Akira Japanese Restaurant

11-22-2010

Akira Japanese Restaurant in Bakersfield is a great lunch spot.  It’s on California in the old Mervyn’s shopping center.  I have not been there for years.  And today I needed a place close to the California and

Easton Drive

area.  The Teppan seating is fast and entertaining.  The Teppan lunch is $9.95.  You can also order sushi from the Teppan seating.  The guy I was with was a little talkative, which is fine.  But I didn’t get a chance to watch the chef much. 

We both had the Lunch special, steak and chicken for $9.95.  The seating is fast and they get right on it.  The meat, rice, onion and vegetables are all beautifully fresh and prepared at the table.  We had a couple sushi rolls with I thought were fine, but there is plenty of food for lunch without it.   

Not much eventful to write about on this trip.  Except that I got my guest talking about his service as a Marine in Viet Nam War.  And I don’t think its right to relay that discussion.  I referred him to the Nelson Demille books I’ve enjoyed so much, in particular, Up Country.  In fact, that is my book recommendation for this entry. 

Up Country is a great adventure about a retired solider that goes back to Viet Nam in the late 80’s to investigate a murder that happened during the war.  So it’s covers post war Viet Nam and has lots of flash backs to the War.  Up Country is definitely a 4 star book.  Or, pick up Nelson DeMill’s Plum Island and start at the beginning of the John Corey character that spans at least 7 novels. 

Oh, Akira is a 3 * star restaurant in my opinion.   It’s always fun and an excellent meal.

Wine review of the day: Risata, Moscato d’Asti

From the label, “Rista, meaning laughter, will honor its Italian name by being the focus of any occasion.  The supple sweetness of this wine will shine as an aperitif, with dessert, or on its own”.  I could have not said it better myself.  And it lives up to the claim.  It’s sweet but not syrupy.  And it’s kind of sparkly coming out of the bottle.  It’s only 5.5% alcohol, so it drinks like soda pop.  It’s was nice with the salmon that I barbequed for dinner.  But a drier white wine would have been better or even a more complex Chardonnay.  Risata would go better with a summer salad.  It’s a fat bottle and didn’t go well in the wine cellar and it was taking up too much room.   So it was good to get it out of the way.  I think I got it at Costco or maybe Trader Joes.  I hope I didn’t pay more that $8 or $10 for it.  

Mashed Potatoes Recipe – or, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes:

I signed up to take mashed potatoes to the shop pot luck on Wednesday when they fry turkeys for Thanksgiving.

I used a half bag of potatoes and 2 sweet potatoes.  Just because they were left over from Betty’s pumpkin beef stew.  (Call Betty for that one, it’s too complicated for me).  I leave some of the water in after they are cooked.  I think it keeps them moist.  And  I added 2 cups of diced Velveta cheese, 1/2 cup of Alfredo sauce, ¼ cup butter, sprinkle of garlic powder, onion powder and Costco’s no salt seasoning (it’s great on everything) and some dry parsley and just a little salt and seasoned pepper.  And ¼ cup dry milk to thicken.  It’s creamy goodness.  Don’t forget to take your Lipitor with this one.  I told Betty I was going to top it with cheddar cheese and bake it, but made me see the error of my enthusiastic ways. 

Movie Review:  The last 3 days with Russell Crow.  The plot was not very believable. And it tried to be clever.  But it was only a 2.5 * star movie at best.