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.