The Hungry Hungry Writer

We had a talk with the kids about fire last night. A much overdue talk but with the fires engulfing Southern California, it was due time. We discussed things to do in the house if such an event occurs. We weren’t trying to instill the fear of fire on them, we were trying to impress upon them the importance of doing the smart thing in a fire where safety is first. Some of which is leaving doors closed, feeling for warmth on the door if there is a fire, opening windows to escape and using a whistle to wake us up if need be.

Needless to say it did cause fear. Tears were shed due to the fear of a possible fire but the overall talk did some good… hopefully.

I’d have to say, I’m the most scared of all. Imagining a fire in the house and how the kids deal with it is frightening. Hopefully it will never happen, but if it does, I hope the kids do what’s right and that’s only if we continue to teach them well.

So now we are going to be more fire prepared: rope ladders for the kid’s windows, showing them how to open the windows, knowing the warning signs like fire alarms, smoke and warmth on the door. We want them to really know the emergency steps to keep everyone and themselves safe.

About seventeen years ago, fires engulfed Glendale and threatened many of my friends homes. Both Dale and Dasie’s homes were scorched but not burned down. It literally jumped over Dasie’s house and burned the houses around hers down. Dale’s car was burned and melted, the walls of his house black but it didn’t burn to the ground. Unfortunately, his neighbor’s house did. He just lost his car.

They spent the night at our house that night - just a couple miles away from the fires. I spent the afternoon hosing down the roof top and the back yard but we were fortunate that the fires didn’t come close to us.

My cousin, James and his wife, were on evacuation alert down in San Diego this week. Both their workplaces were closed and they packed their personals and got ready to go at a moments notice. My nephew, Keaton, left college at San Diego State and went home to Sacramento for a couple of days as campus was closed for a week.

But even us, further away from the Malibu or Stephenson’s Ranch or San Bernardino or San Diego fires were affected. Both my kids didn’t have ‘outside playtime’ at school because of the quality of air. On Tuesday it was worse as all of Glendale could smell the fire in the air.

Hopefully our courageous firefighters will contain the fires soon. Hopefully people can get on with their lives. Hopefully those people who lost their homes can start over again despite how hard it will be.

Be safe out there!

Back in 1997 a friend and I thought it would be great to start a website that would provide information on restaurants in the general area. We loved to eat good food as, I would say, everyone else in the world does. So why not produce a website like this, connect with other people across the country, and build a database of restaurants and personal reviews.

Well, my HTML skills weren’t that great at the time and the website I built really didn’t get anywhere but my computer. Since then, a ton of restaurant review websites have popped up which provide a plethora of information. From personal experience to well groomed taste buds discussing spices and unique flavoring.

Ten years later I’m still eating food and loving it. Aren’t you? And if I had the time, I’d build this website with unique ideas (call me and we’ll work on it!). Despite the fact that I’m not running this website I do have the ability to eat at restaurants and share my thoughts in: Tribune-USA or even my Hungry-Hungry-Writer blog.

So here are a few tried and true restaurants on my ‘go-to’ list.

The Yard House – Pasadena, CA
Great food, Classic Rock!
330 East Colorado Blvd. Suite 230
626) 577-9273
This has become Jake’s favorite restaurant. The Penne Chicken Pasta is perfect for two kids to share and Donna and I split a salad and any burger on the menu. On those, ‘I don’t want a burger nights’ I’m happy with any of the appetizers on the menu. My favorite is the Hawaiian Stack (tuna sashimi), Sliders (mini cheeseburgers) and the Crab Cakes. But, the number one reason I like The Yard House is its atmosphere. From Sunday football on the overhead television sets, to the range of classic rock played overhead. Add a glass of ice cold beer from their large collection of beer and it’s the perfect Sunday lunch! Beer of choice – Blue Moon Beer that comes with an orange slice. And right now, get in on the Monday Night Football Happy Hour where you can order appetizers at half off from kick off till the end of the game!

