The menu, or should I say, the TWO menus are confusing in the meal options one can put together.

Ted and I enjoyed a table for two but had the option to order off the Hibachi Menu. We decided to personalize our own food extravaganza. 

We were first offered, what I thought was a basket of bread, but what a surprise when the server, offered this:

Before dinner towelettes. We felt so clean!

We kicked off the meal with traditional California wine:

Ted had the soup offered with his meal (a miso broth with mushrooms and small pieces of vegetables).  I enjoyed a garden salad with the most delicious ginger house dressing.

We ordered a basic sushi, not quite beginners, but a selection of fresh fish including tuna, salmon, and shrimp. I decided, in the future, I would stick to California Rolls.  It’s a texture thing.

The sauce for our meals was placed on the table near the attractive decanter of soy sauce

Our meals were served.  Ted enjoyed a shrimp and scallop stir fry.  The meal was all he expected but one complaint:   the scallops were over salted. 

My meal was the Black Sea Bass that was so crisp and sweet on the outside but moist and full of juices on the inside.  It was served over two thick slices of fresh tomato.

A large bowl of white rice on the side…

Maybe we should have asked for Sake or maybe tea but we craved our good old American coffee

As we were handed the check, the server placed this wonderful little surprise on the table

It was sweet like an orange yet the color of a grapefruit.  Amazing finish to a very impressive meal. 

Sumo Japanese Hibachi Sushi Restaurant.  A must visit for a change of tradition.

Now it’s time to mentally prepare for the first race of the season, a 10K Beer and Chili Run.  No pressure, just fun.  Fingers crossed that somehow, the weather is warmer than predicted and the roads are clear.  That challenging hill mentioned in the route description?  I only hope it isn’t any more challenging than the hills around our home. Wish me luck!

Teriyaki Marinated Fish With Sweet Plum Sauce

Joanne

First, a cake to deliver.  First Communion for Cassidy, Tyler, and Olivia:

This is a 9 x 13 vanilla double layer cake with cannoli filling and white frosting.  The raised Cross is chocolate cake inserted into the vanilla cake to the point of cannoli filling.  It is about 1″ to 1 1/2″ high.

Second, I exchanged the DVD from last night. We watched “Doubt”.  Very good movie.   Tonight is a “chic flick”.  Shane won’t mind.  “Bride Wars” with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.  Hope it’s funny.

Third, was dinner at Geisha II, a Japanese Dining establishment on Bank Place off Genesee St. in downtown Utica.  Geisha II serves Vegetarian and Macrobiotic foods as well as standard chicken, pork, and shrimp Japanese cuisine.

It is casual dining, small and friendly. One waitress serving the 15 patrons that were visiting at about 6 pm on a Friday.  The ceiling and walls need repair but the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing with soft background music gently playing to enhance your dining experience. 

The meal began with a cup of Miso Shiru: traditional soybean base soup with tofu, scallions and wakame ($1.50).

There were too many appetizers that looked good so 2 were chosen: Vegetarian Eggroll – nappa, celery, kale, and azuki beans rolled and deep fried ($1.50).

The next appetizer was “Age Dashi” – delicate deep fried tofu served with dipping sauce, fresh ginger and scallions ($6.95).

For the main course Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura – Although the menu says “Five” shrimp, there were 3, but they were huge. There were shrimp and a variety of vegetables such as red peppers, green beans, zucchini, shredded carrot, onion slices, and something I couldn’t recognize.. beet? potato? It was purple and the texture was like a potato. Any idea?  It’s the last picture of this post. It had a skin on it (like a potato?).  All that served with rice and dipping sauce ($8.95).

Did I eat all that? No way. It was a good mish-mash of different items though and all very enjoyable. The only draw back is that I don’t usually eat fried food. So now I’m wondering if this might have an adverse affect on my system and what that might do for the 5K race I signed up for tomorrow.  Guess I’ll let you know tomorrow. 

As for the last words on “Geisha II”, it is well worth a try if you are a Vegetarian in Utica looking for a nice, reasonably priced, casual dining experience. 

Reminder… help with that purple thing, please. G’night.

The days seem to be just flying past. Yesterday is a blur.  Today will most likely be much the same as Mum and I go shopping at Market Commons and Ted and Dad play golf at …something Plantation (forgot the name).  

Breakfast was the same as yesterday so no pic, but I did save some extra room for my favorite coffee. 

It’s the Starbucks Christmas blend and it seems smoother than most SB coffees. Good review!

Monday Review

What a great day!  Ted and I headed out after our stop at Starbucks and went right to “Martin’s” a great big golf store.  Great buys!

Since a lot of time was spent deciding on golf goods, we were hungry and figured what was better for two extra healthy appetites than “Texas Grill”.  It was a super lunch.  Both of us had big salads. Mine with Grilled Salmon and Ted’s with Grilled Chicken. I had the Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing and the Balsamic, both on the side. The onion dressing was great, so I didn’t touch the balsamic.

After lunch, off we went again, but in two different directions.  Ted went to do a “parent present purchase”, about 20 minutes away from the mall, and I ventured into the mall to hit some miscellaneous shops.  Great job on both our parts.  Now it was off to order the fish for Christmas Eve.

We found “Murrells Inlet Seafood” where I met with one of the chefs and spoke to him about our plans for Christmas Eve. Because what I wanted, a whole dressed salmon, would have been about 12 lbs, he suggested another course of action.  I went with what he suggested, and then he sold me on some luscious looking stuffed shrimp and gave me a sample of seafood quiche.  Did I take a picture? Sorry – it was terrific though.  It was SO terrific; I ended up ordering that quiche as well for Wed. night.  My thought was that when everyone else indulges in turkey Christmas Day, I will have a feast of seafood leftovers.  I’m getting the best deal! J

On the way back to Heritage, I left Ted the car and walked back home with Shane (he went shopping as well today. He picked out a few gifts for himself at Pet Smart).   Ted hit some balls at the practice range and I was heading off to wrap gifts. 

Monday Dinner: Turning Japanese

The four of us went to Miyabi Kyoto Japanese Steak House.  What fun!   I had a Merlot, Ted had a Cab., Dad, a beer, and Mum…well she wanted a sweet wine but the plum wine they offered was a bit strong so she ordered dessert before dinner … a Pina Colada.

We sat at our table and toasted the soon to be holiday and birthdays.

Let dinner commence! 

It was very good except for my lobster – way over salted. The same salt issue with Mum and Dad’s chicken but not a peep from Ted. He loved his steak and shrimp.  The end result:  Good dinner.  You’ll notice the huge pile of rice.  It was REALLY enough for about 12 people.  Amazing.

It was a beautiful night sky in South Carolina and, even though a bit cool, we enjoyed a walk to the Marina where we saw the sail boats adorned with Christmas lights.  A great ending to a wonderful evening spent with the best company.