You know what to do

There are a thousand words I could use to describe my New York trip, but I don't feel like any of them would do this city justice. Stepping off the airplane two days ago left me in a sort of jaded haze. Within the first hour we were sitting in a trendy little place for brunch. I had a local beer that was nothing short of spectacular and a sandwich that wasn't. ( but it was on the right track...) Then, we walked, rode the train, and had emerged in the hustle and bustle of New York City. The Big Apple. The center of the universe. Thousands of people were doing thousands of things as we walked towards where our friends were. Like Alanis morriset walking around name by herself, while the rest of the world continued on in her thank you video, the world just kinda slipped by as we strolled. It was beautiful. New York is a city of roughly 8.5 million people, all of whom were more than content to live there life while ignoring a tall, lanky ginger walking around with his best friend. It was refreshing. In New York, I'm no one. Which instantly makes me want to be someone. It's inspiration. Later we ate at a small little Thai place. ---small note--- 98% of the time I had no idea where the hell I was. So names will be missing of areas ---end note--- killer Thai food at some place that probably won't be open more than 5 years at most. Why? Because there's always the bigger fish out there. We met up with an old friend and his boyfriend and headed up to Roosevelt island. Right then, on the banks of the Hudson, I decided that yes, I was 100% moving to New York. We took the tramway (not gondola, thanks Melissa haha) back into the bustle of the city. More wandering. I told Melissa that I just liked to look up at the buildings and in the shops, just to live in that moment. That's how I am. That's who I am. It's moments like those that inspire me. We went to see a movie and then made it back to Hoboken after hours of sitting in traffic. The next morning, we did brunch. Bloody Mary's and mimosas at a restaurant next to the park. Then a Guinness at a little pub close to the train station. We made our way across town to a little ramen joint name momofuku. I'd only heard about this from a coworker, but fully trusted his judgement on excellent food. They did not disappoint. Full and happy, we wandered on down to a (one of many) consignment shops on our way. Everyone seemed to have some little gem in them. I practiced restraint and only bought a hat haha. We then made our way to Time Square and it was insane as I imagined. Thousands walking around, crowded in front of street performers and artists, snapping photos of buildings they don't know the name of, just because that's what everyone else was doing. New York is intoxicating in every sense of the word. I wanted to breath every single second of that beautiful city in. We finished the night we pizza and then hopped back on the train. Hoboken has a wonderful waterfront park that did it's best to provide a beautiful view while allow enough space to sprawl out in the grass and just be. Something we all need to do from time to time. I can only hope my next trip to that city is as inspiring as this last one. Positive energy is the name of the game right now. I need it. We all need it.

Self realization sponsored by: Black and Tans

Back a few blog posts ago, I wrote about the moment that I really knew that the service industry was for me. Ive had a change of heart. Before I couldnt recall an exact moment. Thats because it hadnt happened yet. Im not sure if its happened now, but ill share a little insight I received the other day. I started back at Harbor Docks over the summer, and pretty much 5 to 6 days a week, we go out there and make this delicious sushi for hundreds of people who a.) Know nothing about what we're serving or b.) Dont care. This frustrates me. I want people to appreciate what I do. What ive, and the rest of us for that matter, have worked years to hone and perfect our skill. For the first month I would sit and just wonder how these people could sit there and really not know or understand what they're eating. The history of something so wonderful, only few of us in this world are blessed to be able to know how to deliver. It really did bother me. I began to drink alot more. I started to question my life choices up to the point. Id hit a low point in a matter of a month. One day I was just sitting in the shower, wondering how bad my body would ache from the beating I was about to receive. From that day I started to search for my purpose in this business. Culinary business in general. Ive always wanted to be a writer so I though about hanging up the old chef coat and trading it in for a laptop. That brings us to now. Talking to one of my friends this evening, she was asking me about the past few days at work. I was telling her about some customers I had on Friday. They were from Atlanta or something and knew Yoshie pretty well. Naturally, she would wander in to make sure I was taking proper care, like a den mother watching over her cubs as the hunt. I did my best to treat them the same way i'd want to be treated at a sushi bar, with respect. And they reciprocated. One girl in the group asked for something she'd had at Nobu in -insert random big city-. 95% of the time this pisses me off. Today was the 5%. It was thin slices of Yellowtail (In the jack family. Light, oily, delicious) with thin slices of jalapenos, covered in ponzu sauce. Easy day. I made it. They loved it. They left our restaurant happy and full. At that moment, I had this overwhelming sense of pride im my work. That little reminder of why im doing this. Its what makes me want to continue on down the culinary path and ultimately towards chefdom. Anyways, that was just a little thought ive been keeping inside for a couple of days. This friday I head to New York City to visit my bestest of friends and check out my possible future stomping grounds. We'll see how it goes.....

Thats no way to go, Franco UnAmerican

My life is just insane sometimes. Ill skip going into detail, but its just nuts. June was pretty intense for me. I want to tell you that ive been totally happy and everything is peachy, but it hasnt been. I feel so much slower now (in terms of rolling sushi) than I was before. I know ive been out of it for a long time but I hold myself to a higher standard now that I did before. Its just overwhelming frustration. Its that feeling that I cant do it anymore. I know I can, but its still something thats in the back of my mind. But I do feel like ive been more creative since ive back. More willing to trying to try some silly shit to let people get the most bang for their buck. Ive been privately working on some new things myself so if I get enough good feedback ill let the world get some. Thats pretty much it for right now. im going to start taking more pictures so you guys can see some of the chaos that is my life. Oh and im going to New York next week so pictures will follow. Love you, mean it.