Kuro Isanishiki Imo Shochu

I checked out Landmark Wine & Liquor and picked up a bottle of Kuro Isanishiki Imo Shochu. Imo is a variation of Japanese yam and the key ingredient for producing kickass imo shochu. I am not a connoisseur in this area. However, I always prefer Japanese shochu over Korean soju. I think Korean soju is quite harsh comparing to the Japanese selections. Actually, I will take that back...Korean soju are great for mixing cocktail and Japanese are better for sipping. Well, Kuro Isanishiki Imo has the simple aroma of raisin and yam. I mixed it will iced water and had it on the rocks on the second round. The weather is too hot for warm shochu.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle

My Bensonhurst guido co-worker highly recommended this movie. He said, "Laubowski, you gotta see this movie. It is 2 for $20 at Best Buy!" I got the movie yesterday and it sucks!! Alright, I did laughed at several scenes. But it's nothing like Old School. John Cho the MILF guy from American Pie played an analyst at an investment banking firm and Kal Penn assigned the role of a med school applicant/stoner. Movie is basically about two straight lads driving around the NJ Turnpike looking for White Castle and some unfortunated incidents. Well, think this flick is so bad that I have no desire to review it. Just take my advice...Don't buy it!

Southampton Double White Ale

I fired up the grill tonight with the Mrs. and Cousin Rogg. The ribs are Koreans style and so are the kebobs. Marinated with Korean red chili paste, cracked black peppers, light soy, sugar, marin and some hondashi. And on a breezy July summer night, I paired the carnivore feast (By the way, the Mrs. prepared a great serving of watercress salad with mixed greens.) with no other than the Southampton Double White Ale. It was so awesome that I doubled the bottles and Rogg claimed it's the best beer he ever consumed. I had this particular brew at last year's Beer on the Pier. The event was horrible but Southampton left an incredible remark with this tasty Belgian style ale. Here's the my tasting note...


Publick House Beer

Appearance: A nice pale yellow brew producing only a decent thin 1/8 inch thick head of rapidly dissipating bubbles and left the glass with a film of froth.

Smell: Ultimately fresh and accompanied with the aroma of spicy coriander and Curacao orange.

Taste: Taste is exactly the way Witbier should taste like. It has an aftertaste of Saison. It is really a great beer for the summer. Simply superb.

Mouthfeel: Easy drinking with a medium-light body. Quite refreshing and great to drink it along or with friends.

Drinkability: Are you kidding me??? I am totally speechless with this outstanding brew from Southampton. This is one true gem that puts NY in the map for beer.

Simply irresistable!!!!

Brooklyner Weisse

I paid my second visit to Lounge 47 in Queens. The place serves the best tuna fish salad sandwich and always rotate their taps with different beers. On top of that, the redhead waitress is smokin'!!! Looking forward to go there in the near future. Anyway, tonight I started off with a refreshing serving of Gazpacho and ordered grilled beef salad. The watercress greens accompanied well with the shaved parmigiano cheese and pine nuts or pignoli.


The Un-Weisse Beer from Brooklyn

Unfortunately, I paired the salad with a wrong beer which is the Weisse from Brooklyn Brewery and here's the review...

Appearance - It has a decent cloudy dark-golden color with a nice amount of carbonation.

Smell - A weak aroma of banana and clove with a tartness touch of sulfur.

Taste - Tart with a drop of spicy taste to it. A hybrid of Bavarian style Weisse and Berliner style.

Mouthfeel - Wonderful settled with a smooth feel. The carbonation help maintain the smoothness. This had a full body.

Drinkability - This is perhaps one of the most disappointing beer from Brooklyn Brewery. Nice try but it is a confused product. Will not buy again.

A Lesson From Lance Armstrong

I don't know much about the Tour du France or anything related to cycling. However, I must say that Lance Armstrong is one tough son of a gun. The guy won the battle against testicular cancer and went on to show the world that American can ride bicycle for the 6th times (seventh is on the way). Established the Live Strong Foundation and successfully marketed his Yellow Band with Nike. And let's not forget his is sleeping with Cheryl Crow. So what's the lesson to be learned??? His exit strategy; knowing when to quit. The 2005 Tour du France race will be his last. He is retiring from cycling perhaps forever. Who knows??? He might be itching to come out of retirement by the next Tour du France. But that's not the point. The point is that he is able to let this go in the peak of his career.


