« January 2005 | Main | March 2005 »
February 28, 2005
Kellog's Mini Swirlz Cinnamon Bun Cereal
This is Kellog's cereal that is supposed to taste like a cinnamon roll. Now I am a big fan of cinnamon rolls, so I think I can fairly gauge how well they managed to get the taste correct.
Does it taste like a cinnamon roll? Not exactly. Does it taste bad? No. It tastes like a cinnamon-flavored cereal. Nothing too exciting or unexpected. If you like cinnamon, then you'll like this cereal. Otherwise, skip it.
Posted by akijikan at 8:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 26, 2005
Red Lobster
So I recently went to Red Lobster as it was my brother's birthday. I enjoyed this place so much. Much more than I usually do. My norm has always been the Mix'n'Match shrimp, but I went for something different this time. We also tried a new appetizer.
This was great. It was a thin, almost tortilla-like crust with lobster, cheese tomato, and basil. Parmesean was the over-lying taste, and it made everything taste like cheese. All the other flavors were almost covered up, except for the basil. When you were biting into the pieces of lobster meat, it was exquisette.
Since I was looking for something other than my norm for my entre, I had a hard time choosing. In fact, I couldn't even order when everyone else did and when the waitress came back I still wasn't really ready, but I threw out the Broiled Seafood Platter.
This consists of Scallops, Flounder Stuffed with Deviled Crab, and Shrimp Scampi with a side of fries.
The Scallops were great. I love the texture of scallops and the flavoring of these was great. Of course I enjoyed the shrimp scampi as it is one of my favorites. However, I did not enjoy the flounder. It tasted way too fishy. Now I know that sounds like an odd complaint about fish, but it's true. It was too fishy for me.
I probably would not order the Broiled Seafood Platter next time I go to Red Lobster.
Also, I completely forgot to take a picture of this because I saw it and I wanted to eat it so badly. For Desert I got the Apple Overboard. It's a beggar's purse-style apple pastry topped with vanilla ice cream. It was amazing.
Posted by akijikan at 7:02 PM | TrackBack
February 25, 2005
PSP Paid! (LUNCH WARNING!)
Well today I went to work after school and got my check. I then went to EBGames and spent $101 out of the $132.01 I was paid.
First thing I did was pay off my PSP. I only had $47 dollars and some cents left to go to pay it off completely including tax. w00t! I am glad to have this done. I pre-ordered on 12/07/04 and I am second on their list. The sales girl told me I "have nothing to worry about," but I'm sure she meant pertaining to obtaining my PSP on launch day, because I still worry about other things.
In addition to the sign above, EB also had boxes for a lot of PSP games on display.
While at EB, I also picked up Gran Turismo 4 for $54. For anyone who doesn't know, GT4 is one of the PlayStation 2's Killer Apps. That is, it's one of the series of games on the machine that people will buy the machine just to play. It's a "real driving simulator" that is amazing. "Un-real" graphics and physics make this game a must have for any fan of cars. I'll do a later entry that is just a review of this game later.
I also found out why I've been having trouble breathing.
Yeah I blew that out of my nose today. Nice, eh? Now you know why included the words "lunch warning" in the subject. Sorry. I just had to share that though.
Posted by akijikan at 1:19 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 21, 2005
YES!!!
YES! MUWAHAHAHAHA, I am whoring out my blog!
EDIT: Cancel that, it sucked
Posted by akijikan at 5:30 PM | TrackBack
February 20, 2005
FreePSPs.com/?r=15335144
FREE SONY PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
So I'm sure most of you are familiar with Gratis Networks. They are the people that you complete an offer, refer friends who complete offers and then you get something free; be it a computer, video game, camera, or anything else.
I'm working on their Free Sony PSP program. This is recently launched. All you have to do is complete an offer and refer 5 friends who do the same. The offer is easy. You do pay a 5.95 fee to be part of a trial run of a product you cancel later, but it's well worth it right? I know I'd rather pay 5.95 and then get a free PSP that costs 250.
Now I know this sounds like a scam, but it's not. They've been in the news as legit. See what the New York Times said:
after finding what he deemed to be legitimate success stories, he decided to make a run. Within a month [after signing up for an offer and getting five friends to do the same], he received his iPod. 'I think it's pretty cool', he said, adding that he is now participating in two other Gratis programs
The CEO of the company has also appeared on "The Screen Savers" a G4-TechTV program and they professed it to be legit also.
Check out http://www.FreePSPs.com/?r=15335144 and I promise, you will not be disapointed. The offers are simple and easy and most offer instant credit from the Gratis site. What a Cinch!
Posted by akijikan at 1:26 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Grocery Quirks
Yesterday I was bagging at Bi-Lo as I often do, but I thought of a couple of things.
First off when did "Can I help you out to your vehicle ma'am/sir?" come to mean "Will you give me at least a couple of dollars to bag all your groceries, take them out and load them into your vehicle ma'am/sir?" I swear, I was helping this one lady and when I finished loading her groceries into her car she handed me a dollar bill and proceeded to become utterly distraught over the fact that she didn't have another one to give me and apologized that she could only give me one dollar. It's okay, tips are appreciated but hardly necessary. Though yesterday I did get a 5 dollar bill from one lady. That was nice.
Second, I back a particular item. It was a stack of chinet plates. If you don't know what these are, they are a thick paper plate which won't buckle should you place something heave on one side and hold it with one hand on the other side. This particular package was called "Chinet Casuals". Now wait a minute, if these are the "Causuals" then there must be "Formals", right? I don't know about you, but I would never be caught dead using Chinet plates in a formal setting. I laughed pretty hard when I saw this and no one knew why I was laughing and it was too stupid to explain too. Oh well...
Posted by akijikan at 12:57 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 16, 2005
A Day at the beach...er...parking lot!
