I’ve created Eataku as an online home for people passionately obsessed with food. People like me. I travel a lot. I eat a lot. I cook a lot. As the Talent Scout for Marvel Comics, my job takes me around the world. While I do thrive on the thrill of constant travel, being on the road and away from home for extended periods of time does take its toll. So when not meeting artists or reviewing portfolios, I keep my batteries charged by exploring the culinary culture and cuisine of whatever city or country I find myself in. Photos of food. Videos of vineyards. Reviews of restaurants. Recipes for refreshments. This site is now my way of sharing my international epicurean adventures with you. Enjoy! (You can also follow me on Twitter at @cbcebulski and visit my comic book blog at www.chesterfest.blogspot.com)Tumblr (3.0; @eataku)http://www.eataku.com/<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzwsiia0W11qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Made fresh, by hand, daily.</p> <p>Nothing says “Italy” better!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18195803232http://www.eataku.com/post/18195803232Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:56:41 -0500<p>Took a plane to a train to another train to a car and then walked to Bar Del Carbone!</p> <p>Their culatta from Parma…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvihddtEm1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>So close you can taste it, eh?</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvikwitxO1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Housemade tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and cultello…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzviohKNvO1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>A trip of tortelli; radicchio, artichoke and spinach…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvj2tOjmg1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>And of course, an espresso and limoncello to help aid in digestion…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzviwingaB1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvj629MZW1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvj9nJ8c11qb3qcf.jpg"/></p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18187475968http://www.eataku.com/post/18187475968Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:10:05 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvice6s0K1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Ah, Autogrill… why can’t all highway rest stops be like you?</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18160938467http://www.eataku.com/post/18160938467Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:19:26 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvgs3Hx5a1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Carta da musica draped with local prosciutto…</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18158772166http://www.eataku.com/post/18158772166Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:45:39 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzurvlbisl1qbpmvho1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Bypassed Bologna and flew directly to Milan instead for this trip, which unfortunately meant I was unable to make my yearly pilgrimage to Tamburini for my beloved tortelli…</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18131753613http://www.eataku.com/post/18131753613Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:47:45 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs5lybtQZ1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Now these were some cheesy fries! And bacony to boot!!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18076689779http://www.eataku.com/post/18076689779Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:00 -0500<p>Ever since New York Comic Con moved from February to October, I’ve started celebrating my birthday in a much quieter way… with a small family dinner at my favorite NYC restaurant, KYOYA. Chef Sono has become a good friend, and when February 17th rolls around each year, he pulls out the big guns to help me mark the occasion. My 2012 celebration last week was no exception!</p> <p>We started with a small sampler of four amuse bouche: grilled chicken meat and cartilage balls; a “fruit” salad; shrimp mousse wrapped in bread crust then fried; and grilled fish, but I forget which kind…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs5scSKvv1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Cauliflower soup…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs5vv7Ef31qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>What the staff says is the largest sashimi platter Sono-san has ever prepared…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs5wuzkgw1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>His masterpiece from another angle…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs5yzgItR1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Close-ups…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs5zwBoh21qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs60w4riG1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Abalone with a sauce made from its liver…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs61iw8pj1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Bafun uni from Portland, Maine on top; Santa Barbara uni on the bottom…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs63rxZ4u1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>The damage done…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs64nUBmH1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Our sashimi was accompanied by Kokuryu sake…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs65hqDkK1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Next up was an uni and yuba tofu dish with nori and wasabi…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs66t7gNX1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Deep fried baby aji…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs68a5T5C1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs69hcbie1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Washington oysters two ways…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6a8Vf7s1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>A thin slice of konyaku topped with myoga and a new fermented soy sauce Sono-san had just received…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6apekN71qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Kyoya’s famous freshly cut salad…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6c6PRgk1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Alaskan sweet shrimp stewed in a sauce of their own shells…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6df39cV1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Grilled baby blowfish with daiko oroshi sauce…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6el8K4v1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Mixed radishes as a palate cleanser…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6fkRVOX1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Sono-san continued to experiment with his new soy sauce, this time with pear…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6hrdxXB1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Then with a piece of raw kanpachi, I believe…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6itu8jv1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>The soy sauce we were happily test subjects of…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6k99hSu1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Next came two clay pots, starting with hamachi over rice…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6lukQ9b1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6mlogK81qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Then salmon…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6n8CkQ51qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6nqQIEH1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6oepCdW1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>The salmon clay pot also came with “toppings” of salmon roe and nori…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6pnjo641qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>A savory salmon “sundae”…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6qmQMfc1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Sono-san and the Kyoya staff got me an orange caramel cake from Panya…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6r6XsdI1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>As well as prepared two of my favorite desserts; hojicha ice cream…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6tckE7V1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>And the most ethereal yuzu sorbet to close it all out…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs6uaap4J1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Huge thanks to Sono-san, Ayano-san, Makoto, Yu-kun, Mori-san, everyone at Kyoya, Ami, Mana, and of course Mutsumi and Keiko, for making this such a special evening that will not be soon forgotten!