Category: Food

Eating in Hyogo: More Than Beef

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

I’m not above booking a vacation focused on food, since that would take care of two items on my bucket list in one blow. There’s nothing like going somewhere new and tasting the local specialties. That’s why you have to partake in the local claim to fame, Kobe beef, when you visit Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe isn’t just about the beef, though.

Hotel Restaurants in Kobe

fixedw_large_4x2Image by Taiichi Sugimoto via Trover.com

I’ve discovered that hotels have some of the best dining options in a new city, at least in Europe and Asia. In Kobe, staying at a noted hotel like the ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe is ideal for overwhelmed culinary travelers. Located across the footbridge from Shin-Kobe Rail Station, the hotel sits amidst colorful foliage and the hiking trails of the Rokko Mountains. The hotel houses seven restaurants, giving you the opportunity to sample a variety of cuisines all in one place.

American Cuisine in Kobe

Most modern cities who welcome foreigners have at least one American dining option. For new travelers, it might seem crazy to eat food you can get at home and waste an opportunity to partake in the local culture. Seasoned travelers understand that a little slice of home can go a long way, though. At Nailey’s Grill in Kobe, crowds line up for the exceptional burgers and nachos. This spot is also known for its salads.

Chinese Cuisine in Kobe

fixedw_large_4x1Image by Restu Lestari via Trover.com

Unsurprisingly, you’ll find a lot of Chinese influence in Japan. Located in the center of the city, Kobe’s Chinatown is one of three named Chinatown districts in Japan. Centuries ago, Chinese merchants settled near the busy port of Kobe, and Nankinmachi was born. Over the years, Kobe’s Chinese cuisine has evolved, but you can find steamed buns, dim sum, dumplings, and specialties from most regions of China here.

French Cuisine in Kobe

French culture is popular throughout Japan, and top French chefs like Joel Robuchon and Pierre Gagnaire have restaurants in Japan. As a result, some Japanese chefs have taken classic French cuisine and given it their own unique twist. In Kobe, Tatsuya Kishimoto opened Au Bec Fan. Here you can find beef bourguignon, crème brûlée, and other classic French dishes, but with a Japanese spin.

Kobe Beef in Kobe

fixedw_large_4xImage by Yuh via Trover.com

I’ve had Kobe beef in China, and it’s unbelievable. I imagine that trying this famous dish in the spot where it was first created will be quite a different experience, though. The manufacturing standards for this type of beef are strictly enforced, and not every type of beef can be Kobe beef. Most local establishments have a Kobe beef option on the menu, but some restaurants serve nothing but this delicate meat. Ask your hotel to recommend the best place to enjoy Kobe beef on your budget.

Kobe is a beautiful city with great food. Take the three-hour bullet train from Tokyo or the 15-minute train ride from Osaka, and experience the city’s cuisine in all it forms. Try it all, including the beef.

 

Becoming Blue by Angie M. Brashears – Book Blitz

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

Beautiful Full Figured Girl – Check, A Chef – Check, Sexy Explicit Scenes with food – Check, – I am all over this one. – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Becoming Blue
Angie M. Brashears
(January 15th 2016)
Publication date: January 12th 2016
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Every single thing I’ve been taught not to do…I just did.

Talk to a stranger? Check

Get in a car with a stranger? Check

Go to a second location? Check

Go into a stranger’s house? Check

Take candy from a stranger? Check

If this is a kidnapping, it’s the kindest one I’ve ever heard of.

I’m living a fat girl fantasy. Snatched from a Weight Watcher meeting by a powdered-donut eating stranger, was by far the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. Who knew I didn’t need to make appointments or attend meetings to have someone to talk to. A Friend. Two Friends. A dark, intense stranger. Secrets.

Everything I ever wanted, and something’s I didn’t. Not every tasty treat is for eating.

To each his own….right?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Author Bio:

Angie M Brashears is a lover of everything books. When not writing, she’s reading anything she can get her hands on. She grew up in Southern California, and loves the mountains, hiking with her dogs, the beach, and of course, Disneyland! She loves music, and loves singing along to the radio, loud and off-key, performing for anyone unlucky enough to be in the passenger seat.

Angie loves dark and twisted, which she refers to as Dark Ever After books, but is known to read an occasional HEA story as well. When she’s not writing, she working, saving lives. A busy Trauma ER nurse for over twenty years, she gets enough reality in her life, and is always looking for a story to take her away from the harsh reality of Emergency Nursing.

If there’s football on, she sure to have a huge party going on to cheer her team on…Go Patriots!

As a new author, she’d love to hear from you!

Goodreads / Facebook

 

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U – Uncle Julio’s

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

a-to-z-letters-uWhen you come to visit Dallas, you have to have dinner at a locals approved Tex-Mex restaurant. There are only a few on the list, but Uncle Julio’s is one of the best.

When ever I came home from overseas to visit, after a 16 hour plane ride, I stopped to have Mexican food first. It is that good.

