Anniversary realization

As I was writing yesterday's post, I realized that since we've been married, Joe and I have only spent one anniversary in "our" hometown of Indianapolis.

Our first anniversary was spent on vacation with my parents in Carmel & Monterey, California. We had a great time! On our anniversary we went on the 17-mile-drive and saw the Point Lobos State Nature Reserve.Our second anniversary was spent in Indianapolis, but we were getting ready for Okinawa. We spent the day at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and its gardens. We ended the day with a night on the town - dinner at St. Elmos!So now, of course, we 're in Okinawa! We should have three anniversaries here. In the years to come, I wonder if we will seem as adventurous as we are now!

3rd Anniversary dinner at Hapina

Some of you may have heard Joe and I talking about the wonderful dinners at Restaurant Hapina at the Hamahiga shima Resort Hotel. Joe has taken me there for my 26th birthday and our 3rd anniversary; my parents dined there with us in March 2010 as well. Each time we visit we have a beautiful meal, complimented by beautiful scenery.

Hamahiga shima island is north of the White Beach peninsula of Okinawa (if you Google maps Hamahiga shima island you'll see where we were).

The resort is perched on a hill on the edge of Hamahiga shima island.

We were seated at "our" table promptly at 6:30 pm (so we could enjoy the sunset). The restaurant is surrounded by windows, so all you see is the Pacific).

I'm looking forward to staying overnight one day, so that I can sit on this outdoor patio with a drink, or swim in the infinity pool!

Each time we have visited Restaurant Hapina we opt for the 7 course Ryukyu dinner. We have seven courses of whatever the Chef wants to prepare. Every dinner is a delight! Here's what we had on Saturday, June 26, 2010:

First Course (amuse bouche): Salmon tar tare

Second Course (cold appetizer): Seafood Gazpacho

This was delicious! A variety of fish (tuna sashimi, scallop, prawn) served with greens in a heavenly tomato bisque. It was so fresh!

Third Course (hot appetizer): Eel fois gras

Pan seared eel served over fois gras and Japanese eggplant. I loved the plating!

Fourth Course (soup): Cold potato soup

This might have been my favorite dish. The soup was light and creamy and pure. I can't even describe it! Heavenly!

At this point in the meal it was beginning to get dark and the moon (a honeymoon actually!) appeared. As the moon rose over the Pacific it really did cast moonbeams on the ocean.

Fifth Course (first entree): White Snapper

This pan seared piece of White snapper was a delight! The skin was perfectly crisped and the meat juicy. It was served over Japanese anchovies (if you watch Iron Chef America, Chef Morimoto used this little fishes to make a taco one time!) and vegetables.

Sixth Course (second entree): Quail

Joe and I have never eaten quail before. It was very tasty, but rather difficult to eat. We wanted to take the little leg and use our fingers! (very American chicken-wing I know). It was served with vegetables and a quail sauce. These were very complex, rich flavors.

Seventh Course (dessert): Banana crisp

Another fantastic dessert! Fresh bananas served with almonds & crumble. A small scoop of homemade chocolate ice cream was on the side. mmmmm!As you can see, by the time we had dessert it was dark. We stepped outside on the patio after dinner and there were so many, many stars!

After paying and thanking the chef, staff and restaurant manager, Mr. Imura (who, by the way, continues to treat us royally! He knows us by name and takes an extra effort to translate the menu for us each time. He is really too kind!) We started our trek home and came across the most unusual thing -- crabs! They were all over the place on that little island -- mostly in the road. We didn't hit any, but sure came close! There were quite a few Japanese out fishing on Hamahiga shima, but no one wanted the crabs --

Writing for Japanese non-profits

Back in March, I posted pictures of my prospect research presentation in Tokyo. Well, I also asked to write an article on prospect research. It was translated (to Japanese) in May, so I thought I would share! It's pretty crazy, being published in Japanese!

Japanese version
English version

Yazaemon

Many months ago I posted about our first experience at a sushi-go-round. This particular sushi-go-round, Yazaemon, is located inside of a mall in Awase. The first time we went there I was impressed by the go-round and not by the sushi; mostly because I had not been exposed to the nigiri style (fish on rice). So the first time was good, but not great.


We went again, and again, and each time Yazaemon grew on me. The fish was always fresh and delicious and the Japanese very kind to us.


