Japanese sweets & Matcha : Minato Kiccho-an in Midtown, Manhattan

Minato Kiccho-an on Madison Ave.

I enjoyed a cup of Matcha for the first time since I left Japan.

I stopped by a Japanese sweet shop on the Madison Ave. in Midtown.

I was thinking about getting some Japanese desserts.

As long as I knew, this is the only high-end authentic Japanese sweets shop in Manhattan, New York.

When I entered the shop, the shop staff wearing kimono spoke to me to enjoy complementary mathca.

As she said, there was a table and chairs for tea ceremony, and pots and bowls on the table.

Two women clad in beautiful kimono was serving matcha to guests.

Why not? Of course, I sat down to wait for the tea.

After sitting down, the women offered me a Japanese sweet on a piece of paper.

Tea ceremony 

I have no experience to study the tea ceremony, but I know some tips with tea ceremony.

As far as I know, the paper is used as dish even for the authentic tea ceremony. 

(It's ecological rather than using plastic dish, right?)

At first, you’re offered a piece of sweet, then you may finish the sweet. 

After finishing the sweet, a bowl of matcha is going to be served.

That is the order to enjoy tea. 

(It's said that you eat all of sweet at first in order to enjoy fully the relatively bitter tea.) 

At the shop, there were some guests who were not Japanese guys next to me.

Of course, they looked like they didn’t know such a custom. The shop staff explained that to them as she found them waiting for matcha without eating the sweet.

I enjoyed the first time good matcha for a long time.

The sweet was small ball made with Mochi(Rice cake) and Pearch filling. Its peach flavor was so flesh that it made sense that its relatively expensive price was reasonable.

This is another sweets I bought at the shop. My favorite. 

kusamochi

daifuku

The Louis Vuitton America's Cup in NYC, 2016 : 2nd day

It turned a beautiful day with good winds on Sunday, May 8^th.

I hadn’t thought I would go to the race on both days until the Saturday.

I had thought that it’s enough to just see the real America’s cup boats.

But, it was not enough.

My excitement got bigger and bigger, I found myself go to bed earlier on the Saturday night to prepare the race on the Sunday.

When I got to the place, there were already amount of people.

The rim of the harbor was already taken.

I needed to find a good place, but before that I should have gone to the restroom.

So I headed to the restroom walking behind the stage at which a show looked to be going on.

When I approached the backstage, I stopped walking.

I recognized some helmet-and-lifejacket styled guys behind the stage.

I could not help excited. Yes, they were the America’s cup top-racing crews!!

I saw team NZ, UK, SWE, and JPN guys.

They were waiting for their turns to show up on the stage.

I was so lucky to see them in such close distance.

Soon after I saw the top athletes, I went around the front of the stage.

Then, I caught a sight of the “cup”!!

Yes, that is “America’s cup”!!

The silver cup was shining brightly for its century old age.

Luckily, I found a small space on the edge of the boardwalk.

Though the place was a little bit backward than my place yesterday, still I have my own view in the front row.

The wind was stronger than yesterday, all flags from the official competition flag to national flags were flapping.

I felt north wind, which was different from yesterday’s south-southwest wind.

Today, the race began at the northwest side on time.

They were coming down with spinnakers.

In this distance, I had no idea how fast they were sailing.

3 races finished.

The team New Zealand got the 1^st place on the today’s race in New York City.

It was a pity that I had to leave the place without watching the prizegiving ceremony.

The team Japan finished at 4^th place, and the oracle USA was 2^nd place.

All teams gave me a lot of excitement, and impressed me.

Next race will take place in Chicago in June 2016.

The Louis Vuitton America's Cup in NYC, 2016 : 1st day

The racing was supposed to begin at 2 pm.

I could see the tiny shapes of 6 teams’ racing boats on the opposite NJ side.

Around at 1:30, finally they came out to this side from NJ side.

They were approaching towards us under tow.

Finally, the super yachts appeared in the front of me.

Mesmerizing!!

They were foiling even under tow, looked like flying.

Of course, Oracle team USA was welcomed with the biggest cheer.

My excitement was getting bigger and bigger.

The big clock set on the coast of NJ turned 2 pm.

The racing yachts moving around, some staff boats changed the locations of buoys.

Sometimes we had a perfect silence in the ready for the start.

Noise of hovering helicopters seemed to be the only sound despite of those huge spectators.

But.

Nothing has happened.

Before I became completely bored with just standing in cold and cloudy weather, we got a good news.

The race looked to be held somehow.

According to the announce, the wind wasn’t adequate to have race, but they were holding a substitute race.

Anyway, I was excited and relieved not to waste my Saturday.

And finally, the starting horn was blown. It was 3:45 pm.

Honestly, I didn’t get what was going on on the water exactly.

I could see the boats, but because of the nature of sailing, it was difficult for me to see who was in good or bad situation unless they are far ahead or behind.

