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March 31, 2010

Shopping at Sapporo Station

Filed under: I recommend — RICKY @ 8:24 pm
One of the things expatriates often complain about is that they can't find their favorite stuff in Japan, and I'm no exception. I love scents and fragrances and most of my preferred ones are not available in Japan. I also use aroma oils such as bergamot, year-round in an oil burner as a room aroma. That kind of intense fragrance is hard to get in Japan but I found it at the recently reopened LOFT at Esta. I was delighted! The Body Shop has discontinued all their bergamot scented products in Japan, but now I know where to go. Speaking of Esta and the neighboring Stellar Place, after the Seibu Building was sold another popular Japanese store moved: Mujirushi, literally translated "no brand", an increasingly popular store of apparel and home furnishing that sells quality products at low prices similar to Uniqlo - the latter being Japan’s leading clothing retail chain in terms of both sales and profit. LOFT Esta 6F, Mujirushi Stellar Place 6F, Uniqlo Esta 8F. Check out the Ramen Republic too, dozens of ramen shops on one floor. I recommend Ajisai (from Hakodate), the lowest-fat ramen you'll find in Sapporo! Esta 11F 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 30, 2010

Where are the results of cancer research?

Filed under: Life with Felines, Zafiro — RICKY @ 7:24 pm
Zafiro one week before a vile cancer killed him. The chemotherapy worked for a short time but in the end the tumor was stronger. What I don't understand is this: Why, after decades of intense cancer research and billions of dollars spent, is there no cure? Where are the results? 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 29, 2010

Mexican & Mediterranean

Filed under: I recommend — RICKY @ 7:49 pm
I went to a Turkish restaurant last weekend and had amazing food. Beef, lamb, lentil rice, a dish similar to tzatziki (forgot the Turkish name) and a salad I often ate in Greece but I think in Turkey it's called a Turkish salad: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, black olives and feta goat cheese with an olive oil-vinegar dressing. On my various trips to Greece I fell in love with this salad and I often make it at home - and you thought I don't cook, ha, you are wrong! I cook quite frequently, mostly Mexican or Mediterranean cuisine. Tapas (appetizers) with dippings and toppings are among my favorite homemade fare. Try this: Guacamole avocado dipping (Mexico) 2 ripe avocados, 1 tomato, 2 tbsp chopped onions, fresh coriander, fresh lime or lemon juice. Peel the tomato (dip in boiling water and the skin will come off easily). Mix all ingredients and mash them. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Makes a perfect dip for corn chips or bread. Romesco Sauce (Spain) 1 tsp dried chili flakes, 60 ml extra virgin olive oil, 1 large red bell pepper (chopped), 2 cloves garlic (crushed), 1 tbsp toasted slivered almonds, 2 medioum tomatoes (chopped), 1 tbsp red wine vinegar. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Cook bell pepper and garlic until soft but not colored, blend with chili flakes, almonds and tomatoes until smooth. Gradually add the remaining oil and vinegar (over low heat). Goes well with bread, red meat and sauteed leek or asparagus. 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 27, 2010

Spring delayed

Filed under: So Japanese — RICKY @ 5:23 pm
Wow, if you could see this: A snowstorm is raging outside my office window on the 7th floor ... end of March! This is Hokkaido's coldest March in history, according to weather scientists. There's a proverb that states "No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow", but when I look out my window I'm starting to doubt that. 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 26, 2010

Tiny things III

Filed under: I recommend, So Japanese — RICKY @ 8:28 pm
Even though Pronto has been around for a while, it shares several characteristics with the new style izakaya: Fusion food served on tiny plates and a focus on light cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails. Also, the server comes to the table to bring you your check. In addition to their regular menu Pronto has a themed menu that changes every month. Recent months featured Okinawan and Italian cuisine as well as tapas (appetizers) that go well with certain types of alcohol. The word "tapas" comes from Spain but has found entry into restaurant vocabulary around the world. By the way, Pronto is not only great at night when it turns into an izakaya, but also daytime: Pasta lunchsets are served at a very reasonable price. I recommend the "midnight pasta" (new this month): Spaghetti in a spicy tomato sauce topped with large mussels. Just be careful to pronounce it with a katakana accent, or otherwise you'll share my fate - I ordered midnight pasta and got mentaiko! I also recommend the cakes. They're mini-mini cakes and even if you're on a diet they won't do you any harm. Pronto izakaya (night), coffee shop (day). Sapporo Station Apia B1 and other outlets all over the city. 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 25, 2010

Tiny things II

Filed under: I recommend, So Japanese — RICKY @ 5:14 pm
Izakaya Buono, lit up by real torches. Even though portions are petite at Japanese izakayas, I am very fond of them. Furthermore, they have been changing and diversifying recently, targeting a more youthful clientele. The new style izakaya is stylish and combines Japanese and Western food, a fusion menu so to speak. It is also incredibly affordable. A good example is Buono which opened last month. The menu features Japanese pizza, seafood carpaccio or baked tofu. I also ordered a seafood salad and, big surprise, it arrived in a square box with a show of dried ice smoke. The interior is cozy with brick walls, wooden grid separators, chandeliers and oversized Japanese paper fans on the walls. The separators and fans are 100 % Japanese, whereas the bricks and lamps are completely western. Hence, not only the food is fusion but the design as well. The coolest things, however, are the two torches with real fire at the entrance. The new style izakaya has adopted the western payment system where the waiter brings you the check to the table. Buono, N9, W4. Phone 011-717 2255 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 24, 2010

