Flair@上田のアニバーサリー Flair Cocktails at Anniversary in Ueda

February 1, 2010: グルメFoodie

Shino-san's Flair

夕べは家族での夕食の為にどっかで楽しいレストランを探したら、友人のGo!さんの紹介で上田のアニバーサリーと言うお店に行きました。ラウンジに真赤なランボギーニーがあるのは私にとってポイントが高い。それより格好いい事はないと思ったら、素晴らしい人物と出会いました:FlairカクテルのチャンピオンのShinoさん。
子供達の為にFlairカクテルを頼んだら、Shinoさんが準備したら皆がバーで集まって、お店の光が暗くなって、Shinoさんにスポットライト、そしてダンス音楽、それでShinoさんのFlairカクテルショーが始まりました。音楽に合わせてShinoさんは瓶1本、2本、今度3本も飛ばしたり、手のひらにキャッチしたり、色々踊りながらパフォーマンスしてくれました。そして、グランフィナーレで一気に3人子供の為に色別などリンクが出来上がれ!
皆が感動しました!
Flairカクテルショーは私が初めて見ましたが、Shinoさんがチャンピオンって事、納得です。その笑顔、そのカリスマ、そしてパフォーマンス、最高でした。有難うございました!

Last night, our family was looking for a place for dinner, and our friend Go! introduced us to a restaurant in Ueda called Anniversary. In their lounge was a bright red Lamborghini. That won points with me right away. I thought, "What could be cooler than that?" I soon found out -- Shino-san!
Shino-san is a Flair Cocktail champion. We ordered one for our kids, and wasn't quite sure what to expect. After Shino-san was ready, we gathered down by the bar. The restaurant lights were dimmed, a spotlight shown down on Shino-san as the dance music was turned up, and Shino-san proceeded to give us her Flair Cocktail Show. Dancing to the music, she twirled and spun around with the bottles, first one in the air, then a second, then 3 bottles flying around simultaneously, with Shino-san catching them on the palm of her hand and doing all kinds of funky tricks. Then the grand finale -- with one quick move she made 3 drinks of separate colors for our 3 kids, all instantaneously. It was incredible!
I can see how Shino-san was able to win the Flair Cocktail championship -- not just the moves, but her smile and charisma really won us over.

アニバーサリーは上田中心から上がって、浅間サンラインになる道の途中にある。第2店舗は上田の中心街の海野町にも出来たそうです。両方ともは亀清から車で約30分です。
Anniversary is located in Ueda along the way to the Asama Sun Line road to Karuizawa. They opened up a 2nd store in Unnomachi, Ueda's main shopping street.

Dining&Cafe Anniversary website



Ogling the Lambo


志賀高原地ビール工場見学 Shiga Kogen Microbrewery

February 1, 2010: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

A Proud Brewer

今日は山の内町の渋・湯田中温泉に呼ばれまして、アポの前に湯田中美湯ホテルのShawさんにツアーして頂きました。地獄谷野猿公苑へのトレールを見せて頂いて(今はスタートが階段作りの工事中の為に臨時的に少し離れた所に移られている)、そして渋湯田中のShawさん曰くのスピリチュアルの道を通りました。スピリチュアルと言うのは、作り酒屋があるからだそうです。実は、その酒屋、玉村さんは地ビールも作っています。亀清旅館でも扱っている志賀高原ビールです。今日は社長に会えて、嬉しかったです。あっ、この方がその美味しいビールを作ってくれているのだと。本に会えて、良かった!社長も元気で、明日からまた作るということで、工場を案内してくれました。今度はベルギー風のビールも作るらしいです。楽しみにしていま~す!

One of my fellow innkeepers requested I come to his inn in Shibu-Yudanaka Onsen to instruct his staff on dealing with foreigners. Hmm. I had thought I was finished with teaching English. But this particular innkeeper is the highest on the Nagano ryokan totem pole, so I couldn't say no.
Anyways, I arrived a bit early, and my buddy Craig from Yudanaka Biyu Hotel gave me a quick tour. We checked out the construction on the Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park trailhead at Kambayashi. A nifty stairway is being built there which will be a huge improvement on the previous slippery approach. Then Craig drove me down what he calls the "spiritual" street, so named because of the sake brewery there. Ahh yes, those spirits! We stopped in at the Tamamura Brewery where they also make Shiga Kogen Beer, the microbrews that we offer our guests here at Kamesei Ryokan. I got to meet the owner, the man behind these delectable beverages. He was happy to meet one of his supporters, and took us over to see the brewing equipment. He wanted me to come back tomorrow to see the next batch get made -- apparently he's going to attempt a Belgian style beer this time. I can't wait to taste the results!

玉村本店のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Shiga Kogen Beer.

湯田中美湯ホテル(Shawさんの所)のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Yudanaka Biyu Hotel (Craig's place)