Toshu-Koshi Noodles

I know it should be Soba Noodle, but I could not locate it in the house. A light meal as the last for the year.
Wish you all a very happy new year.

New Year's Eve

It became our tradition to have Shabu Shabu on a new year's eve. We bought all ingredients yesterday at a big Japanese grocery store in NJ. It does not look like for only two, but it was only for us with big stomachs.

Tofu Soup

Our favorite Korean restaurant in NJ. It is a bit too much for two people to have two soups and BBQ, but we can finish all in the end.

Snowy Day Dinner

After cleaning up all the left overs we had accumulated, we were in the mission to cook something good.
This is what we ended up with. Tomato sauce came out really good. It is a meat dish yet a lot of vegetables we had in the dishes too. Perfect for the day like today.

Results of Shopping

Found a high-end furniture store in CT. I am saying high-end as it is more expensive than national chains you know.
We were not sure the colors but they seem like a good match together.
Some more on their way...

Lunch and Shopping in CT

A nice day to be outside, and we took full advantage of it. A drive to Connecticut to have lunch at our favorite casual restaurant. Some furniture (decoration, I should say) shopping afterward.

Winter Reading...

Was that the Santa? Nope yet I now have a Kindle. This new one is small and easy to read at a warm living room.

Korean Night

We were in the mood for Korean food. Good news was we have a bag of Kimchi from HMart.
After searching the web, I found a recipe for the soup. It is different from the tofu soup we usually have but hitting the same Korean spot I have.

Birthday

It is always good to know that someone is celebrating the birthday with me. An Austrian style birthday cake this year. They know how to make a chocolate cake...
Thank you, Love.

Sukiyaki? Dinner

I don't know you can see this but I grew up with Miso based sukiyaki, and this tradition continues in our house. No raw egg to dip to tonight.

Home Alone

Dinner by myself. It is pure Japanese, as far as I can tell.
Comfort food after a long hoe away.

In NYC for...

Just before the Christmas, and everyone seems happy. As my semiannual event, I am in the city for the dentist. I just learned that they were one of the Sandy storm victims. I felt so bad but keeping visiting them is the only thing I could do for them.
On the way back I bought dozen of bagels at where else, Ess-a. It is really heavy and warm.... Heavenly.

ANA First Class Report

Disappointment, not on the flight itself but on my personal condition. I was sick throughout the flight, and I could not drink expensive, I man very expensive wines, taste full course Japanese dishes or yummy breakfast. The only thing I was able to eat was this fruit plate.
They made the bed next to my seat, so at least the sleeping condition was good. Plus two flight attendants were serving exclusively ME, which was nice.
Oh well, there will be another time, I hope.

First Class to San Francisco

This is the nice surprise... After finding that I booked for a wrong day, during the reservation I could choose a first class, Yup one class above business class on ANA. It could cost $10k if I would have paid. Will see what kind of treatment I van get.

Italian Dinner in Tokyo

Last night in Tokyo, I met up with my friends for 20 years. Japanese Italian, which I sometimes think better than the one in NYC or Rome. I found a nice surprise yesterday, which I will tell you later so stay tuned...

Kakiage Cha-Zuke

Japanese food at the hotel restaurant.the last course was this... Yum yum.

Chinese in Ginza

Chinese has reputation to be cheap food, but there are a lot of expensive Chinese restaurants in Japan. We went to one of them for lunch. I know California has banded shark fin, but...

Tokyo

After eleven hours of flight from Amsterdam, I am in Tokyo. This is the view I have. Not great but at least from the view on the 38th floor in shinjuku.

Another Weekend in Amsterdam

This is my second weekend on this trip... Hate to stay in the city bit I did not have a choice this time.
After the snow storm yesterday you can still see some snow on the ground, yet people are bicycling...
As usual my favorite sweet store selling some local and season stuff too.

Classic Concert in Amsterdam

I was thinking how I can spend the weekend without relying on unpredictable weather here in Amsterdam. The solution was a classic concert. I am in Europe and there has to be a classic concert hall. Yes there is. It is an historical building and a bit over 20 euro gave me free public transportations and drinks. Not a bad deal at all. I had some snacks before the concert.

Weekend in Amsterdam

Weekend in the Netherlands alone - no weekend trip either. Went to my favorite store to buy this cake. It is for some reason called Orient. Always a line at this store and I know why. It is not as sophisticated as the ones in Brussels, but I like it.

After Thanksgiving Meal

We had a wonderful meal with my friend yesterday, where we had tons of home cooking.
So today we tried to be light on the meals. It does not look too light but a lot of vegetables at least. Majority of pasta sauce will go to the freezer...

Sunday Lunch

Sunday lunch at 11 am... I woke up at 4 am this morning (a huge improvement from the day before, 1:30 am), so our lunch was at this early time. Good news is that no need to catch a flight today as I am working from NYC this coming week.

Sunday should be...

This is a typical Sunday should be. Walked a park in Brussels and had TWO pieces of sweets at my favorites place. It is the season of chestnut... Yummy...

Saturday Pleasure

Not a sunny day but no umbrella required.
Started with a bowl of ramen at Kokuban. I like this place as no need to wait before getting a seat.
After a long walk, finally I went to the museum. Mainly old collections and not much new arts. Building was beautiful though.
Brought back some sweets from this fancy chocolate store. It was really dense chocolate with some berries taste.

Brussels Gate Away

Similar to the last time, I needed to be 60 miles south of Amsterdam Friday on business, and I naturally came to Brussels for the weekend. Staying at my favorite hotel, and this was my breakfast. Some meat, fish, and vegetables. All balanced. Not great weather outside, but I think I can enjoy the stay here.

Stew Season

It's this time of the year. After some power outage accident, we were still able to bring the stew to the table. Someone said this is the best so far... The bar gets higher and higher...

Sunday

Day time saving ended today so we had an extra hour. A typical Sunday to have favorite sweets. I did not feel too guilty as I did a quick work out and I walked there and back to the hotel.
On the way back to Amsterdam, new and old windmills.
BTW, this is one of the best rooms I got yet. At least the view.

Day Trip to Brugge

Every one who has been in Belgium said to me that I should go to Brugge. That's what I did today.
It started as a rainy day but after waiting in a car gave me this clear sky.
Two was beautiful but so many tourists.

Dinner at my Room

Usually it takes more than 2 hours, but I worked in the different office today, which is only one hour away, oh I am talking about Brussels.
Take out dinner, as it is rainy and tired from a long week.

Fall Colors

It was a spectacular day. We went to the mountain to enjoy the fall color. Just about one hour drive brought  us this beautiful mountain top, I mean another 90 minutes hiking required though.
On the way a group of beetles, which was nicely blended to the fall colors.
BTW I made a bento box just like my mom would make. Nothing better than a home cooked lunch on top of the mountain.

Things I Did on Sunday

I needed to have a hair cut. Yes I could do this in NYC, but squeezing a hair cut for only three days every two weeks is not that easy. So the solution is to have it here. I don't think it is as sophisticated as it could be, only 30 minutes vs. 60 minutes but still acceptable. In that area there is a Japanese restaurant, so my lunch was a Noodle soup. I have to say not too bad at all...

Rainy Weekend in Amsterdam

I guess summer is over and now it is the beginning of the rainy season here. My room has cool viewd from the river, the station to the city. Cruise ship is about depart the port.