Posted by Seth on November 22, 2007 under Trip Reports | 
I managed to get pulled into a last minute trip out to Vancouver this week. I certainly don’t mind travel, even last minute and for only two days worth of work across the continent, but I certainly have some sleep adjustment issues, especially on the first night. And with only three nights out west before coming back, I didn’t even really try to adjust. So at 6am EST on Monday morning I was awake, and many in Vancouver hadn’t yet gone to sleep yet – it was only 3am there, as evidenced by the late night ski slope having its lights still on.
I was staying at the Renaissance on Vancouver Harbor, and managed to get a great room with a harbor view on the top floor, overlooking the float plane docks. And for a flying nut like me that meant plenty of opportunity to watch the planes taking off and landing in the morning as the sun came up and Vancouver came to life. Lucky me!!
So in addition to phenomenal sushi, I also had great views each morning, and since I was awake anyways, I snapped a couple pictures as well.
Posted by Seth on November 20, 2007 under Dining, Review, Trip Reports |
You can have your Nobu. You can have your Morimoto (though I want a little piece of it since it is around the corner from our apartment and we go there every now and then). You can keep Sushi Yasuda – one of the best newcomers into the American sushi market in recent years. For me, the answer is Tojo’s. A friend told us about Tojo’s 4.5 years ago, and we stopped in on our trip to Vancouver. It was delicious then, and Tojo hasn’t let up on the effort – the offerings were still phenomenal last night. The restaurant is actually listed in the book 1000 Things to do before you die, which is a pretty glowing recommendation, but don’t take it from them – take it from me.
I sat at the counter, so the only menu I received was a cocktail and sake list. I made my selection then one of the three sushi chefs working (no Tojo – he’s in Japan this week) came over for a brief interview of my likes and dislikes before serving the Omakase. And then the real fun began. I went 10 rounds with them, and I think in the end all I can do is call it a win for both of us.
- Tuna in Tojo’s special sesame sauce – Deliciously soft and moist, with a slightly spicy sesame soy sauce and scallions.
- Crab Salad – West coast Dungeness crab meat with sliced apple and daikon radish and a spicy mustard sauce. Lots of flavor and the spice was just enough to give it some bite.
- Special of the night: Wild Sea Bream Carpaccio – This one came with a special dipping sauce, scallions and a chili paste of sorts to flavor it up.
- Steamed Canadian smoked sable and asparagus in a broth – A soup of sorts, this made me feel a bit like I was at brunch the day after a Bar Mitzvah or something like that because of the smoked fish flavor, but the meat was tender and moist and the broth is definitely something that I wouldn’t get at brunch. This was also the first course of the evening where I was instructed in how to actually eat what I was being served. The bowl came with a piece of paper on tip tied down, as well as some garnish. I thought the garnish was a herb I was supposed to eat, so I got corrected on that one pretty quickly.
- The “Golden Roll” – I watched them make a couple of these while I was eating my earlier courses, and I thought I knew what they were, but I’m very, very, very glad that they made another one for me to try. The Golden Roll has salmon, sea prawns, crab and scallops, rolled in rice and egg rather than seaweed. Absolutely phenomenal. The chef was very clear that this roll was only to have a very little bit of soy sauce, and he poured it for me rather than risking a chance of me using too much.
- Giant Clam Hand Roll – Not my favorite, and the low point of the evening, but really because I just don’t like the texture of the giant clam. It had a spicy sauce on top as well, and no soy sauce was allowed per the instructions. The interesting thing about the had rolls was that the chef basically just walked over and handed it to me rather than putting in on the plate; it was clear that it was just for eating, not for display. At this point I think I started to realize that I was in trouble. The chef asked me if I wanted to keep going. I guess this is where the official menu ran out and the ++ part of the fun came in to play.
- Blue Fin Tuna Pair – Thank god I continued on, because the next serving was blue fin. One piece each of nigri from the back and the belly. The chef actually made the pieces “double cuts” with two slivers of fish on each pad of rice, and I thanked him profusely for this (and he nodded appreciatively that I noticed the bonus). The o toro from the belly was buttery delicious and the cut from the back was meaty and rich, just like they’re supposed to be. Again strict instructions on soy sauce usage, though this time I ignored them and skipped it completely.
- Tempura in Cucumber – A first for me: sushi rolled in cucumber. Shrimp & yam tempura along with asparagus, avocado and pineapple, rolled up in a thinly sliced cucumber. Must eat with hands and no soy sauce. The flavor on this roll was interesting, as the pineapple added a distinct sweetness that balanced out the rest of the roll quite nicely.
- Lobster Hand Roll – By far the better of the two hand rolls. A large chunk of claw meat, plus some avocado, tempura flakes and spicy mayo sauce. The other thing about the hand rolls is that you can’t really put them down after you’ve started eating them, so basically you’re holding it for a couple minutes while you eat it. A little strange, but for these flavors well worth it.
