Aqui es Mexico Cocina Mexicana

 

Located at 1800 Westchester Drive in High Point, Aqui es Mexico offers Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. There is a full bar, food specials change daily, and both outdoor seating and online ordering are available.

 

When Aqui es Mexico succeeded Guacamole at this location last year, one thing became clear not long thereafter: this place is different. Aqui es Mexico offers both traditional dishes not always available elsewhere as well as interesting fusion offerings such as Mexican sushi. Add to that an active social media presence and some tantalizing specials (i.e. $5 Wednesdays or half-priced app Fridays), and if nothing else, Aqui es Mexico deserves credit for trying to separate itself from the pack.

 

My wife and I visited on a Friday night to find the place busy, but given how big the restaurant is, we had no trouble getting a table. Colorful murals adorned the walls, and the atmosphere can best be described as lively. The music is loud, but unless someone is celebrating a birthday (they go all-out in recognizing that here), it isn’t overwhelming.

 

The menu is extensive, and I appreciated the page’s worth of seafood offerings. Whether you’re in the mood for the tried and true (burritos/tacos/fajitas) or want to try something different (the aforementioned sushi, several different molcajetes, more margarita variations than you knew existed), Aqi es Mexico has you covered. Hungry and eyeing leftovers, we went with an empanadas starter, carnitas, and cochinita pibil.

 

Beto provided excellent service throughout the meal, and the kitchen was impressively fast and efficient. Though it was a busy night, we got our food quickly. The pricing was moderate – entrees in the teens – and we got a good amount of food for our money.

 

For as much thought went into the menu and décor here, it’s unfortunate that the food wasn’t as impressive. Our empanadas (two beef and two chicken) looked great as they were fried to a golden brown. The beef were tasty, but the chicken were decidedly bland. The cochinita pibil was nicely sauced though not as intensely flavored as I’ve had elsewhere. Ditto the carnitas, which were appealingly crispy on the outside but underseasoned. The sides were your standard rice/beans/salad, akin to what you’d find in many Mexican restaurants in the area.

 

Because nearly everything else – service, ambiance, menu variety – was a plus here, I definitely wouldn’t rule out a return to Aqui es Mexico. Here’s hoping they can up their seasoning game.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

 

Ichiban Kasuga, the goofy eternally optimistic ex-yakuza, has taken to helping other former criminals find legitimate work while his formerly down-and-out comrades Adachi and Nanba also seem to be thriving. But when a viral video threatens their fortunes and Kasuga’s dating life implodes, he receives a surprising mission from his former clan captain: go to Hawaii and track down his presumed-dead mother, Akane. Upon arrival, Kasuga finds several dangerous factions hunting are hunting for Akane as well. Fortunately, he acquires unexpected allies, including legendary former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu, who is on a mission of his own and whose days may be numbered. Will the group find Akane and discover why she is wanted before it is too late?

The newest entry in Sega’s long-running Yakuza series is the follow-up to 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a game that controversially moved the series from action brawler to turn-based RPG. In its own way, however, Infinite Wealth is no less revolutionary. It’s the first game in the series with an American setting, and, the first that really shows longtime protagonist Kiryu’s age (55) and health catching up with him. He’s still quite a formidable fighter, but we get to see him as more of a team player and less of a one-man army this go-around, and the bonds he forms with Kasuga and other party members help flesh him out.

Kiryu is but one of several surprisingly well-developed and well-written characters here. From inane plot contrivances to completely detestable megamaniacal villains, subtlety and complexity are not always Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios’ strengths. Infinite Wealth still has plenty of zaniness – Kasuga imagines street punks as monsters, presumed-dead characters pop up as bartenders who troll their patrons, and you fight malicious construction equipment on more than one occasion – but it's tempered by a more mature approach to characterization. Newcomers Tomizawa and Chitose are introduced as a petty criminal cab driver and a spoiled heiress, respectively, yet both have sympathetic motivations and grow to take responsibility and control of their lives. Returning character Seonhee, the seemingly stern queen of Yokohama’s Korean underworld, lightens up around Kiryu and displays a sisterly affection for underling Joongi Han. Club owner Saeko rebuffs attempts to woo or control her and asserts her independence. While one of the main antagonists fits the all-conquering mold, the others have more understandable rationales for the extremes that they go to.

