Day trip to Kyoto

Today I got day off so decided to go to Kyoto with my mom.
Destination is Nijo castle area.

Last night I checked lunch place on internet.

il pozzo

 

They renovated very old traditional house into restaurant.

They have interesting antipasto and nice house made pasta.

 

White in center is daikon something, I have no idea how they cooked daikon like this.

First bite, I thought kind of cheese because it's very creamy, no fiber, second I noticed radish scent.

Like Italian restaurant, tripe is tender, salami is great.

Maybe we should come back for dinner.

 

After lunch, stopped by Mikane shrine.

This is located in residential area and small but famous for their benefit.

It is believed visitors can earn money!

Mikane is written 御金, that means money.

Many foreigners also visit here.

 

Then we went to interesting store.

 

Can you believe this was really house?

Now first floor is creators' store and workshop space however designer of this building lives second floor!

Store is creative studio & shop ooo, owner is curating interesting stuff from all over the world.

It's small shop but very unique goods are displayed.

Current pop up shop is Don Fisher, who is making cute fish pouch.

But today, honestly, owner's baby is the cutest!

 

We headed to next goal where is Japanese sake distiller.

My mom was wanting to visit there.

 

Sasaki Shuzo

 

This distiller got very famous because their family has a famous actor Kuranosuke Sasaki.

Of course their sake quality is great but the more popular the actor becomes, the more famous here is.

Even today is weekday, customers keep coming.

We bought 2 of small sake.

I'm looking forward to drinking(*´艸`)

 

We passed Nijo castle.

Actually it was closed already.

No problem, we are not so interested in castle, but this area.

 

We walked a lot and enjoyed Kyoto!

 

 

Puffer fish

Yesterday I ate puffer fish dinner with my friend and our moms.

In Japan, this fish is very popular food especially around this time.

In token of that, it was difficult to reserve seats, our dinner time started 5(^_^;)

Already restaurant was very busy.

 

We ordered basic course.

This is appetizer.
Parboiled puffer fish skin dressed with ponzu (citrus flavor soy sauce)
Feel lots of collagen!

 

Next, Tessa (sashimi, sliced very thin)

 

Puffer fish doesn't have any strong taste but Umami.

And I love this texture.

We upgraded 2 of 4, Butsusashi (chunky sashimi)

Under scallion, there is white chunk. Umm, yummy!

What we're craving is sake!

We ordered Hire-zake (sake with toasted fin)

 

They toast in front of us, it's show time!

Roasting flavor, not fishy, adding umami, sake gets milder.

Generously they put big 3 fins.

 

Next is Tecchiri (hot pot)

First of all, we put fish bony parts into soup, it makes good flavor.

Great for cold season.

After eating ingredients, we added rice, made Zousui, like risotto.

 

Last was small scoop of ice cream.

 

We all are happy to eat, had great time.

In which country, people eat this fish??

 

 

 

 



My favorite skewer, Yakitori

Yesterday after work, I went to Yakitori bar with my co-worker.
It's very close to office, we went there some times but last 2 times, when we visited, they were closed.
It's not clear which day they're closed.
So yesterday, finally we could enter  after a while.

It's small bar, they have only counter seats.
We can see chef is cooking in front of us.
They are very proud of chicken quality, otherwise they can't serve row chicken, Tori-sashi.

Some may feel "Eating row chicken?! Yack!"
Even Japanese, some don't like.
Breast, heart, liver, gizzard and white meat.
They give 3 types of sauce, sesame oil with salt, original sauce and soy sauce.
We especially like liver, dipping sesame oil, it melts in mouth.
With Tori-sashi, sake matches.

Look! Both containers are full!
They poured generously.

Needless to say, skewers are great.

This is...meat of neck. Very juicy and tender.

Gizzard. I don't know how to describe this texture, chewy, fun to chew.
The more you chew, the more you taste.

And liver. This one, very tasty, we ordered this menu twice!
Tender and fresh, maybe rare, but no strange smell like bloody.

We ate other skewers, everything great.
Adult chicken meat, tail, aorta, skin wrapped meat.

We definitely come back soon!

 

Craft Beer Holiday

Yesterday I met my friends and went to Osaka castle park.
Because...there is Craft Beer Holiday event!
All of us like beer, nice weather, outside event, and craft beer!
No reason not to go!

