It is said that people become brutally honest during times of intoxication. We allow ourselves to feel heartbreak that we try to hold back, we tell people the things we are most afraid to admit, we even make mistakes- lots of them.
Watch Wong Fru’s most recent short “To Those Nights” as a reminder that the heart and mind wander to interesting places when under the influence of alcohol.
BOOZE CONTROL
Studies indicate that nearly 40 percent of Asian American women drink alcohol and, while that’s less than the 55.2 percent national average, we are at a higher risk for all sorts of medical issues due to our binge drinking. So why do we do it? Editor Janice Jann investigates.
ISSUE: Winter 2011-12
DEPT: Feature Story
STORY: Janice Jann
As I lean over the toilet bowl, my hair grazing the rim, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the water. “Who is this puke-strewn girl, bleary-eyed and green-faced, with her pajamas on backwards, staring back at me?” I think to myself. I mutter, “Never again, never a—,” before nausea sweeps in.
There have been many morning afters like this in the years I have been drinking, each time steeped with more regret than the last. Most of my peers have stories like mine. Many laugh, “Who hasn’t gone through it?”
As normal as binge drinking has become, new studies indicate that Asian American women may want to hold off on that second cocktail the next time they drink for reasons more than just avoiding the toilet bowl the next morning.
DEPT The Market
ISSUE Fall 2012
AUTHOR Paul Nakayama
HED: THE DYNAMIC DUO
He’s one way when he’s sober, completely different when he’s drunk. Columnist Paul Nakayama uncovers the truth behind your masked man.
I just returned from Comic Con with a pile of Batman books, and it’s a few days before The Dark Knight Rises premieres. I’m almost fanatically on the Batman bandwagon this week, and if I could look good in black leather and spandex, I would be running around dressed in it. Now, this is probably not a good way to portray myself considering I’m the magazine’s resident dating columnist, but I’m more of an “unintentional-abstinence-sucks-so-don’t-do-what-I-do” sort of advisor anyway. So, in sheer geek revelry, I’m going to use Batman as my device for talking through this month’s Awful Truth topic: “dual identities,” or why men are flirtier when drunk.
For Master Sake Sommelier Yuji Matsumoto — the first in the U.S. — sake is more than just sushi’s sidekick. Appreciating Japan’s native drink is all about “designing taste.”
ISSUE: Winter 2010-11
DEPT: Entertaining
STORY: Anna M. Park
Master Sake Sommelier Yuji Matsumoto pours the Oyama sake into a white wine glass. Holding the base and stem, he swirls, then sniffs. Fruity. Tart. Perhaps a hint of pear? It’s a familiar scene at any wine tasting, but for sake? Indeed, says Matsumoto, one of only 60 certified master sake sommeliers in the world. In sake, it’s all about taste, he adds, as opposed to varietals or regions.
In fact, Matsumoto gives seminars on “designing taste,” informing the industry on brewing standards, mill percentages and aging. He’s a man who takes his work seriously, so you have to give Kabuki restaurants real cred that it’s got the U.S.’s first (and until recently, only) master sake sommelier on board. Matsumoto oversees all of the 14 Kabuki restaurants’ extensive sake and cocktail menu, making sure to complement Corporate Executive Chef Masa Kurihara’s newly unveiled menu of both traditional and innovative Japanese cuisine. Started in 1991 when owner David Lee opened the first Kabuki in Pasadena, Calif., today the 14 Kabukis in the western U.S. include restaurants in Las Vegas and their newest location in Brea, Calif.
Details Kabukirestaurants.com
Master Sake Sommelier Yuji Matsumoto’s Plum Orange Tokyo Mojito
Ingredients:
7-8 mint leaves
2 oz Jinro Soju 2.5 Takara Plum Wine
1 oz bar syrup
Dash of Yuzu juice (a Japanese citrus)
2 orange wheels
Muddle and mix the first five ingredients. Top off with club soda and garnish with orange wheels.
KoreAm Journal’s Unforgettable Gala has come and gone. All the glitz and glamour can be a little overwhelming to take in so Audrey breaks it down a bit for you with our Ten Things: Highlights (and lowlights) of Unforgettable.
1) A Jinro Bottle dressed up in a tux brings all the girls to the yard.
Forget the pick-up lines, nice cars and sleek haircut. Because seriously, who can compete with this hunka hunka green chunka glass?
2-5.) We love Parks!
2. We love the gorgeous Park Plaza where Unforgettable was held.
3. We love the adorable Randall Park and how he can make the terribly trying task of being master of the ceremony (entertaining and informative and smart and semi-politically correct) look so easy.
4. We love Heather Park and her silky smooth husky tremor of a voice. We weren’t the only ones crushin’; Brian Joo could not stop raving about the R&B singer. (Park is also featured in the winter issue of Audrey Magazine.)
5. We love Grace Park. The Hawaii 5-0 cutie may be the only person in the world who can forget what she was supposed to say, like, 5 times throughout the night and have the audience still sigh at how adorable she is when she’s forgetful.
6. Poreotics can dance
The America’s Best Dance Crew champs showed what they were made of –which, if you just watch the way they dance, you’d think they were made of feathers and rubber– as they grooved their way into everyone’s hearts. Grace Park totally gave them a shout-out when she went on stage too! If that’s not awesome, I don’t know what is.
7. Juju Chang’s Acceptance Speech
The always eloquent Juju Chang used her effortlessly eloquent storytelling to show her gratitude for winning her achievement award for the evening. Funny, sweet, poignant, America’s lucky to be able to say good morning to her everyday.
8. Ameriie and Kero One Duet??!
Would this not be the flyest collaboration ever?
9. Thank God for open bars.
Asians are naturally awkward, right? Thanks to sponsors Jinro Hite, we got a little juice to loosen them up and enjoyed a totally poppin’ after-party.
10. No thank you to camera hogs
A sore spot of the evening would have to be those individuals–you know who they are–that hogged the cameras as if it was their oxygen tank. Going through the Unforgettable photo gallery, we couldn’t help but see one or two of these individuals that seem to be in EVERY SINGLE PICTURE with every single person they can possibly grab to stand next to them and pose with. I would post a picture to show you exactly what I mean but that would just be giving those fame whores exactly what they want- more attention. No thanks.
What were some of your highlights and lowlights to Unforgettable? Let Audrey know!
Photos thanks to Mas Chae, tada Chae and Eric Sueyoshi
