My Japan Education: Kung Fu Girl Riesling
Okay, really this Kung Fu Girl riesling is produced in Washington State, but it pairs nicely with reading Japan travel books. 😉
My Yelp Review Banned
There’s a first for everything, and today I got my first banned review on Yelp. The email I received said that my review “fell outside our Content Guidelines as it did not appear to describe a customer experience.” Yelp’s Content Guidelines are available here.
So I do admit that I was hangry when writing the mobile review, but after reviewing the guidelines, I don’t see specifically where my review crossed the line. Here’s my verbatim review:
Can’t accommodate people even with open tables and counters. We were there ready to go. There were at least 3 tables open and prepped along with 5 counter spots, but the wait list was 90 minutes. Take out at a 20-min wait was suggested. It’s a reasonable alternative, but the open seating was still baffling. It was 11:38 so possibly 11:45 reservations were coming? No explanation given so I don’t know, and overall I don’t get it. Went elsewhere. Sad start.
***Update: Wait, reservations not taken?!?! I really don’t get it.
Like I said, hangry but no inappropriate content, no conflict of interest, no promotional content, no publicizing private information, no stealing intellectual property, no payment demanded, and all relevant describing my consumer experience.
Yes, my review was my personal experience with a local business. Granted that business was cut very short since the establishment could not accommodate my family. And really, that’s the crux of my review – the handling of the situation and lack of communication. There was no reason given for the 90-minute wait time, especially when there were open seats and tables available. After the fact, I had learned that reservations were not taken so even more so, why couldn’t we dine at the open available seats? No reason was given.
That’s really disappointing. It signaled that the business didn’t want our business and doesn’t respect their customers. Why not give any explanation of any sort? Too busy, not enough wait staff? For me, some reason would be better than leaving customers to come to their own conclusions (and poor Yelp review). From other reviews, I learned that the restaurant has a pager/notification system available, but that too was not communicated as being available.
I did appeal to Yelp asking for clarification on my review and where the transgression was. But the page does openly admit that “Although we rarely end up reversing our original decision, it doesn’t hurt to have someone else take a second look,” so while I don’t expect my review to be reinstated, I do respect the openness Yelp is demonstrating.
My Japan Education: Travel Books
So many travel books and so many online resources. So much to get educated on!
So far, my favorite travel guides are Lonely Planet Japan and Fodor’s Tokyo. Mainly, I like the layout of the information contained within these books.
Two Pics from the Iolani Fair
Two pictures I wanted to share from the 2017 Iolani Fair. While walking by the swing ride at night, I spontaneously took a picture of it illuminating the area. After looking at the picture more carefully, I noticed the dude standing cross armed aligned with the center of the ride. He almost looks purposefully posed for the pic.
Here’s a shot at the wiffle ball booth where one tossed ball in a colored ringed hole wins a prize. While not running the school, Mr. Cottrell is just another wiffle ball player who succumbed to the deceptive difficulty of this game of luck.
Party Bus Comin’ at Ya
Kinda odd seeing a party bus headed towards you on a narrow residential street.
The B. Stands for Bucks
I think I was wrong. The “B” in B. Patisserie may not stand for “box” but rather “bucks” as in we spend big bucks whenever we pay a visit.
Who Did It Better, USAA or Costco?
Who did the dad helping his son fish better, USAA or Costco?
My Japan Education: Tokyo vs Osaka Banana
Apparently, banana snacks are a thing in Japan. I was introduced to the Tokyo Banana but then was told that the Osaka Banana was better. After wrapping my head around the concept of these banana-based concoctions, I was fortunate enough to sample both. They weren’t the freshest samples but well within the alloted expiration date.
Tokyo Banana
Many flavors are available, each with its own visual design. The Tokyo Banana feels more playful with its designs and multitude of variations.
The inside is more like a banana cream filling with a Twinkie outside.
Osaka Banana
The Osaka counterpart, on the other hand, comes from a refined point of view. It’s packaging is more sophisticated, void of the playful Tokyo patterns.
The confection itself is partitioned in indivdual containers that keep the Osaka Banana in its sliced form. The banana is sandwiched in between soft sponge cake.
My Preference
Personally, I gotta give the nod to the Tokyo Banana. I like the overall execution of this treat. I’m not a fan of bananas to begin with, and both Osaka and Tokyo Bananas didn’t really get the banana flavor quite right. The Osaka Banana flavor was more realistic but not real enough. Because the authenticity of a banana was lost at this point, the cream filling of the Tokyo Banana appealed to me more since it was like eating a banana cream pie. And for me, I didn’t mind that the design pattern was actually emblazoned on the cake.
“East Side” Girl Scout Smores Cookies
Alright, a Girl Scout troop in Hawaii needs to find a way to bring in the other Smores cookies. Sourced from two different bakeries, there are differences in Girl Scout cookies throughout America as described by the L.A. Times.
Personally, I think these chocolate-covered graham cracker cookies are way better than the sandwich version sold by Hawaii-based Girl Scouts. The sandwich version tastes like any other sandwich cookies available at grocers. If both types of Smores could be brought to Hawaii, they could to be sold regionally, like an “east side” and “west side” Smore. That’ll provide a distinguishing characteristic for the cookie and maybe stir up some preference tiffs (like the argument about who makes the best malasada). I’d definitely go for this “east side” Smore.
My Japan Education: Gudetama
What, really?!? This guy is the most popular Sanrio character since Hello Kitty? Gudetama? The lazy egg?
I can’t even imagine the appeal of this non-cutesy character that doesn’t seem like a creation from Sanrio that spawned Kerokeroppi and the Twin Stars. And Gudetama is a real downer, seemingly unable to cope and deal with the real world.
Oh well, now I’m educated about this “unstoppable cultural phenomenon.”
I Don’t Know Fashion
Obviously my fashion sense is flawed, especially when Target is involved. Here I thought the Victoria Beckham collaboration with Target would be very popular. But judging from the inventory currently available, it appears that this Spice Girl-turned-designer collection isn’t doing that well.
After looking through the line, yeah, I’m not won over. Maybe it’s just a Hawaii-thing, but I can’t picture the locals outfitted in these pieces.
That’s too bad since Target was ready to handle the (potential) sales by installing even more self checkout counters.
Target Kailua Now With More Self Service
I guess after a one-year learning session with these self checkout counters at Target Kailua, the time to expand was right. Now the self checkout counters have about doubled with the installation of another row.
Amazingly, the traditional checkout counters manned by employees still have long queues. I guess business must be good?