Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

Calling all sushi lovers!

Ever since seeing the trailer on iTunes trailers I've been hankering to see this film.  This quiet little film invites us into the world of Jiro Ono, who happens to be the world's oldest 3-starred Michelin chef.  He was also declared a living national treasure by the Japanese Government.

Jiro runs Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seater sushi restaurant that is inside the Ginza subway station.  At 85 years of age, he has been working at his sushi craft for most of his life.  He talks about his dedication to his craft and how it occupies most of his thoughts - he literally dreams of making sushi.

How To Avoid a Case of Puzzle Butt ..

... when eating at Wagaya...

I coined the term "puzzle butt" when I was a teenager. It referred to the spasm that occurs after prolonged clenching of the buttocks while leaning over a large (mostly 1000 piece) jigsaw puzzle, trying to piece it together.

In the case of Wagaya, that much reviewed, touch-screen ordering, fast action Japanese diner on the fringe of Chinatown, it was a one buttock clench.

You might be asking what does puzzle butt have do with eating out? Well, when you're sitting in one of their booths, the screen is located perpendicular to you, the diner. So there is no other way to touch the screen than to lean across thus causing the clench. It wouldn't be so bad if the menu wasn't so extensive but it is.

Thirteen buttons across the top lead to the first of mostly 2, sometimes 3 sub-menus all containing unique offerings for each category. The best thing is, you don't have to decide the entire meal right at the beginning. If you arrive hungry and want an immediate starter, go for something recognisable, say Edamame.

While some restaurants serve these warm, these were served cold but they were crisp, sweet and not too salty. 

If you're not starving, you can take the time to peruse the menu but be warned, you may need an hour or so: