Another sushi restaurant that has no spicy-mayo on the menu just opened in the West Village. Sushi restaurant Soto is named after the chef Sotohiro Kosughi who had a business in Atlanta for years and recently moved to Apple City.
They still don't have the liquor license (as of June 1, 2007) so we brought our own selection of sake. The interior is clearn, with furniture and linens uniformed in white and natural wood color. A girl from Eater.com commented that it had "absolutely no ambiance." But I really appreciate this clean, brightness because Japanese do enjoy the food with taste, smell and visual aesthetic. For sushi restaurants especially, a bright interior is the proof that their seafood is fresh. You don't want to drop a dim-light over fresh seafood and fine treatment and decoration of dishes. It makes the freshness invisible to customers.
Being my boyfriend's birthday, we wanted to have the best Soto-san could offer. They were not ready with their omakase course, so we asked the waitress if Soto-san can pick up some omakase dishes from the menu. Behind the counter, he happily agreed.
Dish 1 : Super-thin sliced fluke carpacccio (Garnish and flavor of yuzu citrus and kabosu lime matched really well with this fresh, sweet fish). Dish 2: Dobin-mushi (Traditional soup. Bonito stock flavored in a dobin (little tera cotta pot,) with seafood and mitsuba-green. Absolutely comforting). Dish 3: Chu-toro tartar (I personally thought they should use less ponze vinegrette and avocado. It was a bit over-powering the chutoro itself). Dish 4: Steamed bream/snapper with scallion sauce (This was probably one of my favorite that night. Jullianed scallion adds peppery aroma and cruncy texture to the sweet glaze with a hint of sesame oil.) Dish 5: Amadai Kabura Mushi (This is very authentic Japanese dish. Steamed fish ball with graded turnip soup). Dish 6: Langoustine with mushroom cream sauce (The mushroom sauce was really yummy, a touch of marsara or something.)
After all these appetizers, we're almost hitting the wall. But, in Sushi restaurant, gotta have sushi. So I asked the chef to make 8pcs omakase nigiri with less shari (rice). This restaurant doesn't serve extra soy sauce unless you ask. But please try as it's served if you seriously love sushi. They put the right seasoning, whether it's soy sauce or salt, for each piece of sushi.
At the end of the night, we're more than happy but I was worried to open the bill. It was little over $100 per person which isn't too expensive for all what we had. The chef seemed to care every customer is happy with his dish.
Here's a toy for adults and smart, curious kids. Q-BA-MAZE's new product is series of transparent interlocking plastic cubes that can be constructed in three dimensions. The possible combinations are almost infinite. Let the metal marble run down through a smart, creative tower! Comes in a set of 12 or 36 cubes in a sleek, cool package.
The Polish co-worker I talked about in the last post brought me a wonderful gift from her 8-yr daughter. It's a pink birthday card with lots of drawing in blue ballpoint pen and decoration with white-out. The bunny on the front says, "You Go Girl" with lots of heart mark. Inside is her poem.
Roses are red
My boyfriend and I were supposed to meet some friends at Double Happiness, a basement bar in Chinatown. Walking down the stairs, I heard music—a bit unusual selection for this bar. "What's this music tonight?" I said. Then I saw a huge group of people standing with corn hats in silhouette. I whispered, "Shoot." Someone is having a big party or something." SURPRISE!!" Hell ya. They got me, totally. It took me a while to look at everyone's face and recognize the party was for me. 
It was such a wonderful feeling, and somehow weird, to see my friends, from different network. My dearest boyfriend, with lots of help from other friends, planned the whole thing. I had no idea an e-vite with my poorly-cropped headshot was being sent to the world. The best party ever, with the best dumpling—200 pieces. Another surprise was the cake from our local spanish bakery La Villita (I blogged about this place earlier). A plastic sexy naked girl on a gigantic pink cake said "Happy 30th Little Miko." 
I even had my private DJ, a very talented one (in the right pic looking at me like I'm an idiot.) I danced all night long. I got lots of presents. And all was thanks to my boyfriend who'd done such a great job while dealing with his own busy work schedule. Perhaps, half of the crowds were there not only to celebrate my b-day but because he's very popular. Can't thank enough to the best boyfriend. 