Blue Fish Japanese Restaurant – Montrose, CA
Sushi Restaurant
2261 Honolulu Ave
(818) 248-9700
This has become my favorite Sushi restaurant in the Glendale area. I wrote a full review about it two weeks ago. If you’re a value conscious sushi eater you’ll definitely get your money’s worth! It’s not cheap, but you definitely get your fill of food for the money you spend. Blue Fish has the best Specialty Roll menu in town, the best Gyoza I’ve had at a restaurant, and a kids chicken teriyaki plate that comes in a multi-layer serving saucer - kids will love it! Get there early because any time of the week you’ll find yourself waiting for a table after 6:00 PM. Trust me. It is worth the wait.

Raffi’s Place – Glendale, CA
An Armenian/Persian Cuisine
211 East Broadway
(818) 240-7411
Here’s a place that you can grab an outside table during the day or evening and experience a hidden oasis right in the middle of Glendale! If you were blindfolded and led into Raffi’s Place you wouldn’t know where in Glendale you were at. I love having dinner outside – when it gets cold heat lamps make your dinner comfortable. Raffi’s Place is known for their kabobs but there is more to the menu than that. If you like hummus, you’ll love theirs. My favorite dish is the ground beef (koobideh). The ground chicken plate is also superb. Served with a large portion of buttery white rice (yum!), a grilled tomato and green pepper – it’s the perfect meal for a very hungry person – like me! Try a different beer too! The Kotayk beer is pretty damn good! Be prepared to take leftovers home!

BCD Tofu House – Los Angeles (Korea Town)
A Korean Tofu House
869 S. Western Ave
213-380-3807
There was a time where you’d see me at a BCD Tofu House 3 to 4 times a week; from the Western Ave location to the one in the Valley (Saticoy Street in Reseda). It took me a while to actually fall in love with the Tofu Soup (soon dobu) but once I did I was addicted. I love it extremely spicy and it doesn’t matter if it’s a hot afternoon but it’s even better on a cold winter night which is forthcoming! Before there was soon dobu there was order number 13! A galbi soon dobu combo. Oh my god! It’s perfect as a past midnight dinner or an early afternoon lunch! Each person gets a fried fish (fried joo gea) if you desire, and their side dishes (ban chan) like kimchi, potato salad and pickled cucumbers are great additions to an even tastier meal! Make sure you let them serve you the rice. It’s served in a hot rock pot and they’ll scoop it out into a bowl for you. Be prepared to one, get your fill and two, be there more than once a week! (forgive my Korean dish spellings but I tried)

Wow… I am so hungry just thinking about it. I think I’ll have BCD Tofu House for lunch today as I already had Blue Fish last night! And Raffi’s Place, beware – I’ll be there this weekend for sure!

I was listening to Marc Cohen’s song, “Walking in Memphis” on my iPod this morning. It’s so emotional and so heartfelt I decided to title this entry, “Riding in Glendale.”

Sunday was very emotional for me as a father. It was the day I broke the shelter surrounding my son and I did something I’ve put off for years and years.

Jake is seven years old. And because of my paranoia, because of my insecurities, because of my fear of him getting hurt I put a shelter around him when it comes to riding a bike. Yes, he still has training wheels on his bike. Well, ‘had training wheels’ is more like it.

Sunday morning I was committed. “Today…” I said to myself with the utmost conviction, “…Jake will learn to ride a bike!”

He’s been ready since he was four years old. He’s been ready since he got on a bike to be honest. He rode his scooter at age three, he was on skates (as small as they made them) at age two, and he’s been on training wheels since he was four. For three and a half long years I’ve put off the inevitable. Yes, it was all me. Yes, it was kind of selfish. Yes, it is my fault Jake can’t ride a bike.

I’ve been hit by baseballs. I’ve broken my nose in sparing matches. I’ve been nailed multiple times by paintballs and I’ve sucked it up and have taught him to do the same when it comes to pain. I don’t feel the same about bikes for some reason.

I’ve been hit by a car on my BMX. I’ve taken falls off of jumps on the BMX track that would send most people to the hospital. I’ve made tight turns on slick cement with my BMX tires where the bike would just slip from under me and I’ve slammed my head against concrete – without a helmet!

I’ve lost control down a mountain with my mountain bike, barely jumping off the bike as I watched it bounce its way down the edge of a mountain. I’ve had to climb back up with it - bloody and gashed. I’ve taken falls off jumps so bad that I’d bend my seat post, broken my handle bars and hurt both shoulders, my back and my ribs.

