Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner at 12th Avenue Grill

This is my 2nd visit at 12th Ave. Grill in Kaimuki.  The first visit was impressed by their Pork Chop, but tonight I wanted to try steak... and that was a big disappointment.  The steak was too tough to chew, lucky I'm not 60 yet otherwise I have to get a jaw operation after the meal.

Anyway I don't let the steak spoil the whole meal, the appetizer Pate Ravioli well treated all the damages that the steak scarred my stomach.  Despite the not so good steak, I would definitely come back to 12th Ave. Grill, but I will stick with the appetizer and the Pork Chop.

House Bread comes with warmed French Bread and Sour Dough.  I had to request for more breads, it was that good.

Special Appetizer for tonight was Pan Seared Duck Pate Ravioli.  This dish is probably the best appetizer I had for this year.  If you love pate, don't miss this dish.. eat it before you die.

Inside the Pan Seared Pate Ravioli.  There was creamy pate (and some chopped duck meat?)  served with baby greens, and caramelized apples.

Muai Cattle Co. Skirt Steak.   This dish was a big disappointment since the steak was way too chewy.  The steak served with red potatoes, caramelized onions, and the whole garlic clove.

And of course since JJ Bistro was close enough to the restaurant.  We finalized our meal with Lilikoi Chocolate and Strawberry Shortcake.

The Best Yogurt Drink EVER.

I was so fortunate to accidentally found the yogurt drink in Tokyo station. While shopping for bento to eat on Shinkansen, something called into my attention to walk up and grab the little milk glass bottle. I forgot how much the drink cost because didn't pay too much attention about money when I was on a vacation/food shopping spree. Anyway the yogurt drink was so delicious, it has a taste of milky touch and creamy texture to it. It's like drinking milk flavor cheesecake and get a Thai heavenly massage at the same time. Yesss it's that good! However, I'm sure the fat content might not be a happy factor for people who work on shredding some pounds... I don't care I can't read Japanese nutritional facts anyway.

UNIQLO HeatTech Inner Shirt

So lucky to have Uniqlo stores everywhere I go. I left to Japan with mostly shorts and tshirt (Hawaiian Local Style), then on the second day the weather suddenly turned cold dropped below 10 celcius. My belly fat doesn't retain enough heat for my body, thanks to HeatTech for keeping me warm during the stay!! The shirt is around $12. And I brought 3 more back to Hawaii just in case we have snow in Honolulu!

HeatTech is the smart way to stay warm and comfortable in cold weather. Developed by Uniqlo and Toray Industries, the world's leading fiber maker, this revolutionary material keeps you warm by retaining body heat. Now you can dress more inventively in cold weather by taking advatage of this sheer, innovative fashion techonology from Japan. Open up exciting possibilities. Give yourself a fashion edge with HeatTeach

Omeyage from Japan to Hawaii

A collection of servenior from several cities of Japan but mostly got them from the Daiso store in Shinjuku. KitKat was probably the most wallet sucker here, they were over $200. We also found more weird flavors along the way like cabbage flavor etc.. but my concious reminds me to stop buying or else I'll have to work in KabukiCho to pay off for all these KitKat.

My most flavorite here is the Chestnut Manju, then the Sesame Manju. The store is located on the underground level of Odakyu Shinjuku station where they also sell other million kinds of delicious food and snacks. Can't wait to go back, I would be very happy just Windows shopping there.

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu

It has been only 3 weeks since the Japan trip, now I crave from Tonkatsu again.  This is my 4th visit within 4 months to Ginza Bairin on Waikiki Beach Walk.  The price here is at least 30% higher than other Katsu chains in Japan.  And the quality and taste is relatively comparable.  We dropped around $70 for 2 people meal, cheaper than flying to Japan to eat Saboten.

Vegetables Springrolls  

Seared Ahi Sushi

Thick Cut Loin Katsu

Inside the thick cut loin katsu is super succulent

Tenderloin Katsu

Hi Guys, I'm back to Post the Blog Again!!

After taking a break from blogging for 4 months, now I'm back.  Blamed it all to P90X training that took up all my time away from writing the blog.  So what happened to my P90X training now?  Due to the golfer elbow injury which I got from the weird pull-up position, I couldn't participate 110% in some P90X program.  However I still continue doing some of the exercise but gave up on the diet part.
The result after 3 months in the program wasn't impressive.  But I lost 15 lbs because I replaced all muscles building days to cardio track instead.  Anyway I'm happy at least I don't have as big belly as 4 months ago. And now I eat whatever I want, and I still maintain my weight at 146 lbs with 12-13% body fat.

