things I am looking forward to #3

I read this passage today on aboutVienna.org

Vienna - a romantically imperial city: Vienna is a dream city for anyone with a romantic streak or an interest in history. Sightseeing opportunities are to be found in abundance. Wander along narrow, medieval alleyways or across imperial squares, view Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) in the footsteps of Sissi and Emperor Franz Josef, and marvel at the majestic architecture along the Ring boulevard. Be inspired by an atmosphere steeped in history - which also boasts the comforts and infrastructure of a modern city!

needless to say, this sounds wonderful to me! looking forward to those narrow alleys and the beautiful city scape.

things I am looking forward to #2

more on my upcoming vienna prague christmas. We arrive 2 days before the "official tour" starts- this will be wonderful needed down time and transition. I booked us into a fun modern hotel for these first two nights. Das Triest! I love good hotels, oldfashioned or modern. Since we are staying at the very elegant old school Hotel Sacher Wein on the tour. I went with modern for our first two days on our own.

I love the look and feel of this conran designed place.

and the bar and restaurant sound great too. I really am a sucker for Luxury Hotels. (love b&b's too)

things I am looking forward to, #1

Sacher Tort.... when we are in vienna on the upcoming christmas adventure we will be staying at the Hotel Sacher Wein. Famous for the creation of the sacher tort! I will be sure to try this out and blog about it.

According to wikipedia-

Sachertorte is a chocolate cake, invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties.

what working in a restaurant for thanksgiving looks like

a picture is worth a thousand words

King of Turkey!

All Set up and ready to go

Plate for two with gravy!

That is A LOT of turkey

Pie as far as the eye can see

es-car-go!

we tried a new little place tonight. A small nameless french-japanese bistro, about 15 mins walk from the apartment. We had some very nice comfy fall food. Started with house wine, I had a decent merlot chris had a mediocre cab... but not horrible. We had a cheese plate and then Escargo! YUM. I like mine a little more simple, less basil-pesto, more butter garlic. BUT these were nice.

mains were Chicken in a pot (kind of tomato stew in a mini casserole) and Chris had a steak with mushrooms.

some nice crusty bread. Definately a place I will go to again!

I forgot to pick up a business card when I left so I will have to update you with address and "real" name soon.

food blog round up

one of my favorite Food Blogs in 101 Cookbooks. Wonderful stuff and some of the most gorgeous food photographs on the net. Recently the blogger over there, Heidi Swanson, did a round-up of food blogs she recommends! There were some real winners on her list. I did some major grazing on all the sites she posted.

next month

My hubby and I are headed on a christmas adventure next month. Since joining Fujimamas I have worked every christmas, one year we even had to move an office ALL day and then work that night... ! Recently the travel we have done has been either politics or work related and often with other people so this time we are getting away on what I hope will be a super romantic holiday. We are going to Vienna and Prague for Christmas on a fancy tour. Usually i don't like the tour kind of thing. But it is nice this time because since we are so busy we don't have tons of time to plan this trip and everything will be taken care of for us...

the plan looks like this

Vienna & Prague Christmas: 8 Days Escorted Tour

Picture-perfect scenes from olde world Europe await on this winter wonderland holiday to the Vienna of the Imperial Hapsburgs and to beautiful Prague. Stay at deluxe hotels, attend classical Christmas concerts, wander about Christmas Markets brimming with crafts and warm spiced wine, and see the sights of historically rich cities. Gypsy music mixes with the concert piano, the old embraces the new, and Christmas-time is simultaneously bustling and peaceful.

* 3 nights at the Sacher Wien Hotel in Vienna
* 3 nights at the Radisson SAS Alcron Hotel in Prague
* 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners

Highlights

* Visit Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral and Hofburg Palace
* Dine at Schonbrunn Palace and attend a holiday concert
* Tour the Vienna Woods
* Enjoy Christmas Markets at Vienna City Hall Square, in Baden of the Vienna Woods, and in Prague
* Explore Prague's Old Town, Wenceslas Square, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle and the old Jewish Quarter
* Attend a symphony or opera performance in Prague
* Enjoy free time in each city

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart
Board your overnight flight to Austria.

