Oka Sushi Review - Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

And the Canada food trail continues!!

We heard many rave reviews of Oka Sushi at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, so we made a reservation for one of the nights to stuff ourselves with sushi!

The quality of the food was soooo good and the experience was so rewarding, that I felt we should have made a reservation for all the nights we stayed at the lodge HAHA

The Japanese sushi chef, Tatsuhiko Okaki, was friendly and really really skilled in making good quality sushi - fast!

We chatted with him about our visit to Japan (Tokyo n Hakone) last year, and he was so excited when we told him that we visited Hakone. Apparently Hakone and Jasper are kinda similar in terms of being resort areas.

Then i surprised everyone by saying "gochisousama deshita" to express appreciation for the meal, thank you for the good meal etc etc.. and everyone went "OHHHHH!!" LOL!! then he replied with "arigatou gozaimashita!!" thank you very much. Actually, my sis and I can actually converse in Japanese, but i guess we were just too shy and intimidated, we were more comfortable in English! haha

This is how the restaurant looks like from the outside. It is actually a very small place that can sit probably a maximum of 20 people.



The chef poses for a photo, but his hands never stop moving!


Cute Japanese toothpick holder - and look at all the fresh fish behind!!


Your personal tray - Refillable green tea, a pair of chopsticks, an elegantly folded serviette and a sauce dish for soya sauce or wasabi :)


Oh dear, i can't remember what was this called! But it has egg, crabmeat, cucumber and sweet tofu skin in it haha everything we ate was amazing really


The chef just lines them all up real quick!!


Ok, this one has prawn, crabmeat, cucumber and a little spicy sauce


This was a special request order, recommended by the nice lady serving us. Two types of salmon in one sushi, and boy was it AWESOME!! i've never tasted anything like it before, and i bet i never will ... unless i go back to Jasper ;)


This has avocado and crabmeat. Avocado goes really well with sushi!!


Steamed layered egg sushi. My sis claims this is the best she has ever ate (and ever will eat?) hahaha. but it was really really fresh. excellent.


The chef left our most anticipated order till the end - SALMON SASHIMI!! meaning raw salmon *DROOLZ* Apparently he was so excited that someone actually ordered sashimi, that he kept saying "saSHImi, saSHIIIImi" and smiling to everyone while de-boning our fish hahaha.

Then he started explaining to one of the staff who came to eat, that sashimi is raw fish - but the poor girl looked kinda sick at the thought of it XDDD tsk tsk, you don't know what you're missing girl!! Look at how fresh it is!!


2nd shot just for the sake of it hee hee this was absolutely heavenly. i felt like i flew up to heaven's gates and back.. and maybe even heard the sound of angels singing HAHAHA


Definitely a must try if you ever visit Jasper! I think it is even worth the drive from Edmonton or Banff! even Calgary!! haha

Those interested to try may visit this website for more details:
http://www.fairmont.com/jasper/GuestServices/Restaurants/okasushi.htm

Japanese food in Jasper, Sushi in Jasper, Sushi bar in Jasper

Pizza Hut and KFC in Downtown Jasper, Canada

We were craving for some fast food, so we stopped by Pizza Hut/KFC after our downtown shopping.

The place is relatively small in terms of the seating area, but most people usually order takeout.

We waited really long for our orders, but it was worth the wait! The quality of the pizza and the chicken is excellent!!

I ordered my favourite pepperoni pizza *droolz*


Sis ordered a chicken burger meal


Mum ordered 2 pc chicken - really crispy and juicy yumz yumz!!


So, if you are craving for some fast food in the middle of Jasper, Alberta - i would recommend heading down to KFC/Pizza Hut!!

KFC & Pizza Hut - KFC in Canada, Pizza Hut in Canada, Fast food in Canada
640 Connaught Dr
Jasper, Canada
AB T0E 1E0

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Room Service

And the food trail continues!!

We took the Greyhound bus from Vancouver to Jasper. Took about 9 hours, but it was a scenic drive :)

I have been to Banff before, so when we arrived at the bus station in the middle of town, i was like ... this is the town of Jasper?!? its a really really really small town. there's no need for a map of the town really hahaha XDDDD

We took the cab to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge where we would be staying. It was a good thing that we decided not to walk, because it would have been a VERY far walk! the lodge is situated inside the Jasper National Park itself! the only way to town is to take the cab, or pay $5 one-way for the Sundog bus.