Things to Do in the next 5 Years - Tokyo Marathon

Tours - JTB Sunrise Tours, JTB USA Original Package Tours, JTB Look American Tours

Phone Disk - iPad, iTouch, iPhone Disk Mode for Mac and PC

Phone Disk - iPad, iTouch, iPhone Disk Mode for Mac and PC

Morning Accident

Perry's Smorgy Buffet Closing!!!

Article from StarAdvertiser.com

Perry's Smorgy, a Waikiki buffet restaurant that's provided comfort food to generations of tourists and residents, is closing tonight, workers and customers said.

The restaurant at Kuhio Avenue and Kanekapolei Street offers a $12.99 dinner buffet and is also open for breakfast and lunch.

Workers said they've been telling regular customers about the closure, but said they were not allowed to talk to the news media.

Jessica Rich, president of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, said she heard about the closure a couple of weeks ago and dropped by last night.

"We wanted to go and say goodbye," she said. "We wanted the workers to know they were appreciated."

Landowner Queen Emma Land Co. has plans to redevelop the parcel and the nearby International Marketplace.

Rich said Perry's offered value and a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere in bustling Waikiki.

"It's just basic good food -- corn on the cob, mashed potatoes with gravy -- and you get a lot for your money," Rich said. "There's something there for everybody."

A second Perry's Smorgy location, on Lewers Street, closed a few years ago.

Read more: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100829_Perrys_Smorgy_restaurant_in_Waikiki_closing_doors.html#ixzz0y1i0Lo7m
Subscribe to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Subscribe Now!

Brazilian baby dancing samba

Dancing Samba Baby 20 Years Later

SlickNick wants you to see this item at Amazon.com

	I want I want Kindle Lighted Leather Cover!! Kindle Lighted Leather Cover, Black (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle) by Amazon Available for Pre-order Price: $59.99

What's New in my Bedroom

9 "Harmless" Habits That Age You

9 "Harmless" Habits That Age You

ook Your Age—Or Younger!
It pretty much goes without saying that smoking cigarettes and frying your skin in the sun make you older, so kudos for quitting and slathering on the sunscreen religiously. But if you're trying to turn back the clock—or at least slow it down a little—don't overlook these other habits that may be sabotaging your....

SlickNick P90X: Day 11 Week2 - Yoga-X

SlickNick P90X: Day 11 Week2 - Yoga-X: "Energy: NormalMood: Normal Exercise:Once again back to the Yoga-X. Today I again could see improvements over the last week. I could bend ..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 10 Week2 - Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper-X

SlickNick P90X: Day 10 Week2 - Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper-X: "Energy: NormalMood: Good Exercise:Definitely I could see improvements over the last week shoulders and arms. I increased the dumbbells wei..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 09 Week2 - Pyometrics

SlickNick P90X: Day 09 Week2 - Pyometrics: "Exercise:It was a cardio day.. I felt I got so much energy compare to the previous week. Everytime when I do a lot of moves, I get bliste..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 08 Week2 - Chest & Back

SlickNick P90X: Day 08 Week2 - Chest & Back: "Exercise:Today I'm on the week 2 and do the same exercise all over again. I could noticeably repeat more repetitions on the Push-Ups. How..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 07 - Stretch-X

SlickNick P90X: Day 07 - Stretch-X: "Wooww I left out my blog for so long.. Although the title is Day07 but really the day I'm writing this blog is Day 11 !!!! Yeahh I at least..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 06 - Kenpo X

SlickNick P90X: Day 06 - Kenpo X: "Energy: Normal, 95% Recovering from coldMood: Normal Exercise:Oh yeahh it's Aloha Friday no work till Monday yahhooo. Just think of that a..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 05 - Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X

SlickNick P90X: Day 05 - Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X: "Energy: Low, Recovering from coldMood: Normal Exercise:This morning I still some fever and I thought I couldn't make it today.. But right ..."

SlickNick P90X: Day 04 Yoga X

SlickNick P90X: Day 04 Yoga X: "Energy: Very Low Mood: Very sick from catching a cold.. not a good mood low moral low energy.. Exercise:Holy cow I was so sick and feveris..."

My Award

Some Gift Cheques from my Company!!! I'm buying a trip to BKK for the December!

SlickNick P90X: Day03 - Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X

SlickNick P90X: Day03 - Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X: "Mood: OKEnergy: Low Energy I caught Cold!!!! Exercise:I took at a 5 minutes nap before I start my routine. I didn't feel well the whole day..."

SlickNick P90X: Day02

SlickNick P90X: Day02: "Day 02 Plyometrics Mood: Good Energy: Energetic Exercise: Yeahh!! My second is a cardio day.. there were lots of squatting and jumping i..."

