Hey guys, I just got back from Japan!

I saw my family and friends, and met a bunch of new ones along the way (including my newlywed cousin's husband).

Sorry, no pics to share here of those things, yo.

But, it was beautiful, as per usual.

Also, SURPRISE! I ate and drank many delicious things.

It was a fun time, and a time to reflect.

Until next year, Nihon.

Yeah Arkansas!

Arkansas issues same-sex marriage licenses

Also, I went to Northern Ireland in April.

And I fell madly, hopelessly, forever in love.

Rainy day treat at Ramen Shop.

Corsair Triple Smoked Malt Whiskey

This whiskey out of Kentucky had all the peaty goodness of a good Islay Scotch but a clean finish that paired well with Japanese flavors. I could drink this all the time. Nice pick by my wonderful and incredibly talented illustrator/bar manager friend extraordinaire, Chris Lane.

tsukemono and pork/squid fried rice

Best fried rice in the East Bay. And OMG, the tsukemono -- Ramen Shop has someone who only does pickles, and it shows. The black radish -- the small slices vegetal, the large ones spicy, taking advantage of natural radish variation -- was to die for. 

sesame-miso ramen w/ ground pork belly

Broth so rich and thick, noodles with a firm chew, ground browned pork belly nuggets like little treasures to be dredged up from the bottom: a perfect bowl.

Go get some!



Another installment of My Friends Are Awesome.

Come to find out yesterday that Chris Lane, multi-talented illustrator of the cover of Trevor's first book as well as the entirety of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection and Harry Houdini: The Legend of the World's Greatest Escape Artist, and super good friend and all-around piece of wonderfulness in my life, is now a San Francisco Chronicle Bar Star, 2013!

And then: amazing author and magnificent human being Renee Swindle read to a packed house at my favorite bookstore, Diesel, A Bookstore, for the publication of her second book, Shake Down the Stars.

Yes, it was a good day. So proud!

Back from another successful trip to the land of the rising sun. Quick and dirty this one was (one week and a whirlwind tour of Tokyo for a friend who had never been to Japan), and fruitful: Trevor received his seventh degree black belt.

Other highlights:

It was sakura season, and our favorite park in Kichijoji was the place to be. I can never get enough.

Also took my friend to the most important Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji, in another favorite haunt of mine, Asakusa.
 

I love going to Asakusa because of its shitamachi spirit, and the tiny, less than pristine old-school nomiya that fan out from the temple grounds are the best part of that. Always plenty of beer, plus great, uninhibited conversation. I also love the cheap and delicious traditional foods that are served at different spots. This was some of the best nikujaga I've ever had.

When I go to Japan, the food is always the star. I try to go to new places as often as possible, but those old favorites seem to take precedence, like the torched saba with lemon at Shirube in Shimokitazawa.

While I hate having to leave the amazing food every time I come home from Japan, I did discover something wonderful to bring back with me: a new favorite drink! Shochu and salty plum -- a match made in heaven.

And though inexpensive and plentiful alcohol is a big plus, we also tried this for the first time. None of our friends seem to be able to tell us exactly what it is; in fact, the closest we can get to a proper English explanation is "beer waste." Even this doesn't explain exactly what is in it. It tastes kind of like iced tea and IPA mixed together -- anyone know what makes it tick?

Anyway, so much awesome -- too much to ever cram into a blog post. I'm already looking forward to next time.

Two things.

This dress and cape from Tom Ford.



















This seasonal brew from Abita being released today.


















*sighhhhhhhh*

I love it when a plan comes together.



















Ohitashi at Geta in Oak-o-land-o




















(the first of several) Bulleit bourbons at Club Mallard in Albany

Soundtrack:



What ever happened to the saxophone solo? And why oh why must Monday come 'round?

omg, this is the best thing, well..at least all week.














You have to admit that is some AMAZING science.

Drinkify: Don't Drink Alone

Yesterday, I did something I haven't done for a long time -- at least since I was unemployed. I had whiskey in the afternoon with friends, and it was glorious.















Need the reminder today to savor the simple joys in life, and that I don't need vacation or unemployment or free time other than normal time off to have them.

There are good things afoot in the Oakland brewing world.

Y'all know I love a good brew or bourbon now and again. But -- damn those genetics -- I am a lightweight. So I have been one happy camper with the addition of Dying Vines, brewing out of the Linden Street Brewing Company in Oakland.

They seem to be specializing in session beers, with a keen interest in English bitters at that. Crisp, light body, assertive hops, and that all important factor for me, low ABV. I'd only had their Dee'z Mild, which I thought was stellar, though less crisp and more mouthy. But lucky girl I am, last night I was able to taste Dying Vines' newest venture, Old Brick Bitter. Really outstanding -- a true everyday, easy drinking beer. And I had an imperial pint and never even felt it!

