Life In Da Burbs

This could be the funniest SNL skit this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=zLElfJ9YCh0 Check it out.

My friend Naoki and his wife Makiko came to visit from San Diego this past weekend. We had a great meal at Aquavit in midtown friday night. We all chose the Chef's Tasting Menu that night. Chef Niels took great care of us with a bunch of complimentary dishes and desserts along with the basic meal. Not only was the food excellent, we sat next to the mayor of New York City, Mayor Bloomberg. He just happened to be there that night sitting the table next to us with his family. Pretty cool. Dish after dish, the food came and by the time dessert arrived, everyone was grinning in food euphoria. It's important to treat yourself to great food once in a while. It makes your daily struggles in life worth the pain and aggrevation. 2 1/2 hours after our first bite, we were ready to go home. We called it a night out in the city and drove back to my place. What a day.

nothing much to report today. wanted to pick up chandelier cleaners after work today but it started to rain then slush formed. this gave me two options, go home and take the suv out to the supermarket, or just turn the traction control off and learn how to power slide on empty roads. i chose the latter. i turned the e-shift mode on and had a little fun going home. the last stretch to my house, through the residential neighborhoods was the highlight of my power slide and drifting experience. although not very good at it, i could feel the wheels spin under me as the back end of the car slides sideways and around the anticipated turn. i felt like i was in Initial D (japanese car manga). i may need to read up on techniques to perfect my drifting. but perhaps i will wait until i can afford a new set of tires for every 30 minutes worth of drifting. those rubber babies burn up fast.

I drove home in my new (well, pre-owned) Lexus IS 300 today. (pictures will follow in the days to come) I have never had so much fun driving. This machine hugs the road very well, and the driver's seat consoles make you feel like you are piloting an alien warship. Alright, I may be exagerating a bit, but it's very hard to keep calm when you drive something so fun to drive. More to come tomorrow...

Looking for the right venue for a wedding is tough business. Last night, J and I met up with some friends and had a great meal at Mr. K's (Lexington & 51st). Scroll down for the list of dishes. It was a great meal and we were quite content with the quality of the food. But the way the restuarant was set up wasn't to our needs and that unfortunately ruled out our plans for a reception there. Later that evening, we went for drinks at the Four Seasons Hotel. The bar/lounge is a swank, high ceiling joint where the bon vie vant sit and chat with others of their kind. Nice decor for sure, but not the type of establishment for you or I. Definately snooty, pretentious and ugly. Plus, did you know at around midnight, you can find women of the night working their sales pitch on wealthy lonely men there? Who would have thunk the Four Seasons would be that kind of stomping ground. So saturday was kind of a bust in terms of finding our spot. Well, we woke up this morning and were energi...

Mr. K's - 570 Lexington Ave New York, NY Cocktail - Gin & Tonic (excellent) Peanuts (excellent, the best bar peanuts i've ever had) Appetizers - Dumplings (excellent), Crispy Beef (good) Soup - Crab, Lobster and Asparagus (excellent) Peking Duck (good) Baked Cod (excellent) Firecracked Prawns (excellent) Shrimp Lomein (good) Chocolate Heaven - Hazelnut, Vanilla, Chocolate mousse layers (excellent) Four Seasons Hotel - 57 East 57th Street New York, NY Diet Coke (was driving home) people watching (excellent) Bouley - 120 W Broadway New York, NY Cocktail - Gin & Tonic (excellent) Amuse Bouche - Raspberry gelee with mascapone and almond foam (good) Appetizer - Phyllo crusted shrimp, baby Squid, Scallop in Ocean Herbal Broth (excellent) - Tuna Tartar with Shaved Fennel (excellent) Fish - Seared Black Bass in Lemon Clam Broth(excellent) - Lobster and Mango in Coconut & Tamarind Dressing (excell...

Turbo Kits : Not that I am looking to do this. But the option is there if I do change my mind. Adding this turbo kit will increase my already 215hp another 120+hp. Is this really what I want to do and will it be too much car for me to handle? I thought I just wanted a car to commute back and forth to work. Apparently Dr. Jekyll has found Mr. Hyde. Peddle to the metal!

I have been thinking of replacing my '94 Honda Accord Coupe with a 2001 Lexus IS 300 (Altezza - in japan). I do not want to purchase a brand new car yet and for the time being, the Lexus seems like a whole bunch of fun to drive. It's got the Lexus badge (giving me sense of reliability), an inline 6 (cast-iron block) giving me 215hp... more than enough for me, and front & side airbags in a pretty sturdy body for safety. It's a nice midsized compact sedan that should live up to it's write ups.

