Drop the The....

This entire blog will be in italics. 
     Dont ask why, just accept it




Anyways, its been a long few weeks. The holidays have come and gone, and im pretty sure im returning to sanity. My trip home was definitely a well deserved one. And being home yielded more of a return than expected. I got to see my best friend, met many great people and spent more time with my wonderful family. I also damaged a few friendships, froze my ass off and did many stupid things, but that was to be expected. It also helped me focus on my short/long term goals in life. I'm still back on track to go to culinary school and i feel like i have that drive to do great things again. For the longest time my drive for success was fueled as revenge against an ex girlfriend who didnt think i was worth anything. Like Sean Parker or Mark Zuckerburg, their success came from this. I felt like it would pull me through the tough times, but i came to an impass. What happens when i get there? When i do make it? Its consumed alot of my thoughts the past few weeks. 
But alas....there is hope. 


Ive decided (one of the many decisions ive made while writing these things) that revenge on "she who has no name" wouldnt be worth it. What will it do? Just make me a shallow individual. And thats not me. 
I do want greatness though...
And I will have it...(see how i capitalized the "I", fucking business time)

And here...we....go...

"What the hell is going on?...."


                 Thats about the best way I can describe how im feeling right now. Just lost, plain and simple. Its not plain, or simple for that matter, but thats what it is. A sweeping feeling of being lost. But outside of the scope of my work life. I think its just that time of year. Im always stressed around Christmas time. This year is no exception. Going into debt is not my ideal christmas situation. Im back in the green again (so to speak) but its hard for me not to spend my money anyways. I felt like i was being dragged through the mud by life. Ive experienced that feeling a few times in my life and I can say its not the most pleasant feeling in the world. Speaking of that, i decided to text one of my exs today just to see how things were/what she was doing for the holidays. Bad idea, i was brought back to that not so pleasant time of my life. I dont really talk much about it because i try to forget it sometimes. Id been beaten and degraded out in BR and worked my ass off to never have it happen again. Enough of that rant though. Ive learned my lesson (no, i didnt) and ill steer clear of that. a week from today i go home. I have so many people to see and not enough time im afraid. Its a shame but i know who i "need" to see.
Its a Radiohead day. im enjoying this

She's got nasty blisters from the money she spends...

Im picky.....
with just about everything. Mainly dating though. My choice of woman is one in a million. Smart, but not too smart. Funny, but in a corny sort of way. Beautiful, but humble. Take cares of herself, but still likes a cheeseburger or two. Someone who is aware of the world around her and the world in which she lives. Someone who is always wanting to learn and not willing to accept the norm. And id like her for Christmas....thank you.....


Anyways, like usual, ive been back and forth about writing as of late. I have alot to say, but sometimes i feel overwhelmed by the possibility of bringing up these thoughts and feelings and sharing them with the world. Id planned on deleting my Facebook and any other social media medium i had in an attempt to "be one with myself". Cause after all, how can you express your feelings if youre not completely comfortable with them? AMIRITE???(lol, internet jokes)
But then i thought......those pure, raw emotions can make the most interesting stories, and hopefully provide some entertainment for you.
For instance, my grandfather passing away.
Naturally i was sad, i even cried. But it felt like something larger than the death of a family member. It was a reminder that, "hey, youre alive dude." Not in a "oh im alive, hes not." sort of thing. Ive felt so disconnected from reality that i wasnt really feeling anything. And that day, I came back. despite it being a horrible feeling, i felt something. Things are slowly coming into perspective. And that is the most rewarding feeling ive had in a while.
So, im curious how everyone else is doing? let me know here or on Facebook. lets communicate

I can paint a picture with a pen....

My intention on my fabled "trip home" was to show the readers at home a picture of the slice of sushi heaven i used to be part of. Pictures of my work, the area and a small picture of my life before the Navy....

 

In reality, it didnt go quite as planned....

Imagine it like that scene in Snatch where Benico del Toro is gambling away all his money with the Viva Los Vegas music in the background. Thats what it was like

Just a blur. 

Now, i did actually retain somethings from that trip. I was given the privilege to roll sushi again at my old stomping grounds. 

Harbor Docks is a small restaurant with a big reputation.

Situated on the Destin Harbor, its grown from a tiny little seafood shack, to a full blow seafood/Japanese restaurant. At Harbor Docks, is where i learned the magical trade of the sushi chef. Harbor Docks is home to the legend herself, Yoshie. 

Yo taught me everything i know about sushi. she also helped to mold me into the strapping young lad that i am today. She knew when to give me instruction and when to let me try on my own. 

She knew when to scold me when i did something wrong and when to let me do what i want.

I owe her for my interest in japanese cuisine and my better understanding of the japanese culture....(and of broken english haha)

I was able to put this bad boy together in my sushi time back home. 

Ive been spoiled at Harbor Docks.

Amazing fish..

Insane coworkers...

and a solid customer base that would

constantly keep my on my toes and my wallet filled to the brim. 

Its where my heart is....

and they always say "home is where the heart is...."

And now for something completely different....

Ive been reading a book titled "Beaten, Seared, and Sauced" by Jonathan Dixon. Its about one mans journey through the Culinary Institute of America, the school i plan on attending after i leave the service.  

I was a little worried about going to college as an almost 30 year old, but Jonathan was actually 38 years old when he graced its hallowed halls. 

