New Blog

I made new blog. I will introduce my Japanese life and good restaurants!

Mari @ Kumamoto, Japan
http://chanmari2.blogspot.com/

Farewell Party

3 of my best friends gave me a farewell party at one of their house. They prepared many kinds foods and sweets. We drank wine. I really impressed their kindness and was so happy. I have stayed in Albany Almost 3 years and will leave on August 2. Off course, I missed Japan. But I love Albany and my friends in Albany. I will miss all of them.

Lunch Gathring at Hana Japanese Restaurant

I had a JLCC (http://www.freewebs.com/jlccsuny/) lunch gathering at "Hana Japanese Steak house and Sushi bar (http://hanaalbany.com/#/home)". There were 20 members joining this event. Last time I came there, I like the Sashimi (law fish) very much and this time I tried "Sushi Dinner($21)". Law fish was still good!
The gathering was so nice. Many Japanese and Americans who study Japanese talked together and enjoyed Japanese food. Unfortunately, I had a meeting yesterday and could not stay longer. But I enjoyed a happy time in this restaurant.

Pound cake

I got the pond cake from my friend. She made it for me. It looks Japanese cake taste, it means un-sweet. It makes me in the heaven.

BBQ Party

I had a BBQ party with my friends at my friend's house. I like BBQ because it is symbol of summer for me!! Today was real summer day. Sunshine was strong and it made me suntan. We took food and shared. I took Salmon with vegetable and cooked on BBQ stove. Finally, we gave up to be in such a summer day and went into the house. It was comfortable than outside. How many times will I do BBQ this summer???

Dinner at Creo

I had a dinner with my 4 Japanese friends at Creo(http://www.creorestaurant.com/). I like Creo because of their food and atmosphere. Today we shared to eat some plates; Avocado and tuna roll as an entree, Eggplant & five cheeses wood fire roasted as an entree, Risotto of the day, Pasta of the day, Crème brulee, shortcake with 4 berries and chocolate & Mascarpone cake. All of them were delicious, especially, I love Risotto. Today's risotto was shrimp and artichoke on the risotto. These combination were really good. Also, I became big fan of short cake. I came this restaurant 3 times. Every time I came, I am satisfied very much.

Asian Taste

Today I dropped in Stuyvesant Plaza(http://www.stuyvesantplaza.com/) because I wanted to get something drink at Starbucks Coffee. Before Starbucks, I went to "EATS(http://eatsgourmetmarketplace.com/)". Still there are many kinds of products which I am so interested in. I checked all products in the sore... Then, I found something interesting in Deli corner. Some of the deli look like Asian. I want to try and bought "Asian style coleslaw with smoked duck breast ($9.00/1 lb)" and "Sauteed Shitakes ($18.00/1lb)". As for the coleslaw, there are cabbage, carrot and smoked duck with source which taste like Japanese one. As for the sautee, Shitakes with sesame were taste vinegar. Both of them were definitely Asian. I will take them in my lunch box tomorrow!

Japanese PEPSI

Last summer, PEPSI sold "PEPSI ice cucumber" taste only in Japan.
Then, in this summer they will sell "PEPSI Shiso (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perilla_frutescens)" taste only in Japan.
I wonder how they sellect the taste and why they sell only in Japan???

International Dinner

I joined "The International Dinner" at "First Assembly of God(http://albanyfirstag.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=25728) with some of JLCC (http://www.freewebs.com/jlccsuny/) members. About 30 people joined this dinner. Each of us took our country food and shared. I made one bite size of 25 "Tonkatsu (Deep fried pork)". Other Japanese took "Sekihan (Red bean rice : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekihan)" and "Fried Chicken". I tried many kinds of food and like vegetable and chicken soup (I did not check which country) and Indian dessert "Ras malai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasmalai)". I asked Indian woman how to make this dessert and it looks easy. But we can get this in Indian glossary store. I will check!
During eating, we did some easy and fun game. Also, we talked with other people and had a good time.

My B-Day #2 "Hana Japanese Steakhouse"

I went to my lab after interview.
My lab-mates celebrated my B-day and we went to have a lunch at
"Hana Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar(http://hanaalbany.com/#/home)". One of our lab-mates really love this restaurant but I have not gone yet. Inside the restaurant was little dark but good decoration and atmosphere. There are many kinds of lunch menu and I ate "Tonkatsu lunch box". Other members ate "Sashimi Lunch", "Sushi Lunch" and ... In my lunch box, there were Tonkatsu (deep fried pork), 2 dumplings, California roll, vegetable tempura and miso soup. It was lot for me. The taste of my Tonkatsu was so-so but Sushi looked so delicious. Fatty tuna was beautiful and fascinated me.
One of the member told "Today is my B-day" to waiter, so they sang a birthday song and gave me ice cream tempura, but they asked me to dance, dance!! Sorry, I could not dance...
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Hana Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
1620 Western Avenue,
Albany,NY 12203
TEL (518)452-4262
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My B-Day #1 "Interview"

Happy Birthday to Me! Yesterday (May 11th.) was my Birthday. There were many events for me.

In the morning, I went to Union College(http://www.union.edu/). One of my friends teaches advanced Japanese class and the final project of her class is "talk with native Japanese", so I and other 2 Japanese joined her class and talked with students. I talked with Jacky, whose major is East Asia literature, and she went to Japan as a exchange student last year, so her Japanese was really good. Other student I talked with was Jeff, whose major is molecular biology, and he also went to Japan as a exchange student last year. Our topic were "Why did you come to the U.S.?", "What are you doing now?", "Are their any difficulties living in the U.S.?" and so on. We talked for about 30 min. and I enjoyed very much.

Their passion of Japanese influences me so much!

Spring Picnic Lunch

I have a "Picnic Lunch Party" at Indian Ladder Farm(http://www.indianladderfarms.com/cgi-bin/ilf.cgi) today. There are many apple trees and most of them bloom beautifully. More than 30 Japanese came there and they brought food which we share. Rice ball, Boiled pumpkin, Fried chicken, Onion salad and so on. The weather was soooo nice and we enjoyed eating and talking. Children enjoyed rode the hey ride, saw baby animals and played in the ground. I was really happy to see some of my friends who have not contact for long time. I love these kind of gathering!

Koinobori

May 5th is "Children's Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodomo_no_Hi)" in Japan.
Before that day, families raise "Koinobori (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinobori)", which are the carp-shaped flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), one for each boy (or child). We made the Koinobori by piece of fabrics and decorated.

Japan Night 2009

I went to "Japan Night" in SUNY with my friends.
I heard Japanese food would be served between 7:00pm and 8:00pm, and we rushed in the event at 7:00pm. Food was nice but the amount of food were terrible. Even though I ate my portion but still hungry. Same as my friends.
The show was awesome! The member of JSA(Japanese Student Association) presented some Japanese popular songs and skit which showed Japanese life style. They presented "Fashion Show" last. The show was so interesting for me. They changed to ware Kimono (Japanese traditional clothes) characteristically.
I really enjoyed this event and it was much better last year.

Japan Night in this year

"Japan Night" in SUNY, sponsored by Japanese Student Association in SUNY, will be held in April 23 this year. We can buy a ticket ($5.00 in advanced, $8.00 at the door )from today.
Last year, I joined this event with my Japanese friends and enjoyed very much, so I will go again!

Cherry Blossom

In Japan, Cherry blooms bloom in April. My husband, who is in Japan now, sent me some pictures of them. This weekend, he could see beautiful cherry blossom trees in the park and enjoyed taking pictures.

Shogun Restaurant (Japanese Restaurant)

I had JLCC(http://www.freewebs.com/jlccsuny/) meeting at "Shogun Restaurant(http://www.shogunofdelmar.com/)". Inside the restaurant is clean and fancy. I ate "Chicken Tempura ($15.00)" and other members ate "Chicken Teriyaki", "Maki-Sushi Combo" and so on. The taste of "Chicken Tempura" was good but the surface was too crispy for me. All food were decorated cute and they looked beautiful. The service was really good. Their service made us so comfortable.
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Shogun Restaurant
318 Delaware Avenue,
Delmar, NY 12054
TEL (518)729-5727
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Thank you card

There is a Japanese study group for elementary and junior high school students. I teach Japanese and mathematics there as volunteer teacher. Today we had a commencement. In the morning, all students made a presentation about their interesting topic, such as "How to make Chinese characters", "Why breakfast is so important" and "How to save energy". Each student prepared their presentation and had good performances. I was so happy to see them. After their presentations, we had a ceremony. In the ceremony, some students gave a present and a thank you card to volunteer teachers. I got them. All students wrote the massage for me and I an so glad to see it.

New Years Party

I had a New Year Party with my friends. We brought Japanese traditional New Years food and shared them. All of them were so delicious. Even if I am in Japan, I cannot prepare such a many kinds of foods. I really happy to eat them. Children played New Years games and did a tea ceremony. Some of them wore Kimono (Japanese traditional costume) and took pictures. Today was really Japanese day for me.

Rice Cake

Some of my friends and I did "Mochitsuki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi)" today. "Mochitsuki" is a traditional rice cake-pounding ceremony in New Years day in Japan. But it is rare to see this ceremony even if we are in Japan. One of our friends have tools of ceremony and we landed them. Children tried to make rice cake. After that, adults dipped these rice cakes with many kinds of flavors, such as red bean paste, soy flour with sugar, green soy bean paste and sesame with sugar. All of them were very tasty and children had a hearty appetite. Also, I ate too much.