yakiniku with master!

recently on a weeknight, carrrie, tiff, and i had plans to go out to dinner with our all time favorite master, shingo. we usually call him masta (master) however. he is the owner of the best karaoke spot, in my eyes, in town. it's called PTA, and instead of the ubiquitous karaoke box, it's a small intimate bar with a small stage for belting out your favorites. i don't much like the expensive karaoke box due to the enclosed socially-strangling room you must enter to sing. it doesn't cost anything to sing at PTA, and drinks aren't pricey. many friends, new, interesting people, and regulars are always there to ensure a good time had by all. some of my best memories have been staged in PTA, starting with my first month of living in japan. so, of course being extroverted, we've made friends with the sole bartender, the owner, masta. we go to him needing advice, japanese help, and for fun conversation.

a couple of weeks ago, we met masta at arai station and then piled in his car. he took us to a yakiniku restaurant in nakago, a neighboring town. it's such a benefit to us to go to dinner with him because he's japanese and native to joetsu, therefore knowing all the best, most delicious spots in town. he was right on with his pick for the evening. this yakiniku restaurant beats out almost all, if not all, other yakiniku restarants i've ever been to, including osaka, where yakiniku in particular was recommended to us to eat. it was spectacular, and of course we got top notch service because we were with a regular, not to mention an older japanese man as well.

we wore our bibs; ok, well not through the whole meal, just for the picture. master wore his bib, however, through the duration of dinner. good thing too, he later spilled on himself! yakiniku tends to be messy. you order raw plates of meat and vegetables and then cook over a grill at your table. i love it; it's definitely one of my favorites here in japan. master and carrie




after dinner, we decided to have a beer at nest. tiff took me by surprise


after nest, we wanted to pay patronage and support to master - he wouldn't let us pay for dinner earlier, and it was expensive. besides, we needed another drink. we got to chatting with some friendly businessmen






late and not wanting to pedal furiously home, i hopped in a taxi, hoping i wouldn't be too hungover the next day. thankfully, it would be a friday