Top 5 Restaurant in BKK

This article is originally from http://www.manager.co.th/Home/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9530000095590

July 12, 2010
SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – The Miele Guide to Asia's finest restaurants is written by food experts who know and love the region (http://www.mieleguide.com).

Here is their list of the top 5 restaurants in Bangkok, Thailand:

1. Zanotti II Ristorante Italiano

Foodies are in general agreement that some of the best Italian food to be found in Southeast Asia is in Bangkok.

So it's no wonder then that the city's iconic Zanotti Il Ristorante Italiano has not only remained in our survey's Top 20 ranking but risen six positions to take 13th spot this year. Chef-owner Gianmaria Zanotti's first (and now flagship) Italian restaurant has garnered a loyal following since it opened for business over a decade ago and no wonder. The menu, which showcases the Piedmontese cuisine of chef Zanotti's hometown of Turino, is mind-bogglingly extensive. The food is hearty and the portions generous, with most of the ingredients imported from wherever they're produced best. But, most importantly, the pleasure of visiting this Bangkok dining institution is as much about the scene, ambience and service as it is about the food.

- 1F Saladaeng Main Road, Colonnade Condominium, 21/2 Silom Road, Silom Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand

- Tel: +66 2 636 0002 http://www.zanotti-ristorante.com

2. Bo.lan

Hot newcomer Bo.lan is more than just a restaurant. Co-owners and chefs Duangporn Songvisava and Dylan Jones are preserving, reviving and celebrating the best regional Thai dishes, including those rarely found outside
of Thai homes. Sticking steadfastly to the traditional principles of Thai cooking (trips to the fresh market twice a day, and creating everything from scratch, right down to the pork floss that adorns superb bowls of curry), the couple serves up dishes like a salad of grilled banana blossom and a deeply savoury and feisty cassia leaf curry (gaeng khi lek) with slow-grilled beef. The Bo.lan Balance menu, which usually features five seasonal specialties, is a great introduction to the splendours of this kitchen.

- 42 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Sukhumvit, 26 Road, Klong Klongteoy, Bangkok, Thailand

- Tel: +66 2 260 2962 http://www.bolan.co.th

3. New York Steakhouse

Frank Sinatra and Louie Armstrong croon in the background, black and white photos of Manhattan hang on the walls, while dark wood and plush leather lend a masculine ambience - indeed, a slice of New York has been transported to Bangkok, complete with the great steaks that New Yorkers love. Widely regarded as Bangkok's top steakhouse, New York serves excellent grain-fed US-certified Angus beef in every incarnation. There is also a list of 19 martinis to go with your meal. - 2F JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2 Bangkok, Thailand

- Tel: +66 2 656 7700 http://www.marriot.com

4. Le Normandie

Le Normandie counts politicians, socialites and royalty among its clientele. It sticks steadfastly to the old world formality of fine dining - compulsory dinner jacket and tie, private lift access and flawless service. Top chefs from around the world - including Thomas Keller and Jean-Georges Vongerichten - routinely guest in the kitchen, sealing Le Normandie's reputation as a premier fine dining venue. Its French menu offers treasures like handmade goose liver ravioli with truffle sauce, and a slowcooked lamb shoulder that never fails to impress.

- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand

- Tel: +66 2 659 9000 http://www.mandarinoriental.com/Bangkok

5. Erawan Tea Room

The Erawan Tea Room is an oasis of cool and comfort, a fine retreat from the heat and spectacle of Bangkok.

Amid interiors designed by Tony Chi - which bids one to relax and expunge haste - is thoughtful service and a list of delicious Thai snacks including minced pork and water chestnuts wrapped with egg noodles, or an afternoon tea set that features freshly baked scones served with Chiang Mai strawberry jam. At lunch and dinner, the Tea Room serves excellent traditional Thai cuisine.

- 2F Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, 494 Rajadamri Road, Bangkok, Thailand

- Tel:+66 2 254 1234 http://www.erawanbangkok.com/tearoom.php

(Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)

SlickNick P90X: Day01

SlickNick P90X: Day01: "So I decided to jump on the P90X 3 weeks ago, untill yesterday I got the DVD which was delayed on the way from the East Coast to Hawaii deli..."

How Good is Google Voice Transcribe for your Voicemail.

A week ago I was very excited to have my phone linked up with Google Voice service.  Tonight Jackson, Jimmy, and I tested the transcribe feature which has proven to be the selling feature of Google Voice.  This is how it works:  when each of us leaves the voicemail on the cellphone, Google Voice voice will transcribe the voice message to a readable message and sends to your email.  We conducted our test while we were eating dinner at AnyTime cafe where the background noise level was high.  But our judges don't believe that would ultimately impact our test outcome because.. this is Google right?

