Last Supper
(Tokyo. Day 4.)
The last day was a quick one – rested and revitalized, there was no press today. Just the impending cross-globe flight to NYC to hit the press trip over on that side of earth. Koji had some work to do, so after Corey and I packed our luggage – we decided to hit whatever we could find randomly. Continue reading
Sake-Stomach-Soup
(Tokyo. Day 3. Part 2.)
Shrimp-mayo again. Happy, little fried-nuggets of shrimpy-goodness; these were way smaller than the ones from the first night, but just as amazing nonetheless – the bed of greens and sprinkles of green onion were a good compliment. The duck (with the fat) skewered with wasabi was a good laugh. A good laugh in the sense that every person who took a bite (after about 3-5 seconds) was immediately invaded upward-nasal-style with a kick of some serious wasabi-ness. This is what I imagine Steve-o’ lines of wasabi felt like; every single person at the table had the same “Holy shit!- but I’m trying to maintain composure, red-as-a-beat face on.” Terrific. Continue reading
day 2. part 2.
Lots and lots more great press… yadda yadda…
We actually had all the head retailers of all the CD-retailers from all over Japan come in to have us demo our new album, videos, artwork, and basically be the salesmen of the new record: it went amazingly… but it made me hungry. Continue reading
(day 1 continued)
The next dish was (if in the USA it would be called this) Shrimp. 3 ways. It was shrimp covered in Japanese mayo (a completely different taste than our american mayo), deep fried shrimp heads (the best part of a shrimp to me; cooked the best way), and shrimp crackers. This dish was something special. The shrimp mayo was probably one of the best damn things we ate that night – Japanese mayo has a sweeter flavor than US-mayo, and it’s far lighter; fried shrimp heads… if you haven’t had them done right before – try it; it rules. Continue reading
Since being home and off-tour – I’ve found it very difficult to be able to type up new food adventures… so – to keep this bad boy alive, I will be posting old issues off my original tumblr food blog. I’m sure not everyone has had the chance to enjoy these original blogs. The writing ain’t as good, I may be cruder, and the pictures are all iPhone… Guten Apetit.
Day 1. Tokyo.
Having never done a blog based around my travels and gastro-adventuring, my friends and family have always encouraged me to start something like this up. All of these photos are iPhone photos in (obviously) some of the most un-photogenic lighting situations; so you’ll see the food pretty much as i did… in a semi-blurred haze (not unlike mine, which was induced by copious amounts of delicious japanese alcohol and jetlag). Continue reading
Toe Kyo Whoa Oh. Goh (bye bye).
Tokyo
I typically require 7-10 hours or so of sleep to recuperate post-show; before a hellish flight lasting anywhere from 6-20-30 hours – I can pull it all off with like 4 or so hours; Japan – I don’t care how much I sleep as long as I eat a lot.
Waking up early once again, for my final meal in Japan – I collected Nick, Paolo and myself, and headed back to the alley ways of kindly-hollering Japanese women and mystery stalls with delicious meat-smells pouring out. We did a few passes of the mini-restaurant stalls, cruisin’ that shit like creepers – and decided to go with the spot with the giant pot brewing meat-stew. Continue reading
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBue7tHOlmI
(Trivium “Down From The Sky” live at Loud Park)
Toe Kyo Whoa Oh. Shee.
Tokyo
I am a planner. I probably will get on your nerves if you’re ever on a trip with me. I applaud my band mates and my wife for being such good sports when being down for my timings of things. We had the Loud Park show at night… but I planned out with Paolo the night before that we really ought to get into town for a badass Japanese breakfast before heading to the show. It was my goal after all to get as much food into my body in Japan as possible before flying back to the US of A.
We took the trek back into roughly what was the area of the first Izakaya spot we hit for first dinner the night previous, and began the wander.
It’s tricky… I can’t exactly say that a wander into just any food spot even in culinary capitols will yield amazing food – you have to develop this extra sense to notice if a restaurant or food spot will have just what you need. Most things in Japan are not in English; most things in Japan are pretty inexplicable by definition to describe exactly what you’re getting in to… If you can handle the latter, and you have a sharp sense of what will deliver good food – you will survive on the road as a food-freak. Continue reading
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLtp0z2d2ZY
(The Trivs eatin’ Yasui)
Toe Kyo Whoa Oh. Sahn.
Tokyo
Amazingly, it was still the arrival day. Pretty much instantly when we finished dinner, we walked to another dinner. That’s how I do it in my home-land – if I’m there for only a few 24-hour chunks… I am going to eat that town like Godzilla. I think in that 1.5-2 day time frame, I consumed somewhere are 30 or 40 different dishes… probably guzzled down a gallon or two of Japanese beer to boot. I do not **** around when it comes to my food in Japan.
Koji is someone who I consider a dear friend. I don’t often get to see him or chat and such due to being on polar opposite ends of the earth – but when we’re together, we’re on the same brain waves. This dude even came to my engagement party in Florida when I first got engaged to Ashley. With Koji, I have eaten some of the greatest meals of my life… I have stayed out later with that dude than anyone I know… I’ve done headstands in rock clubs at 5:50am with him… we’ve eaten some insane shit too. Koji and I are cut from the same cloth: two dudes who put family and friends above all else… then food in second place… then metal and music in a not-too-distant third place. Continue reading
Toe Kyo Whoa Oh. Knee.
Tokyo
It’s a hike from Narita airport to any point in Tokyo… you just gotta be aware of the fact that it’s gonna take a minute. But just like the plane ride to Japan, the cab ride to Toyko isn’t long mentally. From? That’s a whole ‘nother story.
I wasn’t fully aware we weren’t gong to be staying in Shibuya itself – needless to say… I was pretty bummed. I know Shibuya. I love Shibuya. I’d live there in a heartbeat if it were accomplishable. But hell – I can’t speak Japanesea… so. I may not fit in. English is more of a rarity in Japan than you’d expect. Continue reading
