Thursday, 19 January 2023

elusivek: (thrilled! (Naga))
I've got a few posts swimming in my mind and I'd like to get them rounded off. So... the extravagant Birthday dinner...!!!

The menu… $2500 local currency is VERY STEEP (over $300 USD)
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Appetizer - Fried Prawn with Sesame Tofu
It was OK.
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Fried Dish - Satsuma A5 Beef Tenderloin Cutlet
Beef was very juicy and very filling (probably because of the marble-y fat)
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Noodles - “Handa” Somen Noodles with Snow Crab
Had a bit of bad luck and got some crab shell (that terrible feeling when you dig in and then CRUNCH your teeth. Ugh. But I did not complain! I DID NOT! But since it was such a pricey and exclusive restaurant, apparently there were staff standing behind us and checking us out. The server told the chef at the end of the dinner and you know how Japanese are, all those bowing and apologies, and I kept insisting I did not complain and that it was OK. My Japanese-speaking friend helped by saying “don’t worry she’s lucky!” And that settled it. Phew!
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Sashimi - White Fish with Caviar, Seasonal Seafood
There was an option to add on a cavier sushi, but we weren’t big into cavier so decided to pass. I do not mind sashimi, but I can’t comment on the freshness or any aspect about it because… I just don’t know.
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Hot Pot - White Miso Hot Pot with Milt and Oyster
So… milt is this fish semen thing. I dunno. Looked like brains. Probably texture like brains too. I didn’t mind it too much. I was prepared for it to be some tasteless creamy yucky stuff as my friend warned me about, but maybe they seasoned and lightly barbecued it, so it was not bad.
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I really liked the Mochi in the hot pot. I’m so plebeian LOL, I go for an expensive dinner but enjoy the simple basic things only.
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Sushi - Sea Urchin and Toro Handroll
I usually like a good Uni (Sea urchin), but I also usually like it in a Don (bowl rice) more than in a sushi or hand roll. As for Toro… I don’t get why people like it so much. Don’t they think that one bite of this fatty tuna and they feel full already?
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Meat - Satsuma A5 Beef Sirloin in “Jibu” Style
Same for this marbled beef. When I finished this, I was feeling suddenly super full.
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Rice - “Takikomi” Rice with Seasonal Seafood
They showed us this big pot of rice then mixed it all up and divided for us. Many people had second helpings, and while it was good, I was feeling stuffed (from the fatty meats before), so I declined the second helping.
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Dessert - Monaka Ice Cream with Mochi, Red Bean, and Seasonal Fruit
My friend shot a better photo of this by flipping the “cap” a little so had a bit of red to show. I’m just a “shoot it for record and eat it” LOL so only have this white blob of stuff. It was yummy.
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After this dinner, we went next door to a Western restaurant for some drinks and the ladies went behind my back and ordered a HUGE cake (lucky I didn’t have that second helping of rice). I got a spiffy cute cocktail with a Panda LOL. I named him the Tribe Elder LOL. Pretty happy with how my face looks a bit slimmed down (yes, I’ve managed to keep that 4kg OFF! Still trying to lose more)
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Oh, and this happened on another day, but since the poster had my birthday date on it, I’m posting it here. I watched Slam Dunk back in the day, enjoyed it enough, but wasn’t exactly a big fan, but since there was nothing going on, so when a couple friends wanted to make a dinner and movie night out of it I decided that I might as well watch it with them.
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As I've said before, I don't really like big parties and prefer to celebrate with my different cluster of friends separately... so that was basically that. No more birthday celebrations for now (unless we decide to do a "compensate" celebration LOL).
elusivek: (Default)
Just kidding, I will not write the whole post in Chinese LOL.

The title reads "Preparing for the (Chinese) New Year!"

So today is 年廿八, basically the "28th day of the 12th month". In Cantonese, there is a saying, 年廿八,洗邋遢 that means "spring cleaning" but word-for-word it's "cleaning up on the 28th" and practically, after this day, we shouldn't throw out rubbish anymore. But we don't really follow that religiously. The REAL day that we can't throw ANYTHING out is New Year's Day (this year it's on Sunday). So, you can't clean, can't dust, can't sweep, can't wash your hair, can't many things. I sometimes wonder if that means we shan't shower either, but anyway.
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I've set up my desk in the office with candy (Kit Kats!) and two apples. Apparently, as apples are called 蘋果 (peng guo), and the 蘋 (peng) sounds similar to 平 (peng) in 平安 (peng on), so, 2 apples are like 平平安安 (peng peng on on). In simplified Chinese, you can even see the similarity of 平 (peng) and 苹 (peng of "apple").

That was some special Taiwan version Kit Kat that I placed an order back in November and arrived now. I figured I'd just place it on my desk.

My ex-Boss sometimes called me "Kit Kat" (because I'm known as Kat around at work) so I kind of picked up the habit of bringing Kit Kats to work. Also, Kit Kats are easy souvenirs from Japan because there are like a kazillion diffferent flavors. Japan likes Kit Kats because the way you read it キットカット means something like "must (or will) win!" And students "must win" (pass) in their exams.

In fact, I received this for my birthday, LOL! Variety Party Box with 21 flavors of Kit Kats, there are 63 individual packets! The other Kit Kat on top is the Japan Post "Year of the Rabbit" Greeting card postcard (post chocolate?) that my friend got me as a new year gift. In Japan, their "New Year" and their "Chinese zodiac animals" start on 1-January, but in China, it's during the Lunar New Year. But to be very SPECIFIC, it doesn't start on (Chinese) New Year's Day either, it starts on what is called the Lichun 立春 the first day of Spring.
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So anyway. Tomorrow is officially the last day of work, at the end of the day we say 收爐! Which means "switching off the oven" (closing up the kitchen) and somehow the saying has been adopted by other industries as well, I have a reference link as well LOL. It's a 3-day public holiday, but since a day falls on a Sunday, we get a compensated day off, so it's back to work on Thursday. In mainland China and for Chinese culture, they usually close until the 7th day of the new year "人日" (everyone's birthday) and start work on the 8th day. And all Chinese New Year related festivities would finish by 元宵節 the 15th day which I think is also known as the Lantern Festival... and well, since I don't know much about that (for me holidays finish on the 3rd day and I'm back to work on the 4th LOL) so.... reference link here too!

Since the borders are opened, the Boss' driver from Hong Kong is coming over for a short break. We decided to meet up since we've only met once or twice over 3 years ago. We're going for a quick 飲茶 Yum Cha, or Dim Sum, and the Boss is paying (ha!) I should plan a trip to Hong Kong as well, just to know how Hong Kong looks now, but, I don't have any pressing matters that I have to attend to in Hong Kong.

This year I might go for the firecracker fair to have a look.... maybe... or maybe not... I don't know. I'm always so undecided about the firecracker fair. They say you burn firecracker to "chase/scare the bad luck away" but to me it's just "burning money." Hm........... To be decided.

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Agueda Umbrella
kat (DW: elusivek | LJ: notte0)
❤︎ loves dogs, dark chocolate, and books.
★ doesn’t exactly hate cats.
◆ hates white chocolate.
more?
I read books :-)

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