have you eaten?

I will tell you all about it: Uni Ikura Donburi

January 6, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

How does this look like to you? Gross? Weird? To me, this looks just gorgeous.

If you let Japanese mom or grandma cook, you’d be surprised how much they do NOT waste ingredients. For example, let’s talk about chicken. They cook thigh, breast, wings, inner-fillet, liver, heart, tale, gizzard, feet, (we eat some parts raw…I know. But they are delicious!), and bones and neck for soup stock. Fish, same thing. They will use everything even fish roes.

So, in this photo, red pearl-ish looking thing is Ikura, salmon roes. Yellow slimy looking thing is Uni, sea urchin. You put these 2 things on a bed of rice, Donburi, then add little amount of Shoyu (good quality soy sauce, I recommend Ohsawa Brand. You can buy it natural food stores or online http://shop.goldminenaturalfoods.com/Nama-Shoyu/products/58/), you would feel like you are in heaven.

I don’t believe many sushi restaurants have this dish on the menu in the U.S. but if you order by saying “hey, I’d like to order Uni Ikura Donburi” in Japanese, you would impress the hell out of sushi chef. I guarantee it.

NYC, restaurant

Best Restaurant ever (?): Lovely little place in NYC

January 5, 2015January 5, 2015by have you eaten?2 Comments

I have one co-worker, and let’s call her Kathy. Kathy is a very cheerful and fun person to work with. She also is a foodie and has many recommendations where to dine and what to eat. I love hearing what she has to offer. When she gets excited about food and/or restaurants she likes, she uses this phrase “the best EVER” and “the greatest EVER.” I was born and raised in Japan and immigrated to the States 14 years ago, and as English being as my second language, I find her expression is very interesting. I did not think I had my “best EVER” place to eat until December 27th, 2014.

New York City is my favorite place to be, especially lower Manhattan. There are so many places I traveled and I love, but NYC is always No.1 on my list. Yes, it is busy, crowded, expensive, dirty, and crazy however, there is something very romantic about that place just to override those negative impressions. Old brick buildings, basketball courts, small parks throughout the city, coffee shops, 100-year old delis, tourists walking, tiny alleys, unique characteristics on each borough. Gorgeous bridges, small restaurants, bicycles, gigantic buildings, dressed up people, dressed down people, bookstores, theaters, music, cocktails, and food. My list will go on about 5 pages if you let me. Anyways, today I want to talk about this restaurant called Joseph Leonard in West Village.

I saw this photo on Tumblr about 6 months ago. It is a photo taken outside of this place and the glass window is steamed up. It must have taken one cold winter day. I could read “Joseph Leonard” on the window and see a few people inside. I did not know what the place was and I have not heard of the name before either but I had a hunch (or I wanted this place to be a restaurant in NYC so badly) so I Googled. Of course, it was a restaurant in the City (smile). 6 months later, we were there at Joseph Leonard at 9am sharp on 12/27/2014.

The place was even better than I imagined. When I reached out to the door, this friendly guy opened the door and said, “hey, come in!” We entered then my heart got filled with pure joy and expectations. The place only has 8 tables and one small bar in the middle. Old wooden floor and unmatched tables/chairs/benches. We got seated where people were sitting in that photo. Fast forward, my kale salad was arrived. Oh my God, it was the best kale salad EVER! Did I just use those words? Best EVER? And it was. Right amount of kale, dressing, sourness, sweetness, pickled red onion, perfectly cooked boiled eggs, cheese…And care and love. Plus, Stumptown Coffee roasts beans only for Joseph Leonard and it’s called “Happy Cooking Roast.” The coffee and our dish were perfectly complimenting each other.

After I talked to our wait staff, Michael B with much enthusiasm about this place and food, he serviced us a big slice of carrot cake (restaurant owner’s wedding cake) and another pot of Happy Cooking Roast, which we did not even ordered. I told him, “You guys rock. I don’t use this word too easily but your place and food are the best ever.” Seeing his smile after my comment was priceless. Combination of me being NYC, great food, perfect location, lovely atmosphere, and wonderful staff made this magic. Oh, I cannot forget to mention. When I came in “London Calling” was playing and Clash was being played whole time we were there.

This place is best restaurant EVER until I find another best EVER.

http://josephleonard.com/

personal view

What the hell is water? : my introduction to the new world

January 4, 2015January 4, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

I LOVE books. I am kind of obsessed with books and reading. My favorite place from age 6 to age 16 was the library, then after 17, it got switched to bookstores. I love everything about books. Smell, ink, fonts, covers, the feel of the pages, insights, stories, emotions, feelings, metaphor…and vulnerability. Book is a powerful thing because it can give you all different kind of perspectives. I grew up trying to get inside of authors’ head. I was (am) a book-nerd. I was raised by TONS of books and Billie Holiday.

A few years ago, I learned a little bit about David Foster Wallace. His masterpiece is called “Infinite Jest” and it is a 981-page book. It sounds intimidating. Then, my best friend introduced his commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005. My ears had never heard greater thing than that. The first time I heard it, my eyes welled up. He did not say to be a go-getter or be a fearless, mindless, unkind leader of corporate America. His entire message was just this. “Awareness.”

So, here is why I decided to start my blog. As being a book-nerd, I have always wanted to write since I was five but I never tried. Writing my own stuff in this space is new to me. This is quite scary and vulnerable. But I want to get out my comfort zone and routine, then I want to be conscious about my life. His speech starts with this one old fish asks two young fish, “how’s the water?” as he passes them by. Then those two young fish look at each other, then say, “What the hell is water?” I am that young fish in the blogging world. I want to see what’s out there. Not only discovering what’s out there, I want to be aware what’s happening in my world by writing in this space. I just want to know what the hell water is.

curry, rice

Japanese (mom’s) curry? Yeah, I think so.

