Latest news with #P.K.
SoraNews24
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Randy's Donuts opens first-ever branch in Japan, brings L.A.'s donuts to Tokyo【Photos】
Landmark of the sweets and movie world sets up its colossal donut sign in Shibuya Ward, and we stop by for several bites to eat. It's been a while since a high-profile American restaurant/cafe chain has made the trip across the Pacific to open its first branch in Japan, but this month marks the debut of Randy's Donuts in the country. But though there's never been a Randy's in Japan before now, quite a few Japanese people have seen the Los Angeles-founded chain's branches in movies and music videos, since their distinctive giant donut signs make them popular filming locations. So when it made the trip to Japan, Randy's didn't just bring its recipes, but its unique architectural aesthetics too, with a colossal donut that greets visitors as they approach the store's entrance in Tokyo's Daikanyama neighborhood, just one train stop away from Shibuya Station. Since its beginning in 1952, Randy's Donuts has prided itself on offering quality and variety, and that philosophy continues at its first-ever Tokyo branch, which bakes over 40 different kinds of donuts daily inside the store. Stepping inside as part of a press tour prior to the shop's grand opening on May 15, our eyes glazed over at the cases filled with glazed treats. While you can order your donuts to go, the Tokyo Randy's also has a pretty spacious eat-in area, with both indoor and outdoor seating. And since our Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun was planning on sampling several donuts on this day, he decided to grab a seat for his extended snacking session. The menu is a mix of classic Randy's recipes from the U.S.A. plus a few Japan-exclusive creations, with prices ranging from 360 to 550 yen (US$2.50 to US$3.80). P.K. got started with a Strawberry Chocolate Texas Glazed (550 yen), which is only available at Randy's Japan. Randy's 'Texas' terminology refers to its extra-large donuts, and to give you a clearer picture of just how massive it is, here's the Strawberry Chocolate Texas Glazed next to a standard-sized donut. P.K. was both shocked and thrilled. Though born and raised in Japan, he's traveled enough internationally to have developed a somewhat internationalized palate/stomach size, and this sort of bold decadence was just what he wanted to eat, as was the similarly massive Apple Fritter (550 yen)… …and even the Bacon Maple Long John (550 yen)! Yes, that is a maple donut covered in bacon bits, and P.K. found in to be exquisite, with a deliciously intense sweetness paired with enticing salty notes. As a matter of fact, he joyfully describes all of the donuts he tried as 'relentlessly sweet.' That's not to say that they're low-class desserts, though. P.K. came away very impressed with the quality of Randy's Donut's donuts, particularly with how invitingly fluffy they are inside. P.K. is especially happy that Randy's has preserved the traditional American aspects of its donuts and isn't trying to water down its recipe in order to align with milder-tasting Japanese confectionary norms. The flavors are, without question, intense, even when compared to Japanese donut chains like Mister Donut, but that also helps Randy's stand out from the rest of the donut pack in Japan, and if you're looking for bolder flavors, they've got you covered. ▼ Speaking of coverage, the Tokyo branch also has a merch corner complete with a gacha capsule toy vending machine. Unfortunately, while P.K.'s love of sweets may be boundless, there are constrains to his stomach capacity, and so he didn't have room to try the Japan-exclusive L.A. Blue Custard Cream donuts, whose looks are obviously inspired by the logo of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thankfully, since this is a permanent location and not a limited-time pop-up store, P.K. will be able to pick some up on his next trip. Randy's Donuts says it hopes to open 50 branches in Japan within the next three years, but for now Tokyo's Daikanyama is the only one, so keep an eye out for P.K. standing in line if and when you make your visit. Location information Randy's Donuts (Shibuya Daikanyama branch) / ランディーズドーナツ（渋谷代官山店） Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Daikanyama Log Road Daikanyama building L2 住所 東京都渋谷区代官山町13-1 Log Road Daikanyama L2棟 Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Japan's super easy sweet potato spread lets you make sweet potato bread thanks to Don Quijote
