Yuba and Tofu Restaurant

Hello! The high today is 73F (23C)! The forecast predicts 6 more clear days in a row! Wow!!! Golden Week holidays should be great to have an outing! I don't have that many plans, though...
This morning, the train was packed to the gills as usual. I thought people will take days off from today but they didn't. Maybe because of the recession?!

Anyway, yesterday was a holiday (Showa Day), so my boyfriend and I had a dinner in Ginza. We used to go to the same restaurant nearby, but now we try to go to a new restaurant to keep our romance :)

We went to a Yuba and Tofu restaurant called Umenohana this time! Yuba is tofu skin. It is a Chinese and Japanese food product made from soybeans. During the boiling of soy milk, in an open shallow pan, a film or skin composed primarily of a soy protein-lipid complex forms on the liquid surface. I love Yuba and Tofu since they are nutritious and healthy, especially for women ;) They have many Yuba and Tofu dishes, all comes in small portions, so we ordered 8 dishes and shared: yuba shumai, tofu shumai, deep fried yuba, bean curd refuse croquette, tofu salad, yuba gratin, mochifu (mochi-like tofu), and soy milk shabu-shabu! They also have sake, served in a small glass teapot. Isn't it nice?!
I will recommend this restaurant for those who love Yuba and Tofu!

Speaking of the eyelash extensions I had yesterday, I should have done 40 each... I limited to 30 and bought a mascara that you can wear over the extensions, but it lacks volume... hmm... maybe next time I will do 40 each!

Tonight, I am going to take a Hula class at the gym. Have you ever danced the Hula before?! I haven't... but it's for free at the gym, so why don't I try it for a change?!

Tomorrow, after work, my boyfriend and I are going to stay a night at a hotel in Odaiba! I booked a SPA for two, too!!! I also reserved a two-day and one-night tour to Yamagata on 5/15, which was really cheap: $80 per person using mileage. The tour includes round trip flight to Yamagata, hotel, and 2 meals (all-you-can-eat sukiyaki and breakfast). Am I spending too much money for my recreation?!... I hope I am not doing the wrong thing...

I will take my camera with me and will post some pics when I returned.
Have a good one!!!

Please click below and vote for me.

Ginza 300 Bar

I have a lot to write about these few days. One thing I want to write before I forget is about the bar I went on Friday.

How do you sustain your enthusiasm?

As you may know, my enthusiasm for cooking has burned out since I had too much problem with my boyfriend. Whatever I cooked within recent days were unsatisfactory... I thought of going to karaoke, or go shopping to cheer myself up, but somehow I knew it won't work out for this time. Then what I thought was to see someone who is really passionate about being creative. This is how I sometimes sustain my enthusiasm!!!

So, I saw my old friend who is always passionate. I heard now he is into DJ stuff playing at the bar in Ginza (Ginza 300 Bar), so I decided to see him there. Actually, it was for the first time in a decade to see him! Wow!!! Though I don't like a place like a bar where people smoke, it was worth to go there. He did stimulate me beyond what I am doing now! I think he tries hard for everything, which inspire motivation in others.

My weekend project was successful ;)
I hope I can keep this tension for a while.

Let's keep up!

Please click below and vote for me.

How Do You Keep Your Romance Alive?

The weather is getting warmer! It is nicer to run outside than at the GYM.

Every Saturday, my boyfriend and I go out to eat dinner. I cook almost everyday, so this is my treat. This weekend we've been to a restaurant with a beautiful night view! The restaurant is on the 49th floor of a high-rise building in Shinjuku. Our budget for the dinner was the same as usual, but we just changed the place we go and dressed up! Also we didn't leave home together, but we arranged to meet together in Shinjuku. It was much more romantic ;)

I am a stay-at-home person (always prefer to eat at a neighborhood restaurant, wearing jeans), but now I somewhat realized I need to be creative in entertaining ourselves to keep our romance. In the beginning of May, we have Golden Week holidays, so we reserved a hotel in Odaiba. There is a beautiful night view, too.

How do you keep your romance alive?

Please click below and vote for me.

Surprise

Don't you think being in LOVE makes you want to wear a dress rather than jeans?

