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January 29, 2009 | 3 Comments

Extra Bites: Meat Me at Capital Grille, Smith and Kushibar

Now that our vegetarianism interlude is behind us, it’s time to get back to meat, expanding beyond burgers and catching up on a few extra bites from last year. First stop is the Capital Grille, where a dinner-by-invitation also yielded a group of us a…
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January 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Dishin’: Maruta Shoten and the Battle Bento

A sakana ichiba (fish market) at Shibuya station is our favorite Tokyo battleground. Close to closing time, customers hover around the refrigerator cases, scouting out the sushi and sashimi assortments–especially the packages of maguro, mutsu, and more. Then, at about 7:45, the man with the…
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January 12, 2009 | 0 Comments

Dishin’: Sea-Tac Fly-By of Waji’s

Having recently returned to the States from Asia, I’m thinking about all the great noodles, dumplings, and sushi you can get at airports on the other side of the Pacific – not to mention the bento boxes the Japanese take on their trips. And I’m…
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January 6, 2009 | 1 Comment

Dishin’: Sushi Land Conveyance

On the topic of kaiten sushi (or kaiten-zushi), we go, well, round and round. Instant gratification in grabbing dishes upon seating, but hard to know how long they’ve sat on the conveyor belt. A festive feeling, but no natural interaction with the sushi chef. Unlimited…
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December 31, 2008 | 0 Comments

Long life (and longing for) noodles in Tokyo (and Seattle)

It’s New Year’s eve in Tokyo, and traditionally a time to eat noodles to ensure a long and healthy life. The noodle of choice would be toshikoshi (year-bridging) soba, but this year (I’ve spent six of the last seven New Year eves in Tokyo), I’ve…
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November 29, 2008 | 0 Comments

Only in Japan: Beans Are Cute (Mameshiba)

Staying on the subject of beans, and since I’ll be in Tokyo in just a few weeks, I wanted to share some cute (and yet strangely disturbing) bean-promoting ads from Japan. In each, a dog (shiba) bean (mame) magically appears, giving some factual trivia that’s…
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November 28, 2008 | 3 Comments

A Soy Sauce Surprise in Kentucky

Finally, one last note from last month’s trip to Kentucky. Just days before my travel, I read a New York Times article about a man making microbrewed soy sauce in Louisville. I did a double-take. Louisville? I had to visit. Matt Jamie is a chef…
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November 24, 2008 | 1 Comment

Bento Bound at Fuji Sushi

Ramen was what I really wanted, but it was sold out. More on that another time. Dejected, my dining companion and I left the restaurant, strolled out to the street, and ended up at another one: Fuji Sushi. She ordered the katsudon: deep-fried pork cutlet…
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November 12, 2008 | 2 Comments

Whining in West Orange

My niece’s bat mitzvah meant a family visit in the New York City area, with “family” and “area” being the operative words. I wasn’t in NYC, but in West Orange, NJ, and from a food perspective (and with family not always wanting to go far…
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November 6, 2008 | 0 Comments

Seattle Sound 4/08: Izakaya Invitational (Turning to Japanese)

Izakayas are the great new import from Japan, and they’re sprouting up around Seattle. So which is the best izakaya? Well, that depends on what your definition of “iz” is. Formed from i (to remain) and sakaya (sake shop), an izakaya is a drinking establishment…
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