 

Craft Beer Holiday

It was very sunny and hot, didn't feel October at all.
That means good day for beer(^_-)-☆

There are 21 brewery booths and 15 food booths from all over Japan.
Ticket includes 7 sticker and original glass, at each booth, we exchange sticker and beer or food.

Our first choice was Minoh beer from Osaka, peach weizen.
Fruity, very soothing, I heard this is so popular that sold out soon.

For bar food, we got croquets with prosciutto and wild boar sausage(no photo).

Easy to share and pick up. Savory, matches with beer.

Next my choice is chestnuts beer.

This has very sweet scent, like chestnuts cream cake.
I love chestnuts, so I like this type but seems this is love is or hate it...
My friends don't...

Third choice is Akamiso lagar.

On the photo, center one.
This is the brewery from Nagoya, Aichi prefecture where is known having miso culture.
Generally we use miso for seasoning while cooking,
on the other hand, they have unique miso sauce, after cooking they use like mayonnaise.
I think their passion for miso innovated this beer.

Last one is "out of envy" from Ushitora brewery.

Sign says "We are NOT awarded a gold prize at world beer contest for 7 years."
Wait, wait, NOT?
It's their sarcastic humor.
Their beer is great, we love this.
Full of hop flavor and bitter, this is the very beer.

We enjoyed a lot this unusual hot and sunny day with good drink and chatting(^^)


 

Creperie in Namba, Osaka

I met my friend from college today.
We can't remember when the last time we met is.
We are keeping touch with Facebook, one day she requested original jewelry.
About what she ordered, I'll write on another day.
Anyway we planned to have lunch to give her pendant.

 Alcyon creperie (Photo is from their site)
Retro building, we arrived there before 11 am, already people were lining up!
My friend made reservation, we entered without waiting. Thank you!

Their specialties are garette and crepe.
Both are from Bretagne, France.

Today's special, shimeji mushroom, cabbage Bolognese sauce on egg and cheese garette.
Very thin but big. Dough is well seasoned. Edge was crunchy.

Before this, we had sweet potato cold soup.

This is dessert crepe, pumpkin mont blanc with ice cream.
Dough is very chewy, good with melting ice cream.
After eating, I was very full.
Each was thin but maybe big, I didn't see how big because those were folded(^^;

We ate and chatted, glad to be able to catch up.
My friend moves to Tokyo in Nov, so maybe we can't meet for long time again.
And her hobby is camera, I'm looking for her nice photo of my jewelry!
 

Vancouver trip Day 11

Almost last day of our trip, by then, we hadn't bought souvenir.
It's time to check!

We had leftover breakfast then went to city.
There was Pride Parade.

 

 

When we arrived, parade on Robson was gone.

But street was clean, seemed well organized, not like after parade in NY (^_^;)

We walked on Robson checking some stores till Denman St.

At Denman street, still parade was going.

 

My boyfriend was interested in meat pie, we stopped by peaked pies.

Their specialty is "pea"ked pie, that's mashed potato, mushy green pea and gravy.

 

It's peaked!
To be honest, I don't like green pea, but I could eat their mushy pea with gravy!
Maybe very fresh.
Pie had really chunked steak. Good with gravy sauce.

That object is represent the Olympic torch, I heard.

At convention center, seems there was comic-con event or something like that.
We saw many people were in animation or game costume.

We walked back to Gastown where there are many typical souvenir stores.
I don't know their qualities, but it's the thought that counts, I chose some things for my friends.
(Actually they are good!)
After shopping, my hands got full of bags, went back to our place.

That night, nearby, there is low-key bar, seems interesting, we entered for dinner.

Inside the bar, many rock and metal poster, dark atmosphere.
What's the name of this bar?
Only outside rabbit sign is cute.
Their chicken sandwich and beer set was nice, so were chicken wings.
Only local people come.
We enjoyed their food and mood.

Finally next day we leave!

 

Vancouver trip Day 10

This day, there was Powell Street Festival, which is my friend told us.

It's related to Japanese culture, holding by Japanese society.

We met my friend and his girl friend at the park.

There are many booths, events, show, novelties etc.
We visited Japanese archery show. (That was the first time to see even to me!)

Famous vendor, Japadog. (again)

There used to be in New York, very popular...why they're gone?? Because of high rent?
This Oroshi (grated radish) dog, I like a lot! Radish neutralizes sausage fat, makes light taste.
My BF once ate this before in NY, but that time, it was not so good, seemed Oroshi was not fresh??
Or just his taste changed?

