I was a Japanese Strawberry Shortcake

When I was a little girl, I remember going to Little Tokyo with my grandmother and begging her to buy me one of the strawberry shortcakes in the Japanese bakery. We used to go to the one in the old Yaohan (turned Mitsuwa) plaza.

I loved the buttery cake, light cream and fresh strawberries... and always felt so much better after a couple of bites. There's just something about them that makes you feel like a little princess.

So during our Japan trip, I drooled over the many pastry and dessert counters... and begged MS to indulge me as I purchased not one, but multiple strawberry shortcakes that were in season for the Christmas holiday.



At every large train station, food and merchandise stands could be found (along with shopping centers and department stores at the very large stations like Tokyo and Kyoto).

As we hopped on to the bullet trains with our JR Passes, MS gladly shared these sweets with me during our rides. They were wonderful treats that kept me smiling through the cold, the rain, and the entire trip.

And yes, I even dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake when I was a girl... or maybe that was Rainbow Brite? Either way, these pastries take me back to those days of my youth and I am once again, a little princess.

Magic Comes to Life at the Ghibli Museum

If you have some time in Tokyo and can manage a day trip, my recommendation would be to go to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. That is... if you want to experience youthful magic through the eyes of Hayao Miyazaki, the man behind such greats as Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away.

You'll need to buy tickets in advance and may need to enlist the help of some friendly workers at the local Lawson Store. Tickets are reserved through an ATM-looking machine that's in Japanese and purchased from the store. With vouchers in hand for a specific time, you're set!

(I think you can always purchase tickets ahead of time too. Check out the website below to look for more details through JTB.)



We settled for a late afternoon visit to the Ghibli Museum, and hopped on the JR train out of the city and into this suburb just outside of Tokyo. The walk from the Mitaka station was a nice scenic stroll, lined with trees and beautiful homes.

We even spied the cute Japanese signs above!

When we arrived along Kichijori Avenue, next to Inokashira Park, we were greeted by a very large Totoro and some soot-black dust bunnies too. Signs pointed to the main entrance, where a line had already started to form.

Unlucky for us, it started to drizzle.

Luckily, though, the museum had tents to shield us from the cold rain.

As we entered the bright and colorful entry, we were explicitly told not to take photographs inside the museum.

Here's a little sneak peak inside:

"Every window and lamp is lovingly hand-crafted with beautiful and colorful stained glass using Ghibli characters, pretty plants and flowers, and forest animals..."

There's magic on the Ground level, as you see characters brought to life through animation. A working studio with sketches, paintings, and lots of inspiration can be found on the first floor while a large cat bus waits on the second level for kids under 12 years old to jump in and enjoy. And a metal, spiral stairway up the roof leads you to a rooftop terrace and a five-meter tall Robot Soldier (from “Laputa Castle in the Sky”) - see the above picture!

In the Central Hall is "a towering open space extending up through the entire height of the Museum. In the glass dome at its center, a yellow whale swims in the ocean and the blades of a giant fan rotate overhead. Taking in the whole room from bottom to top, you will discover a maze of spiral stairways, bridged passages, and overhanging terraces. This marvelous space transports you into the world of Hayao Miyazaki and the strange buildings which often appear in his films."

For more information, check out the website below.

Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan
www.ghibli-museum.jp/en

Win Album & Tickets to see Joshua Radin LIVE at the Henry Fonda in LA

"I'd Rather Be With You" Official Video


For a chance to win a pair of tickets to Joshua Radin’s upcoming show this Saturday evening at the Henry Fonda Theatre in LA (w/openers Meiko and Jesse Harris) AND a copy of his latest album, leave me a comment or email me with your full name and email address. Winner will be emailed with details of the show, and winner's name will be listed on the Guest List at Will Call.

NOTE: Thank you for those of you who have already emailed me. Just to let you know, I will randomly select the winner on Friday afternoon and will email you with more details. If you're interested in these Tickets and CD, you have until Friday at Noon to comment or email me. Good luck!

