Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year Food Exchange


We had a "New year Food Exchange" today. From 9:00AM, we saw an annual Japanese music show on the New Year's Eve. It looked fun and I enjoined very much. At lunch time, we ate Soba noodle. After eating, we exchanged own New Year dishes. Each of us made 2 kinds of dishes and we had 12 members and I got 24 dishes. It was incredible and very fun. I put those dishes in my box and took my home. I am looking forward to eating these dishes tomorrow!!
Today's special guest, who is American, reported our party. Please check it out(http://celinabean.com/2007/12/happy-new-year-good-luck-noodles-mochi-and-more-1/#more)!!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

New Year Dishes


Tomorrow I will join "The Meeting of Exchange New Year Dishes", so I prepared my dishes. I made "Datemaki, which is sweet rolled omelet mixed with fish paste" and "Kuri-kinton, which is sweet potatoes and chestnuts". I had almost one day but I like cooking and enjoyed it very much. I am looking forward to joining the meeting tomorrow!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Dumpling Party

My husband's co-workers, their wives and we had a "Dumpling Party". One of my husband's co-worker is Chinese and his wife taught us how to make it. We tried to make a lot of them. Furthermore, she made some Chinese meals for us. All of them were so delicious and we were satisfied very much. I was sooo full!

Friday, December 28, 2007

NYC

I wanted to get certification in "Consulate-General of Japan in New York(http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/html/index.html)", so my husband and I went to NYC. We arrived there about 12:30 and went to have a lunch at "Aburiya Kinnosuke(http://www.aburiyakinnosuke.com/aburiya.htm)". I heard this restaurant serves "Robata grill" and "Yakitori". I was looking forward to eating them but in the lunch time, there were not any menu like that. They served ordinary Japanese restaurant meals and I was little depressed. Otherwise, there were many Japanese customers and I was so surprised!
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Aburiya Kinnosuke
213 East 45th Street,
New York, NY 10017
TEL (212)867-5454
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After eating lunch, we went to Consulate-General of Japan and got the certification. Then, we went to "Cafe Zaiya(http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-zaiya-new-york)". I went to this shop last summer but there were many people and I could not enter the shop. Today, There were some people but I can enter there. We bought 2 Lunch boxes("Omu rice" and "Fried Chicken") and 1 pack of An-pan for our dinner. I really like such a shop and I am envy New Yorkers! After that, we went to "Kinokuniya Bookstore(http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/indexohb.cgi?AREA=03)" to buy some stationary.

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Cafe Zaiya
18 East 41st Street,
New York, NY 10003
TEL (212)779-0600
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Kinokuniya Bookstore
1073 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10018
TEL (212)869-1700
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Before getting on the train, we bought a Cheese cake at "Junior's(http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/)". Last time I went to NYC, I did not have a chance to eat this cake. So, I wanted to buy it! I heard this Cheese cake is best in New York. I will judge it with my friends tomorrow!

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Junior's
Grand Central Station
(Lower Level Dining Concourse)
TEL (212)983-5257
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Thursday, December 27, 2007

OKINAWA(Japanese & Chinese Restaurant)


Because this restaurant was in the "Times Union(http://timesunion.com/entertainment/restaurants/onerestaurant.asp?name=&cuisine=-1&style=-1&location=-1&price=2&zipcode=&restaurantID=1343)", I wanted to go there. In lunch menu, there are 3 kinds of Sushi boxes($9.25), 5 kinds of Udon soups($8.95), 8 kinds of Teriyaki Boxes($9.95) and 2 kinds of Roll Comboes($7.95、$9.95). I ate Roll Combo(California Roll and Eel Cucumber Roll) and my husband ate another Roll Combo(Spicy Tuna Roll, Smoked Salmon Roll and Tuna Avocado Roll). Roll combo had small salad and miso soup but this miso soup did not have much taste. It was awful. Sushi was so-so(not good or not bad). I think it is not valuable to take long driving from my apartment.

