Showing posts with label Sushi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sushi. Show all posts

Monday, June 27, 2011

Tais Til 4 is My Friend

So, as a good amount of my readers know, I am the kind of gal who enjoys a night on the town with a couple libations.  However, all good things, at times, possess some negative qualities.

One of my main complaints about alcohol is the fact that it makes me have to pee quite often.  I know this is not an uncommon complaint about liquor.  I guess, moreso, my issue is that, often times when I've had a couple and have to pee, I don't realize it until there's an extreme sense of urgency in the matter.  I don't know if it has something to do with alcohol impairing one's judgment, or alcohol slowing one's reactions, or something else entirely, but I do think it's worthwhile that scientists might but some time and money into researching this pressing matter.

Anyhow.  I can think of one particular instance this got me into a little bit of trouble.  I ended up going out for byob sushi with three other ladies.  I love byobs because, unlike in the aforementioned post, I know I'm not getting ripped off on alcohol.  It's easy to coordinate with friends to rotate bringing a bottle to share.  On this particular night, we four girls ended up bringing four bottles.

So, we sat and drank four bottles over a period of a couple hours whilst consuming some delicious sushi.  I remember making one rest stop whilst at the restaurant (as the Monday morning quarterback, I keep going over this in my head).

After we finished our food and wine, we decided to meet up with a friend who is a bartender at a local pub.  This is dangerous because we got free drinks.  Again, it wasn't the liquor content that ultimately ended up being the problem, but rather, the liquid content over the beverage.  Who knew?

Anyhow, after a short period of time, we all decided it was time to call it a night and go our separate ways.  I jumped in to a cab.  Approximately right after I sat down in said taxi, I realized the little problem I had at hand.  I had to pee.  I was in Wicker Park, on my way back to Lakeview.  Ok, it's all right, I'm on my way back home - I'll be there shortly.

Well, upon being in said taxi for about two minutes, I realized the issue was a little more, err, pressing than I realized.  I tried to distract myself by texting with my phone, but it soon became uncomfortable to sit in any position because my oversized bladder was now the size of a small child inside me.

Somewhere along Ashland Avenue, I came to the realization that I wasn't going to make it.   I was in too much physical pain.  I had only been in the cab around 7 min, but I realized it would be at least another 3 min before I got home, and that was too much.  I wasn't sure what to do.

Apparently, the cab driver was on to the fact that there was a problem as well - most likely because I was unconsciously whimpering.  "Are you ok, ma'am?"  It was so sweet of him to be concerned - I let the 'ma'am' go.  I frantically looked around.  Nearby, there was a bar called 'Tais Til 4'.  Prior to this night, I was not very familiar with Tais Til 4.  However, upon initial viewing, it looked like the kind of bar that might let a girl fly in, use the bathroom, and fly out.

"Uh, actually, can you stop right here?"  I paid the cabbie.  I don't remember if they checked my ID at the door.  I made a beeline for the ladies room.  Thank goodness there was no line.  This might have been because, I believe at the time, I was the only female in said place.

The bathroom was shockingly clean.  I instantly felt so much better - that was, for a second, until I realized I had to do 'the walk of shame'.  Based on the layout of the bar, my straight shot from the door to the washroom was witnessed by the four 'truck driver-esque' gentlemen at the bar, plus the bartender (my real concern - perhaps this kind of patronage is frowned upon by employees).  I emerged slowly.  Sure enough, they were all staring at me.

"Uhh."  I was trying to debate my strategy.  Do I bolt?  Do I pretend I'm looking for a friend in the back room?  Do I stand there and text and look busy?   At this point, the individuals at the bar were cracking up.

"It's ok, you can come in here and use our washroom."  I wasn't sure if the bartender was joking or being serious, but he was laughing, so I took it he wasn't too mad.  I took out a couple singles, plunked it down on the bar, proclaimed "I'm sure you're a great bartender.  Thank you." (which was met with more laughter from the peanut gallery) and high-tailed it out of there.  I have never spent a considerable amount of time in Tais Til 4, but after this pleasant experience, I am tempted to go back.  And not just for a rest stop.

Thank you, Tais and the kind cab driver, for being there for me.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Half Full or Half Empty?


So the other night, on one of my most recent dating excursions, I was at an upscale sushi restaurant downtown.  I went to order a glass of wine - a $10 glass of wine, if you will.

They brought it to me in a very large wine glass.  It looked as though there was 1 inch deep of liquid in said glass.  This did not seem adequate to me for a 'glass of wine' (please don't try to send me to AA).  

I commented on this to my date.  He agreed that the height of it didn't seem that great, but to consider the width.  I worried that this line came too easily to him.

Now, at the end of the day, I'm going to give said restaurant the benefit of the doubt that they gave me a full glass of wine and that this was just an optical illusion (my date treated so I'm not gonna lose sleep over this).  However, is this a good idea on restaurant's parts?  Shouldn't they be buying small wine glasses, where it actually might look like the patrons are getting a full glass?  Maybe the small glasses would create a better optical illusion?  Or, is there something hoity-toity about large wine glasses and that's why expensive restaurants choose them?   Which kind of wine glasses do you prefer?  Which kind should I buy for my apartment?  Your thoughts?

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sushi.

I think Sushi might have some addictive component to it (like coffee or alcohol).  I semi-regularly crave it and if I don't get it, I get cranky.

What are the best sushi places in Chicago?  I have been to quite a few good ones - Sushi Samba Rio, Coast, Friends Sushi, Kanok, Jai Yen, Oh Fusion (formerly Katachi), but I feel there have to be a lot of other good ones lurking around that I'm missing.  Any thoughts or recommendations?

Monday, October 26, 2009

Sushi


Is it just me, or do they put crack in sushi? There is some addictive component to it. I crave it. Constantly. If I don't have it for a period of time, I get cranky.

That leaves me to ask this question: what's the BEST place in Chicago for sushi? Anyone have any thoughts? As of right now, I'm gonna have to go with Coast in Wicker Park. Honorable mentions go to Sushi Samba, Sushi Mura, Oh Oh Fusion (formerly Katachi - although they are docked points based on the loss of the Samurai roll) and Jai Yen.

Anyone have any sushi recommendations for me? Your thoughts? Who has the best sushi in Chicago? Why am I giving Coast free advertising?
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