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Dear Fancy Glass friends. The fancy glass has been being accosted by spambots and other automated blog ads in the comment threads. So I have changed the settings. You will need to log in and also do the little verify thing... Sorry for the extra steps. Hope you will still post.
thanks,
Lauren

What kind of food are you?

Took this little food quiz today, easy and fun!

You Are Thai Food

Trendy yet complex. People seek you out - though they're not sure why.

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Fancy Glass RR- goes okinawan

Fancy Glass RR Restaurant Review for ICHARIBO-

The other night, looking for something new, My husband and I decided to try a cute Okinawan specialty restaurant in the neighborhood. We went on the early side, since it was sat. and I was tired and hungry after working a brunch service in my restaurant. We have been meaning to go there because for a bout a year they had a sign outside proudly declaring "We have English Menu!"

As luck would have it, they DID have an English menu, before they wrote this new menu, which they have not translated. But no worries, we could read most of the hiragana and katakana and there were lots of pictures in the menu. We sat on the first floor at a long bar-like counter. Actually we realized quickly that this place is also famous for Okinawan Alcohol and the bar layout is because it is probably a bit more like a bar than a table service restaurant. I have not checked out the second floor yet, maybe it is a more restaurant feeling up there.

The Place was beautiful. A little dark in the décor but very city-esque. There were lots of red ceramic dragons, typical of design from Okinawa and across asia.
The dishes were all served on gorgeous pottery. And the service was friendly. At least the first girl. Later in our meal, a rather snooty bartender came on duty and he did not add anything to the experience.

We started with a paper-thin, pastry-like- crepe sort of quesadilla thing… Quite thin, pretty and would have been good, except that it was laden with eggplant. The funny thing about eggplant is that I like it pickled which is one way it is served in Japan, but I don’t really like any other way…. Cooked, baked, broiled, grilled all not to my liking. This was alright though. Of course I wouldn’t order it again but Chris enjoyed it, so that was nice for him.

We next had a Karage Chicken dish, which is kind of a marinated and fried chicken. It was served with leafy lettuce and fresh tomatoes. Very tasty.
We had a fantastic Sushi roll. With cucumber, okinawan fish, avocado… an inside out roll with tobiko (roe) on the outside. This was one of my favorite parts of the meal.

We were drinking some terrific icy cold sake, and I had a spicy dry gingerale as well.

We also enjoyed a wonderful rice/soup dish--- which I forgot to photograph. And Finally ended up with the highlight of the night. Tempura Banana with cinnamon and ice cream. It was delicious.

The only downside of the evening is that the restaurant was very bar like, and as we were sitting at the counter, and this is Japan where all bars are still very much smoking environments… we were subjected to WAY TOO MUCH smoke. It is what finally drove us away. I would have loved to stay and try some of the other drinks from Okinawa, but the smoke was really burning my eyes…

FANCY GLASS RR on a scale of 1-5 (one being low)

Atmosphere 3 – stylish and very nice though a bit dark.

Food- 4.5 excellent I really wanted to try more things, but got too full.

Service- 2 - really so-so, we were being waited on by two bartenders, and it felt really impersonal. Not really fun. The woman bartender was a bit better but the guy was kind of a jerk.

Dessert 5- I LOVE banana tempura. I used to make it at home, even when we lived back in philly years ago. This restaurant served their’s with chocolate. I preferred to prepare mine with honey drizzeled on top. But this was a great dessert.

Would I go back? I think so, but there are other places I want to explore in our neighborhood first. The smoke was a real detraction actually.

"Never doubt that small groups of thoughtful, commited citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

OCTOBER 5th 2005- the above image is from the same organization different date.
Well, I have been away from my food blog for far too long... first was out having fun, gathering content, and trying out new restaurants. then- Katrina hit the gulf coast in the USA. The thing is, I had a hard time seeing how writing about food was not a bit decadent at a time when so many americans were suffering. Even though I am living overseas I am quite active in ngo, npo and political work. After katrina, I started a new project SENDING SMILES We also had a fundraiser/ concert for Katrina Survivors. And so I have not been over here to the fancy glass much at all.

I am happy to report, however, That the restaurant I work with Fujimamas is participating in a great food industry related fundraiser Dine For America! On Oct. 5th we are joining hundreds of Restaurants who are donating some or all of their profits for the day to Katria Relief efforts. I think this is a great effort to give to communities that are suffering. Especially in the new orleans area where so many people were employed in the food and beverage industry before this terrible tragedy struck.

You can go to this page, and see if there are restaurants in your area, and please tell your favorite restaurant about this program and tell them that you would be proud to help get the word out if they chose to participate. as of this post there are almost 7,000 restaurants signed up to participate! and growing.

As a member of the food loving community I hope you will try to make sure to get out and support this effort on 10/5. I will let you all know how our event worked out.

CLICK below to listen to my Test Post Audioblogging!