Day 2 - Arrive Vienna/Christmas Market
Welcome to Vienna, Austria's refined capital on the Danube River, known for its coffeehouses, for the Hofburg and for the waltz. Transfer on your own to the hotel, then in the mid-afternoon, visit the Christmas Market at the Rathausplatz (City Hall Square), where the Viennese come to stroll among elaborately decorated trees, to look for crafts and to enjoy Gluhwein (warm spiced wine). Your elegant Viennese hotel sits in the very heart of the city on a pedestrian street.

Day 3 - Hofburg Palace/Vienna
Walk (the best way to experience Vienna) on the pedestrian Karntnerstrasse to medieval St. Stephen's Cathedral, symbol of the city, and to Hofburg Palace, the Imperial Palace of the Hapsburg dynasty, to visit the Treasury and see the crown jewels. This afternoon, explore the hilly Vienna Woods, inspiration for Schubert's music and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. Visit the former royal hunting lodge at Mayerling and wander the Christmas Market in Baden, which is also known as the Advent Mile. Dinner is out on the town this evening.

Day 4 - Vienna/Schonbrunn Palace
Your morning is free in Vienna. This afternoon, see the Baroque masterpiece Schonbrunn Palace, which is often compared to the palace at Versailles. About 40 of the Palace's 1400 rooms are open to visitors. Stroll the Christmas Market on the grounds before enjoying dinner in the Palace's Cafe and a concert in Schonbrunn Palace.

Day 5 - Czech Republic/Prague
Travel through the rolling Austrian and Bohemian countryside, hopefully white with fresh snowfall, en route to Prague. This beautiful city is known as "a symphony in stone," where Charles VI ruled as King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor and amassed wonderful Gothic landmarks, including Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral. Dine out on the town this evening.

Day 6 - Prague/Old Town/Old Jewish Quarter
Begin city sightseeing with a walk to the Stare Mesto (Old Town) Square to see the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall. Explore the Jewish Quarter, the best-preserved complex of Jewish monuments in the whole of Europe. The Old-New Synagogue dates from the 13th century and the Jewish Cemetery has a fascinating variety of Renaissance and Baroque tombstones. This afternoon, see Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge and the meandering Vltava River.

Day 7 - Christmas Day/Prague Castle
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce! The morning is free for anyone wishing to attend church service. This afternoon, visit Prague Castle, the complex of monuments standing as the symbol of the nation. St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and the Golden Lane are all here. This is Christmas Day and as a finale, attend an opera or symphony performance this evening.

Day 8 - Conclude Prague

I hope to do LOTS of eating and blogging about eating.
should be fun. One of my missions is to find some great christmas things at the traditional markets! and we are staying in the Hotel Sacher- home of the sacher torte! reports on that for sure!

exciting events on the horizon

Well, the election is behind us! WHOO HOO. the dems did great and there was much celebrating- "We drink from the keg of glory, Donna... Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land." ...

And in the rest of my life the fall-food season is jumping into high gear. This weekend my friends over at Orca International are helping me launch the Fujimamas saturday school. A tribute to the Hip Tasters program in San Fran. We will be doing Sat. School classes. this first one is on how to gain confidence in blind tasting. telling your wines apart without seeing the labels.

Also, this week, I finished my first piece for the new to launch in dec. Being A Broad magazine. (published by the dynamic and wonderful Carolyn Pover) this is a mag. that will be targeted to foriegn women living overseas. My piece was on a few reccommendations of Sweet Indulgences that women can treat themselves to during the crazy-care-for-others holiday season. I will post the info when the magazine comes out.

AND I am fast into working on another piece- about cooking in IBK's or Itty Bitty Kitchens, with a review of a book by the same name.