I hear from Pete at the equally outstanding Commonwealth** that Dying Vines is looking into doing some barrel-aged beers. Exciting for them, and I will try them for sure because what I have had so far from them is top notch and the complexity of barrel-aged beer can be really fun, but I am a little disappointed as most of those tend to run in the 8 and 9 and up ABV.

Americans. The trend seems to be to build beers that are 8-11 percent and beyond. I recognize the complexity and deliciousness in some, but most just leave me reeling at the alcohol content.

I visited England for the first time in December (I know, I know, why am I just mentioning this NOW?) and had the luck of being in the North, in Yorkshire. Bitters are a specialty, and I was surprised when confronted with the ABVs at the pubs -- low 3s and 4s all. My friends jokingly asked me to not tell Americans that the Brits were such wusses, but I have trumpeted the low ABV factor far and wide. Love it, and also love that the half-pint is commonplace. I like to try many different beers when I go to a pub, and I just cannae do imperial pints of more than, oh, ONE beer in a sitting. And I hate getting sneered at for asking for a halfer!

**also had Commonwealth's Beer and Ale with Yorkshire pudding last night. omnomnomnom.

Whenever someone tells me women are now on the same level as men in Western society, or that they have it easy, I just think about all of the men and women who are still alive who remember stuff like this.

Ladies, ladies. One word: bourbon. Two birds, one stone.

More domestic goddess business, gardening edition:

Yee! Radishes are finally coming up...

...and my kale is looking healthy...

...as well as my container chard, haphazard but growing fast:













Now to just get a bit of time to learn to brew beer...

On the heels of the Winter Brewfest in Oakland, oh my....

San Francisco Beer Week

Hit the Keyser Soze Tapping at Triple Rock in Berkeley today.

Come join us as we tap our 2010 version of Keyser Soze. This years Imperial Stout is even bigger then last years 12.4% ABV beast!! Although the beer is still in the fermenter right now a sample has been sent to a lab and the ABV should be know soon.















I'm not big on sweet and thick beers, and Keyser Soze brought that in abundance. And that's a BIG beer! 13 percent ABV was the verdict. Half a glass in and I was getting warm! It was fun to try it out though.

Next up:

Rare Beers from Moonlight Brewing Company, featuring the brewer Brian Hunt, February 8.

...Celebrate SF Beer Week with some rare beers from Moonlight Brewing Company's Brian Hunt, Moonlight's owner/brewer, [who] will be here to talk beer, beer, and more beer.

Moonlight Brewing Company makes some excellent beers, and you can't get them in bottles. I'm lucky to live in the Bay where this brewery is featured at many fine establishments. I loved their Burnt Toast lager that I tried at the Winter Brewfest last week, but I want to get a taste of some I never see. Looking forward to it!

Winter Brewfest, Linden Street Brewery, Oakland, 1.30.2010



















































Shipping container turned giant kegerator:















Over 30 breweries, sunshine, bicycle valet, BBQ, and no fights! A beautiful day...





























The beers I tried:

Lagunitas Gnarlywine, Black Diamond Dubbel with Cherries, Alaskan Smoked Porter, Moonlight Burnt Toast, Ale Industries Fuzzy Sno-Beck and Extra Pale, Iron Springs Fairfax Coffee Porter, 21st Amendment Monk's Blood, Linden Street Urban Peoples' Common Lager and Black Lager, Two Rivers Pomegranate Cider, Uncommon Brewers Bacon Brown and Rubidus Maple Red

Bacon Brown and Burnt Toast for the win!

A. A. Bondy at Cafe du Nord, 1.20.2010







































While Bondy isn't much for stage presence -- his banter was limited (and though sincere, quite awkward) and he kept lowering the lights until the entire stage was black with a tinge of red -- it really didn't matter. His dreamlike, heartfelt lyrics, soulful delivery, and sweet melodies punctuated with big Neil Young-esque chords (on one of two Sunburst guitars) didn't need any additional accoutrement.

I'd been waiting for the show to buy his first album on vinyl, American Hearts, and my friend bought the second (When The Devil's Loose, which made my tops for 2009), and both Bondy and his merch/roadie/sound/lighting guy were just sweet as pie and pleased as punch, thanking us for supporting the show and the records. Good people.

What a lovely way to end a rainy San Francisco night where earlier we actually got into the Monk's Kettle right away, and tucked into creamy mac and cheese and Fuller's London Porter on nitro tap. Yum!

Recipe for happiness:

One beautiful 1968 Wurlitzer jukebox:



















A questionable, but free, pool table:



















$1.50 PBRs, and it's not even happy hour:



















Courtesy Servente's.

The Canadian Arms Whisky Club's first annual pumpkin carve-off was a rousing success:















My entry:















And Trevor's:















Also a big yay for my first (successful, it seems) try at vegan mac and cheese for Sanchez, and for composting or recycling almost all of our waste. We are such hippies.