Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Collection 1

*DVDに関するネタは日本語書き込みません

For Christmas, my sister sent me an unexpected DVD. It was something called "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern: Collection 1". I was aware that Anthony Bourdain has a program called "No Reservations", which my sister sent me as well, and although I enjoy Bourdain's prose, when it comes to television programs, Zimmern's wins hands down in my book. Because Zimmern's show gives the food the main stage whereas Bourdain's program, the food shares the stage with the city he visits along with his tough persona. Zimmern seems effeminate in comparison but is easier to understand. In this first collection Zimmern visits Morocco, Spain, the Philippines, Ecuador, New York City, the U.K., America's Gulf Coast, and Mexico.

In Morocco he checks out the large souk (market) and indulges in everything from lamb kidneys to pigeon pies. In Spain, he tries suckling pig brains and bull testicles (oh my). And what would be a trip without a visit to the current world's number one restaurant - El Bulli. In the Philippines, he has an interesting and perhaps somewhat disgusting to our Western sense of taste as he samples the nationally known staple called balut which is a boiled pre-hatched egg (you can see the embryo I tell ya!). He also tries some crickets, frogs, and worms as well. The main theme for Ecuador is roasted guinea pigs.

Even though you may not think its possible, Zimmern discovers exotic dining in New York City, eat haggis , neeps, and tatties in the U.K., then heads back to the Gulf coast in the States to sample something that looks almost like a beaver, and finally to Mexico which serves more than just burritos and tacos.

I can't wait to receive Collection 2 which my sister has already promised me. I may enjoy food as the rest of you, but I will leave the extreme eating to Zimmern and enjoy it vicariously through him.

Belated New Year's Party / 遅れた新年会

In December I mentioned the Japanese tradition of bonenkai - a party to celebrate the end of the year. Japan has one other great tradition for people who love to drink and eat - it's the shinnenkai - or "Welcoming the New Year Party". January is usually the season for it, but my friends and I had ours in the middle of February - pretty late for celebrating the New Year but what the heck! We celebrated at a restaurant called "Marvelous" in Shibuya. And now to entertain with our course meal.

日本の年末は忘年会で賑やかですが、正月休みのあとはもう一つの楽しみがあります。それは新年会。本当なら一月で行いますが、今年はちょっと遅れた新年会をやりました。場所は渋谷にあるダイニングバー「マーベラス」。さて、お待ちかねのコース紹介：

Ham Platter / ハムの盛り合わせ

Baby Octopus / イイダコ

Tossed Green Salad / グリーンサラダ

Seafood Pasta / シーフッドパスタ

Grilled Beef / 牛のロース

Sausage Platter / ソーセージ盛り合わせ

Chocolate & Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce / チョコレートとチーズケーキとキャラメルソース

BLT with Avocado Sandwich / ベーコントマトレタスサンドウィズアボカド

Doesn't that look delicious?

美味しそうでしょう。

Patisserie Kawamura / パティシェリーカワムラ

On our way home from the Plum Festival, we came upon patisserie and decided to drop in. I ordered myself a pumpkin pudding while Mikako ordered an Uji green tea pudding. Strawberry Shortcake was also on sale this week so we bought a couple to enjoy the following day.

梅ヶ丘梅祭りの帰りに駅の近くのパティシェリーにケーキを食べに行きました。僕が注文したのはカボチャプリンにアールグレイのアイスティー、美香子が頼んだのは宇治抹茶プリンにコーヒー。ショートケーキはこの日２００円だったので、二個買いました、次の日の楽しみです。

Pumpkin Pudding / カボチャプリン

Uji Green Tea Pudding / 宇治抹茶プリン

Strawberry Shortcake / ショートケーキ

Bon Appetit!

いただきます

32nd Annual Umegaoka Plum Festival / 第３２回梅ヶ丘梅祭り

Today, being sunny and also being our day off, we decided to walk to Hanegi Park in Umegaoka for their annual plum festival. The festival will continue until March 1. This year, we decided to eat lunch at home before heading to the park so we wouldn't be tempted by the various food stalls. As we neared Umegaoka station, we found that a flea market was in full swing as well. Before heading to the park, we decided to check things out at the flea market and also the various programs being held in front of the station. We checked out a dance group, a marching band, and a few yosakoi groups (traditional dance originated in Kochi Prefecture).

今日は晴れてたし、休日だったし、梅ヶ丘の羽根木公園まで散歩に出掛けました。今羽根木公園で第３２回梅ヶ丘梅祭りが開催しております。公園に行く前に家でランチを食べて、その後に出た。お腹いっぱいになって、公園にある屋台の食べ物が気にならないように。梅ヶ丘に行ったら、フリーマーケットも開催してました。マーケットを堪能し、駅前のイベントをいろいろ見ました‐ダンスやら、マーチングバンド、よさこいグループ等。

The following pictures are not of plums but they still look beautiful and picturesque.

下記の写真は梅の花ではないですが、美しいからつい写真を撮りました。

Standing Only Soba Shop / 立ち食いそば屋

Here's something very Japanese! You can find these standing only soba shops on the platforms of train stations. As we were hungry and wanted to eat light, we actually ate here. This is at Abiko Station on our way back home from Naritasan.

ここは超日本って感じですね。駅のホームの立ち食いそば屋。私たち小腹が減って、ここで食べました。ここは安孫子駅です。成田山の帰りに寄った駅です。

Kakiage Soba / かき揚げそば　(Mikako's order)

Kara-age (large piece of chicken) Soba / 唐揚げそば (My order)

唐揚げそばの唐揚げでっかくないですか？

A Walk around Narita (Part 2) / 成田の散歩 （パート２）

Behind Naritasan Temple is Naritasan Park. This is the entrance. This place is a lot larger than I imagined.