- Rainbow Roll – I realized at this point in the evening that my “just one more” shtick was getting old (and that my wallet was getting lighter), so I made my first request of the chefs. Unagi. I don’t care how you prepare it – “Surprise me” – but make sure there is eel in the next round. Boy was I surprised. The Rainbow Roll was an eel and cucumber roll, wrapped in wild sockeye salmon, blue fin tuna and red snapper. Cut into three pieces, this roll was assigned to me for one bite with soy, one without, one I decide.
At this point I really wanted to call it a night, but they insisted on something sweet – “on the house.” I finally succumbed to an apple and sweet potato something, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some chopped mixed fruit. It was a good way to round out the evening. While I was eating my dessert the waitress and the chefs had an animated discussion over what I actually had so that she could make sure to charge me correctly. I think they freaked out a bit when I suggested that I could tell them exactly what I had since I wrote it all down, but I’ve gotten over it, especially as I relive the meal again now recounting it.
If you are ever in Vancouver and you like sushi, go to Tojo’s. If you love sushi, come up with some excuse to go to Vancouver, and then go to Tojo’s. It is worth the trip.
Posted by Seth on November 19, 2007 under Trip Reports |
As I was headed to the airport yesterday morning for a quick trip out to Vancouver I made my way up to Penn Station to catch the train. For some reason NJ Transit wasn’t running, so I headed outside to get a car to the airport instead. Standing in front of the Hotel Pennsylvania and waiting for the car to show up afforded my an opportunty to be in the right place at the right time, it would seem.
Another car pulled up and out hopped Hayden Panettiere aka the cheerleader from Heroes. I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple quick shots, none of which are particularly good. And then I turned around and noticed that a few dozen other people had crowded the sidewalk as if they knew she was going to be there. I just got lucky, I guess.
Great shoes…
Posted by Seth on November 15, 2007 under Trip Reports |
Overall the 36 hour jaunt to Anchorage was a piece of cake. After I finally cleared security and got on the first flight everything was ridiculously smooth on the trip. Except for my minor catastrophe.
I bought a set of noise-cancelling headphones about 4-5 years ago, and I take them with me everywhere I go. They’re in my briefcase, just in case I have to hop a quick flight to DC (happens more than you’d think). I don’t fly without them. So when I went to put them away after arriving in SEA on the way back toward New York on Sunday morning, I was quite distraught when one of the earphone pieces separated from the head band. I’m pretty sure that I can superglue them back together. If not, time to order another pair.
Mine are the Sennheiser PXC-250 model. They’re good at the noise canceling part, and they pack up very small. The last thing I need is an extra carry-on, just to hold my Bose headphones. Flying without them is so much louder; it is hard to believe until you actually put them on and try it. I highly recommend that anyone flying a lot get a set.
Posted by Seth on November 10, 2007 under TSA |
One nice advantage of frequent flying is that upgrades seem to happen with some regularity. Indeed, of this six flight trip, I received the upgrade to First Class for four of the six. A fifth I received the upgrade on, but on account of a late arrival at the airport the upgrade was given to another passenger. And the sixth remains to be seen tomorrow evening.
In addition to the larger seat and extra legroom, the F seats also come with a decent meal service. In the case of the longer flights, such as Houston to Seattle, this is a full dinner service, including a salad, soup, choice of entrée and an ice cream sundae for dessert. As of November first, Continental changed their meals up in the F cabin, so this was my first chance to experience the new options. The soup (beef stew on this flight) was quite nice. The salad had some goat cheese sprinkled on top, in addition to the normal lettuce and cherry tomato arrangement, and the entrée options were new – a turkey & cheese Panini or manicotti filled with ricotta and spinach. And the ice cream sundae was still offered, as were after dinner drinks. I’m scared to think of how many calories I consumed on the flight, as I’m sure it wasn’t particularly healthy, but it tasted pretty good. Overall, a thumbs up on the new meal options, and I’m looking forward to trying the new lunch options tomorrow on the way back to Houston.
As for new rules, I’m always amazed by the ability of people in authority positions to invent rules to support their stance on any particular topic. Today’s example was the oft publicized but non-existent rule that one must present a government-issued photo ID to pass through a security checkpoint. It turns out that the TSA has not actually enacted such a rule, in direct conflict with their much publicized campaign to force citizens who are afforded the free right to travel within the country to forego a small bit of those rights in exchange for what can best be described as security theater at the airports. I had the misfortune to experience this twice today, once at JFK and once in Houston. In JFK the TSA goons did their best to intimidate me, and they were assisted by the agent from Continental, who made it clear that she intended to prevent me from boarding the plane, despite the fact that I had yet to do anything that was actually in violation of any law. Ultimately my hand was forced, as I was running late and didn’t have time to deal with the supervisors and various other folks who would need to be involved in actually having things done correctly. What was particularly interesting was that in the end, the agent assigned to perform the secondary screening for me did it efficiently and professionally, all while confiding in me that he knew I was correct, and that he appreciated my efforts to stand up for my rights and to not be intimidated, but that it was clear that he was the junior member of the group and that there was nothing he could do to stop the other goons from making up their own rules and enforcing them without recourse nor accountability. To add insult to injury, I was escorted down to the plane by a Continental supervisor who felt it appropriate to interrogate me as to my intent and to “cite laws,” none of which she actually cited but more that she made up and referenced obliquely, explaining that I was required to show ID to anyone at and airport who demanded it. She wasn’t too happy when I explained that she was wrong, nor was she happy when I explained that the TSA agents are not actually law enforcement officers (LEOs). I’m correct on both accounts. One is required to produce ID for LEOs in NY State, but it the TSA really wants it they actually have to call the Port Authority PD, as they are the LEOs of record at the airports. A TSA agent is pretty powerless actually, other than to make up rules and otherwise intimidate passengers. Another great made up rule this morning was that international passengers have to present a passport to the TSA; any other government-issued ID isn’t sufficient. I know that one should have a passport to travel internationally, but that doesn’t mean that the TSA needs to see it. Yet I watched passengers be stopped and admonished by the TSA ID check agent, all because there was a nice power trip in play.