Then NEXT week. we are into THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!! My restaurant has already take reservations for over 450 people for our 4 seatings on thurs. and fri. PLUS caterings pick ups and deliveries... we are up past 500 portions! WOW this will be the biggest year ever. Will report as we go along. We officially start serving Turkey Lunch from thurs. 16th... and gear up from there.

Our Democrats Abroad group will also have a thanksgiving party on Wed. night before thanksgiving... so I am going to be triptophaned out...

Should be a fun two weeks.
YUM

great post for election day- over on Cheese n Things

Tuesday, November 07, 2006
What are you doing reading food blogs?
Get to the polls and vote!

posted by jamie at 7:57 AM 1 comments

who are they kidding?

The Japanese government, in an act of true hypocrisy- is complaining about Japanese restaurants overseas that they say are not really good enough to call themselves Japanese! Why is the hypocrisy- Because Japan if FULL of fake or Japanified Italian, French and American restaurants as well as any other cuisine you can name. Food "Adjusted" for Japanese taste... I understand the idea of Certifying those you think are good- but agressively attacking those restaurants that you think aren't Japanese enough... Seems just wrong.


Here is the story from AP.

Japan planning crackdown on food-fakers worldwide
Sat, November 4, 2006

TOKYO -- Are the chefs slicing the raw tuna correctly? Is the rice sticky enough?

Tokyo is launching a crackdown on restaurants abroad that bill themselves as authentic Japanese, but fall short of Japanese culinary standards.

A panel of food experts was appointed Thursday to discuss a certification system that would presumably certify restaurants that serve dishes served in the true Japanese tradition.

The system would promote "authentic Japanese culinary culture" abroad, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

"There are many restaurants overseas that call themselves Japanese, yet use culinary techniques and ingredients far removed from those of authentic Japanese food," said a ministry statement.

Disney as a leader takes a stand on marketing junk food for kids

Recently as some folks who know me, know-- I was very disappointed in the Walt Disney co.'s via ABC's right wing ties in producing the TV propaganda piece "Path To 9/11" but I am also fair enough to give credit where credit is due. Disney is taking a HUGE stand, and fantastic steps forward on dealing with America's peddling high fructose corn syrup and saturated fats to children.

from the NYTIMES
Disney Says It Will Link Marketing to Nutrition
By LANDON THOMAS Jr.
Published: October 17, 2006

Buzz Lightyear and Lightning McQueen will not be endorsing junk food much longer.

Walt Disney, addressing the growing concerns of parents over child nutrition, said yesterday that it would curtail the use of its name and characters with food items that did not meet new nutritional standards. The new guidelines would limit how much sugar, calories and fat could be in snacks and foods marketed by companies that Disney has licensing relationships with.

The move, which comes at a time of mounting worry about childhood obesity, is likely to put pressure on the company’s competitors to follow suit. Left outside the scope of yesterday’s initiative was any mention of the considerable advertising for junk food products that is carried on Disney’s television networks, especially Toon Disney and ABC Kids.

But the policy change was broadly hailed by food industry experts, who saw it as an important statement in the increasingly vocal debate over what parents want their children to eat and what the food companies are trying to sell to them.

You can read the rest of the story here. (though you need to register.)

take away around the world!

I always read food news, food politics, trends, keeping an eye on what is what. Found a funny story today. As an american I have always thought of taking home leftovers a right. I don't often do it, because I almost always forget about them, either on the table after they are nicely packaged for me, or in my refridgerator back home which means they become some kind of science experiement- till I finally come across them again and throw them away. But many of my friends and family are take away converts. Doggie bags are more than common for Americans.

Living in Japan, I found that to be not a universal expectation. It makes sense actually as fish, a major ingredient in many japanese dishes, and the heat here in the summers would make for a dangerous left-overs combination. But I never really thought more of it after that.

Today I came across a story examining the "doggie bag" responses in 7 countries. They ranged from tolerance, to totally expected to flatly refused- (here in Japan.) The Russian response surprised me.

