NYE dinner

Made my 1st attempt at making Nasi Briyani. Lots of ingredients involved, layering of flavors, but it turned out so so. Saffron is soooo expensive! But good that Tahmeena spared me a bit for my 1st try. Made it just in time for a simple New Year's eve potluck dinner at Crystal's. What a surprise it was to see Misuzu, who was visiting from Osaka...it's been about a year since I last saw her. Toasted the new year with Italian champagne and home made tiramisu cheesecake made by Crystal's cousin who just graduated from culinary school .

What's involved for Briyani

Was ok

Char Kuey Teow

Chicken Curry

:)

Misuzu-chan!

Monster tiramisu cheesecake

Big Bay Balloon Parade

Saw this on TV by chance late the night before, decided to go check it out. The Big Bay Balloon Parade is held annually, in conjunction with the Holiday Bowl event (university football match) at Qualcomm Stadium. This year the match is between the Washington Huskies (University of Washington) and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (University of Nebraska-Lincoln). More than 100,000 people attended the parade last year.

Took the trolley to downtown Santa Fe station, and walked over to Harbor Drive where the parade was to take place. They also had a 5K race as well as a Wienerschnitzel Wiener Race. The Big Bay Family Festival was also taking place, with carnival games, food stalls etc. The parade started at 10am. Some 20+ balloons, along with marching bands around the country. Weather was fantastic - sunny, but a bit chilly. And the parade was enjoyable. Watch the game tonight at 7pm!

 Run!

 San Diego Police Honor Guard Marching Band

Mr.Potato Head! Fireman today!

Thomas the Toy Engine!

 Funny Balloon Platoon

 Bob the Builder

 Seaworld's Shamu

 Wally the Octopus

Cowabunga! It's Leonardo the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!

 University of Washington 'Husky' marching band

 Harry the mascot!

Navy vehicles 

Ooo sexy siren Betty Boop

 Red, white and blue

 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Huskers marching band

 Jay Jay the Jetplane

 Panda from San Diego Zoo

 Star Wars invasion

 Darth Stewie!

 Triceratops in town!

 It's Mother Goose!

Gingerbread man!

 Hey it's Woody! Er wait..no it's not.

 Wiener looks very afraid

Horatio the Bumble Bee

 Merlin

 Battled of the Bands - Washington Husky

 Nebraska Huskers

 The Marching Bands heading back to the buses...the streets were painted purple and red

 Boats docked at the harbor

 SMOOCH

USS Midway

Outing with Hannah-chan

The whole morning, it's been raining on and off, heavy then drizzles. Went out around 1.45pm to the North County Mall to meet up with Misato, her mum and Hannah-chan for lunch. Met up with them at Panera Bread, Hannah was asleep then. Soon she was up, a bit grumpy, but as we strolled around the mall and shopped, she was happier, looking at people and things that were moving. Did a bit of shopping before heading home around 6.30pm.

 Just woke up

 Having her milk while we lunch at Panera Bread

 Sleepy...

 Loved the husky puppy and won't let it go...mummy has to buy it now :P

 With mummy and granny

See you again Hannah-chan!

Robataya Oton

Met up with a couple of people from work who were in town during the break for dinner at Oton おとん (daddy). The restaurant opened ~1.5yrs ago (taking over the premise of a prior Japanese restaurant), I've never eaten here before but heard that the restaurant has the traditional 'horigotatsu'  ほりごたつ style seating (tatami mats where there are sunken leg room areas beneath the dining tables) and have pretty good nabe (Japanese hotpot/steamboat). The restaurant is part of the same management and upper scale version of Okan おかん (mummy), so abit more pricier.

Oton おとん

Traditional horigotatsu ほりごたつ style seating

As the restaurant is pretty small, do make reservations ahead of time. They have 5 horigotatsu rooms, 5 private booths and the seats at the counter. And it does get pretty packed on the weekends as they offer nabe for 1/2 the price! What a surprise it was to bump into Sachi, a friend of Yasuko who works at the restaurant. Haven't seen her for almost 2 years.

We ordered the miso nabe, along with some side dishes, mostly grilled or simmered fish, all of which were good! Lastly added some rice (you can add ramen or udon too) to whatever is left of the nabe and eat it like porridge.

Koshihikari Eshigo beer

Hamachi (yellowtail) sashimi - nice!

Buri Daikon - Simmered yellowtail with daikon radish in broth - very good!

Moro Q - fresh cucumber with Moro-miso (salty sweet taste)

Karaage (free range one)

Our miso nabe - with a variety of veg, mushrooms, chicken, pork etc...

Yummmm

Buri Kama - grilled yellowtail cheek (so tender!)

The nabe was good, the side dishes we ordered were good too. Wouldn't mind coming here again some time. Perhaps Sundays when it's half off too!

With Jeff, Izu and Jon

Hopped over to Tajima 2 down the street for after dinner chat and drinks, before heading home almost 11pm with a very full stomach!

Green tea creme brulee..yumm