RICKY DLS 英会話 blog

Hotter than hot this winter: collagen hot pot
In the cold season I ingest lots of “oden” (Japanese boiled foods) for they are low-fat and taste good. When I went to Lawson today to get my favorite winter snack I was told the oden season was over … So, according to Lawson, winter is over? Judging by the snow flurry going on outside I DON’T THINK SO!! Those who have spent at least one winter here up north know that the cold snowy weather lasts until mid- to end April. I’m for sure going to have a few more hot pots - kimchee, ishikari, miso. Super hot this winter is the collagen version. They came included in dinner courses on various occasions but, sorry, I took the collagen balls out, they looked yucky, lol! (see pic) My body makes enough collagen with all the tomatoes, spinach and omega 3 fatty acids I feed it, lol lol. Hotter than hot right now is the dragon hot pot which comes in a divided pot, one division containing red & spicy stuff, the other one clear soup. More on that soon.

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Another birthday, another night out. And what other food fits the winter mood better than hot pot! The party took place at Waka Chanko Dining which is owned by retired sumo yokozuna (= grand champion) Wakanohana. The interior designer did an excellent job combining two elements that are difficult to fuse: The place is stylish and cozy at the same time. Not to mention the food. The main dish is obviously “chanko nabe”, a hearty hot pot eaten by sumo wrestlers on a regular basis. It was served at the end of the meal after a variety of appetizers. Considering the portions, I doubt that o-sumo-sans eat that little! What we ate is certainly just a starter for them. My advice: Ask for a booth upstairs.

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Yesterday I wrote about raw fish. Here’s a hilarious Japanese parody on how to eat sushi appropriately. Ever wondered what the salt saucer outside Japanese eateries REALLY is for? According to Shinto belief, salt fends off evil spirits!

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A sashimi boat, Kunimare sake and a delicious dessert.
Last night we went to a traditional Japanese restaurant to celebrate a friend’s birthday. It was a very pleasant experience. Everything was perfect, from food to view and service. Our course included delicacies like seaweed somen (somen = Japanese noodles) with herring roe, crab meat topped with miso (brains!), a variety of raw fish exquisitely arranged on a boat-shaped plate, hokke fish with the typical grated daikon radish, sweet potato mochi soup (mochi = rice cake), pickles, a fish miso soup and rice with salmon roe. The dessert was not less enticing: homemade tiramisu, cherry blossom sherbet and the currently indispensable “raw caramel ice cream”! We drank Kunimare sake (Hokkaido’s best spirit) and had an absolute blast! Looking out the window we saw the Susukino Skyline to the right and the Norbesa ferris wheel to the left. I highly recommend this restaurant. Miyoshi, F45 Building, 14 F (top floor). PS: Click on the website and you’ll see a samurai castle amid snow flakes. That’s what we experienced, well, not exactly - instead of the castle we saw Susukino, lol!

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While I was changing the sheets, Zafiro grabbed the opportunity to take a nap high up on the mattress. Left: Atomo’s new sleeping position. Atomo and Zafiro got new nicknames this month: Atomo is shrimp cat because recently when he sleeps he curls like a shrimp! (see pic). This month is peak season for chocolate fondues and hence Zafiro is no longer Tiramisu or Cafe con leche … he’s Fondue Kitty now! I tell him Zafiro, you naughty kitty, you used to be white but one day you stepped into a chocolate fondue and some chocolate dropped on your ears from the fountain while you had your mouth dipped into the fondue, tail dangling. I mean look at him - that’s how he must have gotten his pattern!

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Socks, the famous White House cat during the Clinton administration, succumbed to cancer last Friday. He was 18 years old. I vividly remember Socks, his pranks and his feud with Buddy the puppy. He often appeared in the media with Chelsea Clinton. Thinking of Socks brings back pleasant memories of eight years of peace and prosperity. For me, Bill Clinton was the most charismatic president ever and, in spite of their domestic disputes, Bill and Hillary were and are an intellectual powerhouse. A league on their own.

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In Japan, 2-2-2 sounds like “nyan-nyan-nyan” which in English would be “MEOW”. Hence, February 22 is dedicated to felines. I’m a hopeless cat lover and what that means for me is - it’s cat day every day! Now that I have two cats carrying a vicious virus I give them more attention than ever. I buy them food loaded with vitamins and minerals and play with them every night after work. There are, however, certain procedures I must follow to ensure success. Luisa is a little proud princess and won’t play in the presence of other felines. So, I take her to a separate room, close the door and all of a sudden she transforms herself into a lionesse. When alone, she runs, jumps and attacks with the vigor of a kitten. She goes wild! The current toy of choice for all my three cats is a long red string. They’ve become so obsessed with it and won’t touch any of their other toys anymore. By the way, I found a great website for animal lovers and I am subscribed to their Cat Crazy Newsletter. Inspiring articles, useful info and lots of fun stuff. Enjoy Cat Day! MEOW. Pictures: Zafiro’s first snowy season and Luisa in her exuberant Hokkaido winter fur.

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The week after Valentine’s Day should be called chocolate week. My male coworkers generously shared their Valentine’s treats with me and I got to try plenty of the brown delicacies, from Sutton East to Morozoff and Godiva, and even got entire boxes for myself - from female students!! Thank you all and I really enjoyed them even though I’ve gained a few pounds since. I’ve also had to eat lots of Tokyo Bananas and fresh caramel this week … souvenirs from business trips … Look at the picture: This Japanese chocolate manufacturer has to win the award of best design. Beautiful Japanese wafu patterns on dark pralines. My favorite this year was Sutton East although the design was less elaborate. The yuck award goes to wonka chocolate (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Gave me a toothache.

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Almost every mother would be delighted if a toy company dedicated dolls to her daughters. Mama Obama was not. The dolls “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia”, created to resemble Sasha and Malia Obama, had their names changed to “Sweet Sydney” and “Marvelous Mariah” within two weeks after their launch. Obama’s daughters are really cute and it’s a blessing they resemble their father.

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Vicente Fernandez performs for kissing couples on Mexico City’s giant city square. In the background the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral. This had to happen in Mexico: A new kissing record. 40.000 people locked lips with their sweethearts on the giant Zocalo city square while Ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez was performing romantic tunes. In spite of all the violence and delinquency, Mexico remains top among the amorous spots in the world, with serenatas and mariachis hired for every possible occasion and a constant breeze of sensuality in the air. Bottom line: If you want the perfect romance - go to Mexico. But be prepared to get killed in the process.

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