Yesterday, I went to shop a dress in Shibuya after work because I realized I didn't have a dress to wear to go on a date with my boyfriend. I bought 2 cute spring dresses at a discounted price :)

After shopping, I met my boyfriend and had a dinner at my favorite open-air cafe in Shibuya! The weather was so nice that we had a really good time. We had avocado shrimp salad, tandoori chicken, and taco rice. All dishes came with a lot of vegetables and were delicious!!!

Then surprisingly, he gave me some cute flowers! There was nothing special on this day, so I was really amazed, but on the other hand I was really happy :)

After 6 years, we are still like lovers and I thought I want to be in love with him forever!!!

I was going to die when I thought he was cheating, but it's good to be alive!

Please click below and vote for me.

60th Birthday

Today we (subsidiary company) celebrated our company president's 60th birthday during our lunch break. I didn't check the place beforehand, so I was surprised when we arrived there! It was the cafe I always go! (Where I met merce-san last month!)

We had a special pre fix menu there: salad, main dish, rice, pasta, and dessert ;) How nice from the daytime... I didn't want to go back to work...

We took 2 hours lunch time, so we needed to work 1 hour extra, which was pain in the neck... but the president was happy, so we all were happy to spend time with him!

That's all for today! See you again ;)

Please click below and vote for me.

Curry and Rice with Everything!!!

Hi! We have fine weather almost everyday. The high today is 75F (24C)!!! My heart is still freezing, though...

It's not me but my co-worker (a guy) had "curry and rice with everything" for lunch... He forwarded me the image but how unappetizing (image on the left)...

In Japan, at some curry and rice restaurants, we can choose our favorite topping(s). There is a restaurant called CoCo Ichibanya where you can choose from more than 30 topping choices! Some crazy guys tried the curry and rice there with everything (image on the right)... Can you imagine eating this?! Yuck!!! Why guys like to do such a stupid thing...
related article

Tomorrow I am going on a date with my boyfriend! I'm seeing him for the first time in days. Good luck to me!!!

Please click below and vote for me.

Birthday Dinner

On 4/4, on my boyfriend's birthday, we went to the Italian restaurant again! The manager prepared us a nice pre fix menu at a special price. Thank you!!! We had a good time. I gave him a tie as usual. I always give him a good tie so that he can use it everyday.

Yesterday, sakura trees were in full bloom. I forgot to bring my camera with me, but it was really nice.

Anyway, what do you think is the true love? Is that a romance?
Last time I said my boyfriend might be cheating. I am not sure whether that is true or not, but feeling our relationship is too complicated since we are living together for long. Do guys hate being settled? I just realized I am in love with him again... because I can't reach his heart. Isn't it funny?!

Please click below and vote for me.

Nice Italian Cuisine

It is still cold but the sun came out again!
I think sakura will be in full bloom by this weekend!!!

Yesterday, we had a convivial party at an Italian restaurant in Omotesando. The party was hosted by our president (for female employees only) and we enjoyed foods in season complemented by wines! The course meal was similar to what we had last year, but since I was not familiarized with the place at that time, it didn't stand out in my memory. However, this year, I could savor the taste! All dishes were really delisious!!! I was so excited that I reserved the restaurant for my boyfriend's birthday, of course, at a special price ;)
I can't wait to go there!!!

And now for something completely different, I heared a shocking news from my mom this morning. My bedridden grandfather on the father's side contracted pneumonia, lying at death's door... He is going to be 94 on May 9th. Last time I saw him was about 2 years ago, after he recovered from a stroke. I have a very nice picture of him with grandma. He was doing fine for a while but it relapsed. Since then he was bedridden and now he is suffering from pneumonia. How fragile our life is...

Let's appreciate every day!

Please click below and vote for me.

Kaiten-zushi

How was your Valentine's day?

Me? Nothing special!
I went to the gym with my boyfriend and had sushi with him for dinner. Not going there for a while, the sushi restaurant has changed it's interior to kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi)! I never pick a dish on the conveyor belt (because some are not fresh), but it is more entertaining having it at a sushi restaurant :) Their fish was huge, so we had a very satisfying meal. We ate and drank whatever we want and the total was about $50 (5,000yen)! Maybe cheaper than eating out at Izakaya (a type of Japanese drinking establishment)!

