Food Fun Friday- how NOT to eat your curry rice...

See this dish folks?  This is curry rice- or karai raisu as said in Japanese.  Usually it comes with the curry sauce/gravy already on the plate (in this case it is in the gravy bowl.)  The breaded pork shown is tonkatsu.  It is all VERY delicious.  This is what I ate for dinner at the Royal Coffee Shop in the Narita airport on my way back from Singapore back in August.  Delicious food and great service (which is the norm in Japan- and there's no tipping!)

Today Jaime and I went to my favorite store in the world (yes WORLD)- Yuzawaya!  If you aren't sure what Yuzawaya is- see this post from last year...  Shopping five floors of awesomeness makes one hungry- so we found a noodle shop on the corner and upstairs.  We both picked a couple of pieces of tempura (I got shrimp, acorn squash, and sweet potato)- and we both ordered curry rice.  It was similar to the above picture- except ours came with big chunks of potatoes and carrots.  The food was mighty tasty and we were enjoying ourself immensely- our stomachs were no longer growling and our treasures from Yuzawaya were neatly stashed beside our chairs. 

Out of no where this older Japanese woman stops at our table and hands each of us a spoon.

A spoon?  I didn't need a spoon, neither did Jaime- we were rockin' the chopsticks man!

She insisted on the spoons.  While I know very little Japanese, I understand the words 'Japanese' or nihon-jin (as in a Japanese person) and 'curry rice'- karai raisu.  She was telling us that JAPANESE people DO NOT eat curry rice with chopsticks, they use SPOONS for goodness sake!  She repeated herself a few times- yes I know this for a fact.  She was obviously on her way out the door, so as she was backing away and heading to the exit- she continued to admonish us for eating our curry rice the WRONG WAY.  All the while her friend was covering her mouth as she stared at us and giggled.

I have never seen Jaime's face get that red.  My face was pretty hot as well.  EVERYONE in the restuarant had stopped eating/talking/picking their nose/whathaveyou- and were staring at us.  EVERYONE.  I had my back to them, so I didn't see them staring, but I could FEEL it man! 

So of course neither of us could pick up the damn spoons to finish our food.  Luckily we had some tempura left- chopsticks are ok there!  Damn if I was going to pick that spoon up right away so everyone could watch!  Eventually, after I felt everyone had lost interest- I picked up the darn spoon and finished off my curry rice.  That stuff is tha bomb- and the spoon was easier to use.  All the same- the chopsticks were doing their job too!

So people- learn from our mistakes!  Use that spoon for your curry rice!

Consider yourself warned...

Yuzawaya and a Tribute To...

The Highlight of My Week- YUZAWAYA
It is a huge craft store with 5 floors in Yamato.  It is literally across the street from the train station- very accessible.  I did not realize that the Japanese had a love of crafting as we do in the West.  My favorite part was the fabric floor.  I am a fabriholic- I have bins full of fabric.  I love love love to buy fabric.  The sad part is that last time I sewed anything was last Halloween.

I love how they display the fabric, very efficient as that is the Japanese "way".  Some of the fabric is pretty pricey.  Although I am still trying to figure out in my head how meters convert to yards.  I'll have to sit down and write it out before I go to buy any of the fabric.  Or maybe there's an "app for that" on my iPhone? 

I did buy some some origami paper.  I love origami and so do the kids.  I ended up spending more than I intended, but it won't go to waste right?  I am definitely going back to do Christmas shopping there, so much fun stuff.  That and I'll go to the 100yen store.  Jaime, who has been my SAVIOR since moving here, gave me an early birthday present (apparently she can't wait to give gifts)- it is a book on how to make origami jewelry.  So not only does that inspire me to do more origami, but make jewlery as well.  I call that AWESOME.

Jaime is also the one who introduced me to Yuzawaya.  She asked me if I would like to to Yuzawaya- a 5 story craft store.  Does a dog like to eat steak?
I am going to take the liberty to post some pictures of her as well.  Love ya Jaime!

Here she is looking fabulous in her fabulous purple hat.  We were admiring this sort of flower "tree".  The planted the pansies in pots that are positioned on thier sides.  Quite creative I think, and also very beautiful.  The pictures don't do the flowers or Jaime justice!

Not only does Jaime look fabulous in her purple hat, but she is also a fabulous writer. I love her sense of humor, which is very apparent in her blog Life 'n' Times of.... 

Jaime was the one who saved me that first night in Japan- supplying blankets, toilet paper, capri suns and Diet Coke.  I don't know what I would have done without her- probably curl up in a ball and cry.  I am not kidding, it was that bad.

So Jaime has been there for me to help me with the kiddos and has random things I can borrow such as food dye.  She has also just been a great friend to talk to.  The bonus is that our girls get along fabulously as well.  Did I say how grateful I am to her?  How grateful?  VERY GRATEFUL.  The sucky part is that she will be leaving us sometime next year. *sniff*  Hopefully we end up in the same area again in the future, who knows?  Tha Navy is a small small world and it happens quite often that you meet friends again when you relocate.
So this is my tribute to you Jaime.  You ROCK!!
And thank you for getting me to work out again and for taking me to the most awesome place ever.