Month: January 2018

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Restaurants, Tokyo

Family Dinner @ Aux Six Arbres, Roppongi

Posted on by sonokotchi

I’ve been looking for a French restaurant that my Dad wants to dine.

I had difficulty to locate it because he gave me the wrong area to look for…tonight, we locate it and went to Aux Six Arbres.

I’ve dined here before so I knew this restaurant, but I didn’t think this is the restaurant that he was looking for because he gave me the wrong area.

He dined here 20 years ago.

He followed his superior at that time so he couldn’t remember the location.

Well, it’s sweet of Dad that he thought of taking us (Mom and I) here.

All of us enjoyed nice French.

Desserts, we could select from these.

These all look nice, how could I resist them?

Therefore, I asked for a small piece for all together with a cup of Espresso!

There are more…we all brought them back.

Restaurant is cozy and food is nice so we smiled through out the dinner.

I think this restaurant becomes our family restaurant tonight♪

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Cooking Rice in a Pot

Posted on by sonokotchi

I cook rice and brown rice in a pot.

Cooking rice in a pot is very easy.

This time, I cook brown rice.

I wash two cups of brown rice and add 120% of rice of water.

First, cook with strong fire to bring it up to boiling, then lower the fire to the lowest to cook till all water is absorbed.

Add 120% of rice of water again; then cook brown rice the same way again.

Cook with strong fire till boiling; then lower the fire to the lowest to cook till all water is absorbed.

Turn on the fire to maximum for 10 seconds; then turn off the fire to steam it for 10 mins.

I cannot eat all at once so I quickly pack them individually to make a ready-to-eat instant rice pack.

You need to pack immediately after finishing steaming it for 10 mins.

If you leave it long, rice won’t be moist enough when you heat it up by microwave.

Now these are ready to be frozen.

I can easily heat it up by microwave to enjoy steaming brown rice anytime.

Posted in Feelings, Friends, Health, Japan Technology

Cleverin

Posted on by sonokotchi

I suffered from a bad flue at Year End.

It took me two weeks to fully recover from it.

My friend introduced and recommended this Cleverin which is manufactured by Taiko Pharmaceutical.

Chlorine dioxide is supposed to free air from bacterias and work as a deodorizer.

It sounds good to me to try it.

I opened a box, put powder in a bottle and screwed the cap.

This small bottle is good for 10 sqm room for a month.

Let’s try it!

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Food, Health, Japan Technology

Re Fa Collagen Enrich Drink

Posted on by sonokotchi

MTC supplies beauty products such as famous Re Fa Carat (face roller massage equipment).

Today, I try Re Fa Collagen Enrich drink.

This product is rich in Collagen which contains 160,000 mg in a bottle of 480 ml.

I need to take 15 ml per day.

This product is co-developed with Fuji Film.

Fuji Film used to be a major producer of films; however, the market for film has shrunk drastically due to shifting digitization.

To diversified their business activities, Fuji Film entered in beauty industry by developing cosmetics and health supplements utilizing their technologies which was developed for films.

ASTALIFT is Fuji Film’s cosmetic series that you might see in the market.

I look forward to seeing improvement on my beauty or health by taking Re Fa Collagen Enrich Drink.

Posted in Feelings, Movie, Tokyo

Comical Movie Saturday

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, I watched two movies at Toho Cinema Roppongi.

First, I watched Renegades.

For Japan market, this movie is titled: Navy Seals.

I thought this movie is a serious action movie, but this movie betrayed my expectation – comical with nice sceneries.

I dive so I can feel the excitement while watching.

I plan to return for Kingsman the Golden Circle later.

In the evening, returned to Toho Cinema Roppongi.

This is another comical movie.

Is this based on British comics?

I thought there are Japanese and American comics only, never thought there is British comics. hahaha

Yes, this movie is comical.

Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Travel

Trip to Hokkaido (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I woke early to go for Onsen (hot spring).

It’s quiet; air is crispy but Onsen keeps me warm.

I love this moment in open air onsen.

I took a quick breakfast.

I picked all bad combination: carbohydrates…but these are nice…

I want to try Wakasagi Tsuri (pond smelt fishing) on the frozen pond.

Today, Wakasagi Tsuri is available only at Kairaku Koen (Kairaku Park), Tsukigata Town, Hokkaido.

We set the car navigation to Tsukigata Onsen.

It’s about one hour from Sapporo and two hours from Jozankei Onsen.

Yes, there are many beautiful sceneries.

Arrived at Kairaku Koen.

We got ready at Mizube no Ie (Water Front House).

Wore a rubber boots then walk on the lake.

There are tents on the lake.

There is a stove in the tent; therefore, it’s very warm inside.

Place a bait (warm) on hooks.

Then start fishing.

Obviously, I’m not good at fishing.

I caught a total of three Wakasagi only.

The weather is nice so we tried to fish at outside.

We drilled our own hole.

I tried for a while, but I caught none. Boo Hoo.

Time’s up.

The shop cooked Wakasagi Tempura for us.

There are only eight (8) and enjoyed each bites because they are very very very fresh.

After fishing, enjoyed Tsukigata Onsen.

I really enjoyed my short stay in Hokkaido.

I’ll plan to come back again.

Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Travel

Trip to Hokkaido (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I forgot to post the view from my room last night.

It was snowing so looked romantic like this.

When I woke up, the view is this.

This hotel has a nice view overlooking Onsen-gai (Hot Spring Town).

Of course, I went for morning Onsen (Hot Spring) before breakfast.

The breakfast is buffet style.

After breakfast, departed hotel for Otaru.

On the way to Otaru, there are few cars parked on the street.

We stopped to see what’s there.

There are tents…they are doing Wakasagi Tsuri (pond smelt fishing) in nature! Wow!

Reached Otaru.

Otaru is known as port city and famous for canal and glass!

I tried making a tumbler by blowing glass at Taisho Glass Kan (Taisho Glass House).

Hon-kan (Main Shop)

Blow Glass Studio

Sensei (teacher) helped me greatly so I could make a tumbler.

After making a tumbler, also made a marble bead at Taisho Glass Beads Kan (Taisho Glass Beads House).

After making crafts, went for lunch.

Walked on Otaru Sushiya-dori (Otaru Sushi Restaurant Street).

There are many Sushi Restaurants on both sides of this street.

Picked and went in Asahi Zushi Honten (Asahi Zushi Main Store) among sushi restaurants on the street.

And ordered Special Sushi.

We continued for Foodie Hunting in Otaru.

Hokkaido is famous for Ramen; looked for a nice ramen in Otaru.

The chef of Tokai-Ya is former French chef.

According to the web, Ramen tastes sensitive and sophisticated and comments are right.

Ordered a bowl of Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, Ninniku (garlic) Chasiu Miso Ramen and Katsuo-meshi (bonito rice).

After walking in Otaru, stopped for coffee at Cafe Deco, Otaru Roman-Kan (Romance House).

Otaru is nice town to walk.

Now time to go back to our hotel: Sankeien, Jozankei Onsen.

One hour drive back to hotel is breath taking.

Snow is thick and heavy; I won’t see these sceneries in Tokyo.

Its cold out; therefore, it’s very nice to dip in Onsen.

I love to dip in open air bath in cold.

Ate dinner and relaxing on Futon.

Plan to wake up early tomorrow for Wakasagi Tsuri (Pond Smelt Fishing). hehehe