Much of the voice cast returns from the previous game, and among the English-language performers, Kaiji Tang (Kasuga), Greg Chun (Nanba), and Elizabeth Maxwell (Saeko) continue to impress. Here, we’re also treated to Danny Trejo voicing a character modeled after himself, machetes and all. That said, vtuber Yong Yea is both too young and too inexperienced to really do Kiryu justice. The performance grows on you after a while, but it’s almost worth switching the language to Japanese for Takaya Kuroda’s familiar baritone alone.

While the turn-based combat in Like a Dragon was serviceable, it’s both deeper and more fluid in Infinite Wealth. Positioning plays a bigger role as you can move around to set up back attacks and environmental attacks. New job classes (each with unique abilities) open up possibilities to suit different playing styles that emphasize attack or magic or healing. Kasuga can perform tag-team attacks with party members once their hype meters fill. Kiryu, thankfully, retains his ability from older games to switch between fighting styles, and when his meter fills, he can step out of turn-based combat entirely and simply start punching and kicking opponents at will (similar to the old Extreme Heat mechanic).

There is much in Infinite Wealth that manages to be both fun and utterly shameless. The Pokemon-ripoff Sujimon collection side activity is back, and it is joined this time by an Animal Crossing ripoff: Dokondo Island. I’m not a fan of either franchise, but the former eventually grew on me – the latter continues to feel tedious. Another string of side activities can best be described as a Kiryu nostalgia tour as he triggers memories of characters from past games and even gets to observe some from afar (he’s been declared legally dead, and the shadowy faction that arranged it tries to distance him from his past life). Add to that everything from dungeon crawl battles to fishing to baseball and more, and there is no shortage of things to do in this game.

Well-designed, well-written, engaging, and eminently playable, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has, if not, infinite potential, then at least a reasonable approximation of something for everybody. 

Peppers Indian Grill and Bar

 

Located at 727 West Main Street in Jamestown, Peppers Indian Bar and Grill offers Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11:30 to 3 daily and from 4:30 to 9:30 (or 10 on Fridays and Saturdays). There is a full bar, and a lunch buffet is offered on the weekends. Online ordering is available as are catering and private dining/an event space.

I was sad to see the frequently excellent and just as frequently understaffed Namaste Lumbini close its doors. Thankfully, Peppers, which opened in the same spot, retains some of the Nepalese offerings. Add to that some experienced hands in both the front and back of house as well as a buffet, and there’s a lot of potential here.

 

My wife and I stopped by on a Sunday to try the aforementioned buffet, and we were impressed with the variety of offerings. There were multiple soups and chicken dishes, a paneer, a lamb, a biryani, a fish, several apps, salads, desserts, and even multiple beverage options, all of which were conveniently labelled. At $17ish per person, it was a good value. Though the buffet side of the restaurant was fairly busy, the hard-working staff did a good job of keeping up with the demand: none of the buffet stations stayed empty for long. 

As with Namaste Lumbini before it, the food at Peppers is better than you’d expect. The succulent tandoori chicken was among the best versions I’ve had, and the watermelon drink was very refreshing. Certain dishes (i.e. the fish) had a lot of tiny bones, but blame nature rather than Peppers for that one.

I don’t know if Peppers will have staying power, but given what their kitchen is capable of, one can hope. In the meantime, I look forward to returning for chicken 65, jhol momo, and other favorites while I can.

Shrimply Delicious

 

Located at 2204 Golden Gate Drive in the Golden Gate Shopping Center in Greensboro, Shrimply Delicious offers fried seafood sandwiches and platters. Family-sized portions, online ordering, and delivery (via DoorDash) are available. The restaurant is open from 11 to 9 Mondays through Saturdays.

 

As a fan of both bad puns and good seafood, I was bound to end up here sooner or later. When a po boy craving struck, I remembered the name and decided to give Shrimply Delicious a try. It wasn’t an entirely regrettable decision, but I don’t think I’ll be back.

 

Shrimply Delicious is a smallish space, and the tables in their dining area are packed somewhat closely together. This is a non-issue if you’re seeking takeout, of course, but if you’re looking to dine in, it may get a bit crowded. The menu boasts shrimp and fish baskets (with sides and drinks), fish sandwiches, and po boys. You won’t find any surprises, but there’s something to be said for staying on-brand.

 

I opted for a shrimp and catfish po boy to go. At $12.75, it was priced roughly between 42 Fry and Full Moon’s versions. The staff here are hard-working, but they were getting slammed with to-go orders, and so I had a longer-than-expected wait (albeit not unreasonably so).

Positives first: the sandwich was large, and the shrimp and fish were breaded and cooked well. Nothing tasted greasy. That said, the fish was fairly salty, the remoulade so-so, and the bread was a lackluster generic sub roll.

