breakfast

Breakfast in our household is usually really simple.

We start off with some papaya and then have some kind of carb (like toast).

Today's was apple cinnamon bread from Larry's Bakery.

Their bread is really good. Soft with lots of apple and cinnamon.

Good toasted with a slather of butter or just as is.

Sometimes I also have some plain yogurt with some fruit.

The cups of yogurt here are a little bigger than the ones we get in Japan, so I usually eat half and save the other half for another day.

The blueberries were HUGE the size of marbles! I've never seen blueberries this big in Japan.

To drink, some coffee or green tea.

What are you having for breakfast?

Larry's Bakery (UPDATE:2018 no longer in business)
4369 Lawehana Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.422.0059
Hours: M-F 6:00-13:00
S 6:00-12:00
Closed Sundays & Holidays

the flight

FYI: my posts won't be changed to Hawaii time.

So, the menu on the flight changed, for the better, whoo!

I've written about the Syaarii bar wraps previously, here, so I was pleased to see that it was part of our inflight meal.

A ham wrap and a fried shrimp wrap. The fried shrimp wrap's outer was coated with purple shiso...yum!

Mon chou chou still does their dessert, only now they have a branch called Le Ciel (the sky) Mon chou chou.

This time around it was their chocolate version....I only ate half but it was delish.

I liked the fact that JAL incorporated local businesses in their meals.

The plane was packed (though I think it was a smaller plane), which is good for Hawaii because that means more tourists are travelling.

Check out the sky last night...It's good to be in Hawaii.

it's that time of year...

I'm off to Hawaii...talk to you from the other side of the world.

bar ista

This coffee place called Bar Ista (get it?!) has been on my list "to try" for some time now, and we finally got a chance to.

A tiny shop with only 8 counter seats, my only peeve about this place is that they allow smoking...bah!

They have really cute cappuccinos though.

We'll be back, when hopefully smokers aren't.

Bar Ista
2-6-1 Kitakyuhojimachi
Chuo, Osaka
Phone: 06.6241.0707
Closed Sundays & Holidays
Hours: 11:30-22:00

le noued papillon

I had been wanting to bring Satoshi to Le Noued Papillon ever since I had eaten there with my French class.

Well, yesterday, I got the chance to bring him here for a belated birthday lunch.

Our meals started off with a slice of pate campagne & a tiny octopus simmered in a tomato sauce....mmm!

For my main, I chose the coq au vin (chicken simmered in red wine). It was my first time trying this dish and it was delicious. The sauce was quite rich.

Satoshi, not a fan of chicken, went with the eggplant & pork moussaka, I don't think this dish is "French" but it sure was tasty.

Our meals came with a drink of choice, and we both chose a glass of red wine.

And to finish, tiny profiteroles...perfect ending to a great meal.

Satoshi said he enjoyed the food, and I'm glad I was able to bring him here...we'll be back.

Le Noeud Papillon
1-5-7 Azuchimachi
Chuo, Osaka
PHone: 06.6262.0123

weather index

Fun! an index to drink beer based on the heat in Japan.

And one to eat ice cream...I'm pretty sure you don't need to tell me twice.

Do you have interesting weather indexes where you live?

grill de kamaya

Next door to Irish Curry is Grill de Kamaya.

There is a large kama (oven/kiln) in the middle of the restaurant. Perfect for winter, but not really for summer.

We sat closer to the large open window/door at the front of the shop, the place was quite homey with lots of wooden tables and chairs.

There was another kama behind Satoshi but it wasn't in use, they said they only use it to smoke meats in it.

We started off with some salmon carpaccio, fresh and delicious.

Next an order of shin-tamanegi (spring onions). These were either roasted or braised.

Sweet and tender.

We tried their cumin lamb.

This was grilled.

Tender and very flavorful.

Next an order of their shiitake.

I think this was braised.

Lots of garlic and chili...yum!

And to finish an order of their seafood paella.

This was not as flavorful as the other dishes, but a nice end to a great meal.

For all these dishes and 2 glasses of wine...4100 yen, not bad.

As we walked back, we noticed this tako (octopus) slide...so Osaka!

We'll be back.

Grill de Kamaya (UPDATE: this shop is no longer in business)
3-6-13 Toyosaki
Kita-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06.6373.1321
Closed Sundays & Holidays
Lunch: 11:30-15:00
Dinner: 17:00-23:00