Back to "Japan"

Nihon e ikitai desu. Nihon e ikitai desu. Istu? Ima. Mochiron. Ikimasenka? Ikimashou!

It's been a year since we have set foot in our beloved Japan. And, while we enjoy living stateside now, we do miss LOTS of things about our lives in Kyoto.

Thanks to Pa, this Christmas, we were lucky enough to be able to return to "Japan" for a day.

With grandparents chomping at the bit for an extended babysitting opportunity and two fellow fun-seekers (Charlie and Erin) to share the day with, we headed out on an Asian Adventure in New York City.

Our first stop was Katagiri. Chris says that they are the oldest Japanese grocer in New York City. Sugoi desu ne! We stocked up on lots of Japanese favorites that we hadn't been able to find in the US - (real) Udon and soba noodles, Pocky, Sansai (Kyoto mountain vegetables), Tonkatsu sauce, (good) gyoza sauce, and kabocha, a Japanese pumpkin that my Dad said looked like a calabasa. Yum!! They even had a fridge full of C.C. Lemon!

Just in case we didn't have enough authentic groceries in our bags, we hit another Japanese grocer - JAS Mart. This shop was larger, but carried more snacks and non-food items as opposed to fresh foods. I was excited to find so many brands of canned Japanese coffee. Also, they carried the dehumidifying pouches and containers for drawers and closets. Not that I need them in the middle of dry winter, but I got a few anyway for when warmer wetter weather prevails!

Next, on the recommendation of my friend Dan, we went to Ippudo, a New York branch of a popular Japanese ramen chain. Even though we arrived before 5pm, there was still a bit of a wait. This place was SO popular, and rightfully so. Our ramen was **amazing!** Chris and Charlie both got the special and Erin and I both got the Akamaru-modern. Following the traditional custom we all ordered "Kae-dama onegaishimasu!" - a second helping of noodles for our ramen broth. As we were leaving, the lines of hungry diners filled the bar, lobby and poured out onto the street. Clearly, being early was the way to go.

Our final stop was Duet 35 - an authentic Japanese karaoke place near Penn Station. Japanese karaoke is so much cooler than a typical American karaoke bar because instead of putting your name on a long list only to have to then sing in front of a room of strangers, you get your own private room with a big screen TV and microphones for just you and your friends! We met up with a bunch of Charlie's friends there- all of whom were excellent singers. :)



Another fun feature, you can order drinks and snacks to be brought to your room. Chris and I each ordered one Kahlua Milk drink just like we did on most singing occasions with Muraki-mama, Sayaka and Dominikus! Natsukashii desu ne! Plus, the drinks made everyone sing (and hear) better! We stayed for over two hours, until our vocal chords begged us to hop on the next train home.

What a fun and nostalgic day! For the record, not having to take a 15 hour flight to enjoy these Japanese foods and activities is AMAZING! Anyone up for a repeat adventure?

Lindsay and Andy's Wedding

On October 4th, Lindsay Skay and Andy Whitacre got hitched in a beautiful ceremony at St. Agnes Cathedral. Hooray! Never was there a couple more deserving of a perfect wedding day than these two. And man, did they get perfect - what an extravaganza!

The cocktail hour and reception were held at The Royalton at Roslyn Country Club. The food can only be described as pure deliciousness. Some examples of the taste sensations were wild mushroom tarlets and panko-encrusted striped bass with herb risotto and sautéed spinach topped with a lemon caper sauce. I wish I were able to create meals like these. Seriously.

To work off all the calories, there was a lot of dancing. If you wonder where Lindsay got her dancin' skillz, check out this video of her and her father. Apparently it's true - the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Later that night, there was an after-party at the Glen Cove Mansion, formerly known as the Harrison House. It was fun to investigate what had changed since I was last there... just over six years ago, for my own wedding reception. I'm happy to report they still have the shuffleboard and Foosball tables in the pub!

Have fun on your honeymoon guys! Congratulations and Best Wishes!

150 Years

The year 2008 is a special one for my parents, aunts and uncles. It is the year where the eight of them combine to celebrate 150 years of marriage. (45+38+34+33=150)

Having realized the interesting addition of the year, my mother threw a surprise party. The only hint as to the theme of the celebration, was that she asked her sister and brothers to bring their wedding albums with them.
Everyone had a good time going through the photos and sharing stories about how they first met and started dating. After feasting at a "classic" wedding BBQ, all four couples cut their wedding anniversary cake together. Aww!

Congratulations guys!