This is the driver's seat view of the steering and panel. I sat in it yesterday on a test drive and it was just a little snug when compared to my Accord but this should be perfect for J. It accelerates very well and handling was very responsive. Lot's of cool extras like the E-Shift system built into the steering wheel, ventilated front disk brakes, on/off traction control, 50/50 weight distribution, and Electronic Braking Distribution. I will make my choice by early next week. I am also flirting around the idea of an 2001 Acura TL. These are the top two contenders at the moment.

Disturbing as it may... I took the OK Cupid Politics Test. My friends at HowBourgois had posted their scores and so here are mine.... I don't really know how to take it.... Try it yourself.

Disturbing as it may... I took the OK Cupid Politics Test. My friends at HowBourgois had posted their scores and so here are mine.... I don't really know how to take it.... Try it yourself.

You are a Social Moderate (43% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (33% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

This year... no turkey but Capon (or Chapon). Larger chicken than normal, but more tender and juicier than a turkey. Roasted this bad boy (9 pounder) for 2 hours in my convection oven. I did my usual : butter, salt, garlic and herbs under the skin of the bird. rubbed the cavity with salt and threw in some cloves of garlic as well. Shook some paprika and black pepper on top of the trussed bird and in the oven it went. The carcasse is being used for broth today. With some mirepoix and root vegetables, it should be a good base for some chicken noodle soup.

Sauteeing up some Ventreche (french pancetta) and carmelized onions for the carbonara

I went to the Met today to check out the Van Gogh Exhibit . Taking a look at the different paintings, drawings, and sketches really opened my eyes to the depth and control he had with his works of art. Absolutely amazing. I definately found some pieces moving and quite original. If I have more time, I would like to go back before the exhibit closes and take a look under more looser time restraints.

Participants in the 2005 Racial Bowl at Holmdel Park

Fellow teammate msun drinking from the "Cup" after our victorious game over the forks. Go Chopsticks.

Victorious!!! Chopsticks 4 Forks 3 after 3 hours of grueling battle on the fields of holmdel park, the annual Racial Bowl came to an end with team Chopsticks coming out ahead. MVP Steve "littleist" Chu demonstrated valor on the field with 3 INTs and 1 TD to bring the opposing Forks to their knees. Buddy Kohji Kosugi came from Brooklyn to partake in our annual ritual and brought speed and intensity to the field.

Our guests had the Prime Rib for 2, which was served and carved tableside. This was quite popular with the people waiting in the line to be seated... You could see each and everyone of them drooling as the tender pieces of beef were sliced and placed onto the plates. The Bearnaise Sauce kicked ass as well.

I recommened J to this delicious ribeye steak because truthfully, I wanted to have some as well... : ) The beef had phenominal flavor and the fries were perfect. You can't compete with lard and twice fried.

Cassoulet - (pronounced : kas oo lay) This is what I ordered. Les Halles has the best cassoulet in the city. A great winter dish that can warm you up. This, a bordeaux and a hard baguette hit the spot.

J and i had a great meal at Les Halles saturday. we had guests from japan so what better meal to host our japanese friends than good 'ol american beef. everyone was very happy with the huge slabs of beef and french wine accompanying the meal. we had a bottle of 98 pauillac and a 99 medoc. J and i both left the restaurant stuffed and completely satisfied with our meal. if you have the opportunity, go treat yourself to a steak at Les Halles , (Park Ave South between 28 and 29th Street)

it was J's turn to make dinner tonight. so she decided to make Spaghetti alla Carbonara. this is one of my favorite dishes she makes. it is absolutely delicious.

this is the arch at washington square at night. we were walking around nyu the other evening and strolled around the park and took this picture. it looks great at night.

kaki, or persimmon. this is one of my favorite fruits all time... along with mango, lychee, white peaches, kyoho grapes, figs, cherries, and mangosteens. ok, so there are more than a few but take my word, if you have never had a kaki, go treat yourself to one. especially now, they are in season. just when the first frosts of the year arrive, they give the fruit a burst of sweetness. i like them when they turn mushy and you can eat them with a spoon. just cut in half and scoop away. ahhhh.....

here is a famous waterfall in miyazaki prefecture (kyushu)

back from a great trip to japan. had the best yakiniku i've ever had at my buddies place in tokyo. i'm giving it a 100 in my book. the best i've ever had. thanks kohji. this is a picture of the spider at roppongi hills tokyo.