I forget how I was introduced to the music of Joshua Radin, but I love listening to his songs on my iPod rotation.

As you listen to his voice, it's easy to fall in love with his music. He draws you in with his lyrics and melodies as he sings about what is most important - life, love and friendship.

For his second album entitled Simple Times, Radin spent some time in LA's legendary Sunset Sound studio. He is now on tour and will be at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles this upcoming Saturday night.

If you’re not familiar with Radin, watch and listen to the video of his lead single, "I'd Rather Be With You," directed by Zach Braff ("Scrubs," "Garden State"), a college friend of Radin's. His album hit No. 1 on both iTunes’ Album and Alternative charts within 48 hours of its release and earned him a spot in iTunes’ “Indie Spotlight: Singer Songwriter - Best of 2008” feature, selling over 70,000 copies since its September 2008 release.

His tracks can be heard on a number of television shows, and he has performed for a variety of talk shows, including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” He was featured in footage from DeGeneres’ wedding to Portia de Rossi, where he sang at the ceremony.

And as much as I would love for Radin to sing at my own modest ceremony, I'll have to settle for listening to him on my iPod and for the opportunity to see him perform live while he’s in LA.

Check out this rising star:
www.myspace.com/joshuaradin
http://www.joshuaradin.com/

Christmas Lights & Sushi in Tokyo

Throughout the holiday season, Tokyo lit up with fantastic displays including this sculptured Christmas tree.



By the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo, the bridge was draped with glistening lights that added to the city's brilliance.



In the shopping district of Roppongi, the streets were lined with beautiful branches that looked like twinkling jewels.



And the children of Tokyo got involved by decorating these paper lanterns with Christmas wishes for the New Year. Images of peace, love and a greener world came to life as the evening unfolded.



But without all of the holiday lights, Tokyo still shines bright. In Shibuya, cars zoomed and buildings blinked with flashing movement and huge billboards.



On a friend's recommendation, we trekked to Shibuya for sushi at Sushizanmai... TWICE!

Both times, we sat at the sushi bar in the non-smoking section. And both times, we beat the crowds with an early dinner.

I knew that sushi in Japan was good, but it was really, REALLY GOOD!

At Sushizanmai, our sushi was fresh and reasonably priced - the best combination ever! Now if only I can find a place like that here in LA...

On the hunt!

Best Ramen in Tokyo, Nippon TV

We watched the end of the year special on the best ramenyas in Tokyo, salivating over the bowls of beautiful broth and perfectly cooked noodles.

I knew we had to try one while we were in Japan for the holidays.

After MS searched the website, we found one that was open on New Year's Eve.

Enter the Ramen Wrestler.



After a couple of train rides and a brisk walk on a cold afternoon, we found the bright orange ramen shop with a line of people waiting outside.

This had to be it.

There were about 20+ people already in line, enough to turn the casual bystander away.

But not me.

I cajoled MS to stay with me, convincing him that it would be worth the wait and effort in getting there. It took 40 minutes just to get to that point. What was another half hour?

There were only two women in the line ahead of us, and a long line of 17 hungry men formed behind us.



We didn't just wait the half hour. It took an entire hour to have one of the coveted seven seats at the counter. But the warmth from the broth and noodles filled the small ramen shop as we waited patiently for our turn.

Each bowl of ramen was made to order, and when we were finally motioned to two seats next to the meat slicer, I could hardly contain my excitement.



The Ramen Wrestler definitely put on a show, as he wrestled with the cooked noodles and drained them of all excess water before placing them in the large ceramic bowls.

You could order extra pork, an extra amount of noodles, and a boiled egg with your ramen.



I had MS order my ramen with an egg in it, as shown above. But was asked from the master himself when the bowl was served, "Who ordered the ramen with egg?"

With a huge smile and without any shame or qualms, I raised my hand.

"Why is she eating more than you?"

