BEARD PAPA

Columbus Day Weekend. This is the opening weekend for one of the most popular Japanese pastry shops, "Beard Papa". They specialize in creme puffs. They are a chain in Japan with about 80 stores. You go in the store and you can see the puffs baking/rising in the oven and then this guy with a big press injects the cream filling into the pastry. It is like the Japanese version of a Twinkies factory. After enjoying a half dozen of these crispy creamy puff balls, Miyuki and I both agreed that the quality was a bit below that found in Japan. Crossing the Pacific has resulted in a smaller and less tasty confection. Don't get me wrong, it is still a hundred time better than a Twinkie, but it's just not as great. Nevertheless, I'm sure we'll be back next week when the GreenTea filling comes online.

The store is located right by the Mann's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. You can see the sign behind that guy's over developed gut.

On a different note; I noticed recently that Miyuki was going blind doing her reading at night; so we went out and picked up this neat reading lamp. It has no on/off button. You simply touch any part of the shiny metal and the light turns on and then there are 3 different levels of brightness with each touch, the fourth touch turn it off. They should apply this technology to other areas. Just think of the possibilities!