i'm not saying i'm a fag hag but . . . .

i suppose there's quite a bit of evidence to the contrary.

Dinner at Sohan's New Place

 

Sal's client/friend Sohan started a new restaurant in Azabu Juban called Chef's Table.  She invited me along for one of the best free meals ever.  Started with some very tasty homemade bread:

followed by a carpaccio-like ceviche:

the yummiest flakiest empanada ever:

bistec asado!  soooooo tasty!

Sal twitters her very delish bouillabaisse-ish soup:

dessert!  milk cake with caramel sauce and ice cream with a side of fresh fruit:

sooo yummy!  afterwards, we got a little lost but finally made it to Kenzo Estate's Wine Bar where Sally's Daichan poured us a glass of vino:

heaps of fun!  thanks for a top nite!

Happy Birthday Mabou!

Imagine you're a 62 year old Japanese former salary man with no girlfriend or wife or any real family to deal with. You dad is bonkers in a home, you get a nice fat pension, and you've got a house in the country and one in the city. The only thing that can really disrupt your life is a crazy ass niece who forces you to celebrate your birthday, something you haven't done since you were 8.

When i first plonked down in japan, we were not the best of friends. at least 4 years would go by before things even started to get better. and now, 8 years later, he is forced to celebrate getting older with his birthday-crazed niece. Hey, at least i buy the guy dinner. and lots of beer.


he wanted to go to this little local unagi joint for shirayaki and kabayaki. afterwards, we came home for a mango dessert (he's had a mango themed birthday confection every year for the past 5 years. not that he's really noticed):



hope you made a good wish!

The Visitor

a couple of days after i get back from london, a visitor shows up on my doorstep: rod. rod is my b-i-l's friend from new york. he came to japan to attend a spanish friend's wedding in uwajima and stayed to explore the country for a few weeks. here's a highlight reel from his time in tokyo:

first nite in tokyo and his first time at an izakaya with jax and seishiro:


ramen (tsukemen -- cold noodles dipped in hot broth) in shinjuku:


getting his omikuji fortune at Meiji shine:


watching the rockabilly dancers in yoyogi park:


kickin' it in asakusa (in front of kaminarimon):



trying to pick a yummy plate from the revolving sushi joint:


at the local fish joint having a beer and enjoying some grilled fish head:



a local person willing to to pose with the gaijin:


katsu curry (just to make my sister jeals):


back at the fish joint with the other spaniards who finally made their way up to tokyo (carlos to my right, quino to my left, yuri, quino's girlfriend of about 5 minutes across from him, rafaela, carlos's girl , and rod). they were so much fun!


beers at the standing joint with yuki, dave and toby:


at the fish market (long after the action was over):


a last meal at uojin, my favorite joint, with my uncle and rod's friend yuji:



hope you had a good visit dude!

Back in Blighty

with one solid day left in our vacation, we did what all good japanese people do before they go back home, we shopped. nani wanted to go to Marylebone road so we went to Baker street station where we were greeted by Sherlock Homes:

madame tussauds: no idea why so many people love this crazy ass wax museum. the line was way down the street.

This shop, Natural Kitchen, was awesome (a bit pricey though . . . )

lots of cute little shops on this street:

a beautiful book shop:

mmmmmmmmm! sammiches! this is the kind of thing i can shop for!

and onto Oxford and Regent streets for more shopping!

to be honest, i HATE shopping. but i'm happy to take pictures all day, especially in this town:

a break for ice cream:

a stop at Fortnum & Mason, one of the priciest tea/food shops i've been to:

it's all very pretty though

back on the bus towards Clapham for dinner:

mmmmm, bbq at Bodean's:

train's cousin Jojo joined us:

thanks for a great trip!