Since I was so late getting on the plane I had to gate-check my bag with all my books and magazines on it. Knowing that I had a 2+ hour layover in Houston, I had the bag tagged to IAH and went back out to pick it up and came back through security, again without showing ID. This time the agents actually did it by the books, professionally and appropriately. It took me less than 30 minutes to walk from the Presidents Club out to baggage claim, get my bag, walk back and clear security including the secondary screening, without intimidation nor accusations. That’s the way it is supposed to happen. Too bad more of the TSA agents don’t do it correctly more often.
Posted by Seth on November 9, 2007 under Trip Reports |
- New York, NY (JFK) to Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) on Sat., Nov. 10, 2007
- Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) to Seattle, WA (SEA) on Sat., Nov. 10, 2007
- Seattle, WA (SEA) to Anchorage, AK (ANC) on Sat., Nov. 10, 2007
- Anchorage, AK (ANC) to Seattle, WA (SEA) on Sun., Nov. 11, 2007
- Seattle, WA (SEA) to Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) on Sun., Nov. 11, 2007
- Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) to New York, NY (JFK) on Sun., Nov. 11, 2007
In the world of the mileage obsessed, there is the concept of a mileage run. This involves going to the airport and getting on a plane (or series of planes) and just flying somewhere, only to turn around and come straight back. There is no reason to take these trips, other than for a love of flying and for the collection of miles. And status. For the frequent flier, the idea of status is the icing on the cake, the benefit that makes all the effort worthwhile. It is completely irrational, and yet the number of people doing it is higher than you might think (which is to say more than just me). Sometimes it is driven by the fare, like a $1.78 fare to Watertown, NY from anywhere USAir flies. Sometimes it is driven by the destination or the aircraft flying the route (lots of folks spent a LOT of money to fly on the A380 initial flights SIN-SYD-SIN). In my case, it is the search for status.
All the airlines have levels of status, and the higher one is on the food chain, the better the service and, more importantly, the greater the chances for upgrades. So keeping that top tier of status is a worthy goal, especially if there is an expectation of further high volumes of travel where those benefits will come in handy. And the difference between the levels is notable. A platinum flier on a $68 fare from NYC to Orlando will get the upgrade above the gold on a $200 fare on the same plane – life isn’t fair sometimes. So when the end of the year rolls around, there are folks working on topping off their accounts, making sure that they have the miles they need for that last status bump.
And so it is that I find myself flying to Anchorage, Alaska for an hour this weekend. I won’t leave the airport (or any other of the airports I’ll be transiting for the 36 hours I’m on the road). I’ll eat a lot of airline food. I’ll desperately try to actually sleep a little on some of the planes. And I’m going to read. A lot. I’ll top off my account for platinum status for next year (and my co-worker flying with me will make his silver status with this trip). I’ll earn almost enough miles for a free ticket (20K+ miles!!). And I’m going to have a pretty good time along the way. Certainly the fact that I’m flying in first class on the IAH-SEA-ANC-SEA-IAH part of the trip doesn’t hurt the comfort factor of the trip.
And so now pretty much everyone out there thinks I’m crazy. Consider this, however. A 36 hour trip is a quick one, and I’m not leaving the country. It isn’t uncommon to read of 72 hour trips to Singapore or Bangkok, with only 10-20 hours on the ground. Maybe next year….
Posted by Seth on November 2, 2007 under Trip Reports |
I don’t mind the redeye flights to Europe. They’re long enough that (with a little pharmaceutical assist) I can generally get a decent amount of sleep, even in the back of the plane. Domestic redyeys, on the other hand, are a whole different beast. The flight tonight from Seattle to Newark is blocked at less than 5 hours. Accounting for taxi time at both ends, it is about a 4.25 hour flight, maybe a hair more. That basically leaves ~3.75 hours to sleep. I don’t really think that anything can effectively prepare one for that environment, but here I sit, trying to come up with something. In my case it will be a non-prescription approach of a few vodka & tonics, plus an upgrade to F, which makes it slightly more tolerable, but still nothing like a real night’s sleep.
On the plus side, I finally got a couple decent pictures this week – something that has eluded me based on being stuck in a hotel ballroom all week staring at a computer screen. Sunset at SEA:
