dinner at Raku Show always get the usual because it's awesome!

So, I was looking through pictures for my second "food installment" and I found a series of pics from a fairly normal dinner that I have with my co-worker Richard. 

About once a week (or so) one or the other of us will say - "so what are your plans tonight?" Meaning, I feel like having some beers and going to Raku Show (kind of sounds like 'rack shaw'). So more often then not we go! 

Japan has this thing called Nomihodai (all-you-can) which is where you pay a set amount $10-12 and you can drink as much of whatever you want off of a particular menu for 1 or 2 hours depending on the place. RS has a 1200 yen (about $12) - 2 hour Nomihodai...awesome! 

Since Richard has been a regular there for so long, we always get a little room, and they pop their head in and say hello and usually "nomihodai? two? beer? ok!"  In Japanese of course - haha. Then we look at the menu just in case there is something new and exciting and then order what we always order, with sometimes a little something extra - but the basics are below. I will not butcher the beautiful language and try to write it out in Japanese, but here's is what they are in English. :)

In no particular order...

Black vinegar (balsamic) fried chicken. MY FAVORITE THING. Also because I can eat the "salad" it comes on. :)

Gobo chips - I honestly don't know another word for these - they are a root vegetable of some sort and pretty darn good.

Ever thought about frying a piece of cheese wrapped in bacon on a stick?? YOU SHOULD!!!

Black sesame chicken wings - so delicious. They have spicy ones and "salt" ones too, but these are the best.

SO that's any given work night! Add some beer or sake (sometimes grapefruit sours) and you've got a good meal! Maybe sometime I'll do a drink post! haha... If you are hungry and/or jealous after all of that - you should be!! These are the treats I get in exchange for trying things like Kangaroo jerky and horse! :) 

More food to come....

wonderful dinner Japanese harp performance fun times with new friends

Monday I was invited over to a student's (N) house for dinner. She told me it was her Okoto (Japanese harp) teacher's birthday. They usually just celebrate birthdays together, but she wanted to invite me this time. Did I mention she is 72? And it was her teacher's 70th B-day? And that the Okoto teacher's husband is 73? Ah yes, they are in their 70's and SO fun!

I went over to N's house early to help her make dinner. Then she asked for my help getting dressed in her kimono. I didn't KNOW they were both going to be in their kimonos, and I felt distinctively under-dressed! haha. If you have never seen the process of getting into a kimono, it is QUITE the process - I was so impressed. She had asked for my help, but didn't really need me at all - she has it down to a science!

Before dinner, her Okoto teacher and her husband asked to perform for me. She plays the Okoto, and he plays a traditional type of flute. The piece was about Spring time and the tides coming in and out. I felt completely honored - next time N said she will play too. I guess they go around the world playing Okoto concerts (Italy, Sydney Opera House, San Fransisco, etc). They are completely amazing ladies.

Here is a terribly shot (and too short), but beautiful sounding clip of the Okoto teacher and her husband playing for N and I. :)

Dinner was wonderful, lots of different things to pick at, lots of wine and sake. N is a private lesson student of mine, and we just have free conversation to talk about anything we want. She knows I love cooking and has been teaching me about traditional Japanese foods. I love it.

Being the non-toaster-oven-user I am, I didn't even think about there being a "burner" on the top of the over and ended up burning the garlic bread - it was still tasty, but sigh, what a dumb impression to make. 

I also tried to channel my "Japanese spirit" and bought a little cake to take as a gift and birthday contribution. They seemed to like it. :) Turns out it was blueberry, but I had no idea. I just thought it looked nice.

All in all, I ended up being over there for about 6 or 7 hours, but it felt like no time at all. I taught them the term "kindred spirits" and they looked it up and thought I meant family. I had to explain that wasn't exactly what I was going for - but that I just loved being around them. :)