So yeah. If he’s anything like me – he’ll do the same. And he’s a lot like me. So if I could shelter him from these dangers, I guess I should right?

Wrong.

How do you deprive a kid from ‘free-wheeling’ his way down the street when it’s every kid’s right to feel the air in his face, the wind at his back, and the freedom of two wheels underneath him?

I brought the wrench out of the toolbox. I took the training wheels off his bike. He watched nervously as I pumped up the tires.

And when we took our first few feet up the sidewalk my stomach sank as he asked, “You’re not going to let go right?”

I didn’t want to let go. But I replied, “When you’re ready.”

He felt heavy under my guided hand. He was leaning right most of the time and I held him up. We gathered a little speed and I kept reminding him to look ahead and not down. I loosened my parental grip so-to-speak and he veered, got scared and tipped over awkwardly onto the grass.

I helped him up and watched him fall three or four more times into the grass – scratches on his knee, frustration in his eyes, and the words, “I can’t do it” finally came out of his mouth.

“Yes you can. One more time.” We weren’t going back into the house till he got this down.

Then the moment of truth came. We were moving quickly down the sidewalk and I felt he found the balance. I could tell. I was holding lightly, letting him lean on my hand if need be but he was ready. And just as I was about to let of my precious son, out of his mouth came, “Okay papa let go!”

And I did. And I watched him, wobble left. I watched him wobble right. I watched him try desperately to balance and pedal at the same time. He kept going and going and going. Then he veered into the grass again and fell!

I ran down to him as he got up. He was checking the scratches on his knee. And with teary eyes he said with a smile, “I did it!”

“Want to do it again?”

And as all of us know, those of us who ride bikes that is, once you get it you get it. You’ll never forget: the feeling of balance, the feeling of riding free. The feeling of well… the wonderful feeling of riding a bike!

He put on his jet-black helmet and he - jumped on the bike. Started off at the base of the driveway - under the Sunday sun. Biking Gods oh please - won’t you look down over him. Yeah, he had a first class teacher - but was as scared as a boy could be. Then he was riding in Glendale! He was riding with his wheels ten feet off the street. Riding in Glendale! But does he feel the way I feel? (sing that to the beginning of ‘Walking on Memphis’. Nice huh? LOL)

I was so emotional. Teary eyed. Happy. Proud. Scared. Cutting apron strings is tough ain’t it?

He can swim. He can ride a bike. He can run. What next? Father and son Triathlon?

We’ll keep it in the pool of course. There’s no way I’m going to send him out into the ocean. That shelter is still good and strong!

You go, son! Ride… BUT NOT TOO FAST!!!!!!

Side note: Isabella was so inspired she got off her tricycle and asked for Jake’s smaller training bike in the garage. And let me tell you – she’ll be freewheeling sooner than I want.

I was starving. It was almost 7:00 PM and way past my dinner time. So here is Blue Fish Sushi on Honolulu in Montrose, CA. It’s a small sushi restaurant in the middle of the Honolulu strip. I’ve eaten there before and thought it was decent. But, like several of my friends have said, the service is horrible. I have to agree – on past experience that is. I decided to give it one more chance.

I called Donna and asked her to meet me at the restaurant. It was a nice warm evening so we decided to sit at the outdoor tables.

From what I remember: the food was pricey, the service extremely slow, and the sushi was, well, just run of the mill type sushi. It was ‘no big deal.’ I wasn’t expecting anything better than what it was before.

Well, I ordered a couple of specialty rolls and a couple pieces of sushi and could not believe my eyes when they served the food. First and foremost - there was so much food in front of me I was shocked! Secondly, the presentation was like a piece of art at a gallery in Beverly Hills! Normally, this order would be a good meal at any other ‘ordinary’ sushi restaurant, but here, in front of me was a feast fit (and designed) for kings… or Samurai! And finally – the service was better than it was before! Yes it’s true.

But the true test would be quality and taste… Okay, I can’t hold back on how I felt about it. So here it is… This is THE BEST sushi restaurant in the Glendale area. This is THE BEST sushi restaurant I’ve ever been to in the Los Angeles area!

I couldn’t finish my meal. I was stuffed. The rolls were unique, creative, had tons of flavor and as I mentioned before, pieces of art. I savored every bite. It was heaven.