This book randomly found me at a going out of business sale in Honolulu. God put this book in my path as a way of letting me know, "yo, i know you like being a stone cold intel machine, but you need to follow your passion and make it happen..." (and yes, he said "Yo". Dont judge.")

Im going to heed the call and blow that school away. I have a lot to learn as a chef, but i am not blind. I see what needs to be done to be on top and by God, im going to get there. Some people call it a gamble, i dont. i see it as an opportunity to further myself in something I love, which not many people get to do. 

So, for those of you that read this, disregard my last blog, im not giving this up. Im just focusing more on quality than quantity you know? 

I hope you do....

So stick around, cause youre about to see something great.....

~Sean

So....

Ive been slacking.....again.

I made a trip home a few weeks ago and fully intended to write some wonderful blog about the sushi from my old stomping grounds. Needless to say... 

things didnt go as planned. 

I think its for the better right now anyways. I feel immense pressure on my right now just to keep my head above water and make sure that i can handle myself as a human being before i can entertain anyone with my lovely writing. I'll never stop writing, be it on here or in my notebook or whatever. I just need to build a solid base of people that actually read the nonsense im putting out and take it for what its worth rather than just another post on Facebook to "like" so it shows some interest. *im not saying everyone does it, but there are a few*

Furthermore, i need some more me time. Mainly to tune this well oiled, writing machine into the literary juggernaut that i know i can be. 

So dont consider this a good bye....Consider it a "hey, ill brb. Ive got to go to the store and get some milk."

Mahalo ~Sean

You fall like flies when its your first time....

              Everyone remembers their first time. Excitement, fear and probably some liquid courage.
Mouth watering, beautiful yet at the same time, something so unknown that you're left wondering "Is this really safe?".  Just remember, we wont laugh if you gag and if it smells like fish, its probably bad.

Everyones first time eating sushi is a daunting experience (what were you thinking of? Pervert.) If you've never had it before your first thought is usually the California roll. Nothing raw, thats pretty safe right? Yes.. But extremely boring to your sushi chef. As a sushi master, i loved to be challenged with every customer i met. Now, that being said, do go out and order a bunch of things that you wont eat. Look on the menu.....okay, see where it says Eel? Dont run! Eel is a wonderful starter for most beginners. Its cooked, its sweet and its taste when done right i.e. served warm. Get a roll with Eel. Nom Nom Nom! Good right? Okay, next, shoot for shrimp. No, its not raw. A majority of places just fry whole shrimp. (We didnt, at Harbor Docks, which i think was the best way, but who listens to me? Im white) Anyways, get yourself a crunch shrimp roll. Mmmmm, tasty right? With rolls like that, you can pretty much drown the bastard in soy sauce and it will still be good. So go wild girl, its your party. When you start getting into bigger and better things then i might have to slap your hand away and tell you know. But just know i do it because i love you. This blog will be cut short because im hungry and ive got a better idea of something to write in the coming weeks, but i will close on this thought.
       Wasabi. If youre new, dont touch it. It wont kill you, but you need to know how to play with fire before you can fully use it.
      Everyone have a good night and Aloha from Hawaii


P.S.- Next week ill be coming to you live from a secret location!!! So secret that the very mention of its name would destroy the world as we know it. <3

Chiba-ken

                  Chiba-ken is nestled in between a small bubble tea bar and some other random shop. The restaurant itself is a testament to a modest japanese establishment. Nothing too flashy. A few plants surrounding the outside patio. A small sigh above the door is one of the only indications that it is in fact  Chiba-ken. Inside is a a mix of modern and traditional decoration, with bottles of sake lining the back wall like a very tantalizing advertisement.

                        When i first walked in this place. i had an instant sense of home. Ive been to many a sushi bar and havent felt this kind of excitement in a place since the first time i walked in to Harbor Docks (ill explain later). Greeted with a friendly “irasshaimase” which means “please come in.”  Like almost every mildly traditional place ive been to, they offer you green tea from the start and a hot towel. On our last visit they failed to do so,which was kind of a disappointment, but I can over look that. The menu is written in both English and Japanese, which i love. Along with the phonetic pronunciation of the Japanese words on the page.

My appetizer was going to be a spicy Himachi roll. Himachi is yellowtail by the way, also known as a Japanese Amberjack. (Yellowfin is a type of tuna, people get Yellowtail and Yellowfin mixed up constantly.) At first apperance, I was a little turned off by the way the inside of the roll looked. It tasted great, but looked strange. Perfect amount of spice, along with cucumbers, made it a very tasty roll.



After that, came the main course. Tuna and avocado roll along with Tuna and Octopus nigiri....

 Definitely the highlight of the night. I will always have an undying love for the tuna avocado roll. Two beautiful flavors, melding together to make something that can excite my taste buds in a way ive only imagined in my dreams.

  In addition to the heaven that was the Tuna avocado roll, my Tuna and Octo nigiri made a perfect ending to a culinary trip that was almost derailed be a strange looking roll. I do want to comment on how fresh all of this tasted. Ive rarely enjoyed tuna as much as i have from here. It tasted like it was cut directly from the fish, just out of the ocean. Im sure it wasnt directly pulled out, but thats also something to say about the quality of this place.



Other fun things from this night....

Shrimp Tempura

Oni-goroshi sake

Firecracker Roll

Good night. 

So, overall a fantastic experience at Chiba-ken. For me, it was a familiar reminder of why i enjoy sushi so much. For others, it will be a venture in a new territory.