My Saturday

My Saturday started with me waking up at a quarter to nine.  I never sleep that late.  Ever.  I guess that just shows how exhausted I am!! After a quick load of laundry and a shower, I headed out for a Starbucks breakfast.  That has sort of become my Saturday routine.  It's lovely to get there before the crowds, find a quiet seat and just read a book or people watch while I have my morning coffee.  Since no one is out and about yet, I don't feel rushed to give up my table for some other soul waiting on one.

 
Since I was later having my breakfast than usual, everything was open by the time I finished.  After playing with the camera for a bit, I stopped into Loft for a couple of things, then ABC Mart and got a pair of school shoes (they were having a big sale - yay). 

Now my plan was to go home from there, but for no good reason at all I decided to go to another mall, Lucua, to have a look around (after all, there are sales everywhere!).  I had just finished my looking and was heading down the escalator towards the exit when I saw a familiar face heading up the opposite side.  It was Simon, a JET in Tango, and he just happened to be with Alex (who took Bryn's spot when we left).  I waved and asked them to stay put, saying I would come back up.

They were in the city for the weekend to run some errands, and invited me to join them for lunch at Grand Front Osaka (I've showed you this mall, in my birthday and Oktoberfest posts).  It was fun to catch up with old friends over lunch at a Spanish restaurant (decent, but I don't need to go back!!)

Some seriously cool 3D sidewalk art in Osaka station!

After lunch we headed our separate ways, them to do their shopping, and me to come home and finish cleaning/prepping for Bryn's arrival on Wednesday!

My plan for the evening is to run to the store to grab a Mojito or two (I had one last night...yes, it's in a can, but it is seriously delicious!!) then finish my chores so I can catch up on some Come Dine With Me episodes and Wimbledon.

Hope you're having a fun Saturday!

A Very Merry Un-Birthday

Birthdays are a big deal for me.  They always have been, and probably always will be!  Since birthdays are such a special occasion and only come around once a year, I am a firm believer that no one should have to work on their birthday.

Unfortunately this year, I did have to work on my actual birthday, so I decided not to acknowledge my 31st on the 28th of June, but rather pretend like the 29th was my birthday!  I rationalized it by keeping in mind that I was born in the US, therefore I should always recognize my birthday during US time, or at least when it's convenient!

I started my unbirthday celebration with breakfast at Cafe du Monde.  I happened to have a coupon for 1 beignet, which I added to the usual order of 2.  Silly me thought they would combine them and put the 3 beignets on a single plate - no sirree!  They delivered 2 plates to my table in order to make me feel extra silly!  Oh well, I wasn't washing the dishes!

After breakfast I started wandering in the direction of Paul, a French bakery cafe that was quite popular in the UAE.  On Friday I had seen someone carrying a Paul bag, so I Googled it on my handy-dandy iPhone and learned that there are actually three stores in Osaka!  And, one just happens to be a direct train ride from my house (I sense an expensive habit!  Not really...)  Anyways, I wandered semi-aimlessly, but in the right direction until I found it, right where the map said it would be.  I'll tell you what, I would be lost (literally) without my iPhone sometimes!

After a nice Niscoise salad, I got myself a "fancy" half-loaf of bread and I walked a bit more before heading to Dean & Deluca.  I figured since it was my unbirthday and all, I should splurge on some yummy jam to go with my yummy bread.  It just so happened I passed all the fancy shops on my walk!  I particularly liked the Fendi window, a gold horse carrying a bag - I love it!

 

From there it was over and down the stairs to Pierre Herme for my unbirthday "cake", in the form of French macarons!

I had every intention of going straight home after that, but Starbucks was calling my name (after all, it was HOT and I had been walking a lot!)  Unfortunately, sitting down for 20 minutes made me realize that my feet were killing me...I guess my sandals aren't really walking sandals.  So, since it was my unbirthday and all, I popped into a shop and got some flip flops.  Turns out they weren't much more comfortable than the sandals, but oh well, they weren't expensive!

I really did come home after that, and whipped up some bruschetta to have with some ham on my fancy bread.  It was delicious...I'll have to post the recipe, if you can actually call it a recipe!

My unbirthday was really nice.  The only thing that might have made it better was being able to spend it with someone, but B and I will celebrate again in less than two weeks when he gets here :)

(I know.  These pictures are so UNexciting.  All of these pictures were taken with my iPhone.  I did have my camera with me and I did use it, but for whatever reason the card reader on the computer isn't working.  If I can figure it out, I'll update again with those pictures, but don't worry, I'll let you know when I do.)

(*The card reader is working again!  I guess it wanted a day off?  Oh well, I was able to add the pictures I wanted to.  I took all of them on manual setting.  I think I am getting better at it, but they are still far from perfect.  I am learning that the biggest problem with my camera isn't the lens, it's the lack of a view finder.  In bright sunlight, its impossible to see the little screen to get everything set up right and in focus!! I'm working on it though!  What do you think?)

Oktoberfest Already?

I got my hair cut on Saturday, and I would call it a success.  Everyone in the salon spoke English, no one freaked out when the foreigner walked in, and I didn't even have to ask the stylist not to use the thinning sheers...he didn't bring them anywhere near my head!  I was so impressed that I am going to give highlights a try next week.  They assure me they will not be yellow, like the past Japanese highlights I have gotten have been.  I'll let you know how that goes!

