Saturday, June 21, 2014

Elle Varner performs "Cold Case" live

Elle Varner put on an amazing performance at BET's 106&Park.

I'm also enjoying:
And to think I used to think songs about love were boring...

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Taiwanese tapioca milk tea and Japanese desserts

It seems like I've neglected to talk about my new favorite tea shop - a Taiwanese tapioca milk tea place called Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 that has come to Japan.  I don't actually like tapioca that much (I'll eat it without problems but I don't need it) but I love milk tea that has a strong tea flavor - Chun Shui Tang does that nicely!  The nicely-furnished shops in Omotesando, Daikanyama, and Roppongi Icchome all have free wi-fi too, which is a nice bonus.


Also, Ginza Budou no Ki 銀座ぶどうの木, a French-style "Maison de Dessert" Japanese dessert parlor, has my favorite chocolat fondant in Tokyo so far.  The accent of pepper is amazing.  Their Crepes Suzette and Cheese Souffle are famous too, I believe.

Sunday, June 08, 2014

Bistro Tres Mignon has a web page!

I never knew that they had a website until I stumbled upon it today.

Nakameguro Bistro Tres Mignon 中目黒 ビストロトレミニヨン has a tender and juicy hamburg steak, and an amazing chicken confit (sometimes a daily special).

Chicken Confit チケンコンフィ (Daily Special 日替わり)

Hamburg Steak ハンバーグ(柔らかくてジューシよ!)
Definitely a steal at lunch (1000 yen~) and worth the money at dinner.  If you can get the home-made mutton sausage (dinner only usually) - it's spicy and so flavorful!  Even people who don't normally like mutton get addicted to it.

Home-made Mutton Sausage 自家製羊ソーセージ(日替わり、夜)

The vegetable ratattouille is delicious too - not too tart and perfectly cooked and flavorful.  The omelet hayashi and curry seem popular but I usually get the hamburg or the daily special.  Omelet hayashi is great but seriously, when there's chicken confit you'd have to be crazy not to get it.

Swordfish steak カジキマグロ
.About 10 minutes from Nakameguro Station, the chef is pretty chill and cool.  They play good music too!  It's pretty random, from jazz to Sheryl Crow to the Beatles.  Very French Bistro style inside.

Monday, June 02, 2014

Noritake x My Neighbor Totoro (and Kiki's Delivery Service)

The Japanese tableware manufacturer Noritake apparently has a longstanding collaboration with Studio Ghibli; resulting in multiple lines of products that contrive to separate me from my money:
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro Special Collection (the milk tea cups are adorable, especially the pattern with the CatBus!)
My Neighbor Totoro (Coordinate Items)Kiki's Delivery Service

Sunday, June 01, 2014

Biwa and sento

I ate some refreshing 枇杷(びわ) loquat today, and being prompted to wonder if there was a popular way to eat them, I found some information online.  I didn't know that the seeds had amounts of cyanide in them!

In other news, I went to my local sento recently.  Relaxing, even in this hot weather.  As I was leaving, I noticed a Caucasian lady also using the busy sento.  I was half inclined to make a casual comment to her in English, but wasn't sure if she would be disturbed to be addressed while naked (as everyone is).

So I went on my merry way home.  That was the first time I visited the sento feeling like I knew what I was doing, and able to look the cashier in the eye.  As I left I also said thank you without feeling particularly self-conscious.  Milestones!