Hostage in Canada

We spent the night in a Bari motel then headed to the airport.

It was funny I had been excited about possibly renting an Italian model but I ended up with a Ford. It got the job done so I can't complain. There were always long lines at the gas stations on the side of the highway so... I often went where there was not a line: the full service pumps. I don't recall it costing that much more. This rental drop off seemed pretty chill, which was good because there was a scrape or two on this baby that may or may not have been there when I drove it off the lot.

The tax refund paperwork was only slightly annoying.

Going from eating pasta in Bologna to this sad little Bolognaise was a real insult to injury. The magic was officially over.

We had a connecting flight in Vancouver and those dumb Canucks made us go through customs and immigration. We were waiting in this horrid long line and some official asked me what I was bringing into Canada, and my reply was something surly after such a long flight. "I don't even want to be in Canada". The immigration lines caused us to miss our flight, and we had an unfortunate time getting on a flight to escape.

Wendy's Gives Up on Japan

America's No. 3 burger chain has ended it's 29-year presence in Japan. Zensho Co. Ltd., which operates the restaurants in Japan, will end it's agreement with Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. and close its 71 locations by the end of the month. I couldn't find the exact reason for the decision, but in an AP article(here), a Zensho spokesman gave a canned response to reporters. "[We] will focus our resources on beef bowl restaurants and others." An article in Newsweek points out that Japan is going through a bit of a food crisis: it imports 60% of its yearly caloric intake, 90% of its corn comes from the United States, and 70% of its farmers are over 60 years of age. Those are all interesting figures, but Japan would do well to consider that 100% of Wendy's hamburgers are square and juicy. Surely that could solve a problem or two.

In Ashikaga, the smallish city where I lived, McDonald's and KFC were the only American fast food places available. My frequent trips to Tokyo were my only chance to see other familiar fast-food chains from home. I ate at the restaurant near Ebisu station lots of times on the way to and from parties and whatnot. It's the only place in the whole country I knew of where I could eat chili, so on a cold day that was the place to be. Add in frosties and those spicy chicken sandwiches, and you had gold. Gold! Why does Japan hate deliciousness?

Beef and Rice and Everything Nice

Last night after rocking the gym with Zishan we both grabbed some quick dinner before splitting ways. I opted for a place I don't think I've ever been to before. It's called Sukiya, and it's a chain that primarily sells gyudon. Gyudon is really simple. It's just cooked beef and onions served over a bowl of rice. Wikipedia says the beef and onion mix is "simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with soy sauce and mirin". Can't argue with that.

In Japanese restaurants it is really common to find a little button on the table. This serves to call someone to take your order. Its not such a bad idea really. This way I always get just the right amount of time to look over the menu. The food came laughably fast. A good portion of the menu involves meat on rice, so they probably have one cauldron of each ready at all times.

I went for the three cheese version, which probably isn't the way the emperor eats it, but it's pretty darn good.

I thought the little privacy curtains were funny.

This little gem is a clip from an 80's Wendy's training video that breaks down burgers with a funky beat. "Don't wait too long I emphasize, or the meat won't reach the proper size."