A small taste of TOledo

OK so Toledo may be the Glass capital and frog city Why?.. I'm not sure.. but a culinary wasteland it is not...Toledo has more restaurants per capita than any other u.s City..So the urban legend goes..However many are the lame chain type dining experiences with specialties like the ever popular chicken fingers...None the less I do find interesting places to explore unique foods..So my exploration tonight was with an adventurous friend.. Our first point was the Beirut a place that has been serving the Toledo area Middle Eastern food seemingly forever..A common place for me but always a treat to take someone for the first time!After a plate of grape leaves and some Falafel we decided to take the tour a bit further and get some sushi..For this I chose Sakura a nice atmosphere and a delightful selection of products..I asked the Chef to create one roll and a few Shashimi..He supplied us with Tuna Shashmimi and a spicy salmon and avocado roll..Both quite nice..I really enjoy letting the chef select things for me It makes the experience that much more special..After the far east and the middle east our tour was to be cut to an end but for sure I will continue to explore what is around me...Actually I'm Still Hungry any suggestions...

Kiss ME Im ITalian?

So its St. Patrick's Day and wow what a tradition! Drinking Excessive amounts and doing things one would other wise regret such as obtain clover shaped spectacles, or a beer shaped Hat. Well I do not plan to take part In these activities mostly because if I'm going to get plow faced wasted I'm going to do it on my own terms not just because its the socially acceptable thing to do on one particular day.. OK enough ranting and raving Its still early so there is still a possibility I will end up shwasted in some metropolitan area..As for today I enjoyed a lovely cigar at La casa De La Habana a nice Cigar store in Toledo they have leather couches and great Cigars but HORRIBLE MUSIC...Like really Really REAlly BAD!!! So it kind of ruined my enjoyment of cigar smoking..But none the less it was a pleasurable way to burn a few hours.. After this I returned Home to Find a bottle of Portuguese White something cheap (Mateus) cooling in the fridge A little cool wine a spring like afternoon really has a tendency to soften the edges on life a little bit..While in Rome instead of asking IF you wanted to go get drunk We would say "would you like to soften the edges a little"..The response would be yes things are too sharp right Now...So away we would go off into the night consuming delicious red wines until our lips and shirts were stained purple...When I returned home every article in my possession was stained with some varietal of red grape....I love Italy!!! Today is also MY friend Flavia's Birthday which is nice she was an amazing girl..She was the first to introduce me to LEmoncello and I thank her for that!!!!Well I think Im done with this post I don't really have much to say..Other than with weather like this I really want to walk around and enjoy life..I suggest you do the same and stay hungry, I know I will!!!!!

I went, I spent, I ate, and I drank

So I'm back from Las Vegas.. I actually have been back for a few days but I don't know just haven't gotten around to writing in the blog..So Las Vegas lived up to its reputation for being a city in which anything is possible! One suggestion for any food aficionado right off the bat is hit up China Town..Once in Vegas you will see an outstanding population of Asians. China Town is the center of all the local activity, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, whatever style you choose their cooking is available and properly done! I choose Korean BBQ for a lunch! an all you can eat style place but the food was fresh and exciting offering a wide range of thinly sliced meats and sea foods even offering sushi and Chinese style cuisine.. The markets within this unique shopping complex were amazing.. One offered live crabs, shrimp, lobsters, fish, and bivalves of many varieties. Their offerings of post mortem fish was also quite impressive. When it came to meats the "variety" meats were not in short supply livers, kidneys, feet, ears, brains, uterus, and, bung...OK some were slightly less appetizing than others but none the less, available.. Even the produce was exotic, Druian, Jackfruit, lechee, long beans, The list continues but all of this was ripe for the taking not more than 2 miles away from the glitter and excitement the "Strip" offers.
So the markets and stores of China Town impressed me quite a bit! But the strip had many offers to tickle my tralala as well. Five Dollar steak and eggs at 1 a.m. how about 6 dollar lobster at 12:30.. Appetizing EH! Well no matter your culinary savvy something is right up your alley in this city! Another Spot that surely wont disappoint if your into the darker side of life's exploits is the Double Down Saloon....Tourist Beware.. This is not the place to come with the kids nor is it the place to actually come if your not looking to escape from reality entirely...IT is by definition a deep dark hole in the wall and that is exactly how nature intended it.. Don't Bother if you don't enjoy the music of Gwar, or a good Troma Film... The crowd that piles into this place at all hours ranges and one can never predict who is going to fall in the door next....
Something more accessible for everyone is puffing on a perfectly hand rolled cigar from Lovo Cigars on Fremont St. I suggest going on a Sunday afternoon when the owner and craftswoman Egda Ramaz herself is on site to offer you suggestions on the perfect smoke.. Sit stay a while and enjoy some Salsa music while the hours pass without notice....
My final bit of advice is AVOID the celebrity Chef Restaurants It might sound like a good Idea to go and taste the food of (insert famous Name here) but Just don't do it..Search a little harder do some digging and take a risk on a local..Its better for your stomach and better for your wallet and more than Likely Better Food!!
Until the next meal I'm still Hungry.
3en~

I've got Two Tickets to Paradise well actually I only have one But.....

