Thursday, May 19, 2016

"Anniversary ASA-GOHAN"



Yesterday Jonathan & I celebrated our 28th Anniversary.  
It is hard to believe we shared a life together for 28 long years.  Tell you the truth it doesn't feel that long at all.
In spite of the Japanese dinner we shared with a friend the night before, we decided to have a very traditional Japanese Breakfast "Asa Gohan" in Brooklyn.  I found this restaurant called "OKONOMI (as you wish)"  last year, but we didn't have a chance to try it yet.  The Anniversary was good excuse to finally go there to try it.
We also found that our friend's birthday is only 2 days away, so we decided to ask her to join us.  We met her at the subway station to cross the East River.

The tiny restaurant has only 12 seats, and they serve only set breakfast menu.  But they always have a choice of main fish dishes.  
It is a very traditional breakfast ICHI-JU SAN-SAI.  Rice and Miso soup(ichi-ju) and three small dishes(san sai) to accompany them.  
The Atmosphere is very quint.  It almost felt like we're sitting in a small restaurant somewhere in Japan, even though one of chef was non Japanese.  We had such a great time in the Willamsburg section of Brooklyn.  That was perfect way to started our 29th Year.










As you can see we finished everything we ordered.  That included side orders of "ONSEN TAMAGO" which is very slow cooked whole egg that you often find in ONSEN(Hot Spring in Japan).  They recommend that we mix and pour over 5 Grain Rice... which was delicious!
By the way, we chose all 3 kinds of fish they still had for the day, Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, and Tile Fish.  And they came with very colorful Pickled Vegetable and Spinach with Tofu Sauce and small square shaped Omelet.
They were just as perfect as you can get.  I'll go back there any time...
Before we left to get good coffee at "Blue Bottle" I needed to freshen up.  
In there, I found an Antique Mulberry Stencil for Kimono was displayed in the wall. That was another reminder of great Japanese Culture.



Wednesday, May 4, 2016

"Boys' Day"



May 5th is a Holiday called "Boy's Day" in Japan.
Many families will be celebrating with displays of "Koi Nobori"   It is Carp-shaped flags and multicolored streamers (which symbolize the water in the rivers). The Carp represent each families wishes that their boy will grown up to be a healthy successful adult.  I don't know how and when it became tradition for this holiday, but it is still common sights to see in Japan at the beginning of May.
I believe some town has many "Koi Nobori" display over rivers to celebrate this very special day.

"Happy Star Wars Day !"

Today is May 4th, it means...



















Tuesday, May 3, 2016

"Bunnies in the Manhattan"



On the way to go visit a friend's home in Battery Park City in lower Manhattan I stopped by "the Winter Garden"  It is located across from World Trade Center Memorial Park.  I have not visited that area for quite some time.  I still have uneasy feelings to do so after 9/11.
I presently surprised to find more than a few Gigantic White Bunnies standing among people who were enjoying the warm Sunny Spring Sunday afternoon. 
Here are photos of those bunnies....












Sunday, May 1, 2016

"Happy May Day !"


























Vive la Paix (Hooray for Peace, Long Live Peace), 1954
Pablo Picasso