However, I got a super excitement on the Saturday.

The goal buoys had set right there in front of me.

Besides, the goal line was set with some diagonal angle against the coastline, which meant all boats were rushing towards us.

It was so dynamic.

What is more, Softbank team Japan got 1^st place.

When the team Japan crossed the goal line, I was really pleased with the win  but also cheers from spectators who were supposed to be American people.

Second place was Altemis team Sweden, 3^rd place was Emirates team New Zealand, and 4^th place was Oracle team USA.

They gave us great excitement and joy!!

It was worth standing at the cold harbor for almost 4 hours.

The Louis Vuitton America's Cup : J-class exhibition

This was what I’ve looked forward for several months.

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup in New York.

I’m very lucky to get to watch the race during my stay in New York.

The event took place on May 7^th and 8^th.

The place was the Brookfield Place in financial district, Manhattan.

On the first day on Saturday, May 7^th, I was already there at 10 am, since I checked the website which said that a show would start at 10 am.

As I got up a little bit late, I was in a hurry.

When I arrived at the place, the atmosphere was strange somehow.

There were not so many people, shops were still closed and I felt no wind.

I checked the website with my phone, and figured out 2 hours delay.

I know sailing depends on winds, nature.

After I walked around the place, found nice restaurants, I put myself on the edge of the harbor that has a good view around at 12 pm.

At noon, a show finally started.

It was an exhibition cruise of J-class sailing boats.

Two huge sailing boats docked out, and turned gracefully in front of the harbor.

As far as I learned, J-class boat used to be racing yacht in the past, which was maneuvered by more than 30 people.

It looked so massive compared with the tall buildings standing on the coastline.

The line of sail that was holding wind was so beautiful.

Ramen-Ya : I like it.

It was the first day of the Luis Vuitton America's Cup in New York.
I've been waiting for this weekend for few months.
The race returns to New York for the first time in 96 years!

Though today's official races were postponed to tomorrow, we got to watch a substitute race today.
Joyfully, Japan team won the race!!
I'm really excited to get to watch the race and see Japan team win!!
However, I've been at the edge of the harbor for almost 4 hours, I was freezing.
I'll write details later.

Anyway, I was so cold and hungry that I needed something yummy and warm.
I searched some ramen restaurant with App.
Then, went to Ramen-Ya in West Village.

Even it was around 4:30 pm, the restaurant was full with guests.
I ordered tonkotsu ramen and gyoza.
The ramen was my favorite kind. Not too oily, but has good flavor and dash.
What is more, on the top of the ramen, there were a lot of Kikurage.
Black seaweed-like mushroom.
I live its texture.
It makes sense that the restaurant was full even at the out-peak time.
Deliciosso!!

I really love this "Kikurage", black and jellyfish-like mushroom.

Ramen-Ya
181 W 4th St, New York, NY10014

Ramen : ZURUTTO Ramen & Gyoza Bar in Upper West SIde

Sure enough, this restaurant was ramen restaurant.

A week ago, I passed by this place, and found a guy was working on wall paint in the restaurant.
He was painting something like waves on the wall that was typical Japanese-like design.
Then, I sensed it must be a Japanese restaurant.
After a few days, I heard that a new ramen restaurant was opened near the 72nd station.
Of course, I went there.

Looking through the restaurant's menu, it seems that this restaurant focuses on Miso ramen.
In the menu, all ramens have miso based broth.

Miso is traditional seasoning in Japan, that is made with fermented soy paste.
It is also used to make Miso soup.

We ordered below.
-Zurutto Miso Ramen $12
-Tan Tan Ramen         $15
-Kara-age(Fried Chicken) $4
-Gyoza                        $6

Miso ramen

The miso Ramen was typical miso ramen, with vegetables and egg.
The ramen reminded me the memory of ski lodge that I went to when I was a kid.
For me, Miso ramen is one of things that are associated with winter and snow.
Probably, that is because I tend to eat miso ramen in winter as the taste of broth is made with Miso that has rich taste.
Speaking about my preference, I like less sweet broth.
However, my preference is more salty and dry than ordinary people, and miso ramen is usually sweeter than other ramen.
So, give it a try.

Tan tan ramen

Tan tan ramen is also typical kind of ramen.
The broth is made with miso, sesame paste, and chili pepper.
The ramen was pretty spicy. Tan tan ramen is usually spicy, but the ramen of the restaurant is pretty spicy.
I love it.
Though I liked this spicy broth, if you don't like spicy foods,
it would be better to order other non-spicy ramen or ask staffs if it possible to make it milder.

Kara-age

The kara-age and Gyoza were also good.
They were freshly fried, so very hot.
Freshness is most important thing for me.
But, be careful to eat hot kara-age and gyoza.
They almost burned my tongue!!

The restaurant offers Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki as well.
They would be my order in the next time.
I love Okonomiyaki.
But I'm more severe with it than with ramen!!!