We discover a trick to make this DIY sweet snack even more delicious. 'Wait, dude, what? You haven't tried it yet?' Our reporter P.K. Sanjun didn't really appreciate his friend's tone of voice, and the smirk on his face didn't really sit well with him either. But P.K. had to admit that his buddy's surprise wasn't completely unfounded. Here at SoraNews24 we're always on the lookout for unique food and tasty treats, and with P.K. also being openly enthusiastic about sweet potato snacks and sweets, it was natural to assume that he'd already fallen in love with Spread It and Toast It and It'll be Just Like a Sweet Potato Spread, a sweet potato spread from Japan's discount retailer Don Quijote. But despite hitting that trifecta of aspects that would give P.K. both a professional and personal reason to try it ASAP, up until his friend tipped him off about it our reporter had been unaware of the existence of Nutte Yaitara Maru de Yaki-imo Spread, to use its Japanese name. Now that he knew about it, though, he extricated himself from the conversation as swiftly as he could and dashed to the nearest Don Quijote branch to pick up a tub for taste-testing purposes. The sweet potato spread is part of Don Quijote's Jonetsu Kakaku ('Passionate Price') private brand, which seeks to deliver good quality products at the affordable prices the chain is known for. A 140-gram (4.9-ounce) pack is priced at 431 yen (US$3), and with no rival sweet potato spread to compare it to we can't really comment on how good a deal it is, but if nothing else it's probably safe to say that this isn't going to rupture anyone's grocery budget unless you're not eating a container a day. This isn't just a tub of pure pureed sweet potato, though. It's more like peanut butter, but made with sweet potato instead. According to the official product description from Don Quijote, they fine-tuned the ratio of ingredients by a single percent at a time to achieve the optimum flavor that comes closest to a freshly roasted sweet potato, but in a spreadable-on-bread form. For best results, you're supposed to put the sweet potato spread on a slice of bread and then toast them together. As for how much spread you're supposed to use, that's up to you. Once again referring to the official product description, Don Quijote says that using a conservative amount will produce a crisp texture after toasting, while a thicker slathering will retain a moister, more substantial consistency, so P.K. decided to do one slice in each style. The directions say to toast the bread until it browns but doesn't burn. Once the slices achieved that enticing color, P.K. pulled them out of the toaster oven and plated them. Starting with the lightly spread slice, P.K. was a little underwhelmed. Though it had a pleasant sweet potato aroma, the flavor was modest and subdued. Not bad, but not really the sort of thing that he felt he'd be putting into his regular snack rotation. But then… …it was time to taste the second slice, the one he'd applied a thicker layer of the sweet potato spread to. This was exactly what he'd been hoping for, full of deliciously sweet sweet potato flavor…and it was about to get even better. As mentioned above, using less spread results in a crisper texture, which P.K. actually enjoys, but the flavor is a lot better with the thicker spread. Just when he thought he was going to have to compromise on his precise preferences, though, something wonderful happened: the outer layer of the thicker spread developed some extra crispiness as it more fully caramelized from the residual heat from its time in the toaster oven. P.K. now had a slice with the best flavor and most satisfying texture, so he recommends using a thick layer of spread, then letting it sit for a minute or so after coming out of the toaster before you dig in. P.K.'s still not sure how he missed the announcement for Spread It and Toast It and It'll be Just Like a Sweet Potato Spread, or how he failed to notice it in the several months it's been on the market since. Still, as they, or, um, as we say, it's better to be late to the sweet potato party than to never show up at all, and between this and our new DIY melon bread-making skills, we're probably going to need to make another bread run very soon. Reference: Don Quijote Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
P.K. Subban Has Good News For Rangers Fans
Listen up, Rangers fans, The Maven has created a "Gloom Dodgers" plan for optimism as we all look ahead to better days. Don't listen to those sulking, mopey, angry negativists. Listen to the optimists. Here's the first of many so get a hold of this: Things Are Reportedly Getting Close And Trending Toward Mike Sullivan Becoming The Rangers' Coach The New York Rangers appear very close to hiring their next head coach. P.K. Subban; former NHL defenseman who now is a tv commentator, predicts that the Blueshirts can win the 2026 Stanley Cup. I did not. Repeat: I KID YOU NOT. "If the Rangers make sweeping lineup changes they can get right back on track," Subban predicted on the air and before a camera. Plus, his tongue was not in his cheek."They just have to make the right choice." Correct: Find the right coach! See if you can find one P.K. while I munch on a matzoh! And, if you do, P.K., feel free to call me, COLLECT!
