In A Nutshell – May 2019

Wowza, is it already June!? May was a whirlwind of fun including Red Dirt BBQ & Music Fest in Tyler, TX, a trip to Chicago, Japan with visits to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hamamatsu then all wrapped up with Hot Luck Fest back in Austin! I’ll be updating my Kyoto and Tokyo city lists soon so keep an eye out for that but for now here’s a look back at my favorite posts from May!

Wynwood Diner – Miami, FL

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I was finally able to check out the hip @wynwoodmiami neighborhood on this last trip to South Florida. Stopped in to @wynwooddiner for some brunch before walking around the area to take in the art and people. This is their huevos rancheros with a side of home style potatoes and a black bean purée. I could tell the food at this restaurant is prepared with the utmost care and that they take pride in the flavor and appearance of the food they put out. I can easily recommend them! . . . . . . . . #miamiflorida #miamirestaurant #miami #wynwoodmiami #wynwoodlife #wynwood #huevosrancheros #brunch #brunchgoals #brunchtime #miamibrunch #wynwooddiner #atxfoodguy #austin #miamieats #eatmiami #streetart #brunchmiami #miamifood #miamifoodie #eatermiami #bestfoodmiami #austinfoodie #breakfastgoals #breakfast

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 2, 2019 at 8:31am PDT

Interstellar BBQ – Austin, TX

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@interstellarbbq was… Out of this world! 😏 Finally hit up this spot with @pitforbrainsatx and @flyingdustwoodworks for a bit of lunch. We ordered some pulled pork, mixed moist and lean brisket, St Louis pork ribs, and Texano sausage. If you've visited @noblesandwichco over the years you know these guys put out fantastic food and their BBQ is no different. Check it out!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 4, 2019 at 8:19am PDT

Taiyaki NYC – Miami, FL

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Found myself checking out the hip area of @wynwoodmiami recently and my buddy clued me in to @1800lucky, an Asian food hall, which included an outpost of @taiyakinyc. This is their Unicorn Taiyaki with vanilla and cotton candy swirled ice cream, unicorn sprinkles, a marshmallow unicorn horn and ears, perched in a delicious red bean filled taiyaki cone! I can't think of a better, or more magical, way to keep cool in the Miami heat but if I find one I'll definitely share that too! My Japan trip starts in about a week so keep your eyes peeled for authentic Japanese food straight from source!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 6, 2019 at 9:00am PDT

Giordano’s Pizza – Chicago, Il

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After a great morning walking around the @chicago @fieldmuseum looking at dinosaurs we had built up quite the appetite. Luckily for us there was a @giordanospizza close by so we popped over for lunch before heading to the airport. This is the impressively large "meat and more meat" Chicago deep dish style stuffed pizza with pepperoni, sausage, salami, and bacon. Between myself and three of my coworkers we polished off this behemoth of a pizza.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 11, 2019 at 8:59am PDT

Schaller’s Stube – Austin, TX

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@schallerstube is now parked behind @starbaraustin slanging the best pretzels and brats in town! They had their grand opening on Friday the 10th complete with a German Polka band and delicious German style brats and Bavarian pretzels! I paired my Schaller Double and mini Bavarian pretzel with a delicious @shinerbeer to continue the German-in-America motif. Next time you're down on West 6th swing through Star Bar for a drink and hit up Schaller Stube for a bite to eat.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 13, 2019 at 8:11am PDT

Red Dirt BBQ & Music Fest – Tyler, TX

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Wait one hot minute! I may be in Japan where it's now Friday the 17th but over in the States it's still Thursday the 16th which is National BBQ Day! Here's a picture of me in my happy place from my recent attendance at the @reddirtbbqfest up in beautiful Tyler, Texas. 25+ of some of the best BBQ spots in Texas converged to help ensure a great time. Getting to eat BBQ and then talk shop with some of the friends I've made in the community had me all smiles, all day. Thank you to @kyrenabeana for snapping this photo as a stranger asked if they could have a photo for themselves, you rock!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 16, 2019 at 3:57pm PDT