Tiny things I

Filed under: So Japanese — RICKY @ 8:16 pm
Quality over quantity: Japanese food. According to a scientific news article, over the past 1,000 years paintings of Christ's final meal "The Last Supper" have depicted increasingly larger portions and larger plates. The changes in food size show that people have started to eat more and more over the centuries. The entrees on the plates grew by about two-thirds, according to a report in the April issue of the International Journal of Obesity. That may be true for western countries but definitely not in Japan. I actually think that portions here are getting smaller instead of bigger, especially at Izakayas. One reason is that they have lowered their prices significantly over the last few years. In order to stay competitive they had to reduce the portions. In other words, you pay less but you also get less. Another reason might be the recent tendency of health-conscious twentysomethings, they always seem to be on a diet, and the skinniest woman is usually the most popular one. Hence, the demand for tiny, figure-friendly portions. These miniature meals are cute and soo nice to look at - and very delicious too! It's frustrating though because unless I order the entire menu I feel like I'm on some kind of forced diet. The other day me and two friends went to a new restaurant/bar, Monica Monica in Susukino, they had good food and pretty good wine but we eventually ended up at Shorin and ordered soup curry with oomori (extra soup), that's how hungry we were. Bottom line: The food in Japan looks great and tastes great, but it leaves you starving. 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 23, 2010

It’s a men’s world

Filed under: So Japanese — RICKY @ 7:46 pm
March 21 marked the beginning of spring but here in Hokkaido it's still deepest winter with snow falling every day and a thick layer of ice covering the city. In Japan the vernal and invernal equinoxes are national holidays and since this year the beginning of spring fell on a Sunday, we got a holiday yesterday Monday instead. This custom started in the year 2000 and is called furikae kyujitsu, or "transferred holiday". Well I hope you enjoyed your Happy Monday. I took the elevator 38 floors up the JR Tower and did not regret it: The nightview over the city was splendid and one becomes aware that Sapporo is a rather big city even though its atmosphere resembles that of a small town. I guess that makes it so attractive for residents. My friend went to the the men's restroom and said that the walls were of glass ... amazing view! I was eager to have the same experience, checked out the ladies' restroom and found to my disappointment that it is located in the middle of the tower ... One more proof that Japan is a men's world. When we headed back down it was dinner time and we got off at the 6th floor, heading to Hanamaru Train Sushi. As expected, there was a long line and we didn't bother to make it. Instead, we took the elevator down to Kuru Kuru Sushi on B1. They always have vacant seats, I told my friend. Guess what: The restaurant was already closed, at 9 PM!! Small town Sapporo. But beautiful, lol. 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 20, 2010

To the coolest kitty in the world

Filed under: Zafiro — RICKY @ 8:57 pm
This picture was taken two days before Zafiro passed away. I left work early last Saturday and when I got home Zafiro was waiting for me at the door as usual. I fed him and my other cats, and he ate half a can of catfood. The next day his condition deteriorated all of a sudden and he died. It was painful for me but the one thing I'm happy about is that I was there for him in his last hours. I had three weeks to prepare for the unthinkable and that gave me closure, even though I am still in shock how fast everything happened. The symptoms that came overnight, the chemotherapy and how it worked miracles during the first two weeks, and the sudden deterioration of Zafiro's health after the cancer cells entered his blood - this was revealed two days before he passed away. I am still in a state of shock but like I said, at least I had those final three weeks with my precious Zafiro, every minute was treasured to the max. Zafiro was the most active, energetic, playful, curious and crazy cat I've ever had, and knowing that he enjoyed his short 19 months of life to the fullest gives me a feeling of peace. Goodbye to my beautiful baby with the 100 nicknames who caused me sleepless nights and destroyed my house. Every scratch on my furniture is a sweet memory. You know what they say? Only the good die young. 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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March 12, 2010

Picante not living up to its name: Not spicy enough!

Filed under: Soup Curry — RICKY @ 6:52 pm
I had lunch at Picante today and the incredible thing is that after all these years people are still lining up for lunch! Well we were lucky actually because we got a table immediately even though we had to park the car in the parking lot that's next to Picante (not free of charge). As soon as we sat down people started lining up in the restaurant, in the little waiting lounge and even outside. Like I said, we were lucky. My friend had seafood soup curry spicy level 4 and complained that it wasn't hot enough. I ordered chicken-vegetable level 5 and even that was not very hot - which means the folks at Picante do not live up to their name: "Picante" is Spanish for "spicy" and I am still always surprised at the popularity of Spanish names for brands, shops, cars etc. in a land as far as Japan! Then again, Spanish is the most beautiful language in the world, no doubt about that. Anyway, today's soup curry base was "38 long years of wind", a powerful name for a light and salty but good soup. The fun thing about Picante is that depending on the weekday they serve a specific soup base. So let's say if you like the "summer in NY" taste you will know when you should go there (Monday). The service today was fast, friendly and efficient and I even got a free apron, so past flaws in their service are forgiven and forgotten, lol. N13, W3 私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
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