torakris

I am not really sure it was the first time I have ever eaten it, it tasted no different that regular cauliflower. My nephew told me it was stained with beet juice, but you would think it would leave a beet-y flavot then. Anyone?

I just asked my kids which they preferred and they just stared at me like they didn't understand the question.. I don't think they separate their food into categories like that. So then I asked what their favorite food was: Mia (10) steak and mashed potatoes Julia (8) mapodofu (Chinese tofu dish) Hide (5) shumai (Chinese dumplings), curry rice, and kabocha (Japanese squash) I usually make a mish mash of everything at home so I really don't think they get cravings for American food and since we are only here a month I don't think they really have a chance to miss the Japanese food. We did go to a Japanese place our first week here and they both squealed in delight when they saw as ushi platter on the menu and they both devoured it...

Breakfast time, I didn't bother taking a picture because you have seen it all before. Lenders blueberry bagel with some spread from a tub and a cup of (hot) instant coffee with 1/2 a pack of sweet and low and some 2% milk. I am really lazy when it comes to breakfast, both at home and here. I just don't like to eat in the mornings, I really don't get an appetite until noon...

Good question and I have no idea, I will have to ask my father when he wakes up. He never did planters when we were kids, it was just the big part in the back, the planters have come up little by little over the recent years. ← Another question: How many hours a day does your father spend on gardening? Is he retired now? I wonder if he would like to talk to us gardeners in person... I agree with Helen! What a garden! ← My father (67) is retired as of this year. He puts in a couple hours a day, mostly in the morning. He will be glad to know everyone is impressed with it, I thought it was a little scraggly compared to years past. Also in the past he used to try to grow a lot of new and different things, he seems to be sticking to the basics recently. I did bring him some seeds from Japan like mizuna, komatsuna, edamame, etc that he can try next summer.

We should have reservations for the "secret" room for Friday (Nancy were you doing that?). I have to remember to save room for the Bananas Foster, prepared tableside! That Ramos Gin Fizz was incredible I have never had anything like it, I am really torn between that and the amaretto sour. I had a sip of Nancy's and loved it!

Shannon_Elise's write up on Carrie Cerino's in the Westside Messenger (a local Columbus newspaper: Great work Shannon!

I would definitely not use the word bar to describe the Velvet Tango Room. I came home floating on Saturday, partly because of the drink and partly because this was one of the most wonderful places I have ever been to. Paulius is a true gentleman and it may be just another cocktail bar if it wasn't for his presence and his incredible dedication to preserving the art of the cocktail. I don't drink but his Ramos Gin Fizz had me thinking it is time to start!

In a different thread NancyH posted: We finished our evening with cocktails at the Velvet Tango Room. We sampled a variety of fine cocktails while enjoying first the piano standards, then the jazzy piano and bass duo, while lounging on a comfy couch. Old Cuban, Apple Brandy Sour, Amaretto Sour for me, Ramos Gin Fizz for Shannon and Kris (yes, you read that correctly), Rob Roy and Manhattan for Bob. As always, Paulius made us feel spoiled and special - he had us sample a new drink concoction that was wonderful: THE PISCO SOUR: “Pisco” is a clear grape brandy that is Peru’s national drink, and the Pisco Sour is the traditional method of consumption. The complexity of the fresh lemon with our boutique bitters made this cocktail a hit with all of us. Paulius also let us sample a bunch of their house-made marshiano cherries, which are good enough to eat on their own (no red dye or soupy corn syrup here). And the chocolate truffles were heavenly!

Well a couple of us are determined to find the best restaurant in Cleveland, we are headed to Parallax and the Leopard this weekend, if you want to join us check out the ISO thread.

My nephew Jake (age 12) made brownies for dessert, so I had one... .... a big one I am now drinking a diet Black cherry vanilla coke, because it was in the house.

Good question and I have no idea, I will have to ask my father when he wakes up. He never did planters when we were kids, it was just the big part in the back, the planters have come up little by little over the recent years.

