Chinese Celebrations

You know my craziness about food?  My apple fell right under the tree (with some roots now in Japan as well).  For Christmas, my family always celebrates with a full-on Cantonese dinner of at least 10 courses.  My dad’s favorite job is to plan the night’s menu, and he always takes it very seriously.  He always includes everyone’s favorite foods.  My dad always plans a few surprises, but a few dishes haven’t changed over the years like this dried abalone.

And a shrimp fruit salad:This year instead of a cold platter, my dad only ordered my and my brother’s favorites – marinated jellyfish and deep fried pork chops.

And of course, what kind of celebration would it be without peking duck?

Sometimes I just dug into my food without taking photos first, but the rest was just as scrumptious!  ’Til next year :)

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack

Happy belated new year, folks!  I’ve been away on holiday travel + more, and I can’t wait to update you all on my great finds and projects.  First, I went back home to revisit my roots down south in Atlanta, and boy – the city’s changed.  I’d actually love to live somewhere downtown now, and it’s caught up with so many of the fads that I couldn’t live without when I was in LA.  (I’m sure there’s new fads in LA that I’m just unaware of being in Japan now.)  Despite all of the newness, my brother made sure that Fat Matt’s Rib Shack was my first pit stop – a place that oozes the soul of the south.

Does anything say the ‘south’ more than BBQ ribs, mac & cheese, baked beans, and super sweet iced tea?  I think not.  Add in a few extra sides of BBQ sauce with thick white bread to sop it all up.  Yup definitely a southerner.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, Fat Matt’s is famous for their lives blues bands.  They have a pretty impressive resume of bands, and that night was no exception.  My heart felt whole when I heard them sing, “Georgia… Georgia…”

100 Years of Curry

Jimbocho is synonymous with two things: used book stores and curry.  There are tons of curry shops that line the main and back streets around Jimbocho station.  My husband introduced me to his favorite curry restaurant, Kyoueidoo before I even moved here, and it’s been one of our staples for a casual lunch out.  I love the rakkyo here (picked Japanese scallions).  It adds a nice crunch and sourness to your choice of curry: chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tongue – yes.. tongue!

Kyoueidoo opened near Tokyo Station in the early 1900s after the owner traveled to Indonesia and was inspired to start up his own shop.  After the Great Earthquake in 1923, the restaurant relocated to its current location.  When you step into this shop, you’re transported to the early 1900s with its vintage music, red chairs, and a menu that hasn’t changed for almost a century.

This restaurant is always busy with quick turnover, but some customers choose to relax here with a cup of coffee, a book, and this baked apple, cored and filled with sweet milk.

Other than the baked apple, they also offer a cola float or coffee float.  I haven’t tried it, but it adds to the vintage atmosphere.  It’s rare to find those on the menu in Tokyo!

 

Interested in checking it out?  Find it here.

Kanazawa Maimon Sushi

This weekend, my in laws took us to a Kanazawa Maimon, a kaiten sushi joint near Tama Plaza Station in Yokohama.  I’m a huge fan of kaiten (rotating) sushi because you get to see all of the options before choosing.  It’s great for tourists lacking the language to order and for those just looking for some new dishes they’ve never tried.  Kaiten sushi places can vary greatly but this place was pretty spectacular.  Along with our favorites, we picked up these less common dishes:

Zuwai Crab Sushi topped with the meat and roe.

A special type of shrimp

Akanishi gai – red shell clams

Hope you all had a great weekend!  What are your favorite sushi dishes?

Thanksgiving Tabletop

(via a subtle revelry)

Thanksgiving jumped up in front of me a few days ago.  I can’t believe that it’s already the time of the year to give thanks, and I haven’t a clue about our plans!  It’s so unlike me.  Whatever we’ll do, I’m sure there’ll be a lot of food involved.  I love side dishes and desserts.  If it weren’t for gravy and cranberry sauce, I probably wouldn’t have turkey at all!  My favorite Thanksgiving table is simple and highlights the colors and textures of the food.  With so much food on the table, too much decor often just gets in the way!  Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  What are your plans this year?