Two days later I was at Blue Fish Sushi again. In fact, I have brought two other people to the restaurant and have eaten there six times in two weeks!

It has taken a hit on the pocket book but what I tell everyone: you get MORE than your money’s worth at Blue Fish. They have all agreed on my assessment.

What a drastic change on my thoughts about this restaurant. The service was actually pretty good. They even know to bring extra tofu for the Miso soup for my daughter without me asking! The food was A+ quality and absolutely delectable. And the price is reasonable considering the amount of food they give you.

They have, by far, the best Sushi Specialty Roll menu in the area. They have the best Gyoza I’ve eaten at a restaurant as well. The kids menu provides a teriyaki plate lunch served in a cute multi-layered container that the kids would love to have at home.

I’m determined to try all the specialty rolls on the menu. I order two every time and am finding my absolute favorites. My top three are: Tiger Roll, Vegas Roll, and the Lady Bug roll. Two other rolls that are filler ups are: Popcorn Lobster roll and Dynamite Roll. Then here are my runner up favorites: Honolulu Roll, Alaska Roll, Monkey Brain Roll, Baked Salmon Roll, and the Black Dragon Roll.

So do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to a night of good food, good atmosphere and indulge!

I’d love to keep this place the secret sushi restaurant hidden in a small street just North of Glendale. But beware! Get there early because the secret is out. The place is packed after 6:00 PM!

Good eats!

Blue Fish Japanese Restaurant
2261 Honolulu Avenue
Montrose, CA 91020
Phone: (818) 248-9700

Despite the fact that MY Los Angeles Dodgers faded and never looked like the team that was supposed to win the West, we have a one game playoff between the Padres and the Rockies tonight – Monday.

This past week of baseball has been one of the best runs for the playoffs in history! Wild Card positions changed hands more frequently than a two horse match race! The Phillies final took over top spot on the last day of the regular season as they watched the worst melt down in Mets history unfold. The Padres, in control of their own destiny, lost to a team that isn’t even in the playoffs. The Yankees came 2 games of winning the division and we have a playoff matchup with the Angels and RedSox can’t seem to win on the other team’s stadium – advantage BoSox.

Now it’s all down to one game for the last playoff spot in the 2007 season.

The Rockies beat the divison winner, Arizona Diamondbacks - a playoff team! The Padres lost to a team that isn’t in the playoffs and really, what do they have to really show for themselves. Just Jake Peavy who is pitching tonight which means he can’t start the playoffs. That is if they make the playoffs.

And it was in Arizona’s best interest to win their last game. What’s worse than going into a one game playoff where the season comes down to an extra game is a team losing as they go into the playoffs.

Momentum – momentum and more momentum! It’s who’s hot at the right time and the time is now.

If San Diego pulls off a win, which I doubt, they aren’t going to beat a charged up Phillies team.

But who am I going to root for tonight? I’m a Western Division fan, of course. And if the Dodgers aren’t in it, you have to root on the least of all evils. And Colorado is far from evil. They aren’t much of anything except the team that saw Nomo pitch a shutout on a cold Saturday afternoon in the rain. They are a team of… well… far from destiny. They bring top pitchers in to their team only to watch them unravel in what is one of the worst pitchers parks in the Major Leagues.

I mean, if the Dodgers aren’t in it I will root for teams in this order to succeed. Rockies, Arizona, Padres and Giants… I take that back. I WILL NEVER ROOT FOR THE GIANTS EVER! If they are the Western Division representatives, I’m rooting for the Central or East or even, ugh, the American League. Yuck.

So go Rockies! Go Wild Colorado! Show them what ya got… Then… lose to the Cubs.

So there you have it. Go Cubs! Go Auntie Jenny’s team! Get rid of the curse once and for all!

I love baseball. Oh how I love baseball.

And, for the record, I did not win my fantasy baseball league. I was on the verge going into the last few days with a pretty big lead… but I lost it all on pitching and some great performances by my opponent.

So I made the championships. But I came in 2nd. Which is nothing. I WANT TO WIN MY BASEBALL FANTASY LEAGUE!!!

I may have to join like 3 or 4 next year.

That being said… Go Dodgers in 2008!