Gio Gutierrez

Olympus Augmented Reality

// February 14th, 2011 // No Comments » // Advertising, Random

There is a problem we see time and time again: brands using technology for technology’s sake rather than using it to actually add value to the brand or product message. The biggest culprit in recent years has certainly been Augmented Reality.

Agencies have been swarming to use Augmented Reality (AR) in every campaign, plastering on QR codes and praying that their consumers will actually use them. And hey, if it doesn’t produce positive ROI it will win an award…right?!

We’ve seen very few genuinely useful examples of AR. Crispin and Porter used it to demonstrate the value of a $1 note promoting the Burger King $1 menu and Rayban gave consumers the chance to virtually try on their new range of sunglasses (as demonstrated by our very own Nick Hearne).

Now Olympus is entering that exclusive club of brands using AR to great effect. They have created an AR demo of the new PEN E-PL1 to allow users to virtually test drive the camera. The user holds the special Olympus QR card in front of their webcam; on screen it’s replaced with a dynamic 3D Olympus E-PL1. But the experience goes even further; allowing the user to interact with the camera controls, take photos (of yourself!), shoot video, try the flash, remove the lens and even play with the in-camera effects.

What makes the Olympus AR experience so good is just how useful the virtual experience actually is. It’s sure to engage a more techy audience, and is publicised in consumer mags such as Wired and Popular Science because of this, but it’s a great product demonstration for any user.

It’s refreshing to see Augmented Reality being used for a genuinely useful purpose rather than just another tick on the digital check list. To see the product demonstration in its entirety visit http://www.getolympus.com/pen/

1,000 Free Rollover Minutes on AT&T’s iPhone

// February 11th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Random

AT&T launched a promotion to retain its iPhone users by offering some of them 1,000 free rollover minutes. They are doing this via text messaging which you must reply “YES” to in order to accept this. Well boys and girls, guess what… open up your iPhone and text message “YES” to 11113020 (AT&T’s Text Number) and you’ll be credited to your account even if you didn’t receive the text message. Sweeeeeeet!

PS I know this sounds almost too good but it’s 100% true and verified by yours truly!

Route 9 Review

// February 10th, 2011 // No Comments » // Food

Route 9 is the love child of Paola and Jeremy Goldberg, some Miami locals that have been in the food industry managing some of South Florida’s favorite restaurants including Timo, Johnny V Las Olas, and one my favorite’s, Escopazzo.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to meet Paola (whose of Mexican descent) because she was busy in the kitchen but we met Jeremy upon entering the premises. He was so welcoming to the point of giving us quarters for parking our cars on the street as we didn’t have any change. That’s A+ service right there in my book…

We started off with the Ceviche Of The Day (Escolar) which was spectacular followed by a Focaccia With Caramelized Onions, Apples and Blue Cheese which was just as delicious. And from here on is where things went a little south… the French Lentil and Vegetable Soup was so flavorless that we returned it. Jeremy was nice enough to bring us in exchange their Cream of tomato soup with grilled sharp cheddar cheese toast which tasted just as bland (reminded me of Campbell’s canned tomato soup). The Grilled Feta Cheese, Tomatoes, Red Onions, Cucumbers w/ a Shallot Oregano Vinegar was also upsetting as neither did it look grilled (marks???) nor did it taste grilled. Maybe if the description didn’t say that, it wouldn’t have been that disappointing because it was a simple good-tasting salad. My friend ordered the Sticky Chicken Wings which he said had “Great glaze flavor but the chicken meat, not so tasty”. The Fresh Pasta with Chiles, Peas and Almonds was something just as flavorless as the previous dishes. The Fish Tacos w/ House Made Guacamole and Scallion Sour Cream however were very satisfying and more upbeat and the two sides we had were great:Truffled Cauliflower Gratin and Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts. (see pics)

And they don’t make dessert in house (as of yet at least) we skimped on that. I actually sat with Jeremy and mentioned most of this face-to-face and he was very receptive and I appreciative about the feedback. I really think they’ll grow the kinks out and wish them the best in the long run. But 3 stars for now…

NAOE Review

// February 8th, 2011 // No Comments » // Food

This place is an experience like no other. You’re hosted by Wendy – the sweetest person w/ a wonderful smile. Then there’s the chef, Kevin behind the bar. That’s it. They have 2 seatings a day, one at 6:30 and one at 9:30 (which you must reserve via OpenTable). The experience is truly 2-3 hours long and if it wasn’t for the other 3 people next to us, it would feel like you have a private chef in front of you cooking the freshest authentic cuisine from Japan.

