"Good Bye '11, Hello 2012"

Some places on Earth are already New Years.  
But here in New York, we are still waiting for this horrible year to be finished.  
Let us hope the coming year is going to be a much happier year.
Many people who came from other places have started gathering in "Times Square" to see the Crystal Ball coming down.  
Most New Yorkers do not even get close to midtown.  If we are so interested to see the ball falling, chances are we're watching it on TV.  Tell you the truth I did witness it once in the 80s, but once is more than enough.  It gets so crazy !
I'd rather think that Happy New Year is slowly silently getting closer to us just like a "Noh Player's Walk"  They walk with no sound, feet never leaving the wooden floor.  It is almost like looking at somebody walking on a cloud with such elegance. I started to look for an image of that walk a few days ago, then I was lucky enough to find one. 
In the process of doing that I found other images which I can associate with the End of Year thru New Year's.
I usually post only the photos I make, but today I made a exception.  So that I can share the feelings of happiness and calmness with you readers of my blog.   And I very much wanted to celebrate with hope for New Year.  So, here they are...

We New Yorkers always give you the best parties for the occasions.

Some of our friends are doing a "Mid-Night Run" in the Central Park.

They do have great Fireworks as well.

If I have energy to cross Times Square to go up there, 

I'll have photos of that event.

But I have a feeling that I'll be home, looking at it on TV.

"Good Bye 2011" 

The Happy Dancing is just about to start !

"My Sweet Holiday Traditions"

Everybody must have things they desire for the Holidays.
In my case it is all about Sweets !  I have a few sweet treats I had to get for between Christmas and New Year's Day.  
In Japan, New Year's Day is the biggest holiday of a year.  And it is a Holidays that comes with special dishes just for the first three to seven days of New Year. Its called "Osechi" and does include sweets.
But my Eating Traditions for the Holidays developed since I started to live here in New York City.  
I do have "Turkey" for Thanksgiving which I had never tried until I came to this country.  I do have "Doughnuts" to celebrate Chanukah.  Maybe that's a very good excuse for me to have those deep fried goodies.  
I do get "Panettone" for Christmas. This Italian specialty is easy to find in this city, but most of them are not good at all.  As the matter of the fact I used to disliked this bread until a friend introduced me to the very best, the most authentic panettone in the city a while ago.  For the last ten years or so,  I have been buying it for Christmas.  They are avalable only for the Christmas time. 
I don't start to feel like Christmas until I get it.  Something about the aroma coming from this fantastic Italian Christmas Bread, makes me Happy and Merry...

Three days before Christmas I finally found time to go to "Sant Ambroeus" in the West Village to get "Panettone"  This Small Restaurant Bar sells Italian Deserts at the fromt of the place.  

I believe, they invite a special baker from Italy for a month to make "Panettone" for Christmas.  I was hoping to find them still in that location.  If they have already sold out of them, I must go to their main Restaurant Bar on Upper Madison to get one like I did last year.  Although once I get to the place, I enjoy being there because it is just like any big bar or cafe in any city in Northern Italy...  

Fortunately this year, I could find it on West Fourth Street.  When I was there to pick it up I tried hard not to look at the deserts selection.  I'm telling you it is a very dangerous place, if you like Italian sweets !

That was the first Name on my Pre-Christmas Sweet Shopping List to be crossed off on that evening.
Next stop was "Minamoto Kitchoan" in Rockefeller Center to get Japanese Sweets.  I had to get some Wagashi (Japanese sweets) with Kuri (Chestnut). Eventhouh I really don't like to go to that part of Manhattan at this time of the year.  The shop is almost opposite from where you will find the tree.  You can imagine who is walking around there.  I had to push through a crowd who do not know how to walk in the streets of Manhattan....
Then "Doughnut Plant" in the Chelsea Hotel to get particular kinds of Doughnuts. They make more than a few special flavors for the Holiday.  This retail shop in Chelsea opened early this Spring, therefore it's no longer necessary me to go to the Lower East Side for doughnuts.  
The final stop was "Amy's Bread" in "Chelsea Market".  They make a special Bread only for Holiday Season.  So I had to get that one as well.
On the morning of Cristmas Eve all of the names on the List were crossed.  Just in time for me to get ready for "Christmas Eve Dinner Party" at our friend's home. 

Shopping is completed !

The only thing left me to do is to decide what to start with?

"Doughnut Plant" makes many unique flavors for Yeast & Cake Doughnuts.

I've got "Marzipan" & "Holiday-Spices with Pear" glazed Yeast Doughnuts.

And tres delicious Tres Leches Cake Doughnut !

I made Hot Bitter Chocolate to have with them.

Japanese Sweets are based on Sweet Red Bean Paste.

During the last 7 days of the year I had to get some.  

And I prefer to get them with shapes or symbols of happiness.

And I love to have them with Chestnuts.  It is the flavor for Fall to Winter.

I'm enjoying them with "Lychee Flavored Hand-Knotted Tea"

In the middle of gift wrapping, it is nice to have tea break.