Our 3 honorable testers were (that's right Us):

• Jimmy who has a perfect American accent but can't perfect the barrel rolls in the parking lot in front of my house
• Jackson who loves the real meat and is a disciple of Confucius of Canton
• Nick who tried to practice Muay Thai but quitted because he realized that being Ong Bak is impossible

This is what we saw and read:
Fine Artisan Sake: With this Sake, the Mandarin orage fruit aroma, and the crisp and dry flavor leads to an extremly clean finish.  The aquamarine blue bottle is a signature symbol of this widely popular Junmai Ginjo.

This is what Google transcribed through the email output:


Jimmy the Circuser (26 seconds): Hi in. Not an, Kylie Bishop dot day and then drinkers. Is the room and this is Chris and dryers. Please this is just to anything we need it is of Marines who bottle is it. Signature them home and that's why the officer just realized field bought 5 see if you'd like to do it.


Jackson the Confucius (24 seconds): Yes, he has to teach July 18th. Do you call. 20. Hey, it's Dr labor house with your target mandarin orange that I will. Hey Nick, It's and drive flavor in the Sudan. The. C. S. E X Business. Okay, bye bye


Nick the Ong Bak (27 seconds):  My heart is in the not case if if I can. The battery in Orangeburg Corolla and the credit and Drive Beverly to an extremely clean image. Yeah, Hello Larry new bottle. Nick, It's signatures. They're all his white color give you my The goal was anyway.

Conclusion

The transcribed results were not even close to any human could imagine hearing.  It's like... Google Voice randomly grabs words from Webster's and Starwars' dictionary and paste them into a sentence. (called it a complete sentence if you lucky enough to have a full stop period at the end)...  One thing to note:  The ads that we all read weren't at all good message for the test.  Since there were no sense and context of normal day to day conversations and  if somehow Google Voice uses the algorithm that accomodate for normal English conversation and not word for word translation then the test can be called invalid.  The bottom line is my conclusion is as confusing as the mail messages from Google Voice.

100 Great Things About America

100 Great Things About America by CNN.COM

It's time for a breather, America. Fire up the grill, ice down the drinks, and pop open that patio umbrella. Health care, the oil spill, Afghanistan, China, Elena Kagan and financial reform will all be waiting on Tuesday, July 6th. We promise. What won't be, though, is the chance to lean back and remember why we care enough about our country to spar over these things and in the end, remain united.
"Freedom," Albert Camus pointed out, "is nothing else but a chance to be better." For 234 years, America has strived, fought, invented, pushed, pulled and dragged itself towards the better.Fortune was keen to enumerate our progress.
There's no claim to ranking or exclusivity here, so leave the nitpicking aside for another day, though feel free to add to our list in the comments section. Without further ado, and in almost no particular order, we present the Fortune 100 Great Things About America.

1. The Internet
Oh yes, invented in the USA -- maybe Al Gore helped.
2. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
3. Baseball
America's pastime…steroids or not
4. Mount Rushmore
Home of the original "your face here" gimmick
5. Food in New Orleans
If you can remember it the next morning

6. Rock and roll
Find a Beatles or Stones song uninfluenced by American music. Just try.

7. Hawaii
Mauna Kea, Kaua'i…you gotta see it to believe it.

8. iPod, iPad, and everything Apple
9. Barbecue
Carolina, Mississippi, K.C., Memphis…it's all good.
10. Ford Mustang
Who needs a German car? We'll take the classic.

11. Wikipedia
This article that mentions a popular fact site is a stub. You can help us by expanding it.
12. Buffalo
Because this is a real sentence: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. Don't believe us? Check on #11.

13. Slam dunks
Thanks to Doctor J

14. Broadway
If the Lion King ever closes, Cats will come back.
15. Bluebirds
Listen to mine sing
16. Google
Because no one stands up to China better
17. Mark Twain
The original American bad-ass

18. The national anthem
19. Iced drinks
When will the rest of the world figure this out?
20. Beaches
Cape Cod, Kiawah, Zuma -- ours are better.

