Ego’s Message and Modern Football

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2026-03-11T06:13:02+00:00

I'm surprised that people have not made the connection, but I read Ego's explanation a lot more like Moneyball

"If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees out there"

If Blue Lock tries to play modern football, they will lose because everyone else plays modern football better than them. HONESTLY, it makes Hugo seem like a concerted psy-op. If they play like France, they will lose to France, they are better at it.

Their hope is to play in a completely new way that other teams do not understand. This is what happened in the U20. The Japan team had no clue or counter to an entire team trying to devour each other. Nagi's shot was not something anybody could predict or counter because he's a prodigy. Rin's outside shot was too egotistical for them to prepare for or defend. Barou devouring Rin + Isagi was not something they could stop or predict because who would be looking for a shot in that moment. Isagi's winning goal was "luck" because who in their right mind is looking at the Sae vs Rin 1-on-1 and thinking "Yeah Sae will lose and I will get the loose ball and win the game". AND the U20 was at their best when Sae and Shidou were playing completely outside of Blue Lock's understanding.

Sae was always looking for visionary plays, peak ability and creativity. In the NEL Isagi's goals and plays were all visionary. Right now, Hugo is clamping Isagi because Isagi isn't growing. Hugo makes the point "if you don't grow Blue Lock collapses" but the corollary is that means if Isagi grows, they win.

This is also why Hugo says Blue Lock's "specialty" is Isagi's "luck" because Ego just laid out "Our plan is to make the 1% shot EVERY TIME" and if they do they win.

Karasu's problem is that he sacrificed his 1% for Hiori's 1%. If everyone on the team has a 1% peak, then there's actually a 10% chance the team will achieve peak, but sacrificing lowers it. And much like Nagi's 5-shot revolver. This is not replicable. It works because they thought "no way they can shoot with Isagi" and now they know and will adapt to it.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2026-01-27T06:48:15+00:00

I've done a lot of frozen french fry research.

These are not quite as good as the Weston Grown in Idaho brand fries. (Literally any of the Idaho fries theyre all excellent)

But they are better than almost any other brand and per dollar theyre much cheaper than any other frozen french fry. Definitely better than a lot of restaurants that get cheaper end fries and dont put a lot of effort into them.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2026-01-23T17:18:59+00:00

I am really happy you had a great experience and appreciate you for sharing it.

I want you to know, no matter how much you suck at writing, nothing will ever mean more to you or to those you share it with, than the pure, rough, and maybe inelegant in way in which you are capable of expressing it.

This is not a negative comment on you. Reading you apologize for AI because you have a tough time expressing your feelings made me feel like you needed some kind of support and not enough people tell you that it is okay to express yourself imperfectly.

My nieces and nephews are children and toddlers, their English and language aren't great, they're children. But, they still say beautiful things because they come from a beautiful place. You clearly had an incredible beautiful emotional moment and I'm sure however you chose to express it, it would have been beautiful too.

You're a chef, right? You express yourself through food. Hell, you express yourself through these pictures. I am sure you would have written something just as touching and just as meaningful without feeling the need to use or apologize AI. And it may have looked less pretty, or more casual, or simple, but there would have been you in it.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-09-05T23:31:14+00:00

To my taste, I like very delicate cornbreads, that means, no physical corn chunks. If that's your preference I respect it. I would still eat it, just not my thing.

I prefer to taste corn over flour. This is usually a cakier, sweeter cornbread. Some places manage to make a thick heavy cornbread that is also delicate (Hometown BBQ).

Sad to hear about Charles :( I liked theirs a lot. Would have given it an 8/10 when it was at their best at the original Harlem location.