At which point, I opted not to ask for a second helping of noodles. I did, however, finish the entire bowl and thought that it was most definitely worth the wait! It was the right amount of saltiness with a nice cut of savory meat. The fried onions had great flavor and was a nice contrast of textures when slurping the noodles.

I don't remember the name or location of this ramen-ya, but know that the Ramen Wrestler won accolades as being one of Tokyo's best. Without a doubt, it was one of my favorites and I'm left to wonder... will I be able to find a ramen-ya in Los Angeles that could compare?

I'm on the quest.

DineLA Restaurant Week, extended!

During DineLA Restaurant Week, some of LA's best restaurants offer a prix fixe three-course menu, sharing some of their most popular dishes during lunch and/or dinner. And although the restaurant week was slated to end, Grace Restaurant (along with other participating restaurants) have extended their offerings another week.

So when MM messaged me to get together for dinner last week, I vaguely remembered that it was DineLA week and checked the list for something good to eat.

Only one stood out to me.

It was the one restaurant that I've been wanting to try for the last few years.

Grace.

It wasn't difficult to convince MM, and soon - we were on our way.

We called but no tables were open at that time. The bar area, though, had a few seats and we were lucky to snag two when we walked in to the restaurant. The bartender greeted us with eyes that smiled and made us feel quite at ease.

"You two would like to order dinner from me here at the bar? Not at a table?"

We ordered the Grace Gimlets as we looked over the DineLA menu and replied with a flirty, "Of course!"

But really, we lied.

A table opened up, and we were quickly seated in the dimly lit, sophisticated dining area. Through the beautiful mirrors on the wall, I spied handsome couples, after work crowds, and girlfriends like us who occupied the space.

Our cocktail drinks were made of gin, blood orange juice, and a rosemary simple syrup ($10). MM was reminded of a drink she had elsewhere, but since I rarely order cocktails, I was pleasantly surprised with its refreshing mix of flavors. It was a rush of wintry comfort, sweet spring, and summer citrus all in one.

For our three-courses, we opted to upgrade a couple of items from Grace's DineLA posted menu. MM and I split our dishes family-style, which really...is the best way to dine out. We started with the Dungeness Crab Salad in a Meyer lemon vinaigrette and the Shrimp Cavatelli with peas and mushrooms.

When the crab salad was presented in front of me, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I didn't mean to, but what came out of the kitchen was definitely NOT expected. On a rather large plate was the smallest bit of crab meat - the size and shape of a school cafeteria tater tot. It was devoured in two bites. One for me. One for MM. And although I was a little disappointed with the amount plated, I have to admit - it was delicious.

The shrimp pasta was much heartier with earthy tones from the mushrooms, and came in a much more decent sized amount. We were able to taste all the wonderful flavors in a few more bites, satisfying our palates and getting us ready for our next course.

For our main entrees, we ordered the Lamb chops with artichokes and mushrooms - cooked medium pink, and the John Dory white fish with gnocchi and mushrooms. Both dishes seemed to disappear like the evening ahead of us. The chatter and crowds all faded into the background as we laughed and reminisced the ups and downs that our friendship has seen throughout the years.

By the time our two desserts came out, we were squirming in our seats - full of good eats and a belly full of laughter. Somehow, though, we managed to clean our plates of Sticky Toffee Pudding with hazelnut gelato and bruleed bananas, along with the Salted Caramel Mascarpone Panna Cotta with rum soaked cake, passion fruit, and pomegranate. Both were absolutely divine!

The young man on his date sitting at the next table over was absolutely hilarious - extolling praises to all who would listen about the sticky toffee pudding. You'd think that his date would have been the one in love with this chocolate dessert, but it was HE who was making all kinds of grunts and moans with each bite he took. Absolutely hilarious.

So, for three courses and two cocktails, our bill came out to about $70/person with tax and tip included. Not your every day meal, it was still a good deal for a dinner for two at one of LA's best.

Grace Restaurant
street: 7360 Beverly Boulevard | Los Angeles, CA | 90036
tel: 1.323.934.4400
url: www.gracerestaurant.com