Live Strong and Date Female Rock Vocalist

On the other hand, the all banged up Jerry Rice is playing for the Broncos this season. He should have retired after playing for the Oakland Raiders and not signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Pretty much he doesn't have to prove that he is the all time best receiver. We saw his glorious past playing with 2 great quarterbacks-Joe Montana and Steve Young. This guy can catch passes from any corners. Unfortunately, age is the key factor in many professional sports. I hate to sat this Jerry but you are over the hill. Save yourself the embarassment and retire already. Save a little dignity for yourself and save your health for yourself and your family.

Training for the Marathon

I should probably drink less this summer and focus more on training. Starting tomorrow!!!! On a lighter note, I am still looking for a place to host my marathon party. Looks like Hop Devil is the top contender if Bill is willing to accomodate my guests at a reasonable rate.

I missed the NYCHG meeting a couple of nights ago. Part of it is a protest for having the meeting at Burp Castle. The place is total depressing and tacky. I have no desire to drink in an establishment with the mural of Jesus and listening to the Trappist monks chant. We are not in a monestary for crying out loud. The beer selections suck and the bartender is another clueless yokel. Folks, forgive me for being shallow. I think if you are going to be a bartender and clueless you better be blonde, brunette or redhead with measurement of 34c-24-34.

Bronx Half Marathon

I ran the Bronx Half Marathon yesterday and it was hell! It is one of the toughest and the lousiest race ever! The roads are unpleasantly hilly and rough. My knees are killing me on mile 6! I have never experience such a sharp pain that area. Apparently, the knee brace is not working. I can barely walk after the race. My finishing time....2:37:23. Yes, very unimpressive!!! I must have walked at least a mile. Icing and lot of painkiller for the time being. I have just scheduled an appointment to see Dr. Paul. I hope I will be on the road again in no time and train for the marathon.

London's Pride

While I was blogging my BBQ, London went through a series of bombing. Blair called the act "barbaric" and vowed to fight to the end! London is a strong city just like NYC. Whether it's the Great Fire of London in 1666, the Blitz during the WWII or the 07/07 bombings, London always rebuilt and stand proud with pride. Cheers to London with my Fuller's London Pride.

Buta Ribs Japanese Style

My ribs are pretty much the best seller whenever I have my BBQ. The secret is in the sauce which I will not share with you and it is bone sucking good!! However, my Japonphile mother marinated and steamed her rib tips with ume-boshi, a Japanese pickled plum. Well, real man don't steam but grill. I tweaked the ingredients and came up with a Japanese Grilled Ribs. This is not the sauce that they used in Yakitori.

Here's the recipe:

Marinate:
1 tsp Ginger
2 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Sake
1 tspLight Miso Paste
1 tsp Rice Vinegar

Ume-Boshi BBQ Sauce:
1 tsp Ginger
3 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Sake
3 tbsp Light Miso Paste
1 tbsp finely chopped Shiso Leaves
1/2 cup Sugar
3 tbsp Marin
1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
5 tbspUme-boshi Puree (remove pits and puree it in a food processor)

2 Racks of Baby Back Ribs

Steps:
Mix the marinate ingridients and rub it on the ribs
Marinte the ribs overnight
Combine the BBQ sauce ingredients in a food process and puree.

Smoke the ribs for 2 hours and brush the Ume-Boshi BBQ sauce when grilling.

Pair these ribs with a nice West Coast flavored Pale Ale and you are on your way to Nirvana.

Fourth of July

This is the time of the year to show your Red, White and Blue. I am only sticking with American this weekend. No, foreign imported beer is going down the hatch! Sam Adams Summer Ale and Sleezy's Peanut Butter'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">Peanut Butter'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=peanut%20butter">Peanut Butter Porter will be the new patriotic guideline of Independence Day'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">Independence Day'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=independence%20day">Independence Day!!!


Oh Beautiful, For Spacious Skies... ...

Drink responsibly and enjoy the fireworks!