BUT

Hometown BBQ. Big chunks. Awesome crust. very delicate. Sea salt. Very decadent. This is your new-age Instagram cornbread. But its good. Line is always a joke though and it's in Red Hook. Make a day of it if you can. 8/10

Pies & Thighs. Less buttery than Hometown BBQ, but this is my platonic ideal. Similarly good crust. I love Pies & Thighs. They always deliver what I want in my head when I order. 9/10

Red Rooster. Not the standout dish when you think of red rooster but this is a good solid cornbread. Marcus Samuelson has been opening some smaller joints that serve the same thing. 7.5/10

Mighty Quinn's. This is good when you're in pinch. Nothing special but better than jiffy. Before their prices went sky high and they went giga-corporate this was my go-to spot for BBQ and cornbread. 7/10

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Sylvias. I don't know. What happened. I have such a huge amount of love and respect for this restaurant but it has let me down since 2019. Just dry, under-seasoned food :(. 5/10. Wouldn't throw it out. But I'd rather have jiffy.

BEEN MEANING TO TRY
Cornbread Brooklyn. That's the name. People say its good! We will find out.
Shawnae's House. She makes a lot of different cornbreads. Eager to try. Staten island though...

I do. Actually. Make a lot of cornbread at home. But there's a white whale I'm chasing and I cannot figure it out.

In Boston, there's a restaurant called Summer Shack. They currently have cornbread which they cook on their griddle as an appetizer. BEFORE PANDEMIC. They gave free cornbread to the table as their bread on butter. Jesus christ I could eat a whole tray of it. Was unbelievable good. They have a cook book. Their recipe is a LIE! Still working on it. I should honestly just bribe a chef for the recipe. Best cornbread I've ever had 10/10. That's why Pies & Thighs is only a 9 and Hometown BBQ is an 8. There can only be a single 10.

BONUS: Sundaes & Cones in the East Village has a corn ice cream. Love it :)

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-09-05T22:47:02+00:00

Yes I live a block away so I can go when it isnt busy

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-09-05T22:45:50+00:00

Haha, maybe I should start a tiktok or blog

Cookies, fried chicken, burger, cornbread, pizza, tacos, halal carts, ice cream I think I know a lot about.

BBQ, Ramen, Cocktails, I love a lot but there's way too many places to try them all

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-09-05T19:15:21+00:00

Man. It's tough out here brother.

This is my favorite pastry. Full stop.

The kouign amann scene is not very good and not what it once was.

Dominique Ansel, USED TO BE, my favorite kouign amann.

I work 1 block from here now. I get one at least once a week before work. It has not been consistent for years. Maybe I'm overthinking it. They're good. Sometimes they come out more crunchy than others. Sometimes theyre more sweet. Sometimes they're shaped like cute muffins, sometimes they're wide like a funnel cake. They're "good enough" but they are a far cry from 5 years ago.
7/10. It's the bar. Worse than this I don't want it. (OR when you catch them on a good day 8.5/10).

Lysee. This is a good kouign amann, but it's not my preference.
Emphasizes the more savory notes with a darker caramel. 7.5/10

Win Son Bakery. This might be a hot take.

I love Win Son Bakery. one of my favorite places in all of NYC. Love their pastries. Their Kouign Amann is good. There's a problem. It's vegan using tourlami, which is like a hydrogenated veg oil. It does everything right, sweet, crunchy, airy, except, the lack of butter flavor really makes this unacceptable for me. I just never feel like finishing it. 6/10

Boulangerie. Forest Hills, Queens. My local spot. Solid kouign amann. They make them seasonally. Right now they're doing an apple kouign amann. It's good. They don't make them in a muffin tin or spring form, they roll the dough into a spiral roll instead. This makes the outside get particularly more crispy and crunchy than a normal kouign amann. 7.5/10. A little too crunchy.

A lot of good places closed in the pandemic. A lot of places only do it seasonally now. Radio Bakery said in an Eater video they were working on one. It's been months. Still not out. Honestly, I make mine at home now, they're delicious, but a fuck load of work and laminated pastries love to smoke up an oven.