Okay, so everywhere around here I've seen seagulls in parking lots.
Now what is the deal with this. Are they migratory (please pronounce that "my-GREAT-uh-ree" ala Monty Python)? If they are you'd think they'd be heading for warm weather. It certainly has not been warm. I don't know why they're here. But man, they are more scavgenger-ly than I previously thought!
Posted by akijikan at 7:41 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
February 14, 2005
Valentine's Day
Happy Valentines Day everyone! Yes really, a happy Valentine's Day. I got a really wonderful gift form my girlfriend. She made me a blanket! How awesome is that? It's so great, it's nice and warm and keeps me feeling loved! She also gave me lots of chocolate (all in the form of Reese's, of course).
I got her a .... well she hasn't recieved the package yet, so I don't want to say. I'll edit this post later when she's opened her package.
Hope yours is going well too!
Posted by akijikan at 2:40 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 13, 2005
Outsider in Japan
For some reason I love reading these, but here's another blog of a foriegner in Japan: http://www.americaninjapan.blogspot.com/
Posted by akijikan at 9:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Do Not Sell
So yesterday in the till-room, I noticed this box sitting there. It is full of Ice Age 2 DVDs. I haven't seen Ice Age 2, so I don't know if it's any good, but I was wondering how much someone would pay to have this movie before the actual release date.
I guess the store would get in a ton of trouble if word got back to the publisher they sold these before the street date of March 1st. I guess 'til then they're just going to sit in the till-room.
Posted by akijikan at 8:26 PM | TrackBack
February 12, 2005
Taco Bell's Chicken Enchilada Burrito
Taco Bell has introduced a New Grilled, Stuffed Burrito. It's the Chicken Enchilada Burrito. If you know me, I love Enchiladas (especially the cheese ones) so I thought I would give this a shot. It's chicken breast meat, enchilada sauce, mexican rice, cheese and sour cream. I opted to skip the sour cream.
sorry for the bad picture
This is pretty good. It does taste like an enchilada. I like the chicken. Maybe next time I'll ask for less or no rice though. The mexican rice flavor doesn't mix right withe enchilada flavor, I don't know what it is, but they don't go together well. Maybe if they had used plain rice with enchilada sauce on it. I got full before I finished it too. Very filling Give this a shot though, over all it's good.
Posted by akijikan at 11:32 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 10, 2005
Reese's Big Cup
I saw these at Wal-Mart and I had to pick it up. Reese's is my favorite candy of all time, and of course the best part of a Reese's is the peanut butter. So they made these with more. I know they're not new, I jut haven't seen them in a while and I haven't seen them in a King Size (2-pack).
Awesome. Look at all the peanut butter!
Posted by akijikan at 11:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 9, 2005
China Rose
This is from a while ago, but next to where I work is a delightful little Chinese place next to where I work called China Rose. It has a simple 10 item menu and available sodas. I got the spare ribs with chicken fried rice. Delicious!
such generous portions
It was expensive though; something like eight dollars. I can never, ever eat all the rice I get with any meal.
Another interesting thing is I heard there's another hole-in-the-wall chinese place like this down the road that has the exact same menu. Not just the same menu, but even the same picture display to order from.
Posted by akijikan at 11:13 PM | TrackBack
February 8, 2005
Sick...bleh
I actually have a good reason (excuse?) for not posting since the 3rd. I've been sick this whole weekend. I kicked things off Saturday night because of a stomach bug. I had vomiting and diarrhea (at the same time!) and when that went away Sunday morning I got a fever with the worst body aches I've had in a while. Since that has worn off, I've incurred a throat and sinus infection.
Anyway, I'd thought I'd offer up something interesting with this post besides my maladies.
Simon (whose blog I would recommend as an excellent read) suggested that I explain my interest in Japan. I wish it were so easy. Where does this interest come from (I had originally stated "What makes me a japanophile" but after reading the wikipedia.org article for japanophile, I think the word is a negative one and would not use it on myself. I am also not an otaku. I prefer to consider my interest in Japan more intellectual.
First off, Reiko is almost right, but it is not my grandmother who is Japanese. My girlfriend's grandmother is Japanese. My interest in Japan was piqued when I met my girlfriend and her grandmother, but it was there before.
I'm not an anime or manga fanboy either. Rather, I'd say it comes from the way that Japanese culture, pop or otherwise, appears mysterious, but also some that I could understand (easily? yeah right). I don't know why things that are hard to describe are best described with contradictions. Maybe they aren't.
Anyway, I'm tired of trying to explain and that's probably the best I can do. Sorry it is hardly an explanation at all.
Posted by akijikan at 12:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 3, 2005
Getting to know your Sushi Chef
Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite food (to which pizza is a close second) is sushi. And if you know that about me you probably know my favorite place to eat it: Sekisui.
I like Sekisui for its tasty food and great atmosphere but most of all the chefs are great! Anyone who knows anything about sushi restaurants knows the best place to sit is at the bar. Only there can you enjoy the chefs, from watching their great skill to exchanging witty banter. The bar is great seating for beginners especially because there is no better guide than the sushi chef. Ask him any questions you have, and always ask "What is good today?"
If you are a regular visitor the chefs might get to know you and you'll find yourself being greated when you walk in with calls of "Irasshai!" A greeting used with customers they know. The best chefs learn your preferences and can come up with something even when you tell them "Omakase" which means "chef's choice". This can be a wonderful way to order at the sushi bar. When chefs know you, you'll often find yourself recieving gifts at the bar of small apetizers or desserts or other things.
On a recent visit my favorite chef, Yama, wanted to test out a new roll on me. I was very honored by this because it meant he trusted my taste for sushi.
Yama-san's wonderful creation
Of course it was awesome. Thanks Yama!
Posted by akijikan at 12:32 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack