Japanese Fish Stew

This is probably a very typical and authentic Japanese dinner menu. Take any white fish (cod, seabass, snapper, founder work), and simmer in soy sauce, sake (rice wine) and some mirin (or sugar). I added a pinch of chilli and topped the fish with some fresh ginger. It only takes 10 minutes to cook and requires no skill. If you don't mind, cook it a bit sweeter because that's Japanese style. With some rice and hearty miso soup, I proudly this was a really good dinner.

Airport Express - Yes!

My neighbors have been cheap, ungenerous. Every one of those who use to have WiFi have started to use passwords. I live in a 1-bd apt with my boyfriend and for me to use Internet on my own is to steal other's connection. My boyfriend thinks if you pay for your airport anyway, it shouldn't matter to keep it to yourself of not. There's a reason for sure.

Sharing your network slows down the connection, and for security reason it's not good. We decided, rather than waiting for another generous airporter, to buy our own. Airpor Express $99 is a really good deal. It works perfectlly for 1-bd apt. It looks like a charger of your laptop. Plug it in and install the utility application. Done.

Of course I set a password.

Marlow & Sons

This is my favorite restaurant in W'burg and possibly in entire NY. Next to Diner, another American French restaurant owned by the same guy, this little bistro has a groumet deli up front. I love their interior. It's a quite small place and they' don't take reservation. I'm glad to have such a restaurant in my hood.

This time, the special scallop dish was a huge hit. Sweet corn puree and perfectly browned scallop. Their potato tortilla and chicken liver pate are my regular pick.

Marlow & Sons
81 Broadway
Williamsburgh Brooklyn 11211

Fette Sau - W'burg BBQ

If you love BBQ and look for a joint with a bit of fun atmosphere, try this spot. The same owner runs a beer pub right across the street where they serve good pastrami and cheese as well. At Fette Sau, you order meat by 1/2, 1/4, 1 pound along with the S/M side dishes like potato salads and broccoli. Just pace your self when you order. On a steel bat (they use no plate), it doesn't look enough for two people. But after a few pieces of smoky, rich ribbs and the heavy, flavorful beans, you may feel sick. The cheek was my least favorite. It was too gummy and fatty. They have a huge selection of beer and bourbon.

Up and Down - Horem pádem

I was always interested in the DVD cover and yet didn't feel compelled to see it. But as a tribute to my good Czech friend, I gave it a shot last night.

I haven't seen Babel but I did see Crash and didn't quite like the over-done interwoven story setting. This Czech movie renders similar scenario but by far better than Crash. It's not a commedy. It's not a serious movie. It's not like I was particularly impressed or some scenes were memorable. But it was showing many aspects and lives of Czech people smartly. The interlocking story style is subtle yet very effectively applied.

Humorous Song Agitates Feminists

This song humorously represents how Japanese men treat women. It was a really popular song but also famous for the politically arguable content. It got criticized by a feminist group back then.

Kanpaku Sengen - by Masashi Sada

Before I take your hands into marriage
Let me tell you a few things.
Some may sound harsh
But I want to tell you honestly.
Don’t wake up after me.
Don’t go to bed before me.
Cook well.
Keep yourself looking nice
Just as much as you can.
Remember that a man who’s not a good worker
cannot keep a family.
Certain things are better done by you.
Don’t mind other things
Just follow me.

Your parents, my parents
Take a good care of both.
Deal with my mom and sisters smartly.
It should be easy. Just love them.
Don’t say or listen to rumors.
Don’t get too jealous.
I won’t cheat on you.
I probably won’t.
I don’t think I will
But be prepared just in case.
We form the happiness together.
Shouldn’t be mended by one’s effort.
You leave your house and family for me.
Think you have no place to go back.
I am your home from now on.

When our kids grow and we get old.
Don’t die before me.
Even just for a day
Don’t go before I do.
I only need you hold my hand.
Drop 2 drops of tears.
Then I say my life was wonderful
Thanks to you.
I promise. I will say so.
Don’t forget. You are the only woman I love.

The Mirror - Ayneh

An actress with the cutest voice in this charming Iranian movie.

A girl waits for her mother to pick her up at the school. Without much help from her teacher and other adults, she decides to find a way home on her own—not remembering the address or which bus to take. On her journey to home, the movie turns into a completely unexpected direction.

I simply couldn't get over her sweet, high voice.

PUMA Urban Jungle

What would an artist do with 1,200 shoes and 35,000 shoelaces? Make a jungle. Columbia-born conceptual artist Federico Uribe created an urban jungle with PUMA sneakers. “When I started working with shoes I could not avoid thinking where they came from and all the materials from nature that we use to comfort our life. So as a tribute to what nature gives us all, I got the idea of reconstructing nature from its own raw materials. I can not give my creations true life but I may give them the echo of life, which is as much as art can do,” says the artist. Indeed, each animal is really well made. I just don't if this 'nature' made of thousands of shoes truly contributes something to the real nature.

Summer in Queens

In my 6th year in NY, I finally had a chance to go to PS1. I didn't know the exact location and got off the 7 line, barely seeing anyone around. But I easily found PS1 because of the house music coming from a specific direction. About 70 people are in the general admission line but I got through the MoMA members entrance. The direction and assistance there was terrible. I was completely misguided and ended up paying the admission which I didn't have to. My boyfriend took me back to the ticket counter, asking for the refund. But the people there are as bad as the temporary security staff who pays no attention to details. Long, annoying story short, I would never go back there. They rudely joperdized my loyalty to support MoMA and turned down the whole evening.
After the PS1, we went over to the beach party by the river and took the water taxi, which was a nice experience and the view was pretty cool.

Kamome Shokudo

Here's a new Japanese movie called Kamome Shokudo (Kamome Diner) which I just saw at the Japan Society. I've known about this movie mainly because of the famous female actresses I love. My American boyfriend among all other Western audience laughed a lot and enjoyed this charming movie.

It's a stroy about a little diner in Finland. One female owner whose background and history is omitted in the film meets other two Japanese females who happened to meet the owner and start helping her. All three are famous in Japan not only for their acting skills but more for their unique character. You love them. And this is not a typical Japanese story that forces the audience to appreciate the Japanese culture. With humor and great script, this movie brings you happiness and appreciation for Japanese food. I'd categorize this movie as humorous drama.

You won't regret.

Setagaya Ramen - Booooooo..

Why no picture for ramen story? Cuz it doesn't even deserve one. Setagaya almost completely disappointed me, hurt my Japanese food-patriotic loyalty.

A long line is a good sign. But if 90% of the people in the line are not Japanese, then it's a not-that-good sign, especially if you are looking for authenticity. Call me racist. Fine. After such a huge expectation and hunger for good, Japanese ramen, we had to try. After 20 minutes wait, we got our seats. Ready to order right away, of course. 95 degree out tonight. First comes a bottle of beer. "We don't have a license yet." What? "Can we bring in our own beer then?" "No. Sorry." What the F!~ I clearly saw BEER on the menu outside. It wasn't covered with a piece of paper or crossed-out like on the menu inside. Right there, an faithful business. Bad feeling.

We gobbled up a cup of water. The salted egg and menma could have been far better with beer but let's compromise. Now the main dish. We all had Shio Cha-shu men (salt flavored soup with slices of pork). Setagaya is known for its salt-flavored bloth. Noodle is way too hard. My friend picked up 10 noodles stuck together as a chunk. It could be for foreign customers who take forever till the noodles melts down to finish a bowl of ramen. To Japanese customer like myself, this was a ridiculous hospitality.

This wrongly cooked noodle totally lower the score. Soup is intricate and complex. If you don't like some scalloppy, fishy flavor, you'd better stick to Menkui-tei. Wait. Everyone should stick to Menkui-tei anyways. But I give them credit for the orinal flavor of their soup.

All I wonder is how the authentic Setagaya in Japan serve its signature dish. I gotta ask my family in Tokyo to go and try this place. At least in NY, they don't get any high score from Japanese. Obviously, there was a few Japanese tonight.

Toy for Curious People

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.

Q-BA-MAZE
www.q-ba-maze.com

Sweetest Card

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
Violets are blue
My mom says your nice
so I like you too.

Another bunny says, "your my kind of girl." I like it.

Peculiar Co-worker

"Maiko, are you getting fucked?" My co-worker, a Polish accounting lady, threw me this shocking question in the middle of the office. I'm known for being inappropriate and maniac among my co-workers. But now, I salute her for winning the Queen of Inappropriateness title.

Little Miko Hits 30s!

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.

Some guy said, "Are you the B-day girl? Celebrating your 21st?" I guess it's a good thing people thought it was my 21st birthday. I will keep looking young. But I am a lady. Do not fuck around with Little Miko. I have many good friends to protect me too.

Soto Sushi

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.

