Yup, that's right! This December just gone seen me turn 25 years young.
The day was divine. We started with a sleep in then proceeded a long lunch at none other than Bistrot le Cochon. Two glasses of Syrah set the mood.
We started with a brilliant pork and chicken liver pate. Like hidden little gems throughout the salad we discovered pickled carrot, daikon and green tomato.
We then shared a nice big bowl of spaghetti that was coated in a rich tomato sauce with black olive cheeks scattered throughout. A good crack of black pepper and parmesan topped it off just nicely.
The supreme of chicken breast, roasted on the bone, was cooked to perfection. The meat inside tender and juicy with a nice crisp golden skin. There was a nice citrus sauce and a medley of vegetables including mushrooms, carrot, turnip and broccoli.
They somehow got word that it was my birthday and I received a brilliant dessert sampler. There was a vanilla brulee, a scoop of lavender honey ice-cream, diplomat (like bread and butter pudding) with fresh fruit, chocolate cake and financier tart. Awesome!
Then we jump in a taxi back to Hirafu. Kim suggests a coffee at Powderlife Cafe. I order a latte, Nick delivers it with some special birthday coffee art, a cute little flower.
A moment later the whole cafe is buzzing, there's fire and smoke. And I can just see Dennis through all the smoke carrying a big cake. It appears they didn't have any candles so just stuck a few fireworks in the top of the cake. There's no chance of blowing these out, as it's carefully placed on the table in-front of us to wait for them to defuse. It's then apparent that little meteorites are flying off in all directions and we try to avoid damaging any furniture, or ourselves. The cake though, a delicious apple, rum and walnut cake. With some added texture of meteorites :)
Now I actually have to head to work to do a couple of hours. Kim heads home. As we quieten down I call him up to head back on over. He arrives while I finish packing up, and, appears with another cake. A croquembouche. This is shared and birthday wishes sung with the guys at work.
It's still early, so we head up the hill in search of somewhere to sit, eat and be merry. We try Bang Bang's, kitchen closed. There is one little place just off the main street that's in a nice wooden building with a sign out the front 'Izakaya'. We try there.
We perch ourselves on the counter and again are wishing we could real Kanji. The menu's around the wall are always way more exciting that the gajin-English menu you're given.
The cheese mochi here were delicious. Crispy exterior encasing a delicious, gooey, cheesy centre.
After a few beers and a few snacks at the Izakaya, we find ourselves at Wild Bill's. It's great to catch up with some people we haven't seen in a while and any excuse for doing a few Jager-bombs. Here a glass of red bull and a shot of Jagermeister are taken. The shot is then dropped into the glass of red bull and downed in one go. Happy Birthday!
I'm surprised I actually remember, but at some silly time in the morning, like 2am, we find ourselves at Jam bar. Luckily it's not too far from Bill's.
A few of their delicious square pizza's were a perfect ending to a perfect birthday. I love you Kim! XX
The day was divine. We started with a sleep in then proceeded a long lunch at none other than Bistrot le Cochon. Two glasses of Syrah set the mood.
We started with a brilliant pork and chicken liver pate. Like hidden little gems throughout the salad we discovered pickled carrot, daikon and green tomato.
We then shared a nice big bowl of spaghetti that was coated in a rich tomato sauce with black olive cheeks scattered throughout. A good crack of black pepper and parmesan topped it off just nicely.
The supreme of chicken breast, roasted on the bone, was cooked to perfection. The meat inside tender and juicy with a nice crisp golden skin. There was a nice citrus sauce and a medley of vegetables including mushrooms, carrot, turnip and broccoli.
They somehow got word that it was my birthday and I received a brilliant dessert sampler. There was a vanilla brulee, a scoop of lavender honey ice-cream, diplomat (like bread and butter pudding) with fresh fruit, chocolate cake and financier tart. Awesome!
Then we jump in a taxi back to Hirafu. Kim suggests a coffee at Powderlife Cafe. I order a latte, Nick delivers it with some special birthday coffee art, a cute little flower.
A moment later the whole cafe is buzzing, there's fire and smoke. And I can just see Dennis through all the smoke carrying a big cake. It appears they didn't have any candles so just stuck a few fireworks in the top of the cake. There's no chance of blowing these out, as it's carefully placed on the table in-front of us to wait for them to defuse. It's then apparent that little meteorites are flying off in all directions and we try to avoid damaging any furniture, or ourselves. The cake though, a delicious apple, rum and walnut cake. With some added texture of meteorites :)
Now I actually have to head to work to do a couple of hours. Kim heads home. As we quieten down I call him up to head back on over. He arrives while I finish packing up, and, appears with another cake. A croquembouche. This is shared and birthday wishes sung with the guys at work.
It's still early, so we head up the hill in search of somewhere to sit, eat and be merry. We try Bang Bang's, kitchen closed. There is one little place just off the main street that's in a nice wooden building with a sign out the front 'Izakaya'. We try there.
We perch ourselves on the counter and again are wishing we could real Kanji. The menu's around the wall are always way more exciting that the gajin-English menu you're given.
The cheese mochi here were delicious. Crispy exterior encasing a delicious, gooey, cheesy centre.
After a few beers and a few snacks at the Izakaya, we find ourselves at Wild Bill's. It's great to catch up with some people we haven't seen in a while and any excuse for doing a few Jager-bombs. Here a glass of red bull and a shot of Jagermeister are taken. The shot is then dropped into the glass of red bull and downed in one go. Happy Birthday!
I'm surprised I actually remember, but at some silly time in the morning, like 2am, we find ourselves at Jam bar. Luckily it's not too far from Bill's.
A few of their delicious square pizza's were a perfect ending to a perfect birthday. I love you Kim! XX