成田山の裏側に成田山公園があります。ここは成田山公園の入口。

Its the season for plum trees!

今は梅に季節です。

We have no idea what these are.

私たちはこの謎解けませんでした。

There is even a waterfall in the park.

公園の中に滝もあります。

Of course the park leads right back to Naritasan where there were more buildings that we had yet to discover.

もちろん公園を歩きまわると成田山に戻りますよ。そこでまだ見てなかった建物がいろいろありました。

Komyodo Hall / 光明堂



Peace Tower / 平和の塔

Gaku-do Hall / 学童

At the top of these stairs was a small temple dedicated to success at work. Of course I had to go there.

この階段の上に出世開運のお寺があって、もちろん参拝しました。

Shoro (Bell Tower) / 鐘楼

And so concludes our walk around Naritasan.

それで成田山の散歩終了しました。

A Walk around Narita (Part 1) / 成田の散歩 （パート１）

Last weekend Mikako and I took a walk around Narita - the City, not the airport! More specifically, we went to Naritasan Shinsho-ji. The temple was built in 940AD and is the second most popular temple for hatsumode (first visit to a shrine for New Year's), the first being Meiji Jingu in Shibuya. It is also very popular during Setsubun which according to my book "Moons, Months and Seasons" is described as being [the turning point from winter to spring, according to the lunar calendar]. And to celebrate the coming of spring and to get rid of evil spirits, a bean throwing is held - this tradition is called mame-maki. During setsubun, you can usually spot celebrities doing the bean throwing. I've only watched it on television but maybe we will actually go to Naritasan next year during setsubun. But before reaching the temple grounds, we walked along the main drag that's full of souvenir shops, unagi (eel) restaurants, and a variety of other stores in Showa style buildings.

先週の休日、僕と美香子は成田まで散歩に行きました。成田市、成田空港ではないですよ。もっと細かく言えば、目的地は成田山新勝寺。９４０ADに建てられたお寺です。ここは明治神宮の次に初詣の参拝客が多いところです。節分に芸能人が豆まきをするのも有名です。私たちは節分の時に行ったことありませんが、いつか行ってみたい。成田山に着く前に、商店街を歩くのはもう一つの楽しみです。いろんな店があって、お土産屋とか、うなぎのレストラン、で建物がすべて昭和時代で造られた感じです。雰囲気も素晴らしい。

The above are pictures of the main street leading to Naritasan Shinsho-ji.

上記の写真は成田山につづく商店街です。

Statue of Takajo Mitsuhashi (well-known Haiku poet) who was born in Narita.

三橋鷹女の像 （俳句で有名な方、成田生まれ）。

The main drag was full of little stone animals.

商店街は干支の石造でいっぱい。

Well okay, perhaps the turtle isn't one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

あっ、干支に亀はないですね。

The entrance to Naritasan Shinjo-ji / 成田山新城寺の入り口

Nio Mon Gate / 仁王門

Main Temple / 大本堂

Three Storied Pagoda / 三重塔

Shotoku Taishido / 聖徳太子堂

To be continued...

つづく。。。

Trattoria Calvo / トラトリア カルヴォ

Recently, a new Italian restaurant opened in our neighborhood. On our day off, we decided to go there for lunch. It's called Trattoria Calvo. It's located near a women's university and the clientele looked mostly like students. It has a bright interior and a very casual atmosphere. The lunch specials include soup and salad (with a very excellent tasting dressing) and a choice of rice or bread. Mikako ordered the hamburger steak set while I indulged myself in lasagna. Delicious!

またまたうちの近くに新しいイタリアレストランが開店しました。休日にそこでランチを食べに行きました。店の名前は「トラトリア カルヴォ」。２４６沿いで三宿の交差点にあります。昭和女子大も近いので、大学生の客も多く感じました。店内は明るくて、凄い落ち着いた雰囲気で心地良い。ランチセットを注文すると、スープとサラダが付いて（サラダにかけられてるドレッシングも凄く美味しい）。パンかライスも選べます。美香子はハンバーガーステーキセットを頼んで、僕は店の自慢のラザニア。 最高です！

Hamburger Steak Set / ハンバーガーステーキセット

Lasagna / ラザニア

Soup and Salad / スープとサラダ

I'm a bread guy. Mikako chose the rice.

僕はパン派。美香子はライスを選びました。

Bon Appetit!

いただいきます！

Japanese Microbrew Tour - Aichi Prefecture / 日本地ビールツアー ‐ 愛知県

Yesterday for dinner, we went to our favorite place for chicken wings - Sekai no Yama-chan. As I've already featured the restaurant in a previous post, I thought I would share with you all, the craft beer that I had tried there. It was Nagoya Akamiso Lager (Nagoya being well-known for it's akamiso). Red Miso in beer? (Miso being soybean curd if you didn't know). I was expecting it to be rather nasty but I just had to try it. You know what? It's quite delicious. The color is on the red side (of course it would be with Red Miso), and the taste is similar to Chimay Red with just a small touch of miso flavor. I would order it again the next time we find ourselves at Sekai no Yama-chan.