21. Madison Square Garden
A little threadbare but still the biggest stage in America's biggest city
22. Delivery pizza
23. The Grateful Dead
Long may the followers of Uncle John's Band live on.
24. YouTube
We keep clicking on home videos even after Charlie bit our finger -- again!
25. The Super Bowl
The parties, the ads -- oh and a sports game, too



26. Fishing
China rules the commercial catch, but more people fish for fun here than anywhere else.
27. Monopoly
A game we sometimes play in real life, too.
28. The Big Apple Circus
Where joy and, occasionally, fear comes in clown twelve-packs by tiny car

29. M&M's
Imitators don't stand a chance
30. Facebook
Friend us? Just kidding… but seriously. Please friend us.
31. Thanksgiving
Loosen your belt and watch the parade

32. Pickup trucks
Our nation's first outlet for unfunny bumper stickers
33. The Simpsons
May Bart and Lisa never make it to high school.
34. Oprah Winfrey
But after 2011, no more free cars for the audience
35. Frisbees
Not just for dogs
36. Mad Men
Jon Hamm + Christina Hendricks = cooler than the actual '60s
37. New York/Boston sports rivalry
For our safety, we decline to comment.
38. MRI machine
Perfect for after that Yanks-Sox game
39. Patagonia
The first to make polyester clothes out of old plastic bottles

40. Archie Comics
Betty or Veronica: 68 years and the debate rages on
41. The Golden Gate Bridge
Dirty Harry meets Full House. Uh oh.

42. Jazz
Even before Ken Burns discovered it
43. Fantasy football
44. S'mores

45. Trader Joe's
If cheap wine were apples, we present the modern Johnny Appleseed. Amen.
46. The 4^th of July
47. Harley Davidson
The motorcycle company that has survived both the Great Depression and the Hybrid Obsession
48. March Madness
So crazy it spills into April

49. Scrabble
As Facebook proved, it's Scrabulous
50. Kegs
Even useful when empty, as moorings


Read more from CNN http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/07/02/100-great-things-about-america-part-1/

Network Strained Due to World Cup Video Streaming

Network Strained Due to World Cup Video Streaming

Our firm’s network access is a shared and valuable resource.

We have received numerous inquiries regarding the current speed of our network. Due to the increased number of staff viewing or streaming the World Cup, users are experiencing a system-wide slow down. Please refrain from viewing, streaming, or downloading large video files, software, books, or movies during peak business hours. 

Moderately Consumed of Coffee and Tea Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Dutch researchers evaluated coffee and tea consumption among 37,514 participants for 13 years and found reduced heart disease deaths among high and moderate tea drinkers and moderate coffee consumers.


The researchers did note that coffee and tea drinkers have different health behaviors, saying many coffee drinkers tend to smoke and have a less healthful diet than tea drinkers.

The study also was based on self-reported tea and coffee consumption and lacked specific information on the type of tea participants were drinking.

American health authorities tout the benefits of green tea, but black tea accounts for 78 percent of the tea consumed in the Netherlands and green tea only 4.6 percent, the study said.

Highlights of the findings:

» Drinking more than six cups of tea daily was associated with a 36 percent reduced risk of heart disease, compared with those who drank less than one cup of tea per day.

» Drinking three to six cups of tea per day was associated with a 45 percent reduced risk of death from heart disease, compared with drinking less than one cup per day.

» Modest coffee drinkers (two to four cups daily) had a 20 percent lower risk of heart disease compared with those drinking less than two cups or more than four cups.

» Neither coffee nor tea consumption affected stroke risk.

Shohet said it is reassuring that coffee and tea "don't cause increased risk of cardiovascular disease. But I wouldn't encourage people to drink them to protect themselves against cardiovascular disease." Some people, such as those with heart rhythm disturbances, should not drink caffeinated beverages, he said.

He also reminds people if they take sugar or other things with coffee or tea, "that's not going to be good."

Hitachi Tree

Hitachi Ads in Shinkansen, the ads featured the Hawaii Monkey Pod Tree.

The same tree featured in the ads.

The tree, which is familiarly referred to by several nicknames such as the "Hitachi Tree" and "Kono ki nanno ki" (What is this tree?) in Japan, is a monkey pod tree about 130 years old in the Moanalua Gardens in the Oafu Island of Hawaii.
There are many varieties of monkey pod tree in this park, and the "Hitachi Tree" with a height of nearly 25 meters, a maximum branch width of nearly 40 meters and a circumference of nearly 7 meters has an exceptionally magnificent and beautiful appearance

Nakamura Ramen Re-Opened

Nakamura re-opened once again after closing for the store renovation. The newly renovated store still maintains the same seating design with the Horse-Shoe shape dining area. The shop still offers the same menu and price. And most important of all they still honor Kamaii'na discount when you show them Hawaii' ID for 15% off.

Miso Ramen. The soup was lighter this time. It used to be a lot saltier

Mini Fried Rice

Gyoza - this gyaza is in one of my most favorites. If you are a fan of chieves and garlic with a little sour taste to it.. you will love this gyoza.