X'mas Beer: Day 22

Beer: Turbodog
Brewery: Abita Brewing Company
Region: Abita Springs, LA, USA
Vol: n/a (perhaps a 5.5%, it's not very strong at all)
Taste: Dark brown ale, without the bitter taste. Malty, goes down really smooth. I really enjoyed the drinkability of this one, and will definitely buy more to drink leisurely.
Note: The name Turbodog suggests something extreme, but this wasn't much of an extreme beer since it goes down really easy and smooth. I can't say it's got a lot of complexity to it, and it's not very strong either. But overall, i'm not disappointed.
Rating: 4/5































On a different note, roomie made a Swedish Christmas casserole for Christmas. It's got anchovys! Can't wait to try it.

X'mas gift wrapping

Here's my idea of gift wrapping. Turning the box the gift comes from inside out. DONE! That's what I call environmental!

Now time for some booze!

X'mas Beer: Day 21

Beer: Jubelale (A festive winter ale)
Region: Bend, Oregon, USA
Volume: 6.7%
Taste: It's got a very thick creamy head and the taste is wonderfully hoppy with a slight sweetness, but not overpowering. I quite enjoyed this one.

Rating: 4.5/5

X'mas Beer: Day 20

Beer: Paulaner Salvator Double Bock (Same brand different beer)

Region: Munich, Germany

Volume: 7.9% (Our recorder holder so far!)
Taste: Malt, Sweet, very sweet malt (notice how I can describe beer in just three words, with two of the words mentioned twice). The beer is very strong, but too sweet for my taste.

Rating: 3/5

X'mas Beer: Days 17, 18 & 19

I have been behind on my beer postings. But I am all caught up once again.

Day 17: Mirror Pond Pale Ale

This is a repeat from Day 3. My thoughts remain the same for this one. I actually guzzled it down in two minutes to get ready to go out for dinner. It was actually a perfect beer for just that!


















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Day 18: Hofbrau Original

Region: Munich, Germany
Volume: n/a (it's not a heavy beer, so I'm guessing around 4.5%)
Taste: Light, fizzy and pure lager. Very enjoyable and a thirst quencher beer, although I can start to taste a slight bitterness the more I drink. But overall not quite bad.

Rating: 3/5


















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Day 19: Paulaner

Region: Munich, Germany (again)
Brewery: Paulaner Brauerei
Volume: 5.8%
Taste: Hoppy, light ale with a sweet then metallic taste.
Note: Reading some reviews from the beeradvocate.com website, I'm suppose to taste banana here. Interesting. I do taste a strong hint of metallic, perhaps this is the potassium from the banana. But my beer taste buds are not as sophisticated to distinguish the ingredients...maybe someday I will get there.

Rating: 3.5/5













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Aside from beering. I had a wonderful Swedish/Turkish snack today. It was turkey meatballs with apple and beets (pictured below) and Turkish cheese pastry (not pictured). Exquisite!! Thanks Popnea and Leogra!

Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop

Around this time two years ago, I decided to make a list of things to do/places to go before the end of the year. I researched for staple restaurants in Culver City and discovered this place called Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop. Its owners and chefs are Japanese, but they serve mainly American breakfast and lunch, from bacon and eggs to burgers at a very affordable price. It had been in business for over 30 years. The new Downtown Culver City built itself around this little restaurant. It is nestled within a large parking structure surrounded by the backdoors of restaurants and shops. It's a bit tricky to find, and you'd have to walk into an alley to see this little building.

My list went pretty well until the 31st of December, 2008, the very last day to cross off everything from the list. I woke up super early that day, excited to be going to this Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop that I've anticipated for so long. When I finally found the place, I was disappointed to find it closed and a sign reading they will return Jan. 5th. I couldn't complete my To Do List that year. I was bummed out, but at least I knew I tried.

The following year, late one night, I received a terrible phone call about my uncle's death, and my dad's disappearance at the beach. My sis, her boyfriend, and I didn't sleep the rest of the night. The following morning we decided we should feed ourselves and replenish our energy. We went to Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop for some comforting breakfast. It's a very old diner with old laminated, dark, wooden walls decorated with vintage Japanese memorabilia. It's as if time stopped moving forward in there. The food tasted of home, like something grandma would whip up. Something simple without being pretentious at all. It was comforting.

Last night, I got a call from my sis saying today will be the last day this place will be in business. It was very sad news. Although I've only eaten there once, I've already had a connection with this place, and it was very hard to hear this news. We arrived for breakfast this gloomy, rainy morning and said our goodbyes.

Goodbye Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop. You are beloved by many, and will truly be missed.


It's nestled within new shops and restaurants and a large parking structure. You'd have to walk into an alley to get to this place.












December 31, 2008. It was closed for the Holidays.
























I was unable to complete my list that year.












Today, December 18th, 2010. The last business day for Tokyo 7-7.

X'mas Beer: Day 16

Beer: Brrr Seasonal Ale

Region: Portland, Oregon, USA
Brewery: Widmer Brothers
Volume: 7.2% (the highest I've had thus far, I mean in this beer tasting)
Taste: Like an IPA, perhaps it's an IPA. A lot of hops with a bitter tone and a hint of sweetness. Now that sums up Christmas for ya!
Note: I like beer labels with a personal touch, it says "To: You, From: Rob & Kent". Now how cute is that? Just makes one so special.

Rating: 4/5