昨日夕飯の為に私たちが好きな手羽先の店、「世界の山ちゃん」に行ってきました。以前にもレストランは紹介しましたので、今回紹介するのは、「山ちゃん」で飲んだ地ビール。名古屋赤味噌ラガー（赤味噌は名古屋の名物です）。ビールに赤味噌？想像するだけで不味そうな感じだろうと勝手思いました。実際飲んでみると、オッ！これって旨いじゃないかっとびっくりの一言。色も赤いし（これは当たり前か）、で味はベルギビールのシメイレッドと似た様な感じ。また世界の山ちゃんに行ったら、このビールはまた注文するのは間違えない。

Book Break / 本の紹介

Just in case you thought I was slacking off on reading books in Japanese, fear not, I'm keeping in practice. This is Ayumu Takahashi's latest book - "Island Story". He is currently my favorite Japanese writer (because his sentences are short and they're easy for me to read), and I love his topics and the pictures that he takes. Yes, this is more like a photo essay than anything. If you've been following my book posts, you would know this is my fifth Takahashi book. I find his life story fascinating. In his twenties he started his own western style rock bar. That became a success. He then opened a couple more and those became successes. So he wanted to start something new. He decided to write a book about opening a rock bar, but since he couldn't sell his story, he decided to start up his own publishing house. That became a success. Instead of wallowing in his success, he got married and then went on an around the world trip with his new bride (which spawned another book). Now, his latest project was to create a self-sufficient village in Okinawa which is the core story of this particular title. But as always, once he succeeds at his little project, he tends to pass it on to friends, and starts a new project from zero. As of November 23, 2008, to celebrate his ten year anniversary with his wife, he has once again set out to travel around the world, not only with his wife but with their two kids in tow as well. I'll be looking forward to reading about that adventure once he finishes writing it.

If you're interested and able to read Japanese, you may want to check out his website - "AYUMU CHANNEL" at http://www.ayumu.ch/index.html

最近日本の本を紹介してない為、もしかして僕は読んでないと思う人もいるかも知りません。でも、ちゃんと挑戦つづいてます。今回紹介する作品は高橋歩の最新作「アイランド・ストーリー：終わらない夏の物語」。高橋歩は僕が一番気に入ってる日本人の作家。文章は読みやすいし、写真も綺麗。書籍と言うより、フォトエッセイと言ったほうが良いかな。彼が送ってる人生が素晴らしい。二十代で仲間とロックバーを開け、それが成功したら、それを捨てて、また新たな挑戦をする。次はロックバーをオペンするまでの本を書きましたが、中々売れなくって、それで自分の出版社を成立。それも成功したら、それを捨てて、結婚して、新妻と二年間近くの世界一周の旅に出る。（その話の本になりました）。今回のプロジェクトは沖縄で自給自足の村を作るとゆう壮大な計画。これが成功するまで結構時間がかかったらし。そのすべての話がこの本に詰まってます。面白いですよ。現在高橋歩は結婚十周年の為に、２００８年１１月２３日から、妻と子供二人で無期限の世界一周にまた旅に出ました。

興味ある方はネットで「AYUMU CHANNEL」をご覧になって下さい。

http://www.ayumu.ch/index.html

Setagaya Boroichi / 世田谷ボロ市

Setagaya Ward is known for it's historical flea market which has a four-hundred year plus history. Its held once or twice a year and draws a huge crowd. Why its held on a weekday is beyond me but I just happened to have that particular day off and Mikako was working. So, I decided to check it out on my own.

毎年一回か二回世田谷ボロ市が開催されます。でっかいフリーマーケットですよ。四百年以上の歴史がある市です。なぜ平日に開催するのは分からないが、今回僕はたまたまその日が休みだった事と美香子が仕事で一人で行ってみることにしました。

But you all know the real reason why I like going to these things. If you answered the food - then you're probably a regular reader of my blog. Of course I checked out all the products that were for sale and even bought a few items, but you know where my heart lies - the food!

僕にとってこうゆう市とか祭りの一番の楽しみは分かるでしょうか？食べ物と答えた人はさすがに僕のブログの読者ですね。もちろん食べ物以外のものも見たし、買い物もしましたよ。でもやっぱり僕の本心は‐食い物です！

The first food item I treated myself to was something called shapin, a Chinese snack that's similar to gyoza. More like a flattened gyoza. You might remember this from the Taishido Festival I went to in the summer.

最初に食べた物はシャーピンとゆうものです。餃子と似た様な感じなもの。もっと細かく説明するとぺったんこの餃子みたい。屋台には中国のおやきと書いてあった。

Shapin / シャーピン

And even though I can always find yakitori at any festival, or any izakaya for that matter, I thought the way this food stall grilled it's yakitori was unique.

焼き鳥はどの祭りでもあるし、どの居酒屋行ってもメニューにはだいたいあるし、でもこのボロ市であった焼き鳥の屋台で違ったのは、焼き鳥の焼き方。

I then came across a corner called the furusato ichi, which roughly translates to hometown. This area features the foods of different prefectures from Okinawa to Hokkaido. I found something interesting that I just had to try. I forgot what prefecture that was making this item but it was called somen pizza. Somen being a type of noodle. Pizza made from noodles?

ふるさと市のコーナーがあって、そこで日本全国の都道府県の屋台があって、一つ気になる食べ物を発見。どこの都道府県か忘れましたが、あったのはそうめんピザ。え？そうめんでピザ？そうなんですよ。生地がそうめんから出来てるピザです。

The picture on the left looks like a regular slice of pizza. But if you flip the pizza over, you can see that the crust is made from noodles. Oh, and it was quite delicious.

左側の写真は普通のピザしか見えませんが、右側はそのピザスライスを裏返して、生地をよーく見るとそうめんで出来てるのを分かりますでしょうか？美味しかったよ。

I seem to have forgotten one of the most important information of this post. Setagaya Ward being a rather large ward, I forgot to mention where the flea market was being held. On the Setagaya Line, you can get off at Setagaya Station or go one station further and get off at Kamimachi - this particular flea market is huge and there are booths from one station to the next and then some!

