Sushizanmai

Even if the ingredients, recipes, and cooking techniques are the same, why does ethnic food always taste better in its home country? For example, pizza and pasta in Italy, dim sum in Hong Kong and sashimi and sushi in Japan.

Is the mind is the biggest taste bud of all? Whether it's mind over matter I don't know - what I do know is that the food served at Sushizanmai (we went to the Yurakucho branch in central Tokyo) is bloody marvelous, moreish and highly recommended.

Thanks to faultless ordering by our Tokyo-domiciled friends, Nelson and Carol, we enjoyed plate after plate of extraordinarily fresh, beautifully presented (is there any other way in Japan?) and delicious sushi and sashimi especially the melt-in-the-mouth blue fin tuna sushi, unagi, sashimi salad, deep fried squid and salmon rolls.

But there's more than great food. This unpretentious, often manic, open all-hours eatery is the Cheers Bar as a sushi joint with chefs and waiters welcoming guests and calling out specials in their own inimitable way. It never gets quiet, with customers coming and going all night, and the wait staff are friendly and funny.

Address: 2-1-3 Yuraku-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Closest train station: Yurakucho
Website

Gravitating to Graviton

Khun Art - he'll see you right for you alternative listening pleasure

In days of yore, you could tell a lot about a person by their record or CD collection. Would you rather invest quality time with someone who listens to James Blunt or James Brown? A no-brainer - I miss those simple and more transparent days.

Under this rating system, the affable Khun Art who manages the Graviton music shop in Jatujak Market may be the coolest chap in South East Asia - he doesn't have his finger on the new music pulse - he is the pulse.

His little shop is a gold mine of good taste and he has the latest and greatest new releases in many of the music genres and sub-genres that matter - electro, house, roots, dubstep, techno, rock, indie, punk, pop, soul, many soundtracks and more.. loads more.

If you are after an Artic Monkey's DVD or an XX t-shirt Art is your man as well. He has a great selection of music DVDs and t-shirts and bags. T-shirts and bags

I've been a Graviton regular for more than three years and from my experience, no other store in the region comes close in terms of diversity, good taste and speed to market.

Address: Section 3, Soi 1, #91 Jatujak Market (note Jatujak Market is only open on the weekends).
e-mail: jackazz99@hotmail.com

Jimbooo.... Jimbo, Jimbo, Jimbo... Jimbooo... Jimbo, Jimbo, Jimbo

I used to eat, sleep, breath and dream football (soccer, futbol, footbon) but like all passionate relationships it was unsustainable and the flame barely flickers now.

Playing football is still great fun as is watching the odd live match. But televised games and the baggage (bags of money, lots and lots of bags) that comes with it, has left me mostly cold.  I do however, look forward to, and love, two 45-minute halves of football chat every week thanks to the Guardian newspaper's Football Weekly (Tuesday) and Football Weekly Extra (Friday) podcasts. If you are football crazy you'll probably already know about these podcasts.

Hosted by James Richardson, the podcast is consistently brilliant and hilarious, especially shows involving Barry Glendenning and Sid Lowe - possibly the funniest and smartest pundits on planet football. If they are not discussing the Premiership, La Liga or international games, they'll be chatting about house prices, skiing, the pugilistic skills of the various members of the Pogues, Russian prostitutes at the beach, films, mugs, politicians, current affairs, football chants and much more.

Highly, highly recommended - Football Weekly 

Dalat Brasserie

Although Thailand has never been colonised in a political sense, things may be changing on the culinary front with Japanese and Italian restaurants becoming as ubiquitous as 7-11 stores in the capital. 

Diversity is much welcomed so thank goodness for the recent opening of Dalat Brasserie, a new Vietnamese restaurant in Soi Lang Suan. We are huge Vietnamese food fans - following a recent visit to Hanoi - and Dalat Brasserie rekindled memories of some of the amazing meals (thanks Illiana and Bimo) we enjoyed there. 

Dalat Brasserie does the simple things very well in terms of service, decor and the cuisine offered. There's plenty to choose from and our personal favourites, Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake), Banh Cuon (rice flour crepes), Com Suon (grilled pork marinated in lemongrass and fish suace), Bo La Lot (minced beef wrapped in grape leaves), Pho (beef noodle soup), Goi Bap Chuoi Chay (Banana Flower Salad) and Chao Thom (grilled prawn cake) were tasty, well cooked and delicious.

They must have been because every dish passed muster with my mother-in-law who has an encyclopedic knowledge of South East Asian cuisine and a great palate.

All-in-all, Dalat Brasserie offers super food at affordable prices in a relaxed and comfortable central city setting. We'll definitely be back and look forward to working through the vast menu.

Dalat Brasserie - (opposite Starbucks on Soi Lang Suan)

Blues Sunday

Even though it's one of the pillars of rock'n'roll, blues music and me have never been good mates, the recorded stuff anyways. To me, it has always made more sense in a live environment and that was the case on Sunday night.

My pals, Chu and Phil and I visited Fat Gut'z, a stylish juke joint in Thonglor, to enjoy a quiet ale and some quality music. The upbeat three-piece band playing did not disappoint - in fact, they were terrific especially when they sang in Thai.

I think the blues and the Thai language were made for each other. If you don't believe me, make a visit to Fat Gut'z which, with its under-the-stairwell stage, provides an intimate "live in the living room" listening experience.

Loosely themed around a chip shop (a very posh chip shop it must be said), Fat Gut'z is renowned - surprise, surprise - for its fish and chips, salt and pepper squid and rock oysters. We didn't eat but the food ordered by others looked pretty tasty. Special mention to the bar staff as well who were attentive and friendly and nearly as happy as the bass player in the band.

More information: Fat Gutz

Steel Drums - they say so much

Happy Sunday.....

Touch Me - Jamie XX & Yasmine
Far Nearer - Jamie XX

Cover Stars pt 1 - The Kills

I love cover versions of well-known and not so well-known songs. Just stumbled across this un-varnished and hung over take of the Velvet Underground's Pale Blue Eyes by The Kills. The mid-song guitar workout is terrific - a perfect morning after track.

Enjoy - Pale Blue Eyes - The Kills