The only thing my dad pickles is the zucchini, the rest is eaten by my parents and siblings. my brother was in from North of Pittsburgh last week and left with a trunk full of onions..

My dad's garden various vegetables and herbs in the planters with two rows of raspberries in the back, this goes on for about 20 feet. random garden shot 2 of about 8 zucchini plants beans broccoli, swiss chards line the insides of the boxes and onions are in the outer part, we ate a lot of swiss chard last week horseradish tomatoes still have a way to go onions being dried

Tuesday dinner (6 adults 7 kids) paella! roasted cauliflower ala Jim Dixon (it was a purple cauliflower not burned) wow that did not photograph well, it looked much better and it tasted great. tomato and basil salad

I have to share this computer with about 15 people.... I am just getting the pictures up lunch: egg salad sandwich with green olives on wheat

Photos? ← All of the bras can be found on their website, victoriasecret.com

I love Cedar Point and went every year as a child, I love roller coasters and Cedar Point has some of the best. Geauga Lake (previously Six Flags and then a combo of Geauga Lake/Sea World before that) is only 30 minutes away and has more things the little kids can ride. My aunt buys us season passes, so we go for just a couple hours at a time. Today we spent 3 hours in the water park... No plans for Cedar Point this year.

Tuesday lunch: egg salad sandwiches, Thompson seedless grapes and a glass of water. Pictures will come later along with pictures of the garden as we are about to head to the water park at Geauga Lake amusement park.

Not if you don't tell them... I made a quick run up to Beachwood Place (local mall) to tell my sister what bras I wanted, she works at Victoria's Secret and buys stuff for me with her 40% discount. On the way back I stopped at the Green road Heinens (supermarket) and picked up scallions, chorizo, white balsamic vinegar and green olives. One of the items is for dinner tomorrow and the other 3 are for tonight....

Good! I had never read this before, but I paged through every food magazine on the rack (and there were a lot of them) and that was the one that looked the best. Tuesday breakfast: 1 Lenders blueberry bagel with fake butter spread and iced instant coffee.

My daughters loved it just as much as my son. I think it is mostly because it isn't a place they have the option of going to when we are in Japan. If they actually lived here they may not get so excited about it.

No they don't really speak English with a Japanese accent, but when they speak you can tell it isn't their native language. My oldest speaks the best probably because it was the only language we spoke at home until she was 5. Once my second daughter started preschool at the age of 3 the conversation between them turned to Japanese. By the time my son was born he heard more Japanese than English. The level of bilungualism is going to be dependant on many things. My husband is Japanese and isn't really very good at speaking English so we decided that we should each use our native language around the kids so they wouldn't pick up on our mistakes. My friends who have the best success with true bilingualism are those that have only one child or siblings spaced quite far apart and with two parents who can converse fluently in the language used in the home. If we were ever able to spend a year here, I really think my kids could get up to speed as I even notice a huge change in just one month. Their Japanese is native sounding with no accent what so ever.

The food is awful, it is unbelievably noisy and there is a huge stuffed mouse that runs around. Yesterday since the back room was closed it was quite a pleasant experience, this is where the shows and really loud music is. It was the quietest I have ever seen it and there were less than 10 other families in there. This is kids paradise, pizza and games and I usually go there about 2 times every trip. Even my 3 sisters and I were all lined up at the skee ball machines.. I did leave for about an hour and browse the cookbook section of 1/2 price books and then walked a little further down to World Market Place to buy my Toddy coffee filters, as it is the only place I know that sells them. I will be back in about 30 minutes with pictures!

For dinner I decide to go with the salad The blue cheese was a perfect match for the beets and cucumbers, all served on a bed of spinach with a sprinkling bread toasts. It was so good I ordered it again... In between I cleansed my palate with a freshly baked bread seasoned with tomato and oregano, lightly dusted with cheesea nd alovely mushroom garnish. For dessert, the seasonal fruit and fresh cheese platter sounded too good to pass up.

Yes, you do! My dad's blueberries and blackberries aren't doing very well this year...