whoo

Finally, Greek yogurt in the markets...

Now, if they would only make bigger containers...have a nice week!

le bois

Friday I had several errands to run, including an appointment with my dentist.

Lunch was at Le Bois.

A cute cafe. I liked how the windows let in lots of light.

Things started off with some cake salé. This had some ham, green olives as well as some hazelnuts in it.

I ordered the metzgerei kusuda's bacon salad lyonnaise...1300 yen.

Metzgerei means butcher in German. There is a deli in Ashiya called Metzgerei Kusuda. I wouldn't mind checking this place out sometime.

Topping the salad, two generous slices of bacon. Fried up...not crispy but still delicious! (Doesn't my photo look like someone smiling?!)

Also with the salad came a cold pumpkin potage, some pickled veggies (cauliflower, myoga (Japanese ginger), onion & red bell pepper), a cold potato salad (I think this was the Lyonnaise part of the dish) and a soft cooked egg.

There was also a generous piece of warm baguette.

It was nice tearing off pieces and dipping them into the potage and into the soft cooked egg.

Ending the meal was a nice taste of their chocolate & ginger cake with some iced coffee.

Super full, I wished they had told me I could take home any leftover baguette earlier, so I didn't try to finish it all off.

I wouldn't mind bringing Satoshi here, I'll be back.

Le Bois
1-5-22 Koraibashi 2F
Chuo, Osaka
Phone: 06.4706.2200
Closed Mondays, Hours: 11:00-23:00

tsurutontan top chefs

It had been awhile since we ate at Tsurutontan, so we recently had lunch there.

Satoshi went with their Mochibuta Curry Udon. Mochibuta is a brand name of pork that is supposed to be of high quality.

He enjoyed this...doesn't it look like a pool filled with curry?

What amazes me is that he never fails to order a hot dish on a hot day, perspiring all the while eating.

Me, I always go for the chilled or cold items.

Like this 30-item salad udon.

Sesame dressing and a little dollop of kochujang (I think). Tons of veggies.

I'm glad this place is still around...we'll be back.

world beer museum

Last Saturday, I was waiting for Satoshi to finish his German class.

While I was waiting, I roamed around looking for somewhere for us to eat lunch at and came upon...World Beer Museum.

Their menu is extensive...they have many beers on tap as well as in bottles.

Their food...so-so.

I ordered a Pike Stout...280 milliliters.

I liked the smokiness and punch it had.

Satoshi had the Spaten Münchner Hell (which I think is their premium lager)...300 milliliters.

We also shared their original salad...this was so-so. I think it could've been served without the oily, stale chip-like thingies.

The currywurst was delicious though...I like how the sausages in Japan all have "snap", this is also served with some potatoes.

We also ordered their onion ring tower.

It was at this point that Satoshi also ordered the Franziskaner WeissBier...500 milliliters.

Pretty pricey for lunch. Most beers start at 850 yen and most food items at 750 yen.

There is also a 10% service charge.

I liked the interior and it was interesting trying to explain some of the signage to Satoshi in Japanese, which kinda lost its punch in translation.

Still, we were happy to try this place and are interested in checking out the World Wine Museum which is right across...we'll be back.

World Beer Museum
Grand Front Osaka North Building B1F
Umeda, Osaka
Phone: 06.6371.6968　
Hours: 11:30-23:00, open when Grand Front is

summer teas

This year's summer tea from Mariage Frères is called Panama.

A green tea base, there is lots of mint, some red berry and hibiscus. Really refreshing as an iced tea.

Since I needed to purchase something in order to receive my free sample, I picked up their Matin Parisien.

This is a black & green tea blend with citrus and vanilla. This was interesting because served hot the vanilla really stood out, but served iced the citrus really stood out.

I've been doing lots of cold brewing lately.

The semi (cicada) started chirping too.

How is summer where you are?

gads

I think gasoline prices are going up all over the world right now.

You would think that since we don't have a car, it wouldn't affect us, but...

It is affecting the prices of a lot of things over here like butter, processed meat products, even dry cleaning.

And to make things worse, as of July 1st, a lot of companies here have either decided to raise their prices or lessen the amount of the products they are selling (Like a bag of chips may be lessened a couple of grams but sold at the same price it was before the weight was lessened)...maybe even both?!

And with Japan eating as much bread as they are these days, there is talk of some bakeries turning to margarine...no-o-o!

I hope the government will re-think raising our sales tax from 8% to 10% in October...

How's life in your corner of the world?

pagong x hello kitty

Over the past 8 years or so, I have enjoyed wearing Pagong's tops.

Recently they came out with a new print, in collaboration with Hello Kitty's 40th Anniversary.

Before moving to Japan I wasn't too much of a Hello Kitty fan, but once here, I found that she was everywhere and couldn't help but fall in love with her.

Anyway, the scenery is called Horai-zu which is based on a Chinese myth about Mount Penglai, you can read more about it here. It is supposed to be a magical world.

Unfortunately, the Japanese version of the myth is not "happy".

Still, Hello Kitty is scattered throughout this print and according to the description card that came with my top, it says that "happy things" may come to you as you look for Hello Kitty.

It is the beginning of July, with all the crazy weather going on here in Japan and around the world, I hope your summer is going well.