あれ、一番大切な事を書くのが忘れてたみたい。世田谷区は結構広いなので、どの辺でボロ市が開催してるまだ書いてませんでした。世田谷線で世田谷駅か上町に降りたら、その近くです。本当にどの駅に降りても良いです。駅から駅まで屋台や出店がいっぱい並んでる。

As I was walking around, I also came across something called the Setagaya Daikan Yashiki. It's an architectural wonder that's been preserved in its original state.

歩き回ったら、「都史跡 世田谷代官屋敷」をみつかりました。

Model of what the Setagaya Boro-Ichi was like in the Edo period.

江戸時代の世田谷ボロ市のモデル

As to what did I buy. A lot of incense for Mikako. And for myself? One of those old styled pocket watches (it was only a thousand yen).

僕はどゆう買い物をした。美香子にお香をいっぱい買いました。自分の為に買ったものは懐中時計（千円でかいました）。

But I did learn one thing today. Going to a flea market or festival by yourself limits the amount and variety of food you can eat. Best to go with a friend or a group so you can try lots of different food items and for me, beer tastes better when drinking with friends. As I was by myself on this occasion, I skipped on indulging in any beer.

今日一つ勉強になったことがあります。ボロ市か祭を一人で行くと、食べ物も多く買えないし、食べられないし、ちょっと寂しですよ。やっぱり友達と一緒に行くのが一番楽しいと思います。ビールも一人で飲むより、仲間で飲むもんだな（って事で、ビールは飲んでませんよ。）

Photos from My Work Neighborhood / 職場の近くの写真

Here's a few pics of the scenery on walk by on my way to work.

職場に行く前に見る風景。

The Main Gate to Shinryoji Temple / 真了寺の入口

The above temple is located next to Tenmyokokuji Temple. The temple gate and unknown tombs along with the cemetery are part of Shinagawa Ward's 100 Most Scenic Spots.

真了寺の場所は天妙国寺の隣。天妙国寺の山門と無線仏と墓地は品川百景の二つです。

Tenmyokokuji Temple Gate / 天妙国寺の山門

Tenmyokokuji Temple / 天妙国寺

Tenmyokokuji Temple Bell / 天妙国寺の鐘

And just in case you wondering how I knew this one of the scenic spots of Shinagawa, a simple answer - there's a sign in front of the temple.

どして僕がここが品川百景と分かったのか？答えは簡単。寺の前にサインが書かれてます。

I think I will do some research to see what the 100 Scenic Spots of Setagawa Ward are.

今度世田谷区の百景を調べてみようかな。

Things You Won't Find in Tokyo / 東京で見つからない物

My favorite candy bar / 僕の一番好きなお菓子



Another favorite which I used to make Butterfinger Chip Cookies!


これも大好き。昔はこのお菓子でクッキも作った事あるよ。







Okay, I'm just being lazy today because I want to read.


今日は怠け者です。ブログを書くより、今日はちょっと読書タイムにしてます。

Nissin Cup Noodle Cheese & Garlic / 日清カップヌードル チーズ＆ガーリックコンソメ

Two of my favorite things in one cup of instant noodles!

二つ大好きな食べ物が一つのカップ麺に合体！

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

More Photos from Chinatown and Minato Mirai / 中華街とみなとみらいの写真いろいろ

I still had more picture of Chinatown and Minatomirai when we went there with our friend Yukio and his girlfriend. As it became dark, there was also a full moon which looked really huge (but doesn't look quite as humongous on print).

この間友達と中華街とみなとみらいに行った時にまだ写真いろいろありました。暗くなった時、月がでっかく見えたんで、つい写真を撮りました。でもプリントで見るとその大きさがちょっと伝わらないかも知りません。

That really is the moon off to the right. 右側にあるのは本当の満月です。

The Moon / 満月です

Trust Saloon / トラスト・サルーン

I was actually going to write about the Yakitori restaurant, but the other night, I went out for burgers and drinks with some co-workers. I was expecting the place to be a diner, but it turned out to be a small bar, a small rock bar at that - that serves some great burgers! It's located in Oimachi, one station away from Shinagawa (close to my work-place). I invited Mikako along as well (my co-workers were looking forward to meeting). However, Mikako and I are really bad with directions and the map I had was no help, and what should have been a short jaunt from the train station turned into a 30 minute walk-about. I finally called one of my co-workers to get better directions. We finally made it! But I wasn't here for the booze (that was just icing on the cake and I ordered a Chimay Red) but for this bar's handmade burger. I was also hoping to meet one of my regular blog readers (the wife of one of my co-workers, but it was not to be.)

本当は焼き鶏屋のネタを書くつもりだったが、でも、昨日は同僚と大井町にあるバーガーバーに行ってきました。同僚の「ハンバーガーの友の会」に誘われ、自分が美香子を誘われ（同僚が大歓迎と言ってくれたので）、美香子を品川駅で向かいに行きました。で、恥ずかしいことに、私たちが大の方向恩地で店を中々見つからなかった。三十分以上をかけてやっとたどり着いた。（実は同僚に電話しまたけどね。） 僕は最初その店はアメリカの５０年代のダイナーと思いこんでたが、入ってみると普通のバーでした！流れてる音楽も私好みで、もしかて、大井町のロック・バー？でも、僕の目的は酒ではない。この店の手作りハンバーガーを楽しみにしてた。仕事仲間がまだ食べ物は頼んでなかったので、最初にバーガーを注文したのは私。でも、久しぶりの夜飲みなので、シメイレッドを頼んだ。あと私のブログの読者を会えると思ったが（同僚の嫁さん）、残念ながら、風邪気味で欠席。

Chimay Red - Delicious

シメイレッド ‐ 最高

Oh, but the burgers! I ordered a regular cheeseburger. I didn't bother looking at the menu as I thought it was the only burger the bar served. However, my co-workers ordered an avocado burger, a bacon burger, and a bacon egg burger. Mikako passed on the burger and ordered the keema curry which was also on the menu. The burger was awesome! Delicious! I definitely need to come back here again. Mikako and I also tried the bar's original cocktail - a "Purple Haze" and a "Deep Purple". The drink was a little too strong for Mikako so I ended up drinking both.