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OKINAWA
61 Main Avenue, Wynantskill,
NY 12198
TEL (518)283-7716
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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Capital Holiday Lights in the Park


My husband and I went to see "Capital Holiday Lights in the Park(http://www.albany.org/pages/calendar/show_calendarDetail.asp?mem_id=Yes&cal_id=4263&hd=Events+Calendar)" at Washington park. There are a lot of lights in the park and we can see them from our car. Entrance fee is $10 per car but we do not need to pay the entrance fee when we walk to see. I think car is better because the park is really big, there are many cars in the park and it is so cold at night. I could see many beautiful lights and enjoyed very much.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Patissier ISEI (Cakes & Breads)


The owner if this shop is Japanese woman but she dose not have real shop. She sends the E-mail to customers and takes order every 2 weeks. As for the pastry, I like "Cream cheese bread" and "Table roll". Also, I like "Roll cake" and "Pudding". Her style is really Japanese cakes and pastries. I strongly recommend to try her cakes and breads. Please contact her in her Web site(http://yuttysr.fc2web.com/).

Christmas Cake


Today is Christmas Eve! I bought a Christmas cake(φ18cm Strawberry cake) from my friend who sells cakes and breads every 2 weeks in Albany and Clifton Park area(http://yuttysr.fc2web.com/). I like her cakes because her cake's style is really Japanese and I sometimes missed Japanese style cakes. Of course Christmas cake was really delicious and I was satisfied very much.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Jack's Oyster House (Oyster Bar)


We went to have a dinner at "Jack's Oyster House (http://www.jacksoysterhouse.com/)" with my husband's co-workers. I heard this restaurant is the oldest one in Albany, so I wanted to go there. We ate sea food combo(Oyster, Clam and Shrimp) as a entree. As main dish, I ate duck and others ate pork chop, Fillet steak, ram chop and so on. These taste were really good. Especially, Fillet steak was so soft and duck was tasty. I liked this restaurant because I can eat good sea food and steak at one time.
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Jack's Oyster House
42 State Street, Albany, NY
TEL. (518)465-8854
Open Daily 11:30AM-10:00PM
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Saturday, December 15, 2007

Christmas Potluck Party


My husband and I joined the Christmas potluck party today. This party was organised by JLCC(Japanese Language and Culture Club) members and I am one of the members. We brought meals and shared. I brought croquette and hamburger. I could eat many kinds of food such as Sushi, steam bun, fried noodle, stuffed turkey, apple pie....... I was so full and I took some food to my house. We did a quiz about Japan and talked about Japan and Albany. It had a great time! I really enjoyed this party.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

End of the year Party


My friends and I had "an end of the year party" today. There were over 20 Japanese women in this party. We cooked 4 kinds of hotpots; Sukiyaki(beef and tofu), Tounyu-nabe(chicken and vegetables with soy milk), Miso-nabe(pork and vegetables with bean paste taste) and Yose-nabe(pork and vegetables with soy source taste). All of them were so tasty, I ate a lot and I was full. During eat, we talked a lot and enjoy very much. This party was really enjoyable for me. We started at 5PM and finish at 10PM. We were all satisfied and want to have another party next year!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Mari's Japanese Cuisine (Japanese restaurant)


My husband and I went to have a dinner at "Mari's Japanese Cuisine" in Schenectady. This restaurant was selected "Best Japanese Restaurant in 2007" in Metroland(http://metroland.net/) and I really wanted to go there. It took about 30 minutes by car from our apartment but it was valuable to take such a long drive. We ate hijiki(kind of seaweed), chicken tempra, fried pork, 2 kinds of sushi and red bean ice cream. There were many customers and atmosphere was good. Their meals were really Japanese and we enjoyed eating very much. I want to go again and will try another meals.
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Mari's Japanese Cuisine
2049 Van Vranken Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308
TEL (518)381-4881
Mon. - Thur. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fri. & Sat. 4:45 to 9:30 p.m.
Sun.  Closed
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