I love the food so much, I have write about it often.  Here is a scene from one of my novel length projects:

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I’m Coming Home – All you need to fall in love is great food, margaritas and easy conversation. 
They both ordered fajitas.  Chicken for Sierra and steak for John.  The good food and margaritas made the conversation flow easy. 
“Where did you go to school after Loyola in New Orleans?” John asked.
“Florida State.” Sierra said.
“Party school.” 
“I was all partied out before I even got there,” Sierra said. 
“I couldn’t image going to school in New Orleans.”
“Then I went to Georgetown Law.”
“I don’t quite understand,” John took a bit of his fajita, paused to savior it and lost his train of thought.
“What don’t you understand?”
“Oh, yeah, this is so good.” he wiped his mouth with a napkin and appeared be contemplate his next sentence.  Sierra knew what he was going to ask.
“Ivy League law school and you work as a manager of a golf academy.” 
“Is that a question?” Sydney tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice.  
“I don’t mean anything by it, I am just curious how you got there?” 
“I run a golf Academy in a foreign country.  I generated over a million dollars in revenue. I am American who obtained a business license in China.” Sierra hoped she sounded confident.  
“You trying to impress me?” John asked. 
“Maybe. I don’t mean to sound defensive,” Sierra placed her hands in her lap,  “It just I’m not as impressed with my credentials as I probably should be.”
“Why?”
“Because, it’s not what I want to do anymore.” It’s the first time Sierra had said that out loud. 
“What do you want to be doing?” John asked. 
“Dream job?” 
“Yeah.” 
“A writer.” Sydney said. 
“Really,” John said.  “What do you write?”
“Contemporary romance.  Romantic comedies.” 
“Let me read something?” John asked. 
“Not a chance.” Sierra said and continued to make her fajita. Placing the chicken, cheese, sour cream, beans and guacamole on the flour tortilla in the correct order. 
“Come on.” John said. “I enjoy a good romantic comedy.” 
“Do you love your job?” Sydney asked. 
“Changing the subject, I see. Yeah, I get to solve problems all day that only 1% of the world can even comprehend.” John said. 
“What do you do exactly?” Sydney said. “I know you are ‘revamping the whole social media platform’ but was does that mean?” 
“That is actually about 1/4 of what I do, but Bob likes to think he a social media pioneer.” John explained. “I create the internet presence for Zurich.”
“That’s cool.” 
“And, I am in charge of keeping it all safe.” John said. 
“You trying to impress me?” Sydney asked.
“Is it working?” 
“Yes.”
“Good.”
 

Who has actually had Tex-Mex food?  I don’t have to tell you there is a difference between, Mexican Food, Spanish Food and Tex-Mex Food.

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G – Grand Lux Cafe

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle14 Comments

a-to-z-letters-gIs there a dish you dream about? A dish that if you close your eyes and concentrate real hard, you can still taste, hours, day, weeks, months and years after having it? If I was forced to eat one meal for the rest of my life it would be the cream of chicken soup from the  Grand Lux Cafe.  It is that good.

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She’s already here. I was hoping to beat her to the restaurant. Give me a chance to gather my thoughts.
Look at her, sitting there. She has no clue what’s about to happen. I’ve been told this is the best place to break up with a women.  The foods amazing and softens the blow.  
“Hey baby.” Jillian gets up and kisses me on the cheek.
“Hi Jill.” I have to break up with her. I can’t handle the pressure. I know she is waiting for a ring. I’m not ready for that.  
“How was your day?” she asks. 
“Great.” The waiter comes by to take our drink order. She orders a pomegranate margarita. I order a beer. That’s exactly what I’m talking about.  Why does she have to order a 9 dollar drink?  Why can’t she just order a beer?
“How was your day?” I ask because I can’t think of anything else to say. 
“Great.” The waiter comes back and takes our order. 
“I’ll just have the cream of chicken soup.” Jill says. Perfect. That’s the soup everyone says is better then sex.  I’ll let her finish her soup and then I’ll do it because I can’t spend another night with this woman.  
She tastes the soup and her eyes roll back into her head.
“Oh my god, this is so good.” She takes another bite and savors it.
Enjoy it women, it will be the last bowl of soup I buy for you. 
“You want a bite.” She asks and hands me her spoon. I take a bit. 
“That’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
“It’s good isn’t it.” Jillian said. 
“Here, have the rest.” She pushed the bowl over to me. Ok, maybe she’s not that bad. It’s not like she’s even mentioned marriage. She really is a beautiful women. And, this soup is good.  
“Brian.”
“Yeah, babe.” as I put another spoonful in my life. 
“I don’t think this is going to work.” 
 
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What do you think is the perfect break up meal? 

Distracted, Again

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle28 Comments
I bet this guy never gets distracted.

I was excited to get home from work today to write a post for the Insecure Writers Support Group and it happened.  I got distracted.

I have been pretty focused lately.  I survived the A to Z challenge with confidence and the accomplishment really motived me to get going this week on outlining my novel.  It is May 2 and I got distracted.

I only have a few hours per day to write.  If I enjoy sleeping, which I do, I can get in about 2-4  hour per day. Maybe another 1 or 2 at work if my boss is away from the office (don’t tell her).

I get home and I am all set to write a quick post and then tackle my outline.  I turn on the t.v. for background noise. And, there is a Woody Allen Movie.  Manhattan Murder Mystery.  Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Alan Alda and Manhattan.

NYC can distract me, too!

I love this movie.  In fact, I love all Woody Allen movies.  Especially the ones that take place in Manhattan. Something about the way he shoots Manhattan.

Then, it got me thinking.  What excuses, if any, are good excuses to interrupt the pursuit of my dream.

Sure there are the easy ones; death and injury – to myself or a loved one.  Work obligation – But, not really.  I run a golf Academy.  Not to many golf instruction emergencies that I can think of.

I have compiled a list of things that I will allow to distract me from my scheduled writing for the day?

  1. Woody Allen Movies – They inspire me, so that is a good thing.
  2. The opportunity to have a great steak with cream corn, broccoli au gratin, and a green salad with red onions and homemade ranch dressing – I am specific about my food.
  3. A phone call from my mother or my cousin – I miss them.
  4. A Stephen King Book – but, this inspires me,too.  I have put off starting 11/22/63 until after June.
  5. A quick read of my favorite blogs – again, that inspiration thing.

And, with that, I think I better close down this list because it could go on forever.  If I stick to this list, then I should have plenty of time left over to get my writing done.

So, my fellow writer out there, how do you handle distractions?  What do you do to stay on schedule?

And, what would you put on your good excuse list?