Degustation Menu October 20th, 2005 @ Wildflower -Amuse Bouche- Shrimp pork and chive dumplings with hot chili oil sauce -Appetizer- Curry flavored chicken and bean sprout spring rolls with coconut chutney sauce -Salad Course- Diver scallops dusted with Chinese 5 spice rub on arugula salad served with Champagne vinegrette -Foie Gras Course- Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras on poached daikon with balsamic glaze -Fish Course- Drunken salmon with fennel concasse and red wine reduction glaze -Meat Course- Chinese slow braised pork belly with mash and veggies

My buddy showed up unfortunately a little too late for the tasting menu but here was an impromptu a la carte dish we threw together for him. Nothing is more fun than making a steak.

Holy Canoli, doesn't this look great? Kinda makes you wish for summer to never end. It's getting chilly here at nights.

on another note, i will be guest cheffing at Wildflower in Manhattan this coming thursday. i'm very excited and working hard to get a degustation menu ready for the event. my very good friend, Chef Jay Jadeja invited me into his kitchen to prepare some of my favorite things to eat. i will post more in a few days. stay tuned and i am sure to post pictures of the event at the end of the week. peace...

George T. Kao 7 Jill Dr. Holmdel, NJ 07733 kao.george@gmail.com (work)732-946-3993 (cell)517-505-8339 Experience GHK Enterprises Sept 2005-Present Manalapan, New Jersey Founding Partner – Start up company with 3 entrepreneurs/partners · Battle at the Boardwalk – Organized and ran the largest multi-disciplined martial arts tournament in the USA. Exceeding that of Governor Schwartzenegger’s “Arnold Classic-Martial Arts” in Columbus, Ohio. · American Cultural and Learning Center – Opened and operated pre-school for underprivileged children in New Brunswick, NJ. State financed project in conjunction with federal No Child Left Behind act. · Running and operating SES programs on ...

Will the boys in Green pull off a victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes tomorrow? Catch the action this Saturday 12 noon, on ABC Go State!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar.He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if thejar was full? They agreed that yes, it was.The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else."Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, youwould be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other thi...

Mt. Fuji on a clear Autumn day.

Waterfalls

I love the changing colors when Autumn rolls around. This is a picture taken in Japan. The redness of the leaves is breath taking. Scroll up to see more scenic views of Japan.

I'm such a beef aficionado. Any chance of talking about beef and I'm on it. Look at these skewers of japanese beef ready to hit the flaming grill... Oh, that's so good.

Located in the side streets of Roppongi... Just ask any cabby, they will know of the joint.

This is possibly one of the most unique and interesting places to eat in Tokyo. Very good food too. It is called "Inakaya". Located in Roppongi, it caters to the wealthy and foreign business men who take this in and perceive the whole country of Japan to be just like this. : ) Cheers mate.

Ever since leaving D'Artagnan.... I am now craving Foie Gras more than ever. I happen to find this pic on http://www.tastingmenu.com/media/default.htm This guy who runs the website has to be the biggest "foodie" on earth. He has travelled to all the top places around the US, France, London and Tokyo. To have that kind of disposable income would be great.

You cook the pieces of meat right on the japanese coal hibachi which is built right into the table.

I also wanted to share with you japanese Yaki Niku. This particular japanese beef is titled, "kuruge wagyu," :black haired japanese beef. Oh my god is it good. When you have the chance, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to it. It's seriously life changing... you can't look at any other beef the same way.

Just another picture of the outdoor onsen at our ryo-kan.

This is me at our ryo-kan (japanese resort) in Kumamoto. When you soak your body (after bathing) in the mineral hot spring, all the impurities are thought to escape your body and you are left with a tranquil state of mind, ready to go back to your room and enjoy an exquisite seasonally prepared tasting menu called "kaiseki". The dishes are paired with chilled sake, enhancing every dish and every bite.

This is the famous Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto Japan. I was here in April of 2004. Not only is this a historic city with interesting factoids dating back more than 2000 years ago, Kumamoto is also famous for their japanese hot springs (onsen).

so my buddy in michigan convinces me to start this blog. thanks lauren and jon. hope you guys like it.