So, our Valentine's day was a happy ordinary day ;)

Anyway, I think I caught a cold. I have a sore throat :( Too bad since I wore a mask and gargled to protect against colds evey day! Hope it won't get worse...

Please click below and vote for me.

Fugu Chiri Nabe

Yesterday, I had "Fugu Chiri Nabe" (puffer fish hot pot dish) with my co-worker for lunch. Fugu (puffer fish) is an expensive type of fish. Usually served as a fine dining but this was only for $10!!! I always watch TV while running at the gym, and every Thursday, there is a show that features lunch menus at great prices! (The restaurants can cut prices because they use the portions that can't be served for dinner but still are high-grade!) Mostly, those featured restaurants aren't close to my workplace, but last week the one nearby was featured! I think I should better keep an eye on that program ;)

Changing my story, the peacock store near my house (I wrote about it before) is going to close down tomorrow. Everything was 30-50% off yesterday evening, and I found nothing left when I stopped by at night!!! How fast... and everyone knows the value.

You know what!? Sad thing here again. Yesterday I found that the boxing class (at the gym) I loved will end this month. The class was held on Sunday evenings and now I don't have a class to look forward... Inconveniently, all other interesting classes are held during the day. Is the gym for homemakers?

It is raining here today... but good weather to prevent flu outbreak!

Damn me... I just cooked once this week. Maybe next week, I will cook more!

Okay, I gotta go now.
See you next month ;)

Please click below and vote for me.

Kobeya Restaurant

Hi! Tonight we had a dinner at Kobeya Restaurant because I had some cash voucher which I won the other day. Kobeya is famous for its homemade bread and there are many bakery in various places. They also have restaurants and I love their all-you-can-eat salad bar and freshly-baked breads!


Anyway, it took us 3 days to clean our house but still not thorough enough... I haven't been cooking properly since Christmas because I was really busy doing other stuff!!! Maybe on the 31st, I will cook something. I need to prepare for osechi-ryori again! This year, I bought a nice set of tsukudani (fish boiled in soy sauce: the image on the right), so I can't wait to pack ;)

Okay, I think this is going to be my last post for this year.
Thank you all for reading. Also, I want to thank you for those who always leave me comments. You made my days!!!

See you next year!!!

Please click below and vote for me.

BBQ Chicken - Korea's No.1 Chicken Restaurant

New Year holidays are coming in 3 more days! I can't wait!!!

Yesterday we had lunch at BBQ Chicken - Korea's No.1 Chicken Restaurant. They are located very close to our home, but we haven't been there ever since they opened in May this year! We had grilled salmon sandwich, fried chicken and avocado sandwich, crispy fried chicken, and soy sauce based fried chicken! They were all great ;) They sumptuously fry them with olive oil, so all the fries weren't greasy!!! I found that there are some branches in the US and Singapore, too. Hope you can find one in your area.

After lunch, we cleaned our house a little bit. I think we need 2 more days to clean. As always, I couldn't throw away that much...

I wrote to merce's reply, but I was out of luck at the company year-end party on Monday. It was very hot in the morning that I sweated through my brand new dress. Then the temp dropped and it got very cold with wind and rain at night that my boots got wet. Unfortunately, I didn't win anything at the party game... The stars were in my favor, though :( I took some pics with my cell. This is how the party looks like. Boring, right? Ha-ha!!!

I can't say it loud, but this year we aren't doing anything for Christmas... My boyfriend is busy and I just came back from the gym! But I got pretty cool Gucci tie for him at the outlet store near station. Also, I bought some Christmas food items which were at a discount of half-price. No cake to save calories! Last minute but better than nothing, right?

This December is so busy that I couldn't write anything about my Christmas recipe... Maybe tomorrow, I will list what I made recently for Christmas!!!

Oh no... I think I am unlucky with money today... I received back my flu shot refund document because there was a flaw. Also, I need to pay for annual adjustment. I never had a minus adjustment!!!

Snap out of it! Enjoy the eve ;)

Please click below and vote for me.