Graduation

Finally I graduated!
After many many years, it doesn't even seem real, but I must say it's a great feeling.
I didn't go to the graduation ceremony, so Chris promised me to take me out once I got my diploma. Chris took me to Jewel Bako.

Sashimi was good, but rolls weren't that special.
Jewel Bako passed Fraziers' Tuna test & fresh Wasabi test!


Jewel Bako
239 E. 5th Street
New York, NY 10003
212-979-1012

Kabab Cafe

We finally made it to Kebab Cafe in Astoria.
Of course, Anthony Bourdain said everything much better than I could ever describe.
We didn't have crazy stuff, Miyuki, Eddie, Christoff, and I had beef shortribs, lamb, chicken.... they were so good.

Enjoy what Anthony Bourdain has to say...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBFDvyi6p64

PS. I think we walked by the chef's brother's restaurant... I think I saw the brother outside of his restaurant...
PPS. The chef was claiming that he was drunk when Anthony Bourdain was in his restaurant, so he didn't remember much.... HAHA, true or not, that's funny.

Finally.... Movies to share... (Siem Reap and Shanghai)

Jackson Heights

We are finally but slowly ready to move out of Manhattan.
We don't like Brooklyn, Staten Island, or the Bronx, so only option that we have left is Queens.

Queens has lots of interesting neighborhoods with characters.
So far we like Jackson Heights the best!
WHY???
What else???? FOOD!!!

Every weekend (for about a month now), our house hunting seems to always end at different restaurants or taco stands in Jackson Heights. Jackson Heights has everything. You name it, they have it - Colombian, Mexican, Indian, Korean, Vietnamese... yum...

Sakagura

Today is our anniversary.
We went to Sakagura to celebrate.

Sakagura is known for their Sake collection - over 100 different Sakes.
Our sparkling Sake from Nara was very impressive.

Sakagura is more of an Izakaya typed restaurant. Food was good; however, not as impressive as their Sake collection.

Sakagura

Thai Food, What Else???

Published by Saveur

Steak all the way!

Published by Saveur

Food... Japan...

New York Times Magazine

This article made me want to go back to Japan. I haven't been back since 2000. Next time I go back, I would like to go and check out Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto....

Donguri

Another birthday meal... we finally decided to go eat at Donguri. Donguri is a block away from our apartment, but we somehow managed to always just pass by but not eat there. Eddie, Miyuki, and Mike were nice to join us. Sashimi was absolutely fresh and other dishes were very good.

Portions were very small; however, fresh wasabi gave this restaurant 5 plus points (which Nobu didn't have...)

Reservations are recommended as this restaurant only fits 24 people.

Donguri

NOBU - Birthday Present

For Christoff's birthday, I decided to treat him to a nice meal. 2 years ago I decided to take him to Nobu, but couldn't get a reservation on time. This time I found out that there is a new location on 57th Street.

Maguro sashimi was amazing.
Black cod with Miso was good, but other things that we ordered didn't live up to our high expectations.

Our waiter was nice to enough to work on Christoff' birthday treat - Warm Chocolate Fondant Cake... yum...

Nobu

Valentine's Day

Christoff made an amazing meal for Vanelentine's Day!
The 5 course meal will be remembered!!!

Uniquely Singapore Again!

Thanks to Darren, I was able to visit Singapore to see Michelle & Darren. This time I was alone, without, Christoff, but I was still determined to eat everything that Singapore had to offer. I had a list, and... I think I ate everything on my list.



Breakfast, Singapore Style... Foodcourts are the perfect place to be. When it's hot outside and when you are hungry, but don't want to decide what to eat yet??? Foodcourts are there for you!!!
It's also a perfect place for someone who can't decide or someone who has ADD. You can't decide? You want to eat everything? That's OK. Because you just can get everything...

Kopi and Kaya toast was my first Singaporean style breakfast. But why don't we get everything else??? We did, just because we could...



Singaporean sweets... Red ruby was not my favorite first time around... but I liked it this time.


Fried Tofu - Indonesian style, "Tahu Telor"
I couldn't look at the fried tofu the same way anymore.... yum...


A visit wouldn't be accomplished until you had Chilli Crab!
"No Signboard" restaurant was much more than what I expected. Pepper Crab and Chilli Crab were amazing. Can't you tell? There is no picture of myself... I was a mess by the time I was done eating.

And my new-found favorite: Morning Glory...

BBQ or NOTHING!

Back in Korea again...
This time, Christoff was only staying for 2 nights, and I was staying for 3 nights (plus one more night on the way from Singapore), so Christoff wasn't going to compromise... His request was BBQ all the way! AND his request was granted.

My mom and my stepfather took us to this BBQ restaurant. The quality of meat was amazing... but we found out later that 1 order was 45,000 WON (almost USD45 per order and we ordered 4 orders). The most expensive meal we have ever had in Korea! But the best part of being in Korea.... We don't have to pay for it!!!

This place had the best Makgulli! And it was nice to meet my junior high friends!

More BBQ! This time, Mayumi (from Japan) treated Jennifer who was nice enough to let us stay with her.

On my way from Singapore, I had another stopover in Korea. I treated Jennifer this time. This restaurant served 20 different kinds of vegetable. It was soooooo goooooood....... Next time in Korea, I am totally going back to this place.

Transit

On my way to Singapore (and coming back from Singapore) from Korea, I had to transfer in Narita. Traveling alone is a different experience. You get to watch people and read more.

This time, I decided to take advantage of traveling alone by 'eating.'
Surprisingly, there was not a lot of option, except for Sushi. I was a bit afraid to eat airport sushi, but I was shocked! Sushi was good and affordable (yes, compared to quality and price of sushi in New York).

Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, Beijing

After watching Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservation" on TV, we were determined to find Li Qun Roast Duck Restrauant. We even decided on our hotel, besides the fact that it was right next to a subway station, based on the fact that it was close to Li Quan Roast Duck Restaurant.

We invited my dad to come along to Beijing with us; however, due to my illness, he didn't really get to enjoy time with us. So... we decided to take him out to a nice meal...

I had the address, so we asked a staff member at hotel to point us to a right direction. He marked it on our map, so we thought... 'that's easy.'

Well... we found the intersection, but the direction that we were looking at - there was nothing. Then a group of French people who also looked lost were coming to our direction. As we suspected, they were looking for the same restaurant. I started talking to them thinking they could help us. I decided to go into a little hair salon nearby to ask for a direction. A girl there pointed me to a direction where there is nothing around except for what it looked like a construction zone. As we started walking, they also followed.
Then we started seeing signs that said, "Li Qun, 500 m away."

Without getting a thanks from the French, they also walked into a restaurant first and got a table before us. How rude!!!

But the food at the restaurant made everything worth a while - the adventure & rude people...
I was told that this is one of few restaurants that still use the traditional oven to make Peking Duck. Plus the crepes, green onion, and hoisin sauce make all the difference!