okazu Pan!!!

The picture above are actually both bread with tuna-mayo-corn in it.

Okazu pan just means any savory bread (not sweet).

I used to buy and eat them for lunch all the time in Japan! so good!

Wine well

This, my friends, is a Wine Well!

It is genius, it chills normal temp wine completely and perfectly in 4~5min!!!

It's basically putting your wine in an ice cold well and speeding up the chill process by vibrating the container.

It's the first time I saw it (they have it at Chelsea Wine Vault inside Chelsea market), and they called it in a different name but I could only find what they call "wine well" online...

Me on the other hand, I'm a bit more retro, and lack space in a freezer and the ability to think ahead and chill a white wine if I know I need it, so I get a bucket of snow and stick the wine in it for an hour or so...

...this is a fierce snowman my neighbor made with left over flowers from the flower shop....sorry had to put it up, so intense!!!

Anywayzz, a few days ago my friend kindly invited me to her office party@KOKO.

They are a very nice architecture + design firm with cute projects.

this is one of the cute models of a pool house they did...so pretty.

the wine chilled immediately with the Wine Well!!! sorry it's still covered but it was a cute wine I believe called Gavi.

and I just gotta say, the food catering was to die for!!

Bagna càuda pictured above was soo gooooood♥

Thanks KOKO office!!

The world's largest & best meatball

for those of you wondering where to find the world's best & largest meatball, I have an answer for you; it's at Lavo.

The picture shows a pan the size of a grown man's head with one huge meatball cut into four.  

Delieeeesh!!

You're welcome :)

Brunch

Brunch, is such a wonderful thing.

Gobble up good coffee and everything is game.

The picture above is a Huevos Rancheros plate at a mexican place.  

Yummmm

this is a typical brunch platter @Le Gamin.

They used to be next to Minca in east village but I never paid too much attention to it cus I love Minca so much!  now they have a place in Greenpoint, BK in addition to many other places throughout the city.

some people really like ice cream....

Washington Post Jan 27 article of the snow...

This guy, has his priorities straight; Ice cream comes first!

Kudos to him.