Tag: Aunt Ellie

NYC Trip Part 5: My Neverending Battle with Haircuts

It’s a big secret where Uncle Dedo goes to get his haircuts. 

But…let me give you a hint…it’s located on Doyers Street.

Well, Uncle Dedo let me in on his little secret and introduced me to his hair stylist who gave me a haircut costing $5.  It’s a bargain compared to the $18 hair cut Mommy paid for me one time at her stylist’s place, but not as good as the $2-3 haircut in Taiwan!

I was my usual self and was really, really upset that I had to get a haircut…and this time, in front of a huge audience of Uncle Dedo, Aunt Holly, Aunt Ellie, Uncle Wade, Mommy & Daddy.   The moment Mommy held me and sat down in the chair, I started to cry.  Mommy was hoping the lady would just use scissors, but the lady asked if she could use the clipper since I was already crying.  Mommy agreed, hoping to put me out of my misery sooner rather than later.

Thanks to Aunt Ellie, the whole 9 minutes of “torture” was recorded.  Daddy says I should spare you the torture caught on film, but wants you to know that it’s on his hard-drive in case one day I misbehave…

Let’s just say, after the torture chamber was over, I was given a Chupa Chup lollipop and that made me instantly better!  Yes, instantly better!  In fact, so much better that I could smile and pose for a photo with my Uncle Dedo (after both of us got haircuts).  Uncle Dedo says he would gladly give me a 25 cent lollipop to buy peace and quiet from me.

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Mommy felt so badly for the poor lady who had to cut my hair.  I probably scared off many clients during those 9 minutes.  At least Uncle Dedo tipped her well to make up for my hysteria.

Thanks for my haircut, Uncle Dedo!  I promise you can take me blind-folded to the place when I grow older so I won’t reveal your secret.

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I’ve saved the absolute best for last…Daddy wore mismatched shoes the whole time while we were in NYC.  We left so early the morning that Daddy didn’t realize what he had done until we arrived at Aunt Ellie’s place.  Here’s the proof thanks to Aunt Ellie:

NYC Trip Part 2: Kajitsu

Aunt Ellie has  a tradition of taking a select group of people out to dinner on her birthday.  This year, we (Uncle Dedo, Aunt Holly, Uncle Wade, Daddy, Mommy and I) were the chosen few who got the coveted invitation.

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(Thanks to Aunt Ellie for giving me a pom-pom hat she knitted!)

The dinner was at Kajitsu, a two-star, Michelin-rated restaurant and it’s vegetarian!  The shojin cuisine is described as, “Kajitsu serves shojin cuisine, an ancient Japanese cuisine developed in Zen Buddhist monasteries. Following the Buddhist principle of not taking life, Shojin cuisine does not use meat or fish. Meals are prepared from fresh, in season vegetables, legumes, wild herbs, seeds and grains, chosen at the moment in the season that best reflects their flavor.”

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My meal is actually one of their courses “miso and sesame broth with vegetables” and rice.  I absolutely loved it an gobbled down almost the entire thing. 

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The meal was eight courses (with the exception of Uncle Dedo who ate four courses):

Summer Roll with Broccoli Rabe and Swiss Chard

(Turnip Puree, Avocado, Snow Peas, Sesame Seeds, Wasabi, Soy Sauce)

(Thanks to Aunt Ellie for photo)

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Vegetable Consommé with Onions and Mountain Yam Dumpling

(Tiny Turnip, Tiny Parsnip, Tiny Carrot, Spring Onion, Nori)

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Braised Bamboo Shoots with White Miso and Sansho Leaf

Marbled Sesame Soy Tofu with Yomogi and Ginger Soy Sauce

Cherry Blossom Potato

(Yellow Mustard, Truffle Oil)

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Four Flavors of Grilled Nama-Fu

(Red Miso Sauce, Balsamic Soy with Smoked Olive Oil, White Miso with Yuzu, Matcha Salt)

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Crispy Fried Soba Noodles and Spring Vegetables in Miso and Sesame Broth

(Lettuce, Broccoli, English Peas, Asparagus, Okura, Bean Sprouts, Enoki Mushrooms,

White Mushrooms, Scallions, Glass Noodles)

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Steamed Rice with Wakame Seaweeds and Grilled Fava Beans

(Sour Plum Paste, Sesame Seeds)

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House-Made Pickles

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 Sakura Mochi

(Azuki Bean Paste, White Bean Paste, Salted Cherry Leaf)

 

Matcha Tea with Candies by Kyoto Kagizen-Yoshifusa (Photos taken by Aunt Ellie)

Thanks, Aunt Ellie, for inviting us to “birthday dinner.”  You know I loved my dinner.  We hope you had a very happy birthday!