Seirinkan Pizza – Nakameguro, Tokyo, Japan

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When you think of Japan, I'm sure pizza is not one of your first thoughts but those guys at @seirinkan.info are tossing up some fantastic Neapolitan style pizza! As seen on @davidchang's @uglydelicious this is the two pies they had on menu the other night, a traditional margherita pizza in the background and their marinara pizza in the foreground with that beautiful basil, tomatoes and garlic. Definitely wouldn't have expected to find such high quality pizza in Japan but here I am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #pizza #neapolitanpizza #napoli #napolipizza #pizzaslicetokyo #tokyofood #atxfoodguy #italia #italian #atxfoodguyabroad #Japan #pizzapizza #italianpizza #infatuationtokyo #travelingfoodie #travellingfoodblogger #foodblogging #uglydelicious #asseenontv #pizzagourmet #pizzagoals #foodgoals #tasty #eeeeeats #tokyolife

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 18, 2019 at 6:10am PDT

Street Vendor – Kuromon Market – Osaka, Japan

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Welllllll, I tried something else that was a bit questionable on my first trip down to Osaka! This, my friends, is fugu which is also known as blowfish or globefish. My buddy @robpol86 wanted to try it because he's a huge Simpsons fan but didn't want to eat it all himself, just in case, so I stepped up for moral support and curiosity. This is the baked fugu and it was pretty damn delicious. It was very similar in texture to swordfish but maybe slightly more dense and I was pleasantly surprised by the overall flavor and mouth fill. When you get a chance to try something new, don't pass it up! . . . . . . . . . . #fugu #blowfish #globefish #osakaeats #osaka #osakajapan #osakafood #Japan #seafood #fish #dangerousfood #market #streetfood #bakedfish #atxfoodguy #atxfoodguyabroad #infatuationjapan #eeeeeats #delicious #deliciousfood #tastyfood #tasty #bakedseafood #eatitall #eatup

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 20, 2019 at 6:11am PDT

The Smoke Club – Hamamatsu, Japan

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May is barbecue month and as you've noticed when I travel I'll try and seek out great BBQ so when my buddy @tx_bbq clued me in on @thesmokeclub_texasbbq in Hamamatsu, Japan you know I had to find a way to get there! Nestled close to the Shinkansen (bullet) train station, The Smoke Club has a beautiful space dishing out some fantastic smoked meats done the low and slow Texas way. @robpol86, @soniamtz_atx, and I shared this awesome 4 meat and 3 side tray with pork spare ribs, pork belly burnt ends, sausage, and their brisket alternative roast beef paired up with macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and toasted cornbread. I can honestly say, if these guys set up shop somewhere in Texas, they'd do really well because everything was so flavorful and with pictures of Smitty's on the wall and Aaron Franklin's books you know they've done some research. So, should you find you want a delicious pitstop while traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto, consider stopping in Hamamatsu for some beautiful smoked meats!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 21, 2019 at 8:11am PDT

Cocktail of the Month:
Drink.Well. – Austin, TX

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A mint julep can only mean one thing – the @kentuckyderby is approaching rapidly! This is the signature drink of the greatest two minutes in sports and one of the best places to grab one is @drinkwellaustin where they take pride in their cocktails. ——-🏇——- If you're looking for a great straight bourbon whiskey to make your own julep at home you might want to head down to @benmilamwhiskey and snag one of their limited edition 'springtime sipper' bottles from the mind and expertise of, master distiller, Marlene Holmes. Only 250 bottles exist so if you're interested get over there and pick one up for $55 before they're gone! ——-🍸——- On Derby Day, though, head on down to Drink.Well for an excellent Ben Milam mint julep like the one pictured here! ——-🤔——- Did you know the pewter or silver mint julep cups are important to the tradition of the drink? Just be sure to hold the cups from top or bottom rims of the cup so the frost is able to build and maintain while you enjoy this refreshing minty beverage! Cheers! . . . . . . . . #kentuckyderby #benmilam #benmilamwhiskey #whisky #whiskey #straightbourbon #mintjulep #mintjuleps #straightbourbonwhiskey #mint #texaswhiskey #atxfoodguy #beautifulcocktail #beautifulcocktails #beautifuldrink #alchohol #beautifulbooze #atxfoodies #drinkupaustin #keepaustindrinking #drinkup #derbyday #drinkwell #drinkwellaustin

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 1, 2019 at 3:43pm PDT