As we arrived pretty late in the evening, we decided to just order room service and hole in our room. we even requested for a dvd player, so it was like a dine-in movies night *thumbs up*

The room service turned out to be pretty cheap... then we realised that we ordered from the children's menu HAHA! but the portion turned out to be just nice for us, enough to feed one adult.

I ordered the Meatball Spaghetti, and it was awesome!! YUMZ!! We also ordered 3 Shirley Temple Mocktails (the pink drink in the background) and it was only CAD$3.00!!


Mum ordered the Ham and Cheese Sandwich with Fries (sorry about the half-eaten sandwich, mum was too hungry haha)


Sis ordered her favourite Macaroni and Cheese


And they gave us these super cute ketchup bottles which i brought back home HAHA


The lodge room was huge and very cosy. And there were many sightings of deer and elk around the lodge, even right outside our room!

Those interested in traveling to Jasper may check out the Fairmont website:
www.fairmont.com/jasper

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Food in Jasper, Room Service in Jasper
Old Lodge Road
Jasper, Alberta
Canada
T0E1E0

TegoMass no Ai - 2nd Live Concert DVD Review

For those who have not got this, please watch it!!!

i LOVE TegoMass, but even i have to admit that their 1st Live - TegoMass no Uta, was rather lacking ... but of course the performances were top-notch, but the documentary was like ... *drums fingers*

BUT!! i'm glad to say that their 2nd Live - TegoMass no Ai was absolutely, wonderfully, amazingly, splendidly EXCELLENT hahahaha ^_^

The performances were again, really really good. i mean, this is TegoMass we are talking about.. Voices that place a stupid smile on your face and harmonies that make you swoon. And lets not forget the cute factor that follows them everywhere ;) i mean, look to the right (for their pics haha)

My favourite performances were Chu Chu Chu, Hajimete no Asa, Hanamuke, the more adult sounding Ai Ai Gasa... the encores Yoru wa hoshi wo nagamete okure, Kiss and the new song Ai no naka de.

From my experience of the 1st Live, i was expecting a laid back and kinda boring documentary... but NOOOooooooo! i found myself giggling at first, then laughing, and laughing, and then laughing somemore till my stomach hurt XDDDDDD

What with Tegoshi "bullying" Massu backstage with his guitar playing, until Massu "cried".. and Massu singing Tegoshi's 'Kesenai' - starting the song so beautifully, forgetting the lyrics halfway, and coming up with his own lame lyrics.. and all this time Tegoshi was eating his peeled banana with a straight face. I can still hear Massu's "Ahhh ahhhhhhh *goes out of tune*" LOL!

I also loved the part in Nagoya, where Massu surprises Tegoshi with his VERY VERY belated birthday present. Tegoshi's reaction was so funny to watch XDDDD Massu gave him two slices of cake at first, followed by the very Tegoshi-like presents ... a striped black and grey singlet with a hot pink skull at the side, a black t-shirt with a gold skull and silver studs around, and last but not least... a very real looking black skull ornament HAHAHAHA the way Massu apologizes and makes up for his mistakes is just too cute ^_^ please dun forget Tegoshi's birthday present again LOL

And lets not forget the 'Chu Chu Chu' dance .. oh gosh, i'm starting to crack up just thinking about it. The dance steps alone are hilarious, and Massu's "slow motion" is FABULOUS. even his "fast forward" is absolutely brilliant. Then, slow motion Massu has a machine breakdown and Tegoshi launches into a fantastic "machine recharge mode" oh man hahahahahahha. To top it all off, during the slow motion at the word "heart", Massu did an inspired Lion King rendition, with all the raising of Simba action, animal sounds and hitting of the konga hahahahaha MAGNIFICENT XDDDDDDDDDDDD

Even though they would not want to admit it, but TegoMass has this "fail" factor that endears them to the ladies and is what makes them so cute ^_^ hmmmm although it seems like Massu is the one that keeps failing, and Tegoshi either follows, plays along or laughs at him hahahaha. i mean, who starts Chu Chu Chu with the chorus immediately?? XDDDDDDD

I must say that their MC has also improved tremendously, much better than last time. i think that they just need to find their groove, which seems like Tegoshi is the interviewer and he prompts Massu to tell some of his funny stories.

During their last concert before the Yoyogi encores, TegoMass actually cried (well, Tegoshi teared and Massu wept), promising that they would be back once again and thanking everyone for their support. i was really touched that they appreciated not only the fans so much, but also the chance to be TegoMass and the opportunities given to them through TegoMass. and even though we Chinese have a saying that a real man sheds blood and not tears, i beg to differ. i actually find men who can openly weep and show their emotions or vulnerability (of course not all the time), very very adorable and attractive. captivating even ^_^

so i've had my TegoMass fill for the first half of the year, with Aoi Bench and TegoMass no Ai concert dvd... now its time for NEWS ... even though Ryou and Shige are having their summer dramas ... but since Pi has finished his solo tour, can we have like 3 consecutive singles (i mean if Kanjani8 can have it, why can't NEWS) and an album maybe, and lotsa concert venues!!!