SoraNews24
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
New contender for the Akihabara ramen crown: Restaurant run by martial arts champ【Taste test】
Mixed martial artist now adds ramen making to his skill mix at Men Zin Saito. Tokyo's Akihabara neighborhood is Japan's biggest mecca for anime, electronics, and video game specialty shops. That also means that Akihabara has a lot of casual restaurants ready to serve visitors from around the country and around who just dropped some serious cash on their hobbies and so are looking for a tasty, reasonably priced meal. And yet, in the eyes and stomach of our Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun, Akihabara doesn't have that many great ramen restaurants. By his estimation, there are four really good ones in the area: Aoshima Ramen, Ponta, Hotate Biyori, and Kyushu Jangara. Those four almost always have lines of customers out front, and it's been that way for years. The other ramen restaurants in Akihabara fail to really captivate noodle fans in large numbers, though, P.K. says. ▼ The line for Kyushu Jangara So P.K. was startled when, on a recent ambling stroll through Akihabara, he came across a line some 20-people long waiting to get into a ramen restaurant he'd never seen or heard of before, called Men Zin Saito. His second surprise came when he looked at the banner hanging by the restaurant's entrance, which has a picture of professional mixed martial arts fighter Yutaka Saito. This isn't just some celebrity endorsement deal for Saito. His most recent bout was last July, but his ramen restaurant opened in December, and he takes a very hands-on approach to its operations, as P.K. would soon learn. Having already eaten lunch on the day he found Men Zin Saito, P.K. put the place on his to-eat list and circled back on a later date. Oddly enough, this time there was only a single person waiting to get in ahead of him. This still meant that every seat in the place was already taken by other customers though, so P.K. had faith that he was in for something special and patiently waited to be seated. Men Zin Saito's logo contains Saito's name written in hiragana script (さいとう), but in a stylized rendering that resembles a bull's horns. As you might be able to guess from this, their specialty is beef stock ramen, which is comparatively rare as far as ramen broth bases go. The menu is simple, with the only options being beef tanmen (noodles in broth with vegetables), beef mazesoba (noodles with dipping sauce), and rice. P.K.'s decision was especially simple since they were sold out of mazesoba when he stopped by, so he ordered the beef tanmen (seen on the left in the photo above) for 1,000 yen (US$6.90) and a bowl of rice for 200 yen more. On display inside the restaurant is Saito's belt from when he won the first Rizin Featherweight Championship, but the even bigger treat for fans is that Saito himself actually works in the kitchen, preparing customers' ramen! P.K. isn't sure if the fighter is also a cook every day, but on this day he was whipping up ramen with gusto, gregariously greeting customers with 'Welcome!' as they came in and sending them off with an equally enthusiastic 'Thank you very much!' as they finished their food and went home. After a short wait, a server placed P.K.'s ramen in front of him. It looked at once rough, rustic, and very, very tasty. To P.K., it had the appearance of macho ramen made by a macho guy. Starting with a sip of the broth, it was full of beefy umami. It's a bold flavor, one P.K. found perfectly matched with the thick, chewy noodles. The stir-fried vegetable toppings may not win any awards for being photogenic, but they taste great, which is what really counts. There's a touch of sourness at the end of the flavor profile, which isn't unusual with extra-rich ramen like this. Some people might prefer a cleaner finish, but there are also ramen fans who love that little twist for the taste buds, and P.K. found that Men Zin Saito's broth makes for an excellent pairing with rice, so he was glad he added a bowl of grains as a side order. P.K. doesn't know why Men Zin Saito's line was so much longer the first time he saw it, but considering he still had to wait for a seat before he could get in, the place has clearly found fans, and it just might end up becoming Akihabara's fifth ramen hot spot, P.K. thinks, making now a great opportunity to beat the bigger crowds that might be coming soon. Restaurant information Men Zin Saito Saito / 麺ZINさいとう Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda Sakumacho 3-1 東京都千代田区神田佐久間町3-1 Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Mondays Photos © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
CBC
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Was P.K. Subban right to compare NBA and NHL players?