でもやっぱりバーガーですね。メニューを深く見てなかったので、バーガーは一種類しかないと思った。でも仕事仲間はアボカドバーガーや、ベーコンバーガー、ベーコンエッグバーガーを頼んでた（こうゆうのもあったんだ！）美香子はバーガーじゃなくて、キーマカレーを頼みました。僕も一口を食べたので、カレーも美味しいです。バーガーは最高に美味しかった。またこの店に行くと思う。バーのオリジナルカクテル二種類もあって両方頼みました。「パープル・ヘイズ」と「ディープ・パープル」。両方もカンパリベースで、美香子にとってちょっと苦手。自分の好みでもなかったが、両方飲むました。

And now for you've all been waiting for - the food:

さて、お持ちかね － ザ・フード：

Keema Curry (Mikako's order) / キーマカレー （美香子の注文）

Homemade Cheeseburger (My order) / 手作りチーズバーガー

Avocado Burger / アボカドバーガー

Bacon Egg Burger / ベーコンエッグバーガー

Bacon Burger / ベーコンバーガー

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

Where Not to Eat Japanese Food in San Francisco / サンフランシスコ空港で日本食のまずい店

Usually I have lot of praise for the places I eat, but not this time. This post is about where not to eat Japanese food if you're in transit and find yourself at San Francisco's International Airport. Last October, my sister got married in Vegas and our flight made a short stop in San Francisco. On our way to Vegas, there was this great soup restaurant in the departure lounge - The San Francisco Soup Company. On our return, we were hoping to eat there again. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. So we decided to eat at this place - Tomokazu. I really wasn't that hungry and only ordered what the menu said was tebasaki (chicken wings). I was looking forward to the tebasaki I would expect of a Japanese restaurant. Instead, what you are serve is more like a teriyaki flavored chicken wings. It wasn't bad per se but it wasn't what I was having a craving for. In the near future, I will do a post of real yakitori restaurant. As to what Mikako ordered. She ordered the tempura soba - she said it was the worst things she's eaten since our trip to Vegas. The vegetable tempura weren't cut to bite size pieces and was just covered with batter that fell off as soon as she tried to pick up a piece. She says no Japanese would consider this tempura! Well, what do you expect from a Japanese restaurant that's only Japanese in name. The owner is Chinese and I believe the people working there were also Chinese or Korean.

僕が外食すると、ほととんど満足しますが、今回は違う！サンフランシスコ国際空港に行ったら、さけたほうが良い店を教えてあげる。去年妹がベガスで結婚式を挙げたので、直行便がないので、サンフランシスコ経由で、凄い良い店があった‐「サンフランシスコ・スープ・カンパニー」。日本帰る時にまだ行けると思ったが、残念なことに、場所が違うので、行ったのはこの偽日本食の店。なんで「友数」やねん？オーナーも中国人らしい。従業員も日本人一人もいないし。僕はそんなに腹減ってなかったので、おつまみ程度で手羽先を頼んだ。でも出てきたのは、自分が思った様な手羽先ではないな。照り焼き風のチキンウィングやね。今度焼き鳥の店のネタ書きますよ。さて美香子が注文したのは天ぷらそば。美香子の感想？ 野菜のぶつ切りに衣を乗せた感じ。お箸でつかむと衣だけがとれてきて、普通のでっかい人参が残るだけ。美香子いわく「いままでの人生で一番まずいと思った！」 可哀そうな美香子。

Tomokazu's Tebasaki / 友数の手羽先

Tomokazu's Tempura Soba / 友数の天ぷらそば

And just to let you know what you should expect when you order tebasaki in Japan, I shall provide you with an example.

本物の手羽先は下記の写真な様じゃないと、手羽先とは言えないね。

Cayhane Cafe in Yokohama / 横浜にあるチャイハネ・カフェ

After experiencing the chin-chin ramen Yukio took us to the neighborhood horse racing agent. Yukio is a big fan of betting on the horses. What's so fun about making your bets at an agent and not seeing the actual race is a little beyond my understanding. Anyway, Mikako and I bet 100yen on three races, but we didn't win anything. Afterwards, we walked around Chinatown. And in the middle of Chinatown, we stopped for some chai and desserts at a place called the Cayhane Cafe located on the fourth floor of a building that sells gifts and interior goods from Southeast Asia and China. While I ordered myself a Cardamon Chai along with the day's featured scone which included ice-cream made with soy milk. Mikako ordered the homemade vanilla ice cream that comes with a ginger and honey sauce along with a fruit lassi. Yukio's girlfriend only had a jasmine tea (the tea that uses the actual flower). I can't remember what Yukio ordered, I think he just had a coffee or it might have been the masala chai.

