Toshikoshi Soba

its the year end!

that means Japanese ppl like to eat Toshikoshi Soba!

all that it means is soba you eat on eve.  I think, it is a custom born from the fact that eating a long soba noodle brings you long life of health and prosperity...(is that so Wiki??)

A Happy new year to all!!

Brushstroke

I always wanted to go to Brushstroke so was excited to go!

Started at the bar...

the mixologist served screw driver with kaki, adds richness to the citrus.

main dining area. 

we had the seasonal omakase.

and really, everything came with super sommelier Sejukuns recommendation of drinks, which are impeccable. 

the genius at work. 

this was his personal challenge; to find a wine that would work with kazunoko, and he proudly presented this!! 

That, was a great great meal, worth the fiesta that is 2011!

Happy New Year everyone! May 2012 be filled with yummyness and happiness :)

Bread

after visiting the extraordinary Carsten Holler exhibit (yeah, just the slide tho really) we went to Bread.  

I think they wanted to close cus it was Christmas eve and we arrived at 3pm... 

beef stew! christmassy ya?

 

all in all a great cute cozy place.  will go back again when not in rush...

Torishin

Torishin is a yakitori place but it started with amazing yaki-oysters.

then yaki-egg plants.. 

and then the yakitori....

I went to hand over a black humor pigeon comic called "Hatoyome", which is about this horrible pigeon wife who curses at everything and gambles her husbands earnings.

It is way too funny....but the kind of funny that wont make too much sense to buy the comic books, better to read when you go visit your friends place and they have it there.

I bought them cheap in Japan at a used book store, so brought them back to NY to lend to my friend whos also into it....

a good laugh. too funny to read in a commuter train cus ppl will be like "ummm not only is it a grownup reading a comic book, but smirking!".

Knowing my luck i'll run into a friend i havent seen in ages ONLY when im doing that....careful careful!!

Momokawa

Haven't been to Momokawa in a while but here I am!

so great!

Hotaruika okizuke.  Hotaruika is this amazing little squid in deep sea Hokuriku side ocean, namely Toyama, that actually lights up!!!

Hello Little Mermaid!!!

 ankimo~~~

 this was my first attempt at Kurobuta Shio Sukiyaki!!!

 how beautiful is this pork!!

 its not even sweet, and with this much vegetables it feels healthy...

 ramen in the end~ (^^)/

 shimebaritsuru, good sake. Strong, clean, fragrant all at the same time.

even had desert!

ahhh yummm~~

Monomono

taken by my phone, but you can see how woody and cozy this place is...theres a bunch of vinyl covering one wall...supposedly jazz!

ok, the servers here, are FANTASTIC! I love them!!!

i'd go back just to have shots with them again :)