And made sure to save some for the New Years.

  

After completing my shopping tasks for the Holiday, 

I had to slice some "Chocolate Cherry Bread" on Christmas Eve Afternoon.

Accompanied by "Ronnybrook Farm's Eggnog"

Christmas Morning always starts with "Panettone" with Black Coffee.

Nothing's better than this breakfast on Christmas Morning!

After Gift Unwrapping  I had to close the drapes to take a nap.

All of the sugar I've been tasting was finally getting to me ! 

"A Break Between Holiday Dinners"

What are you going to have between Big Holiday Dinners ?
I do prefer to have meals with just vegetable.  I'm not vegetarian, therefore I don't dare to say I know how to cook vegetarian dishes.  I do use Chicken Broth, and occasionally butter as well.  Although I'm trying to keep Butter, Eggs and Whole Milk out from my fridge.  And I committed not to have Processed White Stuff such as White Rice, White Pasta, White Flour, and White Sugar in my kitchen.  
I am Japanese, so it was very difficult for me to stop eating White Rice at home, but I stared to enjoy brown rice.  It is so much better for you.  When I go to a Japanese restaurant I'll have White Rice no matter what.  
"No Sugar No Butter" is easy, compared to "No White Rice & White Pasta." 
Back to "What to Eat Between Holidays",  I do like no-meat, no-fish meals.
In winter months, the Farmers' Market offers so few selections of produce.  Fuji Apples & Purple Majesty Potatoes are always there.  For that I must go there, and I can't forget to buy Watermelon Radishes.  They are getting easier to find in the market, but still can't find them in super markets. 
When I see Daikon or Kabocha Squash I always get them as well.  Have you tried them before ?  You probably know what is a daikon is.  But you may not know what "Kabocha Squash" is.  For me "Kabocha" is more pumpkin, not squash.  
It looks kind of ugly outside, but it has very sweet yellow flesh.  Be careful when you cut it, just like regular pumpkin.  Use a sharp knife and watch your fingers....
Veggies like them make me feel very full, even if there's no protein on the table.  
During the Holiday Season, big dinners always come with too much protein. 
So between those dinners, having Just Vegetable Meals are more than ok, at least for me!

Dinner always starts with Salad.

This one I call "Japanese Cole Slaw"

Julienned Carrots & Chiogga Beets mixed with 

Nappa Cabbage & Persian Cucumber.

Ginger, Garlic, Rice Vinegar, Grape Seed Oli and a touch of Soy. 

This mixture is the Dressing.

Can't forget few drops of Sesame Oil.

After tossing with the dressing, sprinkle with Sesame Seeds.

Cauliflower is Roasted in the oven for about 15 ~ 20 minutes.

They were coated with Olive Oil & Salt.

Sometimes I sprinkled with Paprika.

Kabocha is diced and sauteed about 5~ 10 minutes with Olive Oil & Garlic.

For this dinner, I mixed with Roasted Cauliflower.

Anticipating mixing with other vegetables later, I added extra Oil and Garlic.

Daikon is peeled and Poached in Water flavored with Kelp & Dried Shiitake.

Keep poaching till they get cooked through, it will take some time.

In the mean time I make Miso-Mirin-Ground Sesame Seed Sauce.

When Daikon is cooked, top with the Sauce and more Sesame Seed. 

Since my friends join for dinner , I added 1 extra dish.

Stir-fried  Egg Noodles with Bok Choy & Chicken Tenders. 

Adding the protein satisfied our friends' appetite.

I decided to add some meat for friends. 

Even though I could have made noodles with just veggies.

"Crowns & Tiaras"

When is the last time you looked at the sky?  Not looking down to your smart phone.
These days, you will see many people walking on the street looking down.  They are checking their message or sending texts.  It used be you'd see people who were talking to their phones, but they are at least looking where they are going.  
If you want to see something, LOOK UP !  
When you happen to walk the Flat-Iron & East Chelsea District LOOK UP !  
You will see many buildings from the turn of  the century.  Those Buildings have character & decoration, especially at the top of the building.  
Something about the ornamental treatment for the top of those buildings reminds me a Crown or a Tiara.  
Do they have extra attention to the top of the building?  Just because that is the closest to sky?  If you make it more personal and hevenly, somebody in the sky will notice who is in it?
When you come down to those areas to do Christmas Shopping ( which is only a week left ) look up between stores.  Put your shopping bags down,  look at the buildings, you may think you are somewhere in Europe.  
Look for someplace to have "Caffe" not "Coffee".  I have a few ideas for you to have that.  But I think it is better if you discover it yourself.
Sometimes we have to remind ourselves how lucky we are to live such a city. 
We can see the most contemporary styles of buildings rising up.  But, at the same time we can also see many beautiful buildings that are still here waiting for us to rediscover how wonderful those elegant stone buildings are ! 

There are many buildings in the city which have ornamental details.  

But at this time I took pictures on my way back and forth from Union Square for the Saturday Morning's Famers' Market.  I believe if you look up, you will find beautiful buildings in your neighborhood as well.  If you have any favorite building in this city, please let me know I'll be going there to take a picture.

