Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Tai: Red Snapper

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, Mom brought me many Tai (red snapper).

To celebrate happiness, happy outcomes and congratulate somebody, we use red snapper.

Why…? Because red snapper in Japanese is Tai.

The word to celebrate happiness, happy outcomes and congratulate somebody is Medetai.

There is Tai (red snapper) hidden in the word.

Look there are many Tai!

 

These are ingredients for Ochazuke (rice soup).

Prepare Tai, dashi (stock gelee) and rice.


Pour dashi gelee on rice.


Place a Tai on rice and pour hot water.


Mix.

Quick, simple but delicious!


Then she also brought Osumashi (soup) in Tai.

Pour hot water.


Mix well.


Tai surely made me and my stomach happy!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Place, Travel

Hot Wine: Gluhwein

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s been cold in Japan.

It’s high 8C and 2-5C in the morning and evening.

It’s a nice day to enjoy a glass (or few) Gluhwein.

I found hot wine bouquets at a supermarket.

A bouquet adds nice spicy flavor to wine.


In 2006, I visited few cities/Christmas Markets in Germany.

Obviously, it was nice to get a glass of Gluhwein to walk from stall to stall.

This is one of my Gluehwein glass collection, from the Stuttgarter Weihnachts Markt.

I would love to go back there❤️

Posted in Feelings, Food, Golf, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place

Sea Urchin and the Els Golf Tag

Posted on by sonokotchi

I received more surprised today.

I received sea urchin from Kitakyushu, Fukuoka.

It’s nice to eat with hot plain rice.

These bottles were in a box of paulownia, most formal way to send a gift.

I will keep this box and make it to a jewelry box by making partitions.


And I received another parcel from Malaysia.

Yeah! I received my Els’ golf tag!

Thank you, Santa! 

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Tokyo

Restaurant under a Rail Way: Ton Ton, Hibiya

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to an interesting restaurant: Ton Ton in Hibiya.

This restaurant is situated under a rail way.


The restaurant has the taste of Showa Era (1970s…?).


I ordered a glass of red wine and was served as if it is a glass of sake. hahaha


Ate varieties of Yakitori (skewers).


The restaurant is reasonable; a glass of wine is USD 4.00 and one skewer USD 1.60.

English menu is available. 

This restaurant is highly recommended to go!

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Food, Gadget, Place, Tokyo

Dining at Home and Apple Store

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, cooked Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) at home.

This is sauce flavor.


And this is soy sauce flavor.

These go very well with beer: Premium Ebisu Ebisu Amber Beer.


After dinner, I went to Apple Store Ginza.


Apple is recalling a battery for iPhone 6S.

My phone is subject for change, based on my serial number.

No wonder my iPhone shut down when it still has over 20 percent, sometimes 50 percent.

It took about 2 hours to change; therefore, went to a cafe: Cafe de Ginza Miyuki-kan.

It’s a cozy place to chat.

Now my battery is new! Yeah!

Posted in Feelings, Gadget, Movie, Shopping, Surprise, Tokyo

Saturday Started from a Parcel from China to Jack Reacher

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, I received a parcel from China.

China…?


I opened with a doubt…it is my iPad case.

Now I understand why I needed to pay for shipment (not much about USD 3.50. A total cost is USD 19.00 so it’s still okay) for this product.

It must have directly shipped from China…?

To be honest, I didn’t expect for the quality for this price; but to my surprise, this is not bad at all.

I’m actually satisfied.


There was another surprise for me today; went for a late night movie: Jack Reacher Never Go Back.


It was a funday!!!

Oyasuminasai

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Surprise

Japanese Traditional Gift Wrapping 

Posted on by sonokotchi

The other day, I visited my friend and her new born baby.

He is adorable. 

I brought a small gift for her baby boy.

Today, I received a surprise from them, a box of confectioneries.

It was wrapped with a normal wrapping paper.


Then it was wrapped by a traditional cover for appreciation.
I hide a name of sender with a sticker to be posted on my blog; yes, that is where semder’s name is written.

I ate some and these are good…too good that I cannot stop. Ahhhhh

Posted in Feelings, Gadget, My Flower Arrangement, Shopping

Temporary Amazon Freak

Posted on by sonokotchi

I’ve been looking for iPhone case (6S) at Apple Store, retailers, etc.

I used the same model twice so I wanted to change this time.

My friend recommended me Amazon.

Wow, there are many attractive models and inexpensive, too!

It’s dangerous, I just pochi (press) and shopping is done.

I bought

* 1 iPhone cable (50cm) in gold;

* 1 set of iPhone cables (4 cables) in pink;

* 1 iPhone 6S cover;

* 1 iPad Mini 4 cover;

* 4 Apple Watch bands; and 

* 1 Power bank



I’m happy with my products.

Only one minor regret is a power bank is larger than I thought… hahaha

I wanted a powerful one (20,000 mAh, this can charge iPhone 7 times!) for traveling so it’s still okay.


I’m still waiting for a set of iPhone cables (4 cables) in pink and iPad Mini 4 case. hehehe

I was busy opening boxes and trying them out.

But I also find time to decorate my entrance; I arranged Green Christmas Wreath tonight.

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Gadget, Japanese Food

Made Gyoza (Dumplings) with Toshiba Ishigama Dome

Posted on by sonokotchi

I bought this in January 2013.

This is hard working multitasking one.

It heats it up like a microwave, bakes it like a oven, grills like a griller, steams like a steamer.

I used to bake cakes, cookies, etc. with this but now I simply use it for heating up.

I was hungry after returning from a bodywork.

I quickly made gyoza/dumplings (1. cut cabbage & lotus, 2. minced pork, 3. added soy sauce, sesame oil, cooking sake, ground ginger & garlic, 4. make shape) and steamed as many dumplings as I could.

These are delicious!

I couldn’t stop with 6; I ate 10.

These are home-made gyoza and I added vegetables; not that sinful…right…?