So today was my last day at work until my eventual return from SIN City...I am excited to see what all the hype is about.. I hear a lot can be done in the city and I'm looking forward to seeing how much I can get away with..So I Dunno killing a hooker is possible or Close your eyes and imagine, feel the magic, Vegas on acid seen though Yves Saint Laurent Glasses and Ive realized Ive arrived...With everything going on I'm Sure I will find something to do..As for today at work I did some redecorating I moved a few things and I dunno Its kinda nice to have things the way I like them..I did clean but just the floor and got rid of some less that perfect products. When Life gives you 13 zested lemons you make some lemon Juice and put it in a squeeze bottle....I was guided to an amazing chef he has posted his cooking style on youtube and http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=58002940666&h=rNJFA&u=H1NA- if you copy this and paste it in your search bar you will see his profile and his videos showing perfect kitchen habits and an impeccable kitchen..particularly his knife skills in Making Coconut Bread #1....I hope you enjoy it as much as I...One day I Hope we can cook together, It would be a horror....
Other than that I just did work as usual and over all it was a nice Tuesday very slow but still better than Sunday and Monday combined. I Really Like this job I'm learning alot about myself and how I operate compared with other people. I also observed that the employee cups are bright red and plastic...Very Smart..One they are Bright Red you cant miss them Two They are plastic and wont break as easily..Great plan!!! But slowly but surely I'm getting the place Clean and Even if its only by my hands It will be eventually...
For Lunch Today I had Indian food with a friend It was good but I dunno it seems like I have had better food from the Tandoor So I may try a new place on my next Indian adventure...They had an interesting Soup today it was really lemony and tasted of a Jose Shot..Kinda rough actually....MY friend seemed to think the food was good but not the best and I would have to agree... they let me down a little...After Food Some Starbucks was in order and that was nice conversation..I always enjoy good conversations...
I received an E-mail today telling me what I had to do to get the paperwork moving..As for the rest of my day I went to the police department and DMV to get some of my records to send to the Cruise Line..They kind of need to know a lot about me..Like If I had any skeletons in my closet I for sure would not be able to get this Job...NExt post I will enter will be from Vegas So hopefully my good luck will continue and I will get some major cash to come home with...Im also Looking forward to some delicious meals and interesting stories...Untill then Im still Hungry
3en~

Monday Night's Alright for Fighting.....

OK, Not really at all, I'm a lover not a fighter....
So the past two days at the New Job I've been cleaning like a mad man. I think I will end up cleaning every piece of equipment in the entire house... Today I spent nearly 4 hours cleaning a dough rolling machine alone it was really in bad shape and with the help of the chef we got that thing looking brand new!!! The rest of my day was devoted to boiling off the hood vents..They were also in need of attention so like a good man I did what needed to be done and now the restaurant has clean hood vents..I like to take pride in little jobs like that.taking time to remove all the grease and then go over it again with Satin Shine to bring back that amazing stainless steel shine...The only down side to all this is it will be dirty almost immediately, mostly because someone will inevitably use it incorrectly (the dough machine) or not care (Everything else ever)..Hmm..But really though this place is starting to come around!! Just about 1,000 more tiny cracks that needs cleaned and we will be close to 1/10 the way done...I dunno I guess that is all part of this life and I can accept that.. Last Night was also fun! I went out after work and played some darts and pool for a few hours Its a good way to pass the time and get out of the house both of which I need to constantly be doing..Well I leave for Vegas in 2 days and I'm getting ready for an interesting time...Ohh I made a good sandwhich at work it was a grilled eggplant with arugula, baslamic glaze, cherry tomatoes and motz A favorite among favorites.....I need to relax a little bit (can you believe what happened on the Bachelor)..JK

Ciao
3en~

Good Bye Dear Friend...Well Not Forever.....

One of my best friends Luke James, is moving to NYC!!! Last night was one of his last shows in Ohio (until he is Famous). He played at Reverends formally Reverend Chico's, and totally owned IT! I wish The man the best of Luck with his adventures in the Big Apple. I know the dude will totally own the city so much for Puffy "running New York" the new big shot is Luke James...Check out his website Lukejameslive.com After the goodbyes were said and done it was time for me to put in a little work. Today I cleaned and cleaned ( I smell like Bleach) It was so very slow and the kitchen kinda needed a little TLC so its looking like Its time to give it what it needs.. No real culinary adventures so to speak today but it was a great day with a great friend...
Another new offer has been put on the table and I'm not sure what to do. I have been offered to cook at a private party for an old professor (sounds good right) but the down side is that I would be just getting back from vacation in Las Vegas and with this job being so new its almost kind of disrespectful to leave again... If anyone reads this let me know what you think and possibly give me some insight as to what I should do...The deadline is coming soon so I'm not really sure....