We met my friend's friend from college and her boy friend. Both are Japanese.
It was fun to talk to them, listen to others experiences.
But I prefer sightseeing than Japanese festival so after a while we said good by.

We walked to east along railway, there is brewery area.
After 40mins walk, finally we arrived Parallel 49 brewing!

How many beer do they have?
I had a difficulty with choosing, I ordered their flights set.

Very nice! Especially after long walk!
Around there, we don't see much restaurant, bar, stores.
We passed factory-looking building, tent city, some murals.
Then suddenly, this bar has lively atmosphere, crowded.

We tasted 8 kinds of beer, went back to city by bus.
On this night, there was 3rd night of Celebration of Light.
Before long wait, we decided to have African dinner at Simba.

I liked Muhogo which is deep fried cassava root.
We're not familiar with African food, all are interesting to us.
In Japan, I've been to Kenya restaurant once with my friends who learned Swahili and traveled Kenya. But it was more than 10 years ago, my memory got vague.

After dinner, we got coffee, headed to beach.
Not as close as last time, but we were in front again, could enjoy fireworks a lot.
That night was Canadian show, that was awesome.

One more good thing was we could catch the bus easier than last time(*^_^*)

Vancouver trip Day 9

We visited VanDusen Botanical Garden.
When I was young, didn't have any interesting at all in this kind of garden.
Not exciting, no riding, no character.
Now, still not everyday but sometimes visiting nature is fun to me.
(Not completely nature that scares me)

Hydrangea is blooming.
Compared to Japanese one, it has huge flower.

Very vivid color, perfect shape.

Me, in front of rose garden.
On photo, can't capture how roses are beautiful.

Famous maze.
Seriously, it's hard to get out.

Very peaceful, he's pecking something.

Later we moved to Richmond Night Market.
This reminds us Night Market in Taiwan.(Both of us have been there in past)

 

Many booths are Asian food and goods.
It was very long line to enter because of good season to eat outside.
My friends went there in June, no line and chilly.

 

This was great popcorn chicken. Crispy and meat is juicy.
I'm seafood eater, my choice is this.

Beautiful shrimp!
Simple seasoning, its taste stands out.
Maybe I was showing off while walking, somebody asked me "where did you get it?"(^^ゞ

Getting dark, getting more crowded.
Seems Richmond has more Asian culture than Vancouver.

 

This pork was tender, well seasoned, we like this plate a lot.

We got this IV dripping like milk tea.
This and light bulb looking drink seem trendy now.
They can get new idea from many things!

We enjoyed this day too.

Vancouver trip Day 8

Time has come!

The detail will be end of this blog...

 

On this day, we visited this place for breakfast.

A few days ago when we went to another café, we saw this restaurant, people were lining up, seemed very good.

 

It's like diner, they have all day menu.
I got egg benedict with gravlax salmon on mini pancakes instead of English muffin.

Very new type of benedict maybe because of bread.
They use free run eggs, curing is done in house.
My boyfriend got pulled pork pancake with Jack Daniel syrup.
That is amazing! Woody smoky flavor, I wanted to buy!

Then we moved to Grandville Island again as we didn't have much time last time.

Those GIANTS are part of Vancouver biennale outside exhibition.
Mural on six concrete silos (from here, you can see only 4)

Here there is Grandville Island Brewery, they have a tour.
When we visited, it had just started, had to wait next round, I gave up.
Instead, had nice iced coffee and snacks, we started to walk along seashore heading to Kitsilano beach.

City is very close to water.
From center you can see the buildings?

I forgot where this object is(^^ゞ
　
These chairs are also art named Echoes.

Those exhibition's interesting part is you can touch them.
I feel the relationship between artist and observer is very close.
Art is not something in the different world, it's in our life.

For dinner, nearby beach, we went to NOOK, Italian restaurant.

Proscuitto with burrata.

My favorite, liver pate crostini. Vino rosso, per favore!
We ordered salad and pasta, every plate was so delicious.
Staff is very kind and friendly.

After dinner, we took a walk to the beach.
Sky was hazy, we heard that's because of wildfire which happened a few days ago near Vancouver.

But color was nice, like pastel gradation.

Here...
Wish I could express romantic...

We got engaged!
The time has come!

There are so many red tape processes, but I'm sure we can overcome one by one.
Our life journey continues...