Jan Ken Pon: Japanese Games Family Day

JAN KEN PON - It's Japanese for Rock-Paper-Scissors

This is the name of the event that features different Japanese Games for Kids one weekend at Nikkei.

A friend invited us and since we don't have any plans, we decided to join them.

* Jan Ken Pon

It was a simple set up and each station features a Japanese games that you can try or a craft that you can make and take home. It is a one time fee of $5 on the entrance and you can enjoy all the stations from 2-5pm

* Make a Lantern

* Color and Assemble

When you think about Japanese, first thing that comes to mind is Origami

* Shiny Paper Cranes

* Focused

* …next time these are going to be heels

* Kenzo found an old friend from school…

* * * * *

JAN KEN PON

Nikkei Place

Burnaby, B.C.

A Taste of Cambodian... Phnom Penh

A great find...

Hubby's new favourite spot to eat.

* Phnom Penh

* Awards for the restaurant

* Beef Luc Luc with Fried Egg

* Deep Fried Chicken Wings

* Butter Beef

* Happy Customers :)

* * * * *

PHNOM PENH

Vancouver, B.C.

Fridate with the Gals

A few hours away from the hustle bustle of being with the kids and into a normal dinner with the adults in a nice place with a little adventure afterwards...

* Love this Jap Bar... YUMMY!

* Thanks to Kate for the recommendation on both the place and what to order...+++

* New Sets of Friends... :)

* This was pure torture... in a good way. 

Love the Chocolate Decadent.. Soo Moist and rich!

* * * * *

SUIKA/ DEATH BY CHOCOLATE

West Broadway

Vancouver, B.C.

Tropika Lunch @ Richmond

Sundays are our traditional family day. 

We go for lunch after church and we try to do something for the kids especially when the sun comes out but when it doesn't, we go indoors and try to have fun as a family just as well.

We went Asian once again with Aberdeen's Tropika and with coupon in hand, we got a dish almost free :)

* From top down: Satay, Otak Fish, Sambal Clams

* Kimi loves any picture opportunity

* After a tiresome but enjoyable family bonding :)

* * * * *

TROPIKA MALAYSIAN 

AND THAI CUISINE

Aberdeen Centre

Richmond, B.C.

Dine Out 2012: Bistro Sakana

After a bumpy start for year 2012, I decided to just focus on the goods and enjoy each weekend as it comes with a celebration...

...Dine Out comes just in time for us to enjoy food (hubby's favorite pastime) with an Asian twist.

Bistro Sakana was our Dine Out choice this week :)

Ratings online were good although the place was not so good with finding parking, we drive all the way with Kimi in tow for a Friday night out (A rare night to go out- Yey!)

The place was small but we were seated immediately because of a reservation I made weeks before

* Dine Out Menu

When I read the reviews for this restaurant, the rave about the selection of wines are pouring but then, I don't drink much so this doesn't apply to me...

* Sake as backdrop

We decided to get Kimi a Mini Sukiyaki Hotpot plus rice... Everything was really good but my only complaint is that all the food required a long wait that is not within reasonable time. 

* Yummy Sukiyaki

Hubby decided on the real appetizer while the rest of us settled on soups.

* Tai (New Zealand Red Snapper) Sashimi

with fresh ginger and ponzu sauce

* Atlantic Lobster Miso Bisque

NO PICTURE

* Sockeye Salmon Miso Chowder

* Additional Order: Tuna Tatami

* Additional Order: Crispy California Roll

* A Sampler of Signature Dishes

Wild Sockeye Jalapeno Aburi "Hakozushi": Scokeye Salmon layered with rice, box pressed, flame torched and topped with jalapeno slices

Toro Red Chili Abuir "Hakozushi"": Albacore Toro marinated in Junmai sake and miso, layered with rice, box pressed, flame torched, and topped with red chili and key lime slivers.

Yuzu Black Sesame Encrusted Tuna Tataki: Albacore sashimi tataki encrusted with roasted black sesame and drizzled with tangy yuzu miso sauce.

Ume-Shiso Smelt Tempura: Japanese butterfly smelt lightly fried in a delicate batter with Japanese plum paste and fresh "Shiso leaf"

Shiro Miso Black Cod: Grilled white miso marinated black cod with pickled ginger sprout garnish

* Hojicha Creme Brulee

...Creme brulee flavored with roasted green tea

I love the dessert a lot :)..

the real downer is the looooooong exagerated wait we had to endure to get these dishes...

* Little Date

* Real charmer :)

* * * * *

BISTRO SAKANA

DINE OUT 2012

Yaletown, B.C.

Fortune for the Year of the Water Dragon

We started this tradition (sort of) last Chinese New Year.

This year, it was just a casual meet up that turned into another lunch date, which end up as a full table lunch date for the mommies...and kids for this year's Chinese New Year...

With the Winter storm warning for Friday, we decided to reserve anyways and keep our fingers crossed that the roads are clear from Surrey, Vancouver and Richmond to Fortune House's Burnaby...

* Fortune House Facade

With Kimi off to school, I had to bring Kenzo as my plus one :)

* Kenzo eating his chinese  cookies made by Ninang Sarah

* The kids had their happy meals and 

were seated on one side to keep each other entertain

The dimsums were piled high on our table and we realized we ordered more than what we could handle...

Mommy G had to go earlier to fetch Kalen, so we decided to do a group picture...

* Mommies... well fed :)

* Kenzo trying to get his hands on some more

* Kiddos ranger

* My Kimi for the day... Thanks Sam :)

* Last Group picture from the entrance

*... and another one

AYCE: Aji Taro Japanese Bistro

I don't do much All you can eat during dinner times. A mommy friend of mine, Sarah referred this place to us saying that it has a good selection of all you can eat menu. We decided to brave through Richmond on a weekend night for an AYCE dinner at Aji Taro.

We had our usual food buddies Stone and Twinny to join us for the AYCE Japanese experience. They tried Aji Taro already and was just as happy to pay this restaurant another visit. Good sign I thought.

* Aji Taro Facade...

We were tempted to go to next door's Sun Sui Wah, with images of King crabs and squabs (YUMMY), an all time favorite but we were here to do Aji Taro so....

* Disposable chopsticks

The Interior was okay. It was cozy and warm colors were used for the whole space. Banquette seating was the choice of seating for the whole restaurant with a long narrow hallway. It was a space saver but reminds me a bit of a train hall. 

* AYCE Menu

* Edameme

* Miso Soup

* Oyster Motoyaki

* Beef Carpaccio... Sorry I forgot the exact name of this dish

we had two more plates of these afterwards

* Gyoza

* Maguro Temaki

* Fried Yam

* Yaki Soba

* Tamago Sushi and Fish Roe Sushi

* Assorted Sushi

Smaller that Sushi Garden's but this is AYCE so was not expecting bigger rolls since you can order more when this is not enough.

* Chicken Karaage

* Short Ribs

* Corn- I love this

* Black cod- limit to 2 per person

* Tempura... We had loads of these...

It was decent food. Nothing was really that outstanding in taste but everything was just right. I love the selections though compared to other AYCE I have tried but then, I dont have much experience with AYCE dinners under my belt. We usually do AYCE lunch which usually have smaller selections so I am no expert on this... yet.

* * * * *

AJI TARO JAPANESE BISTRO

Richmond, B.C.