電武士

news and views from michael rollins in tokyo

Category: Reviews (page 1 of 4)

I want my sandwich hot. I want my sandwich now.

My brother bought me a Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press. It takes normal, boring, cold sandwiches and turns them into crispy, steaming hot ones. I love it. Moreover, I actually use it, which is more than I can say for that pasta roller and most of the other kitchen gadgets he’s gifted me over the years.

What could be easier? You plug it in, wait a few minutes for it to heat up, drop your sammy on, lower the lid, and just walk away. In minutes you’ve got a sizzling, toasty panini (or whatever) oozing cheese out of three sides and practically screaming “bite me.” Would you believe I’m halfway through just such a sandwich as I write this? (licks and wipes fingers) Well I am. And I am loving it.

Now go get yours.

 

Review: Inequality for All

Hi blog. Long time no see!

I spent some Saturday me-time at the cinema yesterday, taking in Robert Reich’s new film Inequality for All.

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QubeSys Review : Dissatisfaction & Regret

A quick word of advice for anyone thinking of working with India-based QubeSys Technologiesdon’t. Our experience with them was dismal. Thank God it was a small project and not something big and complicated, because these guys completely suck. The designs we  sent for coding were largely ignored, with changes to the layout, fonts and colors made arbitrarily by the “developer” assigned to the project. Shockingly bad is the only way to describe the quality of work received. In the end they stuck firmly to the originally quoted fee and were uninterested in discounting the job even though the project was executed so poorly. Oh, and the dev site they created? Indexed by Google because these morons don’t know what a robots.txt file is. Avoid at all costs.

Beautiful iPad Life

I waited a while before getting an iPad. From the pre-release hype right on through the orgiastic post-launch buying frenzy I kept thinking, “now here’s a device that’s getting waaaay more attention than it deserves.” I mean, let’s face it, the way things are these days Apple could announce an iFlowbee and Mac fans everywhere would be as giddy with excitement as a Japanese schoolgirl queuing for an Arashi concert.

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Online Wine Buyer’s Guide Updated

More shops and general info added to the Japan wine guide.

Let me also add a quick plug for a superb wine I enjoy this week, the Maison Abbotts Cordis (2002). This award-winning Minervois is made from 100% Carignan (!) and has won a number of awards. Carignan has never tasted this good. Highly recommended!

Review: ほの字 (Honoji)

Easily the best 本格的な和食 (authentic Japanese food) in Miyamasu-zaka-ue (宮益坂上) is to be found at local lunch favorite Honoji. I’ve been going there once every week or two for two years, and the consistently high quality and service make it one of may favorites lunch spots here in Shibuya.

The fare is standard-issue 定食 (set menu) Japanese, but the quality is a cut above the rest. The miso soup (or tonjiru, depending on the day) is always flavorful and piping hot, and the rice cooked to fluffy perfection. The lunch menu consists of four choices: hamburger steak, 生姜焼き (ginger pork), and then a fish item and a “honoji special” that change every 3-4 days each. Everything is good, all the time.

If there has been any staff turnover in the time I’ve been going I haven’t noticed it, and this surely one of the reasons why they do such a great job. The staff is friendly, attentive and professional. If you’re in the area here for lunch one day and looking for great 日本食 you should definitely give this place a try. (Menus and communication in Japanese only.)


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