You can read the story here. at the Post Gazette from Pittsburgh.

I loved the response in Singapore! And the French- totally what I would have expected.

food news from Wired? and the high tech area of Akihabara

TOKYO -- A new dessert sold from a roadside stand in Tokyo's Akihabara electronics district is drawing crowds with its unique taste -- exactly like that of freshly fallen snow. this story from wired
This is the Money Quote from Chris Kohler's blog

...it's basically ice cream but with a mouth-feel that is almost exactly like snow. Snow. Eating snow is awesome. It's one of the best parts of being a child. Sno-cones are shaved ice, which fail to capture the airy, crystalline feel of snowflakes. But damn if the Japanese haven't figured out how to do it with ice cream. It's really amazing. And apparently you can only get this stuff in Akihabara, as far as I can tell.

here is the shop link...only in Japanese but I am on a mission to go try this. will report back later!

browsin the blogs

took some time after working brunch today to browse the food blogs I like, and those reccommended by the food bloggers I like... here is my round up

Learned more about the Bakers Edge pan from C&Z I especially liked the story about the pan as written up on the GILDED FORK.

and over at eggbeater- I enjoyed reading about the farmers market and enjoyed browsing the eggbeater bookshelf at powells.

I saw these shots and was wondering why I don't live near the Menlo Farmer's Market?!
Fall is the hardest time for me living in japan. I really miss the fall food from Pa. where I am from, and the whole idea of farmer's markets anywhere...

illustration at top from here

from Mr. Tea- my hero

Thought this was a great post over on Adagio Tea's newsletter "the Tea Muse" on what is the difference between the many basic kinds of tea- he is such a rascal...

Black tea, White tea, Oolong tea and Green tea all come from the same plant - the Camellia sinensis (also related to the genus Camillia parker bowles - second cousin, twice removed). The processing can be compared to my activities during Labor Day weekend:

Black teas are heavily oxidized, like Mr. Tea after a day at the tanning salon. Oolong teas are semi fermented, Like Mr. Tea after a day on the beach. Green teas are like Mr. Tea after an hour in the sauna and a 1/2 hour massage. White Tea? Like Mr. Tea after the spa, without a massage. Maybe a facial.

Red Tea is from a plant called the Red Bush. This tea, as well as all Herbal Teas, is called tisanes. They are not really tea, but like tea go very well with hot water and a mug, on a patio watching a sunset.

Now you know the difference between these teas, and have a clue as to how I spent my weekend. Now off to the drugstore with me - must find something for this horrendous sunburn.

Extra crispy,

Mr. Tea

I used to be a strictly black or green tea gal, but have been finding some great teas of all varieties that really suit different moods and times of day! We drink RedBush tea at night- no caffine! And one of my new favorites esp. with asian fusion food, is a really good jasmine. Tea is a great ritual and spiritual thing in our house. And I really enjoy "tea-time" at all different times of the day!

the Kitchen Diaries

I am still trying to get all my wine dinner photos together. Will share them with you all soon. IN the meantime, today I thought I would tell you about a book I am reading- experiencing really. Nigel Slater's The Kitchen Diaries. A gorgeous Heafty book, with a silk ribbon page holder, lovely photos and rich relaxed writing. I am browsing it day by day, as Nigel wrote it, and dreaming of more leisure time so I can actually try out some of his tasty recipes.

The Kitchen Diaries, is more like a daily love affair with food, markets, and yes the occasional battle with not wasting the things collecting in your fridge. It has been fun so far. he is quite charming a real. You can see more about the book on The Nigel Slater Site. I am reading in the Sept. section now. seems very lush and real. Not your average cookbook by any stretch. I want to get his previous book Real Food soon too.

wine dinner countdown

The clock is ticking... today- tonight actually, in the restaurant I work in (Fujimamas) we are preparing for a wonderful wine dinner. We will be having winery owner and wine maker Alex Sokol-Blosser as our guest. And we will be serving a fantastic course menu paired with his wines.