横浜に行った時の話の続きなんですが。チンチンラーメンを食べた後、幸男が私たちをWINSに連れられて（馬券を買うところ）。馬券を買っても、実際レイスを見ないのは面白いかね。とりあえず、１００円で三つのレイスの馬券を買ったが、全部ハズレでした。四人で中華街を散歩し、ある雑貨屋のビルの四階のカフェでコーヒーを飲みに行った。中国とゆうより東南アジアの雰囲気の店でした。店の名前はチャイハネカフェ。名前通り、メニューにいろんなチャイがあります。自分が注文したのはカルダモンチャイ（カルダモン、シナモン、牛乳、砂糖）と日替わり豆乳のスコーン。美香子は自家製のバニラアイス（しょうがを効かせたハチミツソースをトッピング）と季節のフルーツラッシーを頼んだ。幸男の彼女は茉莉花牡丹（牡丹の花をかたどったジャスミン茶）。幸男が頼んだ物忘れた。普通のコーヒーかマサラチャイだったかな？

Scone with Soy Milk Ice Cream / 日替り豆乳のスコーン

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with Ginger and Honey Sauce / バニラアイス(自家製) [しょうがを効かせたハチミツソースをトッピング]

Jasmine Tea / 茉莉花牡丹

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

Ern's Monthly Visual Victuals

*映画のネタは日本語書き込みません

Starting this year, I've decided to treat the movies I watch as I do with the books I read. By writing a monthly post for them as well. And if you have any titles to recommend, feel free to leave me a comment.

YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (2008) - Now this is the kind of movie Adam Sandler should stick to making. It's absurd, demented, unbelievable, sick, but just so fun to watch. Zohan is an Israeli agent who's tired of all the fighting and misery between his country and Palestinians. All he wants to do is cut hair!! (Did I mention this was really silly?). Anyway, he manages to fake his death and emigrate to America to work for Paul Mitchel (which doesn't happen). Instead, he takes a job working for a Palestinian woman. With the current crisis between Israel and Palestine, the leaders of Israel and HAMAS should be forced to watch this together!!

IN THE SHADOW OF THE PAGODAS - THE OTHER BURMA (2008) - Swiss documentary filmmaker Irene Marty takes us on a journey to show the world what the current military junta is trying to hide. With the world focused on the events in Israel and the Gaza strip, the slow extermination, torture, forced labor of Burma's minority is being forgotten. The military junta has been trying to put on a positive face and encourage tourism, yet they continue to oppress the Karens, the Shans, and a host of other minorities who are not Burmese, or rather, who are not in line with the Burmese in power. When I watch films like this, I keep wondering to myself - what exactly is the purpose of the United Nations if they can't put an end to repressive governments like this or North Korea. And what kind of logic is it to just observe? Can we say Rwanda? Kosovo? East Timor? Cambodia? And more deaths continue in the Darfur region of the Sudan. So much for the "never again" line that's been repeated after the Holocaust.

FASCINATING NATURE (1996) – It’s “Earth” without the narration. Beautiful views of places everybody dreams of going all on one DVD. The island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Victoria Falls, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Namib desert in Namibia, Table Mountain and Angel Falls in Venezuela. All with soothing background music.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007) - The Academy Award film adapted by the Coen Brothers from a Cormac McCarthy novel. You know, I read the original book and found it the story to be nothing more than violence for violence sakes. The book sucked big time - what was the author of "All the Pretty Horses" thinking? So you're probably asking me if I hated the book so much, why in the world would I even rent it? That's simple - the Coen Brothers. Beautiful cinematography. Excellent acting by Tommy Lee Jones and the villainous hitman played by Javier Bardem. But its not their fault that the original material sucks so bad! Oh, summary of the story. Llewellyn Moss was out hunting and comes across scene that looks like something out of Bonnie and Clyde. He also finds a case with two million dollars which he decides to take for himself. But a hired hitman is on his trail and will stop at nothing to get the money back.

魍魎の匣 - International English Title [THE SHADOW SPIRIT] (2007) - A creepy little suspense thriller in the vain of "The Inugamis" and "Kindai Ichi". Set in 1950s Japan, a series of killings in which the m.o. is hacking his victims to pieces and placing them in a box has the entire police force and town on edge. When a journalist researching the story finds a drawer full of amputated arms in his own office, he enlists the help of his friends, a monk and a psychic to help him solve the crime. But the crime isn't only about mutilated women, it's also about an old army researcher who has been experimenting on humans which is tied in with the serial killer. Very weird!

HITMAN (2007) - After being really annoyed with what I thought was going to be a great action film that turned out to be a worthless piece of crap, by Guy Richie, no less - yes, I am referring to the Jason Statham starring movie of "Revolver". On the shelf right next to "Revolver" was this particular movie. The cover looked promising so I took a chance. Excellent choice! I was not aware that this film is based on a video game of the same name, and it doesn't feature any big name Hollywood stars. Our protagonist who only goes by the name Number 47 was trained as an assassin since childhood. He's hired to kill the President of Russia (which he does). But the following day, the supposedly killed President shows up on television saying he was only slightly wounded. No.47 realizes he's been set up as he never misses a target. And so starts an exciting story of finding out who hired him to kill the president, and who is posing as the president. Of course I would only recommend this to fans of action movies though.

VITUS (2006) - I loved this refreshing German film about a 12 year old boy-genius, who can play one mean piano. Unfortunately, his mother tries to do what's best for Vitus (usually against Vitus' wishes), but Vitus finds himself enrolled in a high school class and just does not fit in - as he's also smarter than the teachers. But one day he has an accident and it seems his gift is lost forever (or so he made everyone believe, except for his grandfather). So, as everyone thinks he's no longer a genius, he helps his grandfather make a lot of money (in stocks and bonds), sets up a company and rents a building so he can play music without anybody making any demands upon him. Excellent film. Much better than "August Rush" but I will get to that film later.

