We’re pretty sure that our livers and stomachs wouldn’t survive a rock and roll lifestyle.
Our limit was reached after only four days.
Last night we wrapped up Kuniko’s four day birthday celebration extravaganza. It was fun – don’t get me wrong – but we had just a simple salad for dinner last night and it was so good. Sometimes simple is best.
Friday night I met Kuniko after work and we hit a small bistro near her workplace that served some pretty good food (foie gras, cumin carrots, mint couscous) and reasonably priced wine by the glass. We stayed for just a quick drink and then walked a ways to go to our dinner place, a French restaurant that Kuniko had found online. I don’t remember the name now, but it was a nice enough place. With a nice bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape we enjoyed a big salad of cilantro and mozzarella cheese, laced with peanut oil, a bit of lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. After the salad we had oysters in a basil garlic sauce, and then we finished with two smoked and roasted lamb chops that were perfectly cooked. Yum!
Saturday in the daytime we took care of our car inspection (every two years it is required by Japanese law) and then we headed out to Kobe to meet Yoshi, Mamiko and Akita. Together we celebrated both Kuniko’s birthday and also Akira’s acceptance to his top choice of high schools. Akira’s request was to hit a bunch of different restaurants to try different foods, so we guided them to some of our favorites: lobster rolls at Luke’s, burgers and ribs at Bo Tambourine, four kinds of shorompo at our favorite grouchy Taiwanese place, champagne and cheese at Reims, and what turned out to be almost a full dinner at a new place called Istanbul Cafe, which was selected more for the decor than the menu. What a night – I was completely full by the end of it and was dying for exercise afterwards. We walked under the train overpass towards Kobe station, passing lots of shuttered shops and the occasional open bar and nightclub. I was just happy to get another 3000 steps in. Yoshi, Mamiko and Akira were fun to party with, and I’m afraid that we’ve set Akira on a gourmet road that he’ll have to follow the rest of his life. He’ll never be able to go back to boring food again.
For Kuniko’s birthday on Sunday we went over to visit her folks, who seemed to be doing better and better. We came back and opened up some Spanish cheeses and a bottle of champagne that I got for Kuniko’s birthday present, and we relaxed in the afternoon. The aforementioned salad came afterwards, and we ended the weekend without overstuffed stomachs.
The next birthday celebration will probably be more relaxed and less calorie-intensive, but we had a really good time. Now, back to work!
