Obama Dines on Sushi at Tokyo 'Jiro Dreams' Shop (Photo Credit: Courtesy Magnolia Pictures) TOKYO - President Obama stepped off Air Force One in Japan apparently with an appetite for sushi. After a quick refresh at the Hotel Okura near the U.S. Embassy, Obama joined Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for dinner at a tiny sushi shop in the city's Ginza neighborhood. They were joined by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, the White House said. The restaurant - Sukiyabashi Jiro - has earned a rare three-star Michelin rating. Its owner and master chef, 89-year-old Jiro Ono, was featured in the 2011 documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi." Many regard him as the world's best sushi chef. Details of the president's dinner were scarce, as it was closed to the press. A special meal of selections by the chef costs close to $300 per person, according to the restaurant's website. Reservations are booked through June at its main location.

White House officials say building personal ties between Obama and Abe is a priority on his third trip to Japan as president. They "have good discussions all the time, whenever they see each other," a senior Japanese government official said. "But the more frequently they see each other, the better." (Credit: Courtesy Lesa Jansen/White House Travel Pool) Always look ahead and above yourself. Always try to improve on yourself. Always strive to elevate your craft. That's what he taught me. I've never once hated this job. I fell in love with my work and gave my life to it. Even though I'm eighty five years old, I don't feel like retiring. That's how I feel. When I was in school... I was a bad kid. Later, when I was invited to give a talk at the school, I wasn't sure if I should tell the kids that they should study hard... or that it is okay to be a rebel. I wasn't sure what advice to give the kids. Studying hard doesn't guarantee you will become a respectable person.

Even if you're a bad kid... there are people like me who change. I thought that would be a good lesson to teach. But if I said that bad kids can succeed later on like I did... all the kids would start misbehaving which would be a problem. Always doing what you are told doesn't mean you'll succeed in life.cheap sushi platter in singapore I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. sushi cat 1 armor gamesThere is always a yearning to achieve more. where to buy sushi rice in montrealI'll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is.sushi grade fish charlotte

[on one of his fish vendors] His grandfather was known as "the god of sea eel." He was a legend. I've never met him in person, but that's what I've heard. When I was in first grade, I was told "You have no home to go back to. That's why you have to work hard." sushi butik onlineI knew that I was on my own. aprender sushi onlineAnd I didn't want to have to sleep at the temple or under a bridge so I had to work just to survive. jogo do sushi magico onlineThat has never left me. I worked even if the boss kicked or slapped me. Nowadays, parents tell their children, "You can return if it doesn't work out." When parents say stupid things like that, the kids turn out to be failures. I either buy my first choice, or I buy nothing.

If ten tuna are for sale, only one can be the best. I buy that one. [describing Jiro's dedication and consistency through the years] The difference between Jiro today and Jiro 40 years ago is only that he stopped smoking. Other than that, nothing has changed.Grace Lee, who runs video promotions ops at Columbia Records and works with guys like Beyoncé and Juicy J, is a friend of my wife Tamar. If it isn’t clear, Grace is really damn cool. So we were having dinner one night at a Korean restaurant when she casually mentioned that she would be flying to Tokyo explicitly to eat at one of the Jiro Ono restaurants, Ono being the chef featured in the award-winning documentary Jiro Dreams Of Sushi. It's a wonderful film and anybody who has seen it thinks about traveling to Japan to participate. But few go ahead and buy a plane ticket, especially with no reservation. Lee wanted my advice landing just that, so I figured the easiest way was to email the film’s director David Gelb.

Always friendly and helpful, Gelb wrote back right away: Hi Matt and Grace. To get a reservation start by asking you hotel concierge to make the reservation for you. If your trip is set far enough in advance you can probably get in. Jiro specifically asked me not to ask for favor reservations so there really isn’t anything I can do.  Well, the luck was on Lee’s side and she ended up with a table, though at the Roppongi location, not the original in Ginza. But, when the reservation line at a restaurant is busy for four days straight, luck still very much played into the equation. I asked her about her Bourdainian food pilgrimage. Why was it so important to visit a Jiro restaurant, enough for a dedicated trip to Japan? I saw Jiro Dreams of Sushi last fall, and decided as I was watching it, that I needed to make a pilgrimage. I knew I was going to be in Seoul in March, so I made a side trip to Tokyo especially to experience the wonder of Jiro myself. How did you score the reservation?

I had my friend who lives in Tokyo call and get some intel. I found out that they start taking reservations the first of the month, the month prior to when you want to go. As I was going to be there in March, I would need to call on February 1st. So on February 1st Tokyo time, I had my native Japanese speaker friends mobilized to call — a couple people in Tokyo, and one in New York. The line was busy for FOUR DAYS. By the time they got through, of course all of March was booked. Of course, this made me even more determined to score a res. After a few other desperate attempts failed, I finally had my hotel concierge in Tokyo call. They got me in, but to the Roppongi branch, not the original one in Ginza. Who did you go with? This was a solo mission. I think my excitement was enough for five people. What was the rice like. I mean, watching the movie, damn is it handled with care. It was absolutely exquisite. Perfect texture, with a little touch of sweetness and vinegar. OK, some highlights from the meal…course by course.

Well, when you sit down, they ask if you want to start with sushi or sashimi. Clearly, I went sashimi (it only seemed right).  From there, you just accept what they give you, since omakase is the only way to go. Highlights were the ika/squid (I asked for another piece at the end), and the tuna progression, from lightest to fattiest. There were several pieces of fish that literally melted in my mouth — no chewing necessary! I ended the meal with tamago sashimi. It feels weird to me to eat tamago as sushi, but it’s a matter of personal preference! What was the mood like in the room? Was it difficult to order given that you do not speak Japanese? Jiro Roppongi is one sushi bar that seats 10 and two tables that seat 4. When I walked in, there was one group of two and one other solo diner. At one point, I was the only person there. I felt like I was in a temple or something — it was so quiet and peaceful. It wasn’t difficult to order, because you actually don’t order — it’s omakase and the only option is sushi first or sashimi first.