P.K. Subban recently went viral for comments he made about the differences between NHL players and NBA players. The former NHL defenseman said that in recent years, he feels professional basketball players writ large have been showing up on the court with less pride and less passion than their professional hockey counterparts. Today on Commotion, guest host Rad Simonpillai talks to CBC senior sports contributor Morgan Campbell and culture critics Marlon Palmer and Andrea Williams about how Subban's comments sparked a broader conversation about this moment in professional sports culture. listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Rad: Andrea, P.K. Subban is known for being this bombastic, and even at times divisive figure. But this moment felt a little different because he was tapping into a sentiment that I think a lot of fans are agreeing with…. Even P.K.'s haters were like, "Oh, he's kind of got a point." Where are you standing on P.K.'s comments? Andrea: With all of those people you just mentioned. I'm that person that grew up in the '90s and … it's not the same. The product, to me, it's unwatchable. I get the divisiveness around P.K. and this notion that we don't want to hear this from him, but it's legit. And this is a guy who played in the NHL. They don't make the money that the NBA players make. I can remember this time where it was like you had to get on the floor and you had to be great. You had to be great over an extended period of time to get to this brand awareness, to become this superstar, to have this other stuff. And you can sort of bypass that now in the NBA; this is a byproduct of basketball becoming this global game. These guys are becoming these global superstars, and so now it's like they're phoning it in. That's real. Rad: Right, OK. Marlon, are you feeling the same way? Or do you have a different take on P.K.'s critique? Marlon: Well, right message, wrong messenger. I just don't like that he said it, you know what I mean? I kind of agree with him. I feel like a lot of his talk is really passive aggressive, and he's actually talking to LeBron. That's what it feels like, because if you just have LeBron in mind when he's speaking, it checks every single box. I think he didn't like that LeBron checked out so late before the All-Star game — could have given that spot to somebody else, someone argued. And LeBron, arguably, is still one of the largest players in the NBA, so him being on the floor for that weekend is paramount. And then we saw him [in the] first game of the Lakers back, after the All-Star break, and he played amazing. So for the fans that pay a lot of money to go see these players … he's a big deal, and he needs to act that way. Rad: Morgan, what are you thinking? Morgan: Where do you want me to start? P.K. Subban did a bunch of these rants, all sort of with the same theme, which was that NBA players are soft and entitled. Hockey players are rough, tough, dedicated, will fight for the guy next to them He said basketball players need to fight like hockey players do, even though we all know that, to paraphrase my good friend Pacinthe Mattar who was writing about the concept of journalistic objectivity: fighting is a white privilege. You cannot have a fist fight in an NBA game without people getting suspended, ejected, possibly having the cops called on them. I think that happened last year. So let's dispense with the idea that NBA players can go out here and fist fight to show how dedicated they are to each other. And this is just such a false equivalency between the 4 Nations Face-Off and a run-of-the-mill NBA All-Star weekend, because the 4 Nations Face-Off exists because the NHL was having the exact same problem with its All-Star weekend that the NBA has every year: the fans weren't that interested, because the players weren't that interested, because professional sports are rough. They're rugged, they're intense and if you have an exhibition game mid-season, nobody's going out here trying to break somebody's neck in an exhibition game…. The talk heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off was whether or not this group of NHL players was going to take this tournament seriously. If this whole thing hadn't been politicized with the tariffs, with Trump weighing in, I'm not sure you'd get that line brawl at the beginning of the first game, and I'm not sure you'd get that same level of intensity. So there's all sorts of factors contributing to the intensity that we saw in the 4 Nations Face-Off that we don't see in the NBA All-Star game, and that we never saw, quite frankly, in the NHL All-Star game in previous years. And to single out LeBron James passive aggressively, as Marlon pointed out — listen, if anybody has earned the right to take the night off, it is 40-year-old LeBron James, who goes deep into the playoffs every year. On the calendar LeBron James is in season 21. LeBron James' knees think he's in season 28. He deserves a night off.