CONSPIRACY (2008) - Oh my, how the mighty have fallen. This stars a bleak and overweight Val Kilmer it what's no more than a remake of "Walking Tall". Can we remember a time when he was at the top of his game - "Batman Forever", "Real Genius", as "Iceman" in "Top Gun", "Willow" (okay, I liked that film though), "Billy the Kid", etc. Kilmer is a veteran of the Gulf War but no longer considers himself a military man after some of the things he's seen and experienced. When his Mexican buddy calls him for help, Kilmer heads out to a small town in Arizona but doesn't find his friend. It seems the local developer who virtually owns the town and the people living in it wants Kilmer to go away. Of course he won't. It was okay but you're better off renting "Rambo", "Die Hard" or the previously mentioned "Walking Tall". Or better yet, Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter".

THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA (1993) - I remember when this was released in the theaters in Seattle. It was one of the first films to be made after Vietnam opened it's borders to the world at large. I had debated about renting this for quite some time and as we bought a new television, I thought it would be a good time to check it out. I have only one word to describe this Vietnam/French production - BORING! The movie is set in 1950's Saigon. This is before the nation was torn to pieces by war. Ten year old Mui is sent to a wealthy merchant's house as the new servant. She works hard and never complains. Shoot some years into the future. The merchant is nearly broke and can no longer afford to keep Mui. The adult Mui now becomes the servant of a bachelor who is a well known pianist. Although piano man has a fiancee, he slowly falls for Mui. They marry and he teaches Mui to read. The end! Cinematography is great and all that but it's one heck of a long boring movie. Did I mention how boring it was? BORING! BORING! BORING!

AUGUST RUSH (2006) - Not as good as the aforementioned "Vitus" but still pleasant in its own right. Where as Vitus played the piano, Evan Taylor (a.k.a.August Rush) is a musical prodigy who can play one mean guitar. Okay, there's really two stories going on at the same time. Evan the orphan who doesn't believe he was abandoned and is certain that his parents are looking for him, decide to in search of his parents himself by following the music. Where does this music come from? Mother is a classical cellist and father is vocalist/guitar player for a well known rock band. They met one night, fell in love, and next thing you know, Mom is preggers. But Daddy forbids her to see new guy. She gets mad and storms out of restaurant and gets hit by a car. Daddy says the baby is lost. Fast forward eleven years into the future. Daddy is on his deathbed, tells daughter the truth about her baby - was not dead, was given up for adoption. She storms out again and goes in search of son. While Dad who's also given up music, by coincidence meets up with August and they jam. (Of course he doesn't know that August is his son). He gets inspired to play music again, and also to search for the love of his life - the famous cellist. Are you all still with me? You can see where this is headed. In fact, the Japanese title of this film translates to "The Miracle Symphony". Uh huh. It's still a pleasant movie except for the miss casting of Robin Williams as a veteran street musician who takes in all sorts of kids at some condemned building (a la Oliver Twist). But ignore that and you got a pretty decent film - even if the outcome is predictable.

釣りバカ日誌 18 ハマちゃんスーさん瀬戸の約束 「Tsuribaka Nishi 18 Hama-chan, Soo-san, Seto no Yakusoku」 International English Title: [FREE AND EASY 18] (2007) - The 18th film in the "Free and Easy" series. If you've lived in Japan or are a fan of Japanese movies, then you would be familiar with this series about a fishing-loving salaryman and his relationship with his company's president. It doesn't matter which one you watch, you always come away with a good feeling. I always seem to find myself watching this series whenever its aired on television. The thought of renting it never occurred to me, so I know I've watched them out of sequence. The first film really stands out though as I can remember when Hama-chan first meets Soo-san (and doesn't know that Soo-san is the president of the company he works for). What's even more amazing about this series is that the two main characters - Hama-chan and Soo-san are portrayed by the same actors in all the films! I can't imagine "Rocky" or "Rambo" going on to Part 18, can you?

NARCO (2004) - Here we have a slightly twisted French film about a guy who suffers from Narcolepsy (also known as Sleeping Sickness if you've never heard of it). The film starts off with his childhood, his teens, and finally into his adulthood. Although there is no cure, he gets married and things are good for a while. But because of his narcolepsy, he cannot keep a job - as he keeps falling asleep. And his dreamworld becomes more vivid than the real world. He finally has an epiphany! A job where his sickness won't matter. A comic artist! His wife thinks that's a joke and tells him so. She convinces him to go to some group therapy. At first, he does not participate. But then he talks about his dreams and how he makes comics of them. Well, the good ole Doc checks out his illustrations and has an idea! Somewhere along the road, artist guy gets hit by a car and falls into a coma. Meanwhile, his wife and best friend, Lenny, who lives his life in honor of Jean-Claude Van Damme (I can't make this stuff up you know) and the Doc sell dude's art to a slimy publisher who's dream is to be a big selling comedian (I kid you not!). After some months, dude wakes up. He says to his wife and friend - he doesn't think he was in an accident. That someone seems to be out to get him. Oh, and Van Damme does make a cameo appearance although he's not credited on the film (and he's speaking his native French for once).

EL LABERINTO DEL FAUNO International English Title: [PAN'S LABYRINTH] (2006) - After watching French film, I changed countries and rented a Spanish film. This is a little dark fantasy about a girl, Ophelia, who comes with her mother to live with her new Step-father, a sadistic army officer in Spain's Fascist Franco era. That background may seem bleak, but Ophelia meets a fairy who leads her to an old ruin where she meets the faun Pan. Pan tells her that she was a princess who left her kingdom and in order for her to go back, she makes pass three difficult tasks set before her. This film also runs two storylines at the same time - Ophelia and her adventures along with the Rebels who are fighting against the government troops. It does help to know that the government troops in this flick are the bad guys! Damn Fascists!