Then March came, and we took my parents to Yazaemon. Mom and Dad love sushi, so this seemed like a natural choice. I don't think I've ever seen my dad (1) so excited for dinner and (2) so sad to leave dinner! They liked it so much, that we went back! Twice in a two-week vacation to Okinawa.


My parents left, and then Joe and I left for Tokyo. It was a difficult week; but Tokyo was wonderful and a much needed break from Okinawa. We arrived back in Okinawa at dinner time, and didn't have any food left in the house - so where did we go? Of course I suggested Yazaemon! It was then that Joe pointed out my new love for Yazaemon; I had two wonderful evenings there with my parents and Joe. I am definitely one who emotionally equates food to family and memories. (Or maybe it is a Polish trait and many years of Wigilia!)


In April we took my cousin Colleen and her husband TJ to Yazaemon. Even though Colleen was still not a sushi fan, she was in love with the at-table hot water for green tea. TJ was adventurous and he and Joe tried almost every plate that went by us on the conveyor belt. They liked it so much that I also took them back for lunch later in their trip. Again, twice in one week!


Well, I was there again tonight. (Joe and I have been back since April. I believe I requested Yazaemon before we went to the states, as I needed sushi before I left!) Joe was at a dental dinner, so I decided to treat myself to some sushi. As I sat at the bar, watching plate after plate pass me by, I couldn't help but think of all the wonderful times I have had with my family at Yazaemon. It's funny that one little restaurant in Okinawa could instill such a powerful feeling in me. Each time I visit the restaurant, I not only have a delicious meal, but a wonderfully warm sense of home. If there is such a thing as sushi comfort food, its at Yazaemon.


It made me wonder for the first time, what will I truly feel nostalgic about when I leave this foreign island? Right now, I am nostalgic for family in unusual places. But two years from now, what part of Okinawa will leave an imprint on my heart? Will it be Yazaemon, a place of truly wonderful food and "western" memories? Will it be a beach or a park? Another restaurant? Perhaps the kind Okinawans that we see in passing?

Patio plants

Thanks to our friend Mary, we have a patio full of plant life! One day we were surprised to find our pineapple plant actually growing pineapples!!!I have no idea if they are edible or what will happen to the plant after the pineapples are full grown.... but I am impressed that something like this is growing in my home!

My other favorite plant is my hibiscus. I bought this plant when my parents were here in March. Hibiscus plants grow all over Okinawa, so I thought I would try to grow one myself. It's really not doing so badly!

There is newer growth at the top, so I think there will be many blooms there in the next week. Today there were just a few pink blooms at the bottom.

Back home!

Well, as some of you saw, Joe and I were able to make it back to the States in May. He completed a one-week course at Bethesda Medical Center and then we went back home to Indiana.

Sadly, we were so busy just spending time with everyone, that we forgot to take pictures! The first week in Washington, DC/Bethesda was lots of fun for me -- shopping with Mom! I have been a little Macy's - starved out here in Okinawa and this trip was perfect. Not only did we shop, but we had some wonderful meals, saw the newly renovated American History Museum and even experienced a few new things!

One afternoon, Mom and I went to the Anderson House in Dupont Circle. The Anderson House was owned by Lars Anderson, who was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. In its heyday, this house was THE place to host dignitaries, presidents and other people of importance. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide, which made the tour even more personal.

Another new favorite in DC would be the restaurant Brasserie Beck. On our last day in DC we (Mom, Dad, Joe and I) had lunch here. It was wonderful! Not only was the company great, so was the food! We sampled a variety of ales, had gourmet frites, a braised pork tenderloin that Joe still talks about and even a beer-root-beer float. It was a sweet way to say goodbye to my parents (again). [You could insert a few sniffles here!]

Of course, the sniffles didn't last for long; we (with our many suitcases) flew up to Indianapolis to see the Platt family. We had a fantastic week with the Platts! We saw/heard Rebecca play for Fiddler on the Roof, saw lots of family, were able to visit with many old friends and even fit in a bit more shopping.

The one thing I just couldn't get over was how much my youngest sister-in-law had grown. For many of you, you recall the sweet, short Christina. Well, when I walked in the door Friday night I was amazed! My [still] sweet youngest sister-in-law looked me in the eye! One of the few pictures I did managed to take was of her -- and she's catching up!Finally, on the way back to Okinawa, we had one more stop in DC. There we saw my little brother! After a delicious meal at Charlie Palmer's we went back to the hotel and heard a great live quartet. It's not the best of videos, but Joe requested this song for me :)