Green in Bronx

Here is a must-go one day trip destination. I was dying to escape from the city this Memorial weekend. It's too much to fly anywhere and staying at hotels. Even the rental car can thinner my wallet. Besides, I rather wanted to take a train trip, without worrying about the traffic. Thanks to my boyfriend's dad, we learned there's a garden park in Bronx, Wave Hill. We checked the website, which was promising. The biggest YES was its location. It is only 25 minutes from Grand Central by Metro North (Round trip $6/person). You cannot believe it's in Bronx. The free shuttle picked us up from the Riverdale station and climb up the steep hill and drove for a minute through lovely houses.

It's located on the hill, overlooking the hudson river and beautiful summer green. Pretty and exotive flowers are blooming and the sun-house full of cactus was entertaining. They also have a little pond—due to my frog phobia, I was unable to get too close to this; In fact, there are big frogs. There's a designated picnic area but I am sure you can bring some food and eat on the field, if being sneeky. We spent good 1.5 hours looking through the park. If it wasn't 90 degree, we could have spent more time just lying down and enjoying the nature. If you would spend 20 minutes to get to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, you definitely should go to Wave Hill.

Wave Hill
www.wavehill.org

Beby Baby Baby

My beloved friends hosted their 2-year son's birthday party. Mr. Rubin Miller is one of the most hansom babies I've ever seen. Beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes he got from his dad, and perfectly curled up hair. It makes all the W'burg hipsters who try to maintain naturally-buffy hair seem obsolate and lame. This is a natural-born cuty. There were about 5 babies and they all entertained me. When you hit the corner of 30 and with a little motherhood in mind, I feel like having one myself. When did it start to be so hard to have a child?

Sakura Matsuri

One of the most beautiful things Japan has is its cherry blossom in spring. Huge trees gorgeously bloom only for a week and quickly lose the light pink petals. Not only in Japan and Washington D.C., you can enjoy this beauty in Brooklyn, NY. Annually held, Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a weekend event in late April called Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom fesitval). I went with my home-made Japanese lunch box of kara-age (friend chicken), tamago-yaki (egg omlet) and onigiri (rice ball), with of course a bottle of sake. There is a designated area where people can eat and drink. In Japan, we call this hana-mi (seeing flower, translated directly). In the spring, most of the companies send a freshman to one of the public parks early in the mornign to reserve a spot. At night, other workers gather around on the field and drink under the cherry blossom tree. It's nice in the sun, but it's undescribably beautiful at night. Japanese cherry trees are much much bigger and the scale of the blooming trees are rather powerful, yet with such sutle pale pink.


The park is a good spot for families, especially with kids. I was surprised to see so many non-Japanese people that day. People were enjoying taking pictures of not only cherry blossoms but other flowers like iris, tulip and lylac. It's probably one of the biggest park events in NY. I arrived around 2pm on the second day and it was still really crowded. You probably want to avoid going by your car cuz it's a mess around the park with the traffic. Admission $8 ($4 for students). Although I unluckily missed the big parade of Hanagasa-ondo (flower dance), I had a wonderful time.

Florida

For my work, an advertising award, I had to stay at Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Fl. This is a kind of city Donald Trump built his member’s club with his famous big flag for which he pays $1,000 per day. Other celebrities such as Rod Steward, Madonna, Versace and many more also own castle-size houses. To my co-workers and me, they were ugly, fake European-house replica.

It’s a work trip. It cannot be that great, especially at the hotel with racist, yappy, rich, tasteless guests. As I write this blog, I see a group of obnoxious men dressed in free golf tournament t-shirts, short pants with ankle-socks in shiny black leather shoes, behaving like brain-damaged monkeys. Yep, one guy is staring at me. Fine. Never seen an Asian girl? I can stare at you back, sir. On the other hand, the staff is really nice. The other day, we were in the jacuzze with other families and kids. The moment my Afrian-American co-worker joined in, the father of 3 daughters took them out of the bath. Ironically, the girls wanted to stay with us. It could have been my over-thinking but my friend also though it was quite obvious. Unlike bitter New Yorkers, event the immigrant workers here seem to be really happy with their lives and offer hospitality from their heart.

The only and best time I had down here was the cruise dinner on a boat. The sunset was really beautiful. It was a good 3 hours. I had great time talking to my co-workers and simply enjoyed the evening. I’d probably not come back here unless forced. At least, I enjoyed the way people work here and I was happy that I lead my life on their side, not the guests’.