PENELOPE (2006) - Another fantasy, but cute and heartwarming, and starring an almost beautiful Christina Ricci. Why almost? Because her family was cursed and the first daughter of the family would be born with the face of a pig! Yep, Christina is born with a little piggy-snout. Her mother believes that if someone of their kind were to marry her as she is (one of their kind being a blue-blood), Penelope would be freed from the curse. She's been hidden away from the public for twenty-five years but is now wanting her freedom (which her mother can't imagine - not with that snout!). Mother sets up a marriage proposal for likely prospects, but the minute they see her face, they all run for their lives. One sneaky journalist hires a down on his luck blue blood to get a picture of the Pig-Girl. But he sees her, is surprised, but Penelope mistakenly thinks that he can't stand the sight of her and rushes off on her own. But then she takes things into her own hand - as she tired of being hidden away in the depths of her parents house, and escapes, much to the dismay of her Mother - and a lot of hilariousness ensues!

XIN JING CHA GU SHI – International English Title: [NEW POLICE STORY] (2004) – This was the latest in Jackie Chan’s “Police Story” series and it was aired on television. Of course I had to watch it again. I remember going to a small theater in Yurakucho with Mikako to see this movie before we were married. You can’t go wrong with Jackie Chan movies (not counting the old Hollywood film of “The Protector” or “The Cannonball Run” movies.

EL ESPINAZO DEL DIABLO – International English Title: [THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE] (2001) – After watching “Pan’s Labyrinth”, a friend of mine recommended this film by the same director. A young boy is left at an orphanage (once again during Spain’s civil war) where some strange things are happening, like seeing a dead boy wandering around. The rumor is the boy died when bombs were dropped from the air and one landed in the orphanages courtyard but did not explode. But the truth of the matter becomes more apparent – the boy was killed by the handyman who still works there.

THE GAME PLAN (2007) – Here’s a movie with a plot you haven’t heard of. Big football star (The Rock) is at the top of his game who one day finds that he has a daughter who has shown up at his doorstep unexpectedly! It’s a Disney flick so you can expect a happy ending, and the little girl is really, really cute.

すし王子！ニューヨークへ行く- International English Title [THE SUSHI KING GOES TO NEW YORK] (2008) – The actual translation should be “The Sushi Prince Goes to New York” but I won’t be picky. This stars Johnny’s Entertainment idol Koichi Domoto, along with Yumiko Shaku. It’s one very silly movie. I loved it. Domoto, the Sushi Prince, goes to New York to become a disciple of a Master Sushi Chef. But in New York, a corporate sushi chain is changing the face of sushi as we know it. Only for people with a demented sense of humor.

THE WELL (1997) – Independent Australia film that is, to put it mildly, rather boring. Young woman works for older woman out in the country. Driving home late one night, she hits something. Turns out to be human. Young woman freaks out. Older woman who has taken younger in and has become her friend, dumps body into an unused well. Older woman has also come into a lot of money by selling her land and realizes that it’s been stolen. Next day, young woman tells older woman, the guy down the well isn’t dead. She’s been sending him food and water. Older woman knows man down the well is dead and believes younger woman is going crazy. The cinematography is hard on the eyes as well. It’s filmed in a dark, bluish tint. You might want to avoid this if you don’t want it leaving a bad taste in your mouth.

ODETTE TOULEMONDE (2006) – A cute little French movie about a widowed mother of two who finds happiness in reading her favorite author’s novels. But said author is on the verge of killing himself. He has found that his wife is having an affair, a book critic has panned his latest release, and the sales of his books have been falling. He finds a bit of hope when he receives a letter from a big fan of his books, one Odette Toulemonde! It’s this characters relationship with her son I found most amusing. This title is sure to put a smile on your face.

THE WATER HORSE (2007) – A cute movie on the legend of the Lochness Monster. Young boy in 1944 Scotland finds an egg near the loch and takes it home. The critter is so cute when it’s little. But you shouldn’t confuse this flick with something like “Eragon” and talking dragons. Perhaps it could be called “A Boy and His Sea Serpent”. I rather enjoyed it.

明日への遺言 – International English Title [BEST WISHES FOR TOMORROW] (2008) – An intense courtroom drama about the trial of 20 Class B war criminals in post-war Japan. They were accused of executing 37 American airmen against the rules of the Geneva Convention. However watching this movie, and thinking about it from the Japanese point of view, it really was the American bombers who committed the war crimes by indiscriminate bombing that resulted in the deaths of thousands of women and children. What really makes this drama intense is the way the squad leader takes entire responsibility for his actions in order to save his subordinates from a death sentence. Americans should be required to watch this as well. It just leads to one conclusion – war is bad!

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (2008) – Another fantasy based on a children’s series, a la “Chronicles of Narnia”, “The Golden Compass”, “Lemony Snicket and the Series of Unfortunate Events”, “Harry Potter”, and need I go on? The original books consist of five volumes (but they are rather short books compared to Harry Potter) and so the movie adaption covers the entire series in a two hour movie. Jared, Simon, and Mallory have moved into their uncle’s old and decrepit house in the country. However, Jared is one unhappy camper. It isn’t until Jared finds an old dumb-waiter that takes him to a hidden room where he finds his great uncle’s book, “Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the World of the Fantastic”. When Jared opens the book, the world of faeries, ogres, sprites, and griffins comes to life. It also puts him and his family in danger as the ogre, Mulgarath wants the book for himself. Excellent adaptation.

I hope you enjoyed my reviews. I've just borrowed the entire "Lord of the Rings" special extended DVD from a friend which I'm looking forward to watching. I've also rented another three DVDs as well. A Van Damme flick, a silly comedy, and a Richard Gere movie. But you will have to wait for next month to see what I think about them. So, go out, rent a few films yourself, and have a bowl of popcorn!