January 4, 2015by have you eaten?6 Comments

What is Japanese curry (kare-raisu: curry and rice) anyways? It is a little bit thicker, more like stew-ish texture than Indian curry. I heard that curry and rice was introduced to Japan in late 1800’s for the first time from England. But does it matter? Not really. Most importantly, I know this thing is delicious and that’s actually all that matters. It is one of Japanese soul foods if you ask me “what the hell is Japanese curry?” Today I used sweet onion, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, mushrooms, tomato sauce, cumin, curry power, cinnamon, Theo chocolate (85% dark) and super finely ground Starbucks Kenya coffee beans. I think chocolate and coffee add rich body to the curry.

Every time I make Japanese style curry and rice, vivid memory of my mom cooking curry flashes back in my head. Cold and windy day in Tokyo, I come home from school, and as soon as I open the door, this warm, spicy and familiar smell drifts out from the kitchen. I love any kind of curry, Indian, Thai, Malaysian, Pakistani, Java, Indonesian…but my mom’s curry is simply the best.

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Tomato…so cheerful

January 3, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

I am hungry. Actually I am starving. After spending 10 hours or so at work, I want to eat fast. My choices are 1) to suck it up and cook 2) to go straight to the couch. OK, I choose 1) tonight but it needs to quick and delicious. It cannot be one those ready-made crap. No. It MUST have my love in it and be yummy in my tummy. On cold and gloomy night in Seattle, I thought tomato red would cheer my heart up and my stomach up. One big can of San Marzano and dried spaghetti box in my pantry. Ok. One Walla Walla sweet onion and brown mushroom in my veggie bin. Cool, I don’t have to go to store. In my Staub, I start cooking chopped onion with Lorenzo No.1 olive oil then add some mushroom, then whole can of tomato and Eden sea Salt. Shimmer while I take shower.

Then above becomes this with accompaniment.

Baby, it’s cold outside. Let’s eat spaghetti with simple tomato sauce so this will take us to under Italian sun and cold night blues are done immediately.

ice cream, jam

Friday Night-out: feeding my soul

January 3, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

This is how I spend my Friday night, hanging out at ice cream shop. And no, I am not ashamed of it especially when I found my dear friend, Ayako (she is BEAUTIFUL inside and out just to mention, and an artisan jam maker & florist)’s jam is featured at Molly Moon’s Ice cream (http://www.mollymoonicecream.com/) which is my favorite ice cream shop in entire world. Yes, better ice cream shops might exist, like Salt & Straw in PDX and LA or any gelato stores in Italy , but Molly Moon’s had me at hello and I don’t have any intention changing my love for that place. Anyway, after watching this quirky, weird, and yet fantastic movie called “Ruby Sparks,” we were on a way to get a slice of Marion berry pie at High 5 Pie. Thank goodness, it was closed and here is why I said “Thank goodness.” Well, we shifted a gear quickly and were headed to Molly Moon’s. Then, what did I find there. Ayako’s jam and even sundae called “Ayako Sundae.” My heart swelled with the pride.

This gorgeous sundae made with Theo Chocolate ice cream ream, Chukah cherries, Theo Chocolate crumbs, and of course Ayako’s jam. All ingredients are made in Washington State. How cool (literally) is that. This is one of awesome ways to spend freezing Friday night, I tell you.

http://ayakoandfamily.com/pages/about-us http://www.marigoldandmint.com/

「はなきん」の過ごし方には色々あると思いますが、私の金曜の夜の過ごし方をご紹介。クラブやバーに行くのではありません。アイスクリームを食べに出かけるのです。このさっむーい夜にわざわざ。でも、お店に到着してからが、すごかった。シアトルで最も愛されている、「モリムーンズ」は地元で採れる材料だけを使ってアイスクリームを作っています。そこで、私が愛してやまない、あやこさん（ジャム職人＋フローリスト。私の結婚式のお花を全部担当してくれた）のジャムがフィーチャーされているではありませんか。しかもメニューボードには「アヤコサンデー」の文字が。大好きなお友達の名前が、大好きなアイスクリーム屋さんのメニューになってる！こんなうれしい事って、クラブやバーでは起こらないですもん。はじめは、パイ屋さんで、マリオンベリーパイを食べようと思ったんだけれど、閉まってたので、モリムーンズにしたんです。今夜に限っては、パイ屋さん、閉まってくれてよかったー。

Uncategorized

Pacific Northwest Wild Mushroom Risotto

January 2, 2015January 2, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

First dinner of 2015 is risotto using Pacific Northwest wild mushroom that I bought at University district farmers market vendor called Foraged & Found Edibles.

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Various kinds of dried mushroom in 2oz bag so I soaked a whole bag in water for a couple hours, then used the water as risotto stock.

Then handsome risotto (a bit salt, Parmesan cheese)

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First pie of 2015

January 1, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

My first pie this year is Almond Cherry Pie from High 5 Pie with hot chocolate using Theo’s 85% dark chocolate with almond milk.
風邪を引いて寝込んだ私に、ジェフがHigh5 Pieで買ってきてくれたのは、アーモンドチェリーパイ。今年初パイです。お供はTheoのチョコレートで作った、チョコラショー。甘 x 甘かと思ったけれど、85%のダークを使ったので、以外と美味しかったです。