Some good food in Japan

Traveling w/ a kid (a very young one esp.) is a new thing for us. We've only been on one other trip requiring air travel previous to this trip. We are so thankful that we are able to bring her to Japan and Taiwan. I love watching her absorb new surroundings and introducing her to our beloved homeland! But traveling with her definitely is a lot different from when it was just the two of us. Obviously! For one thing, it's not as easy to sit down and have a long and relaxing meal. Those of you who have eaten out with us know what I'm talking about. Lina is very active - which I am of course thankful for (better than lethargic) - but she definitely won't sit through a meal. She's sixteen months old! Also, she was never one of those infants that slept quietly in a car seat (w/ a blanket covering over) through a long meal. I think she did it exactly once (at Eunice (Liu) Hui's birthday dinner last year). So, it was a pleasant surprise that she fell asleep during two nice meals for us in Tokyo this past week!

This first place is an all-you-can-eat shabu place in Kichijioji, a bustling town about twenty minutes from Shinjuku, or central Tokyo. As you can hopefully see, the beef is thin and carefully presented. You get four trays of these at a time, and you can keep going for up to 90 minutes. Above is the pot w/ some veggies and the sauces. It was very tasty, and also very relaxing b/c Lina happened to be so tired she passed out in the Ergo baby carrier, and then on the bench next to Liz!

The next day, we were on Omotesando (Ave.? Bvld.?), the "Paris of Tokyo," and she fell asleep again while Liz was wearing her! We stumbled up on this fusion restaurant called Miyashita inside the posh Omotesando Hills shopping complex. We only found out later that it was a highly recommended place. We had to sit at the counter because the wait for a table was over an hour. We had minced beef cutlet, but look at all the other greens and garnishes that are so carefully prepared. This isn't Curry House on Sawtelle anymore! Again, very tasty. And it was nice to have a moment to relax over a meal! Thanks, Lina!