There is one building I had to include in this blog page, which is "Ansonia Building" in the Upper West Side.  When I came here for the first time I took art-classes in the small Art school located on the 3rd floor of that building.  It will bring back so many memories.  It also makes me feel like I'm in Paris !  

I love that building.  Here it is, The Ansonia standing with elegance !

"Thanksgiving Dinner"

It has been a week since the big dinner.  After I posted "Purple Vegetable Basket" some of my blog readers are asking me how was the dinner?  I guess I have to post another blog page to show you what I had on Thanksgiving Day.
This year I didn't forget to take pictures, like past years.  Somehow I knew I would need to have pictures of the Dinner.  
I kept my camera on the table during dinner hours, even if that was not good manners.  That was the only way I could remember to shoot.  Otherwise I would be focused on just tasting the foods on my plate.
I was told to come to their home before 2:45pm, I'd have at least 15 minutes to set up my veggies in the upstairs living room for the cocktail hour.   Many of the guests were friends of theirs who I have met before, but some of them were from out of the city.  We needed to have time for catch up before the dinner.  I was often called to explain what new vegetables I put in this year's "Crudite".  
By this time most of guests knew I never make a Vegetable Basket without Watermelon Radishes in it.  I converted most of them to "Watermelon Radish Lovers".   At 4: 30pm we were called to come down to dining room.  The formal dinner was just about to start.  The beautiful table setting included menus so that we know exactly what we are going to have that afternoon.  
They made and placed name cards as every year.  The only thing left us to do before the dinner was to find our name on the table.

Their home was ready for the Holiday.

Everybody is looking for their name on the table.

Some of them found their place card right away !

Each setting was completed with a Menu 

& 

Chocolate Covered "Oreo Cookie"

This Turkey has a story to tell !

As you can see, the Hosts of Dinner are big Fans of Venice Italy.

This Chandelier is came from Venice.

It is the perfect home accessory for Holiday Season.

" Dinner is Served ! "

Dinner started with 

Caramelized Cauliflower Soup with Curry.

My Dinner Plate is filled with

 Prosciutto Bread Stuffing, Mushroom Bread Pudding, 

Tony's Roasted Root Vegetables, Fiori's Fabulous Brussel Sprouts,

Ellen's Green Beans, Barry's Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup& Chipotles,

Jeanne's Sauteed Kale with Garlic, Turnipotato Casserole.

The Dinner Plate was not completed till plate of Turkey was passed.

Our friend Jonathan D. braised turkey this year.

By doing so he cooked perfectly. 

Every slices of White Meat & Dark Meat were still moist.

I even not needed Jonathan's carefully made Gravy.

Finally Plate was completed with Scalloped Oysters.

Each year Jonathan brings something new to the table.

" Ready for Desert ? "

Dessert Dishes and Coffee Cups were positioned.

Ready for Desserts ?  Of course we were.....

There has always been more than a few desserts to enjoy.

All deserts are on the Buffet.

Svea's Lemon Angel Pie,  Robin's Pumpkin Pie,

Alexandra's Apple Cake,  Aunt Vivian's Pear Kuchen.

The Desert Plate is completed  with 

Honey Rosemary Ginger Gelato & Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse.

And somehow I ended up with 

2 Oreos covered with Dark & White Chocolate.

" Did we have enough ? "

 

I guess I must talk about Turkey.

Last year for the first time, one of our hosts, Jonathan D, didn't want to a roast whole turkey for Thanksgiving.  No matter how we cooked, turkey always comes out with some parts dry.  Therefore he wanted to cook turkey in pieces.  In that way, he can control time for each meat, we will enjoy every part of the bird.  

But for the tradition he wanted to have some form of Whole Turkey on the table.  For that, they asked Jonathan F to come up with some ideas for a "virtual" turkey.  After weeks of research Jonathan F found an Inflatable Turkey.  It came in a small tin case.  And it took a few minutes to make into a Well-Cooked Thanksgiving Centerpiece.  Of course, that turkey returned to the table this year.  And I'm sure, it will be back again next year.

Jonathan & John have hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for many years.  
This was their 44th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner.  Even though most of people were bringing some side dishes for the table, most of food was prepared by them. There is always too much food for one night.  But I guess that is the whole idea for Thanksgiving Dinner, isn't it ?
In some ways, I personally like left overs.  Ever since I started going to their home for Thanksgiving I don't have leftovers for days after the big day.  
But I went back to their home again 2 days later for "Turkey Tetrazini Dinner". That is one more tradition they have for Thanksgiving Weekend.  I have been part of their Thanksgiving Traditions for short times, but I felt like I've been part of it for many years.  Most of guests at the table must felt the same way.  Everybody was smiling for the entire dinner gathering.  
They throw many parties during the year but I think Thanksgiving Dinner is the best they do.  And I'm so glad I'm part of it.  Hope I'll be getting an invitation to it for many years to come.  My only problem is that I need to have more than a few days to recover from FOOD COMA.