If you are a sake lover, then you’re in for a true treat. All the sake is served cold and is from chef Kevin’s family “wineries” in Japan. We tried the reisling-like sake which was delicious, light, crisp and on the sweeter side and we ended with a slushy-like sake scooped out of the bottle, served in wooden bowls and eaten with small wooden spoons. The sakes ranging from around $20 to $125 (the most distinguished).

First meal is a unique bento box which changes all the time at a cost of $26. Ours was: Daikon and Brown rice w/ sardines; seaweed salad w/ Baby carrots and sliced cobia; conch water snail w/ hog snapper tempura (spearfished that day by Kevin’s friend–or at least that’s what he told us) with soy bean paste on mountain yams; custard like soup of grouper and mushroom.

Next up was an all fresh nigiri sushi progression, most of it from Japan that gets shipped overnight everyday. The pieces ranges from $2-$8 each. It’s important to note that even the ordering “process” throughout the sushi progression is unique. If you would like to participate in the upcoming round, you are asked to place a wooden paddle in front of the chef or farther back (closest to you) if you do not. Here’s an example of ours:
Scottish Salmon Belly (melted in my mouth)
Poached Maine Lobster
Madai Sea Bring – a white fish.
Hiramasa – real yellow tail from Japan
Squid
Uni
Shrimp Omelet
Eel w/ Japanese Melon – pickled for 2 years and brushed with a bb q sauce at least 5 times before we ate it

Last but not least is dessert which is sponge cake w/ mystery ice cream. We were sworn to secrecy so I don’t want to ruin the surprise! However, I can say that it tasted like salted caramel.

Sake Blue Asian Kitchen & Bar Review

// February 4th, 2011 // No Comments » // Food

Sake Blue is from the people that brought you Town Kitchen & Bar and Smoke’t Southern Kitchen & Tap in the old Chispa location.

Sake Blue is chic with DJ on weekend (on opening night), private sake vault adorned w/ graffitti (perfect for private birthday parties – check out the pics) and huge long bar with Asian-style takes on martinis using lychee, plums, etc.

Sake Blue has a Happy hour 4-7pm, 7 days a week – half off everything including bottles of wine (up to $200) with great variety of sake including one of my favorites, zipang which is sparkling sake.

The only complaint is that I hate the disposable chop sticks (generic red like the ones at canton) which kills the cool presentation of the table.

Here’s what our very knowledgable and friendly waiter Matt suggested. Needless to say we ordered half the menu which made the Executive Chef, Robert come out of the kitchen and discuss some of the finer points in the dishes along w/ the philosophy behind Sake Blue. So here’s what filled our happy belly:

* Lump Crab & Pineapple Fried Rice
* S&A Roll – Salmon / Avocado / Ooba Sauce (simple roll but the Ooba Sauce made it special)
* Steamed shrimp Lemongrass / Ginger / Ponzu (nice fresh lobster w/ little filler)
* Tuna Poke Yellowfin / Mango / Kimchee peanuts / Togarashi Potato chips / Poke Sauce (this crudo was probably one of the top 3 )
* Wok Charred Salmon w/ Crisp Bok Choy / Ponzu (probably the best tasting, perfectly seared, impeccable salmon filet w/ a taste crisp side of bok choy)
* Oxtail Wonton Soup w/ Beef Broth / Scallion
* Sweet & Sour Lobster w/ Pineapple / Shishito Peppers
* Fish Tempura Steamed Bun w/ Asian Remoulade (amazing, ordered another dish as it was spectacular)
* Chicken & Leek Skewers w/ Apple Slices
* Banana Spring Roll w/ Salted Toffee, Nuttella, Candied Peanuts and Praline Ice Cream (heaven)
* Candied Asian Pear Confit w/ Hazelnut Cookie, Spiced Syrup and Guanabana Sorbet
* Sushi – Chocolate Rice Pudding, Caramel, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Crunch in Almond Paper (beautiful presentation and delicious)

The manager/partner John also introduced himself to us and was extremely pleasant and welcomed all feedback which we happily had nothing bad to say – great food, great service, great prices. Here’s to the whole team’s success. Congrats!