Hasu Transitoire (The Transient Lotus)

Some recent culinary adventures, at home and out/about in Kyoto: homemade spciy tofu Korean soup with enoki mushrooms, mizuna, and egg dashi-maki (egg omelet) made specially by Master at Kinasa. He knows it is my FAVORITE! pretty much what I make for lunch everyday! Udon in dashi (fish) broth with roasted vegetables (here: daikon, cabbage, carrot, nagaimo). topped with citrus spice and black pepper.  "Mexican food" at an "ethnic" restaurant in my neighborhood. The garlic butter was tasty tho... Brunch I made for my friends Lili and Olivinde the other week. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sauteed eringi mushrooms and cabbage, toast, avocado, and lots of butter. +champagne housemade pickles at a tiny Russian shot bar near the Kamo river. Made with no vinegar, just soaked with lots of salt and pepper...I think. Perfect accompany to a shot of vodka in what seemed to be a very authentic Russian joint. The owner, while Japanese, visits Russia often. The...

Honestly, after almost three months I am still pinching myself that I live in this city. Here we have Tôji , eighth-century temple grounds where Kûkai , founder of Japanese Shingon Buddhism (and some even say the first poem and the syllable-based language of Japan itself!), took up residence in the early Heian period. The temple was one of only three allowed in Kyoto (known as Heian-kyo at the time) after the capital was moved from Nara. Buddhism had become too big, too powerful, said many of the elite, and so the Emperor sought to create a new capital where politics could reign free of religious influence (good luck!).  On the 21st of every month, in honor of the death date of Kûkai, a massive flea market pops up on the temple grounds. As you can see, it is splendid. Almost unbelievably so. Although we arrived in the late afternoon, when many merchants were closing up shop, my impression is that one could but just about anything here. Flowers, spices, axes, you name it...

Today I was feeling down, the weight of the world seemed to bear down upon my sensitive soul. I hopped on my bike to clear my mind, rode through the crisp autumn air down south the Tōji, one of my favorite temples. The sun was brilliant, the clouds moving about in a slow dance, and I forgot what I could possibly worry about. Arriving back at home, a note from the neighbors and a present of cute little socks hung from my door. I canceled plans to make dinner since I've not been sleeping so well and just feel a little run down. Gratitude for these moments from the very depths of my little heart...

Kyoto, you have my heart. Debussy, my ears.

The sweetest of love songs. 

Always on the lookout for more adventure, I've taken up as a gallery assistant for Elmar Weinmayr and Nichinichi , a contemporary applied art gallery in Kyoto and Tokyo. Today was spent in the company of Ninjô Yoshikatsu's velvety lacquer ware bowls and trays, carefully photographing, measuring, cataloguing, and packing each one. As I worked, I daydreamed about lavish dinner parties and what I would serve on this tray or in that bowl. The sun meandered across the sky and shadow danced with the bamboo blinds of the tatami room. The scent of roasting green tea wafted in all day from the nearby Ippôdô , arguably Kyoto's most famous tea house. Solo lunch at Tsuruya soba house - best soba in the area, according to Elmar. Set lunch was indeed delicate and amazing. Walked home at the beginning of dusk, through golden light bathed alleyways, past running schoolgirls, and eventually found my way back home...