As I type this, I am finishing the menus for printing, Our wonderful chef Mark Vann of Fujimamas Tokyo and Kona, Hawaii- is downstairs in the kitchen creating the wonders that our guests will get to taste tonight- we are making the table cards, planning the seating and generally doing the 1000 little things that go into this kind of event.

One of my very first fancy glass posts was about one of our wine dinners. They are truly wonderful experiences. I have some butterflies in my stomach- always the case before a big event. But I feel confident this one will be a winner.

We are Sold Out for seats tonight- and I think it will be successful... updates tomorrow. Thanks go to Orca International for bringing us the great wine maker and helping us put on this event.

end of summer ramblings

It has been so long since I have paid attention to my dear fancy glass. And I have missed it greatly. What a crazy summer. Work Stuff, Travel to the new Restaurant in Hawaii, catching up on personal stuff and just plain swealtering in the Tokyo Heat have kept me from some of the things I really like to do for myself- like this blog.

But I am going to dive back in!

Another thing I am catching up on is listening to some of my favorite podcasts. Food and otherwise. One of my favorites in A fantastic food podcast EATFEED.COM!
And this morning I listened to a great podcast from july about Ice Cream. You can listen Here.

My favorite part of the show was about the fact that Penn State University, which is near my hometown, has a Creamery- and they sell their ice cream online! Wow. Now I am sure they will not send it all the way to me here to japan. But it would be fun to send this to friends and family for summer birthdays next year. Anyway- they have great fun flavor names, and a cute site at http://www.creamery.psu.edu/

They also talk about the old tradition of the Ice Cream Social- which I am thinking of doing somehow someday- As many of you know besides food, and my restaurant career I am also "into" politics. So I am thinking a huge Americans overseas Ice Cream Social in the 2008 election cycle might be a great get out the vote/ voter registration event?!

Ok, so ending my summer ice cream ramblings- promising to myself- and any of you who are reading this that I WILL be writing more often again from now!

more soon.

tickled my fancy

Everyone knows I am a tea lover. I like the adagio-teas webnewsletter TeaMuse. And there is a section about tea-art. I loved this little story and photo this month. really tickled my fancy. read about it here. I will post the photo later- the blogger photo editor is down today- sigh.

Long time and fruit by the foot

It has been far too long since I have written here. Busy life in the restaurant biz. but actually I have been having some nice food and doing some good food-things.

Out recently for Italian and a small place in the neighborhood called "Mar" - very tasty bread and olive oil. Been exploring a bit and trying different places. We also went back to the Gazebo Cafe and my favorite local mexican- Junkadelic. But I have been lazy - not taking the camera not writing.

Last night we had really delish Sushi, just basic orders, salmon, sweet egg, eel, tuna, and a big veggie Futo Maki, or fat rolled sushi. Next time will take photos for sure. Sushi is a summer time food for me, never in the mood for it in cold weather.

IN the restaurant we did a fun course dinner for a club called the Good Grub Club- you can read about it on the Fujimamas Blog www.fujimamasfoodies.com

But what inspired me to write today was that my husband sent me a link to a great page from McSweeney's "new food reviews" I especially liked the first part-

Fruit by the Foot
-Submitted by Michaelanne Petrella

The new Fruit by the Foot variety pack has three kinds in one box—strawberry, berry tie-dye, and "color by the foot." Each piece has a serrated "squiggly fun" line down the center, allowing you to pull the fruit (fruit? i guess it's fruit) in half and eat each side at different times. Color by the foot is a bad name for a flavor—it sounds like I'm eating foot-flavored crayons—so they put an asterisk next to it on the box that tells you it's "naturally rainbow punch flavored." I've never had rainbow punch, but I'm guessing that it consists of cherries, bananas, star fruits, raisins, peanuts, and onions. It looks trash-colored and makes my teeth hurt. I ate four boxes in two days.

You can read the whole set at Reviews of New Food.