Anime - Where to start

 If your not sure which series to start with you should consider a scratch off poster.  There are many top 100 anime posters to choose from.  Searching on Amazon or Google will turn up a long list.  They don't have the same exact titles listed but there is a ton of over lapping titles.  Look for something that matches your esthetic and in your price range.  The poster can be open framed, without glass so you can hang on the wall and scratch as you go. 

Restaurant- Ugly Dumpling

 

We tried the new "Ugly Dumpling " location in Linden, NJ. I will give this restaurant a huge thumbs up. The menu offers a variety of items, but focuses on soup dumplings.

Soup dumplings are buns with meat, vegetable, and soup broth on the inside.  The menu comes with illustrated instructions on how to eat them.  First pick one up and transfer to a spoon, then bite a hole. This allows the heat to be released and the broth will spill out into the spoon.  Now smell and sip, next you can add sauces.  There are soy sauce, vinegar, chili and a combination of the three.  Then take a bite and enjoy.

I tried the ugly dumpling's sampler, pictured below.  This was very filling and the pork & truffle dumpling was my favorite. 

Soup dumplings are not Japanese but are originally a type of Chinese street food common to Shanghai.  There native name is xiao long bao.

Japanese dumpling soup would be gyoza or suiton dumpling soup.  There is also miso soup with dumplings. I'm making a note to try these soups if I come across them. 

Also noteworthy was the Ugly Dumpling drink offerings. There are a variety of teas along with traditional bar drinks. These are great to enjoy after your meal. 

Kit Kat Tasting

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Flavor: Ghost Toast

Country: USA 

Comments: Sweet, cinnamon flavor like cinnamon toast crunch cereal.