Tuesday, March 19, 2024

20167

Since we would be staying in Kyoto on Friday night to attend FIL's memorial service the next day, Satoshi let me go earlier to go holo-holo (gallavanting).

I was lucky to get to see Mount Fuji on the way.

It was my first time back in Osaka since we moved to Tokyo

My first stop was Chocolaterie Coco which I had only learned about after moving to Tokyo, apparently he has been in business since 2015.

Since Friday was the day after White day, choices were kind of slim.

Still I was able to pick out 6 bon bons to try.


Rocher praline (noir), truffes au calvados, pistache, champagne, coco no 8 and tanzania 75...1620 yen (tax included)

All were delicious, love!

I want to try his baked items next time

And then I walked through Honmachi to see all sorts of architecture that were featured on a J-drama
Stumbling on a lot of more things along the way.

In Kyoto, I went to Matsuhiro Shoten and bought a couple of gamaguchi purses

I'm glad they survived the pandemic
And had a very late lunch at Le Bac à Sable, it had been about 8 years since the last time I ate here.

They don't have a lunch menu anymore, so I just had a cheese quiche (which I heated up with their toaster), pain au chocolat and iced coffee...980 yen (tax included)

I'm glad they survived the pandemic too

And then I went up the street to Chocolaterie Hisashi
I picked out 6 bon bons (miso, caramel chocolat, sake, praline pistache, matcha and yuzu)...2700 yen (tax included)

All were delicious too, love!
Loved the caramel chocolat macaron too...475 yen (tax included)
And then I went to Nishiki Market, because I saw something online that said Torisei, which has been in business for over 100 years, sell bentos.

Unfortunately, they only had foods on sticks...(I actually think the info online was wrong)

These days Nishiki Market is definitely not the place to be...way.too.many.people.

I was able to get teriyaki chicken from Torisei that was pre-cut...800 yen (tax included)

super meaty and flavorful

similar to the teriyaki chicken I buy at Shinanoya
And then I walked down to our hotel

Which had a free 1 hour all you can drink, in the lobby (for guests) between 16:00-21:00
Luckily Satoshi arrived in Kyoto so we could try the 1 hour all you can drink

You need to make your own drinks, and drink them in the lobby, but I think this is a nice ammenity for guests.
You can also order food...cheese iburi gakko pizza did not look too good, but Satoshi said it was okay...1000 yen (tax included)

Thankful I was able to get out to Osaka and Kyoto, the weather was nice and I'm glad I was able to see everything I had planned to.

Chocolaterie Coco
1-5-15 Minami Kuhoji machi
Chuo, Osaka
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Hours: 11:00-19:00

Chocolate Hisashi
166-16 Ebisucho
Higashiyama, Kyoto
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Hours: 10:30-18:00

Torisei
186 Higashiuoyacho
Nakagyo, Kyoto
Hours: 7:30-18:00
Closed Holidays

Il Verde Kyoto
333 Yorozuyacho
Shimogyo, Kyoto

If you'd like to see photos/videos, please look here

Monday, March 18, 2024

17 years + MIL's (part 4)

Saturday, we got together for FIL's 17th memorial service.

Seems like yesterday and yet not.

Unfortunately BIL forgot FIL’s photo for the service

And Satoshi forgot the arare that we planned to give as our offering for the service

Lunch was at Hyatt Kyoto's Touzan, we've eaten here many times over the years.

Back up to Wednesday, BIL asks Satoshi if we can meet up on Sunday to discuss MIL's house...

well, we had only planned to stay Friday night then return to Tokyo after the service Saturday...

(like BIL couldn't have told Satoshi this when they met up in February?!)

So…BIL is going with his architect

With MIL's money, they will get the house cleaned and if there are areas that need to be fixed, they will get it fixed

And if everything goes smoothly, BIL & SIL should be able to move in by the end of the year...

After MIL's monies run out, whatever costs incurred will be paid by Satoshi, and BIL will pay Satoshi back his half.

Anyway, that's what's what...

Thankful we were able to get together to remember FIL.

And thankful, things with MIL's is going as well as can be.

Friday, March 15, 2024

this and that

made my own version of Bob Bagel's lox sandwich...salmon sashimi, cream cheese, capers, red onion and everything bagel
lunch one day...spam with shoyu sugar, kim chee and yakiimo
iced matcha latte
loved the organized painter's van
blooming kanzakura
shared a scoop of matcha brownie from Baskin Robbins (31 as it is called in Japan) with Satoshi
found 5 yen on the ground...

Got a sad message from Nishiyama Tsukudani.

Since the size of the ikanago (Japanese sand lance) are too large this year, the quality of their kugini (type of tsukudani) would be affected, so they decided to not take any orders...

I have a little left of our stash from last year, but was looking forward to ordering more for this year.

Just another sign of global warming, I guess... (photo from last year)

Hoping next year will be a better year for them.

Yesterday was White Day...white towel and chocolates from Satoshi
It was also Pi Day...been awhile since we had RINGO

Still as ono as when we first tried them.

Have a safe weekend

Thursday, March 14, 2024

on the lanai

thankful the cyclamen is blooming this year.

was scared it wouldn’t recover after the building renovation the other year
we'll have freesia in a couple of weeks too
 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

foodie saturday

Saturday I went to Ebisu to see this pop up...

I've been following Sakura Hanafusa for some time now, she carves cats from pieces of wood

It was something to see up close.

Ebisu...never noticed the beer lamp posts before...
or the sakura lights




the JR Ebisu station had cyclamen alongside the people movers (the flat type of escalators).
Lunch: provencale sandwich from Le Grenier a Pain...tuna, olives, tomatoes...loved this
tried Maison Landemaine's pain au chocolat, nice chocolate ratio
Nihonbashi Eitaro's sakura daifuku...so pretty

Also picked up dinner garlicky chicken from Big Oven, these were meaty and the outside super crispy...love!

The fries were meh!

It was quite cold but nice to be out and about

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

1st world problems

My Instagram account used to be able to upload to my blog’s Facebook page.

Not sure when “the rules” changed but now only Pro Instagram or Content Creator Instagram accounts can link their Instagram posts to their Facebook pages…boo!

Guess I’ll just have to upload the photos on to Facebook myself 

Thanks for taking the fun out of things...

Monday, March 11, 2024

virtual hugs

Thinking of the people of Tohoku, especially today.