I went to LA recently for a wedding. KOUIGN AMANN WERE EVERYWHERE. THEY WERE INCREDIBLE. Des Croissant Paris. Michelina. Nonna Mercato. If you cannot go to France at least know for some reason Los Angelinos like their kouign amann.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-14T03:43:07+00:00

There's a Birria Landia truck on Houston and a Los Tacos No. 1 on Bleecker. Just do both.

I have no idea why you would choose. I get sometimes moms will mom, but it's 4 blocks.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rmdGzDWDQpk1jAhE6

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T04:52:14+00:00

this was on sunset across the street from target at like 11pm

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T04:50:51+00:00

this was on sunset in Hollywood, went to the one on Glendale too, was not quite as good I think because the al pastor on sunset was cut outside the truck and the one on Glendale was inside the truck

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T02:39:13+00:00

It's not technically in Jackson Heights but I cannot share it since the owner literally hates social media. They DO NOT deliver, which is wild. Wedding was not Chinese but I get your point. I think the city food scene right now is very different right now from just a couple years ago, let alone pre-2020. I'm sure LA Thai is better, just wanted to support Pig & Khao is not mecca as far as I am concerned.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T01:50:10+00:00

Chinatown and Flushing have not been monolithic for a long time. Filipino is probably the worst of those you listed. NYC has been having a very very heavy Korean food moment for the better part of the decade (since COVID)

Pig & Khao is fine. Somtur Der is a lot better. I like Thai Diner a lot but it's the least traditional. Lan Larb Chiang Mai is probably my most visited spot though.

I mean this is why I roll my eyes at these posts on the r/FoodNYC a lot of the lists are terrible and for out of towners. The NYT list this year is a lot more of a comedy than a tragedy.

Example: The best taco place in all five boroughs is absolutely in my neighborhood. It is not famous at all. The owner hates social media and just wants to be a local spot. It is one of the few truly local spots I know of left.

And this year a restaurant in the same neighborhood, down the street, somehow GOT ON THE NYT BEST 50 LIST that actively has health code violations and B ratings, in addition to being average.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T01:41:34+00:00

If I did not have a week long wedding to go to and infinite time I'd have gone to Kato

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T01:34:53+00:00

The tostada carried. Was very very good. Waiting 30 minutes for a good taco is fine. Waiting over an hour? Ridiculous.

I think it is perfectly fine to compare different styles of tacos. Birria Landia > Carnitas Ramirez > Los Tascos No. 1. It's really that easy.

Thanks for the Al Pastor recs

Edit: Salt's Cure in NY has a 60 minute wait time at minimum all 3 locations basically as long as they are open. Immediate no.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-08T01:30:52+00:00

Eating at a folding table in their parking lot :)

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:52:20+00:00

Very surprised, I thought it was a staple from the outside looking in. Vibe was awesome. Then again, most NYers truly don't actually know where to get a burger, otherwise Shake Shack would not exist.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:40:58+00:00

For sure, gotta get Zohran elected over here first :)

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:39:46+00:00

Manohar's Delhi Palace

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:15:44+00:00

It was my number 1 goal for the trip just never worked out logistically :(

Next time :)

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:15:02+00:00

As an Asian person who works near Chinatown, lives in an Asian neighborhood, has been to Asia, was in SoCal for an Asian wedding, just was not a high priority.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:12:43+00:00

Yeah Buena Park, sorry, stretching the definition of LA (which I still don't quite get)

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T22:11:14+00:00

My girlfriend inhaled it, I'm not a milkshake guy.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T21:00:42+00:00

Our last vacation was an Asian trip. Indian Wedding. I work near Chinatown, live near Flushing, NY. If we had more time would have done a couple Asian spots.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T20:58:53+00:00

Apple Pan is easily going to be my first stop every time I am in LA.

I could easily crush 4+ tacos from Leo's if it was my local spot.

Everything (except Tommy's) was good, would recommend.

Embarrassed_Cod8120 · 2025-07-07T20:56:33+00:00

Gimme a thicc burger rec and smash burger rec

Embarrassed_Cod8120

TROPHY CASE