Life In Da Burbs

Lan never disappoints... Nuf said. I was there the other day thinking I had tried everything on the menu. But just as I was paroozing the menus, my eyes caught the duck breast entree hiding on the second page. Something I have never had there. I ordered it and ate it up immediately. It was perfectly cooked and went well with the bowl of white rice. Kinda like something you would expect at the top of a Japanese department store. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I've been here a few times in the past year.  Each time, on more of a whim and technically a post-dinner bite to eat. Many of my friends and customers love it, so I thought I'd bring my parents (who are visiting for a week) here for dinner last night. The tasting menu was fantastic and I highly recommend it.  Plenty of dishes and pleasant hospitality.  It was right under 100 bucks a head last night (with drinks, tax and tip).  Tasting Menu per 2 people : Fried Tofu julienned with Kinpira Poached Turned Yams (taro) with Savory Sauce Mushrooms in a Sweat & Sour Broth Sashimi Platter - Chu Toro, Kanpachi, Shima Aji * Tempura - Shrimp, Honshimeji Mushrooms, Shiso Leaf, Yams * Fried Cod and Crab Meatballs * Yuba (Soy Bean Curd) Sashimi Broiled Kyoto Style Wheat Cakes Sauteed Cubes of Filet Mignon Black Cod Miso ** Dashi infused Egg Omelette Oysters in Miso Grilled over a Hoba Leaf * Inaniwa Udon with Dipping Sauce Salmon and Salmon Roe on top of Bed of...

This was my breakfast today. My very first homemade waffle. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

It is so cold here. At dinner, there was a lady who came in and sat down, pulled out her shoes from her bag and took off her winter snow boots and switched for dinner. (At the table). Guesstimate : 9 degrees (-17 w/windchill) Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Stopped by to get a little lunch on the way to Burlington Vermont. The picture is Gus's Red Hot special. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I decided to make a classic (home cooking) dish tonight. Niku Jaga. Literally translated, Meat and Potatoes. Here are some of the basic ingredients. Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, Mushrooms and Beef. In addition, I add Harusame (rice noodles) to the finished pot.

I recently got back from a 10 day trip to Italy with the wife. There is much to write about for sure... but as a public service announcement to all citizens of the modern and competent world... PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING. If you are in Italy, need to travel, and on a timeline, DO NOT take the Italian Railways... They have no concept of keeping to a schedule... and I would not be surprised if they still use a sundial. Taking the train (Generalization but true...) The Italians are notorious for not being punctual. And the public transportation system in Italy is no exception. In their defense, they do post a time table at the stations... but to borrow a line from Captain Jack Sparrow, "it's more of a guideline." Taking the train in Italy is for some, a stressful endeavor. I for one am not a fan. Being raised in Japan, my standards are high. It's a country based on extreme meticulousness, where 3 minute train delays during the early morning commute make headline news. E...