Food trail is pushed aside for summer J-dorama!!!

Sorry fans of my food trail, but I just HAVE to interrupt my food trail to blog about the summer line-up of my beloved J-dramas!!

I think this is the first time that i WANT and i WILL be watching the whole line-up of the J-dramas!!! XDDDDDD *does the TegoMass Chu Chu Chu dance crazily*

Well, first up - being a NEWS fan, i shall introduce Ryou-chan's and Shige's dramas first!!

1) Zenkai Girl - Nishikido Ryo and Aragaki Yui
A romantic comedy - Aragaki Yui will portray the typical career woman, working as an aspiring lawyer... who has to take care of her boss' daughter. Then she meets Nishikido Ryo, who is a chef, at the school where she picks up her boss' daughter ... and totally detests him XDDDDD

i wonder what Ryou-chan's character is gonna be like ... and how he will portray it hahaha >_< i mean, who can detest this face??




2) Hanawake no Yon Shimai - Kato Shigeaki as a supporting actor
The tale is about four sisters who each have their own problems and story ... and somehow they are all linked to this mysterious photographer?? Who is our loveable photographer in NEWS? Kato Shigeaki!! ^_^




3) You're Beautiful - Japanese version (Johnny's boys)
Yes i know everyone was raving about the Korean drama "You're Beautiful" and everyone was asking me to watch it. but i REFUSED!! haha and looks like my refusal paid off! What with the Koreans remaking all the popular Japanese dramas like Hana Yori Dango, Itazura na Kiss etc etc... and now Hana Kimi too *shakes head* So i hope this Japanese remake of You're Beautiful will be a SMASHING success!! The drama would be starring Johnny's boys (members from Hey Say Jump and Kiss My Ft) - and i'm definitely watching this one!!

4) Ouran High School Host Club LIVE ACTION!!!
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! when everyone has been speculating and hoping and praying for a live action of Ouran after the success of the manga and the anime. Even my sis and i came up with different combinations of our dream Ouran - with NEWS members as the host characters hahahaha XDDDDD

But this time, the cast list is FINAL and the REAL one haha - those interested to know who the cast members are can go here: http://www.mydramalist.com/front/profileCastDrama.php?id=2711

Let's just say Yamamoto Yusuke has some VERY large shoes to fill... wonder what his portrayal of Tamaki would be like? ;) it seems like the cast for Kyouya, Mori-senpai and Hani-senpai is quite suitable. but i wonder if the twins can pull it off? hmmm i totally can't wait for this drama!!!

5) Hana Kimi remake
OOoooook ... i had no idea why there is a remake after Horikita Maki, Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, Mizushima Hiro & Shirota Yuu's excellent drama, just only 4 years ago... but now i know why.. cause the main girl is gonna be the super popular AKB48's Maeda Atsuko... the male cast (VERY important) has not been decided yet ... so we'll see ...

Kamei Royale Restaurant, Vancouver (Part 2)

And yes we went back to my favourite restaurant again!! haha my friends couldn't understand why we kept eating Japanese food in Canada, lol i guess i love Japan too much hee hee ^_^

I did not post their website in my previous post, so for those who are interested - please visit here http://www.kameiroyale.com/

They have a few other branches in Vancouver under the names of Ebisu or Daimasu. But there is only ONE Kamei Royale Restaurant :)



I would recommend the Dragon Roll to anybody who loves sushi hee hee. It is a unagi (eel) and cucumber roll, topped with avocado and fish roe


For those who do not eat eel (like my sis), you may try the Delicious roll - chopped scallops, crabmeat, avocado and fresh mango with poached prawns and fish roe on top. absolutely heavenly *drool*


And honestly, this is the best Katsu Don i have ever tasted. I've never tried it in Japan though, so its the best of those i have tasted in Singapore and Canada! Katsu Don is deep fried top quality pork served with egg, onions, on a bed of steaming rice *yumz*


For those who are interested to see their menu:
http://www.kameiroyale.com/menu-kamei-royale.html

Kamei Royale Restaurant - Japanese food in Vancouver, Sushi in Vancouver, Katsu Don in Vancouver
211-1030 W. Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3, Canada