 

This isn’t the worst rendition of a po boy that I had, but it’s far from the best. Ultimately, Shrimply Delicious proved to be shrimply okay.

Arrowhead Coffee

Located at 518 North Spring Street in Greensboro, Arrowhead Coffee offers coffee drinks and teas. Specialty drinks change seasonally, and online ordering is available via Square.

Arrowhead rates as one of Greensboro's best coffeeshops and best-kept secrets. Because it isn't in the heart of downtown, it is easy to overlook. Tucked into a small plaza behind Dog Days, it is easy to drive right by it without realizing it is there. However, those who do stop won't regret it.

For starters, Arrowhead's blend of industrial and artsy makes for a unique ambiance. It's a comfortable space with plenty of seating. They don't have a huge selection here, but what they do offer - nitros and flash brews in addition to the usual suspects - helps it stand apart.

During my first visit, I opted for one of their seasonal drinks, the Cherie Berry. This hat tip to our state's erstwhile elevator queen was made from vanilla oat cold brew topped with strawberry foam and freeze-dried strawberries. It wasn't cheap (probably around $7 for a 16 ounce), but it was deliciously smooth and creamy. The strawberry pieces added a hint of tartness and an interesting textural contrast. Service was prompt and courteous.

Arrowhead isn't close to home, so I don't know when I'll return, but I'm glad that I got a chance to knock it off the "to try" list.

Dune: Part Two

 

Presumed dead, Paul (Timothee Chalamet) and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), survivors of the massacred House Atreides, have been hiding out on the desert planet Arrakis. Paul hopes to rally the native Fremen to strike back at their mutual enemy, House Harkonnen. But first, he must learn their ways. As he does so, tribal leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) suspects that he might be their long-prophesized messiah. Chani (Zendaya) rejects the prophecy as a dangerous superstition even as she grows closer to Paul. Meanwhile, scheming Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) presses his nephew Rabban (Dave Bautista) to crush the Fremen, knowing that Rabban’s younger brother Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) waits in the wings as a potential replacement. The Emperor Corrino (Christopher Walken), having allied with the baron to depose Paul’s father, now fears an uprising while his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), seeks to learn the Reverend Mother Mohiam’s (Charlotte Rampling) plans for the future of the throne.

 

The follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s successful 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic, Dune: Part Two manages, improbably, to surpass it. Aesthetically breathtaking and powerfully acted, it avoids the first film’s second-half lag. Though ten minutes longer, Part Two feels like a shorter film thanks to more even pacing and plenty to occupy the audience’s attention.

 

Advances in filmmaking technology have made what would have been revolutionary years ago seem commonplace today, but even by these jaded standards, Dune: Part Two is a visually impressive film. Whether showing an immense sandworm crashing through desert dunes or a gladiator duel in a crowded coliseum (in black and white, no less), Greig Fraser’s cinematography is striking. Hans Zimmer returns to provide another powerful score.

 

The story that accompanies this marvel is largely faithful to the source material albeit with a few pragmatic excisions and expansions. Notable in the book largely for being its narrator, Princess Irulan here takes on a greater role in trying to preserve her family’s standing. Chani here is far less supportive of Paul as his legend grows. This gives her more agency – and a chance for Zendaya to show off her acting chops – but though intended as a voice of reason amid religious fervor, she often comes across as just as much of a zealot (an atheist ethnonationalist rather than a religious one) as the fundamentalists she condemns.

 

Both Zendaya and Bardem felt like odd casting choices the last go-around: the Fremen are Bedouin-inspired, and neither actor is Arabic. However, both seem to have grown into their roles, and Stilgar in particular no longer seems like comic relief. Chalamet handles the lead role, capturing Paul’s virtuousness and rage alike, but he leans more adequate than excellent. Fortunately, he doesn’t have to do more with so many other strong performers around him. Ferguson continues to shine as a woman literally and metaphorically possessed, and Josh Brolin finally gets to do something besides scowl. A nearly unrecognizable Butler makes up for Feyd Rautha’s absence from the last film by stealing scenes in this one. He matches Skarsgard’s bald, pale appearance, gravelly voice, and violent cruelty albeit with a sense of honor in combat that the other Harkonnens lack.

 

Literary adaptations often walk a fine line between fidelity and innovation, and a step too far in either direction risks losing the audience. Exceptions as they may be, Dune: Part Two and its predecessor have shown that it is possible to have your cake and eat it too.