Anyways, after my haircut I walked to a fancy mall that I knew sold the hair product I wanted to get (it's rainy season which means the humidity is picking up...gonna try and fight my frizzy hair!!!)  As I was leaving the mall (I left through the opposite side to explore a new area I have yet to visit) I noticed lots of green tents and tables set up in this sort of court yard area that has just been re-opened.  Since I was in no hurry to do anything, I decided to explore.

When I got to the bottom of the escalator I saw this sign:

Yes, it says "Oktoberfest 2013".  Really?  Oktoberfest?  In June?  Japan, I hate to break it to you, but Oktoberfest is supposed to be in September!  

There was no admission fee and it wasn't packed, so I decided to go look around.

There were about 5 different German breweries selling their different beers and a food tent that had some German-esque offerings (currywürst, sauerkraut, pretzels, nachos (?!) and big combination plates to share).  

Now, normal Liz would have looked around and though, "neat, but I am all by myself, so too bad."  But new Liz thought, "man, I'm all by myself.  Oh well, which beer should I buy?"

I decided on Hofbräuhaus Weisbier because (1) none of the beer was cheap and (2) I knew I liked it so it wouldn't be a waste.  It was an excellent choice because the girl who served me spoke perfect English!  Even the regular half liter was huge, so I decided I really should eat something with it and picked up a pretzel (the thought of currywürst just made me feel a little bit ill). 

I found myself a spot at one of the long tables and sat down to enjoy my pretzel, beer and take in the "atmosphere" which was the usual ever-confused Japanese people, but this time paired with German beer hall music.

It was a little surreal to sit amongst the huge, modern buildings drinking good German beer and listening to traditional German music.

 

That's Osaka Station.

That's Osaka's newest, most gigantic mall, Grand Front Osaka.

As I finished my beer I thought to myself, goodness, I sure picked the day NOT to bring the camera.  My iPhone does take pretty excellent photos though!

I must have looked like such an idiot sitting all by myself, taking loads of pictures with my phone, haha.

After my "lunch" (it was around noon so I called beer and a pretzel lunch), I went down another level to pop into the new Dean and Deluca.  I have been looking everywhere for herbes de Provence and decided it was worth a try (they had them).  

The beer must have gone to my head because I am pretty sure you are not allowed to take pictures in the shop, but I took lots :)

At least I still had the sense not to buy anything but my herbes de Provence...that store is expensive and everything looks so good!

Today was the sort of day I love being in the city.  It was fun to stumble across something as random as a German beer garden and stop for a drink. The Oktoberfest in Umeda finishes today, but I wish it were hanging around until Bryn gets here!  Oh well, I am sure there will be something equally as random and entertaining taking its place.

Cafe du Monde: Osaka

I absolutely love New Orleans.  It might be one of my favorite cities in the US.  Mom and dad took us there all the time growing up, usually just for a night - long enough for dinner, breakfast and lunch before heading back to my grandparents' house.  Now that Prad and Amanda live just outside of New Orleans mom and dad are there even more often, and whenever Bryn and I visit the states we are up for a trip!

The trips ALWAYS revolve around food, and we always eat at the same restaurants - po boys for dinner at the Acme Oyster House, muffalettas from Central Grocery for lunch the next day, drinks at Pat O'Brian's at some point and breakfast is always always always beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde.

 

 

There is an amazing atmosphere at the Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter.  Unless you open the place up (as dad and I have been known to do), you have to wait in line to get a table, but there's always a guy playing some instrument and all sorts of other NOLA characters to keep you entertained.  I love how the beignets come under a mountain of powdered sugar to tap into your coffee.  There's no way you are leaving the place without white powder all over you - it's fantastic!  They are definitely one of my favorite breakfast items.

 

So, you can imagine how excited I was when B and I discovered a Cafe du Monde tucked away in a quiet back street in Chayamachi!  B walked by it again one day while I was at work for a closer look, and reported that they did indeed have beignets on the menu.  The next Saturday morning I was off to downtown Osaka in search of my breakfast!

The "Beignet Set" comes with 2 beignets and a drink.  Now, I really wanted more than two, but I decided since it was my first visit, I wouldn't freak the staff out by being that foreigner who asks for 3 orders of beignets!  Of course I opted for cafe au lait.

They gave me my coffee in a Cafe du Monde mug just like you can get in New Orleans (so far, so good).  I had to wait quite a while for the rest of my order, but it eventually came on a tray with a small square of tissue paper on the side.  The staff person politely asked me to use that paper while I eat in order to keep the sugar off of me and the table.  I wanted to laugh, but instead I nodded my understanding, crossing my fingers that they weren't going to watch me eat them from behind the counter!

 

The beignets were more or less the same, but definitely lacking in the powdered sugar department.  What was I going to put in my coffee?!?  And how was I going to get it in the mug without making a mess on the table?!  Oh the drama Japan can offer...haha

Overall I was really pleased with my breakfast (but not full...I could have gone another order or two!!) The quiet cafe lacked the hustle and bustle of the real Cafe du Monde on Decatur Street, but the flavors were there, and I noticed on my way out a shaker of powdered sugar next to the coffee stirrers, so I can make my own mountain next time :)

 

Uh oh...now I am craving beignets!!!