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18068802267http://www.eataku.com/post/18068802267Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:45:05 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzs2wp54Mp1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This image has been sitting on my desktop for so long and I open it almost every day to remind me of one of the best meals I had last year. So, so simple… it was a quick starter they just dropped on the counter with our beers… but I keep going back to this pic, and memory, of deep fried konbu seaweed…</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18056069050http://www.eataku.com/post/18056069050Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:53:00 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzr3ifuuUB1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Beer of the weekend!</p> <p>Actually brewed by two old high school buddies…</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18014930640http://www.eataku.com/post/18014930640Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:05 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzr08w09bf1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>“Autobots, Eat Out”?!</p> <p>I’ve started hosting “Comics and Food” panels & dinners at various comic cons, and from the looks of this pic, it seems the organizers of the Transformers Cybertron Convention in Singapore are getting in on the food fun as well. And at my favorite hawker center, the Old Airport Road Food Centre, no less!</p> <p>See more on Optimus Prime and Bumblebee’s visit to Singapore over on <a href="http://reddotdiva.blogspot.com/2012/02/autobots-get-taste-of-singapore-kaya.html#more" target="_blank">Red Dot Diva</a>.</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18010465731http://www.eataku.com/post/18010465731Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:58:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzqztzklgZ1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My parents know just what to get me for my birthday… fresh Polish kielbasa!!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/18010196969http://www.eataku.com/post/18010196969Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:49:11 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzq5nhnY131qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>As an ex-Connecticut resident and frequent visitor (Hi, Mom & Dad!), I fully support this motion…</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17992375664http://www.eataku.com/post/17992375664Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:57:17 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzp9o06Qej1qbpmvho1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Discovered the most amazing garlic “infused” baked ham at our Polish butcher in Derby, CT. They stuff cloves of garlic, along with a few peppercorns, inside the ham when they bake it!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17950456028http://www.eataku.com/post/17950456028Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:26:24 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzljia823v1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>As per tradition, had my birthday dinner at Kyoya in NYC last night, and Chef Sono went all out on the sashimi platter!!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17825494949http://www.eataku.com/post/17825494949Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:08:34 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzjjo6Nq5R1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>To everyone who’s joked about my mother-in-law living with us…</p> <p>This is why you don’t see me complaining!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17765267423http://www.eataku.com/post/17765267423Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:16:00 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzjjj1ZY9J1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Had the pleasure of meeting another one of my inspirations this week, Chef Eric Ripert!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17765183799http://www.eataku.com/post/17765183799Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:13:49 -0500<p>Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to be invited by the Singapore Tourism Board to a press luncheon at the Michelin-starred restaurant Laut to help ring in the Year of the Dragon here in New York City!</p> <p>With a booming economy and a culture that everyone seems to be buzzing about, especially where food is concerned, members of the STB and <!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } -->Singapore’s Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Albert Chua, spoke about dozens of exciting new developments and attractions in the Lion City for 2012 and beyond. Then, Makansutra author and street food aficionado KF Seetoh took the stage with none other than Anthony Bourdain himself to entertain and educate the crowd with tales of their Singaporean eating adventures over the years.</p> <p>In their casual conversations, this dynamic dining duo discussed everything from where to get the best chicken rice, to the rise of the hawker centers, to the influence of international cuisines on Singapore, to the secrets of char kway teow!</p> <p>Here’s a quick look at the exclusive event and the lip-smacking Singaporean lunch we were served…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfyuzpP511qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfyw3UPDj1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>A nice coconut water cooler to start…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfyxaHYln1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Soy milk with coffee jelly…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfz0r5DNR1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>A fried tofu puff with chili sauce…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfz1jAofR1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Chicken satay…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfz2sux7S1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Singaporean roti bread with a curry dipping sauce, and a side of rojak, which is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad..</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfz3bCL1l1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>The laksa looked so good I dug into it before snapping a picture. Sorry!</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfz58xeY91qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Carrot cake, Hainanese chicken rice and an incredible beef rendang…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfz67o2io1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>And for dessert, a trio of Southeast Asian specialties: kuih dadar, a crepe with pandan and coconut; onde onde, a sweet potato and rice cake; and coconut tapioca pudding!</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzg02i7bOK1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>The assembled speakers…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfzfxWFXm1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>From left to right, Singapore’s Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Albert Chua and his wife; Serene Tan, the Singapore Tourism Board’s Regional Director; Anthony Bourdain; and KF Seetoh.</p> <p>As previously posted, I had the chance to grab a quick minute with Tony…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfzm3rb1t1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>And also with KF Seetoh…</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfzn3TIGB1qb3qcf.jpg"/></p> <p>Seetoh joked about how he always likes taking pictures next to people who make him look thinner. :)</p> <p>A wonderful afternoon was had by all, and I owe huge thanks to Aik Wye Ng, Serene Tan, Divine Lim, and everyone else at the Singapore Tourism Board and M Silver PR for inviting Eataku along!!</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17660326587http://www.eataku.com/post/17660326587Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:22:00 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lze3dexUDP1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>An old high school friend, Jack Crouch, runs Bristol Bay Seafood and was out oystering in the Outer Banks in North Carolina last week.</p> <p>He gets amazing oysters, I get foodhazed! :)</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17617028455http://www.eataku.com/post/17617028455Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:00:05 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lze32ogNs51qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>As if I couldn’t be excited enough about going to Hong Kong next month, Amy Chu sends me over this article on the deep fried pork chop from Delicious Kitchen!! And my contacts there tell me it’s very close to the Disney offices I’ll be visiting!!</p> <p><em>Thanks to @ThirstyPig for the pic.</em></p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17609476492http://www.eataku.com/post/17609476492Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:06 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lze1y1eFai1qbpmvho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The high point of my month so far…</p>http://www.eataku.com/post/17607897164http://www.eataku.com/post/17607897164Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:06:01 -0500