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Heh. My dad was like that too. WWII vet and having to eat cold Spam during the war was apparently a very unpleasant experience. Oddly, he would occasionally eat cold Campbells soup right out of the can, a more favorable wartime experience apparently. Except my mom and I were both so weirded out by the latter we would harass him when he would do it ;) So I never tried Spam until I left for college. When you are young you tend to assume your parents are wrong about everything. As you get older you realize that isnt necessarily the case ;)

Cocktail wieners wrapped in bacon would be an excellent substitute for people who don't like fish, rice, or sushi. :D

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He, you laugh but I have been served those at a reception in Tsukuba. ;)

I lived in Hawaii for 4 1/2 years and I love me some fried up Spam.

I haven't tried the musubi at Ohana. Marination Mobile's musubi is a little dry, but their Spam slider is tasty.

My parents tried to make us eat liver until one night when the neighbor came over with their dog (who found the liver my brother had hid under the couch). They didn't serve it to us any more after that :)

Mine finally got the message when I refused to eat it and told them I'd rather eat nothing at all. They made me sit at the table until I finished it, but finally relented after I fell asleep there and they were going to bed themselves. Fortunately, I never saw it again or there would have certainly been a repeat performance.

I think I can still taste the last liver I had from 14 years ago when a friend convincingly said, "But, you've never had it the way I make it." Don't fall for that line. I felt like I needed to rinse with lye to get the nastiness out of my mouth.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

If it weren't for the grilled meat on skewers they serve on the streets in Tokyo, I would probably starve there. I'm pretty sure that Anthony Bourdain did a show that featured these, so you might find some help by viewing that episode.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Things never really flushed out with the idea. in hind sight is was less about "Japanese" than it was about presenting savory small items that looked exotic without feeling like a cocktail party. I liked the rice crispy idea, and the rolled bread. I will keep those in mind for the next time. I did not mean to criticize Japanese cooking, which is how it seemed to be taken by some. I was looking for something that perhaps was a little lest "authentic" and didn't take itself so seriously.

What a silly post. You make it sound like a backwater. More Michelin stars here than anywhere else in fact. :rolleyes:Try eating food in a restaurant next time too. Its amazing the things you will find. ;)

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Thanks. That sounds very interesting. I'm giving a talk in Kyoto in the early fall. Haven't sorted schedule yet but going to Kyoto likely will need a day in Tokyo rather than arrive late afternoon and then have to go into the city and get on the train after a 12 hr flight.

Cool. Other than the 3rd week of October I am good. Looking forward to it.

Mike

There is kobe beef sushi though. Raw beef, nigiri.

And raw horse meat nigiri which I sampled on my last trip to Hokaido. Not bad at all.

LOL. Sillier than you ever imagined, probably, as I never been to Japan and am likely never to go. :D It is merely an observation from the outside looking in and applies solely to my own perceptions, be they ignorant or real. ;) But, definitely not a condemnation of the food available in Japan. They obviously eat, so they must like it.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

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Well, we just had a great Japanese dinner in Manhattan with nary a bit of sushi in sight. I had yakatori and dumplings stuffed with Berkshire pork and vegetables for appetizers and tenzaru soba (buckwheat noodles with tempura shrimp and vegetables) for a main. They have their own buckwheat farm in Quebec so they get excellent flour and make the noodles.

Alright you got me. :D

Well then since fair is fair and I have immensely enjoyed your city twice, when you come visit I will help you find a great meal or two over here. Open invitation.

:)

Mike