Quick lunch bowl at Bibibop.
Season’s Planters
The annual spring ritual of re-planting the planters happened this weekend. Completely different selections from last year’s.
New Dining Chairs
My new Eames Molded Plastic Dowel Leg side chairs arrived today. They match the live edge walnut top dining table much better, I think.
Sunset Drama
New Specs
Japan Sundry
Various snapshots from this past week's Japan business trip.
Crème Brûlée Quiche
How do you kick up crème brûlée, my favorite dessert, an even higher notch? Serve it in a flaky, crispy pastry a la the Portuguese ‘pasteis de nata’ and call it crème brûlée quiche. So good!
Sunset from the Shinkansen
Beautiful sunset during golden hour on the bullet train ride from Tokyo to Utsunomiya.
Tokyo-Bound
Headed to Japan this morning for a week of business meetings. Late start in Columbus (1-hr delay) but otherwise, everything else appears to be as planned. Pleasant surprise: upgrade to the newly-renovated American Airlines Flagship Lounge instead of the regular Admirals Club in O’Hare.
Trifecta
... of carrot cake pancake, millionaire’s bacon, and eggs over medium.
Spring in Full Swing
Wing Night at Rooster’s
Garlic and Korean BBQ.
Selectable Spectacles
After trying on at least a dozen frames of various makes, I’m down to these two (the one in front is my current pair).
I’ll let you know which one I chose after it comes back fitted with my new lenses (in 7-9 business days).
Sunset Walk
Crème Brûlée to Cap Off a Perfect Steak Dinner
I've gotten so good at making crème brûlée that I can do it while preparing a tomahawk ribeye sous vide for dinner (see related post).
I've noticed, though, that my Iwatani kitchen torch was having problems with self ignition. I had to try it a few times, and eventually had to assist with a pilot light (might have to look for a replacement). Nevertheless, the caramelized sugar delivered by the torch had the satisfying, sought-after crackling sound once you break through it. Still my favorite dessert. So good!
Anxious Times for Jiro
Back from my brief business trip to Detroit, I picked Jiro up from an overnight stay at the doggie hotel. His pre-departure grooming yielded a toenail cut too deep into the quick. Had to take him to the vet to stop the bleeding. These things bleed like crazy. Back at home, I’m using flour to dry and clot up the wound. He’s exiled to his old crate so he doesn’t make a bloody mess on the floors. Definitely anxious times for him.
Michigan Sampler
A flight of Michigan craft beer on a service tray in the shape of the state’s Lower Peninsula! And all excellent beers to boot!
Brownie Party
A party I’d definitely want to go to.
Lunch at Zingerman’s
A trip to Detroit is not complete without a lunch visit to Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor (see related post). My favorite deli, now with hugely expanded seating, is as awesome as ever.
Binny’s Brooklyn Reuben with a crunchy pickle.
Zingerman's Next Door
Launch Day
Today is launch day for my personal website, Mindful Gallivant (www.mindfulgallivant.me). It's been a while that I've been contemplating re-starting the regular blogging that the old, now-defunct Posterous platform offered me, and I finally took the plunge with Squarespace. I've stopped enjoying Facebook and Twitter a long time ago, and in the last year, have been more of a drive-by window shopper rather than active engager in both. Instagram is still enjoyable to me ... for now.
I don't intend to delete presence in those social networks ... yet. But for now, here's where I'll be hanging out.
I'm still experimenting with formats and content, so changes will very likely be afoot in these early days. But do check in every once in a while, and let me know how things are going. And don't hesitate to keep in touch through 'old school' ways. You know ... e-mail, text message, a phone call. Maybe, we can even get together in person, if that still doesn't sound so crazy.