Twelvemonth

A friend who likes to break us out of our SF habits took us down to plant-based restaurant Twelvemonth in Brisbane, on this gorgeously sunny day.  The space was pleasant; the food was pretty; the company was fun. 

2025 Tokyo Highlights: Food

I lost my appetite during this trip, and came back with looser jeans, so that's something.  Eating in Tokyo is hard for me as a vegetarian with gluten intolerance: most Tokyo restaurants are filled with deep fried meats and breaded everything.  But I did well for myself on the one meal out I enjoyed daily.

Brunch in sunshine (22 February 2025)

Every so often, it's nice to get out and be a fancy city person with friends! (At La Mar...)

Colorful lunch (9 Nov 2024)

I have an easy time eating all the colors...  also, the food at La Mar is SO PRETTY. 

Colorful breakfast (9 Nov 2024)

the little colorful potatoes aren't half bad this year.  And they taste good with poblanos (because: what doesn't?).

Fun in Japan 2024 - Vegan and Vegetarian Food

I have dietary constraints, but I was able to eat very well, thanks to temple-style vegan restaurants, a rare Thai restaurant that served the same kind of Thai food we have in California (very vegetarian friendly!), and South Indian foods.  I'm not showing ALL of the meals (I'm omitting hotel breakfasts, snacks, and an AMAZING daal), but despite all the planning and patience required, I did eat well.

This concludes my 'top ten' themes, for the folks who want a peek but not to soak in my travel photos from this trip.

Fun in Tokyo 2024 - Tokyo Ramen Street

As a religious vegetarian with gluten intolerance, I felt very left-out about the stretch of Tokyo Station dedicated to ramen, that special noodle dish written in foreign characters (but which we think of as exclusively Japanese).  However, vegans recommended a place that wasn't on the Tokyo Station Navi app called Soranoiro Nippon, and I eventually found it!  It has gluten-free brown rice noodles, which can be added to their vegan tan-tan noodle soup.  The soup itself isn't entirely gluten-free, but my condition allows for some minor, incidental gluten, so I went for it.  It was superb - I have no regrets!

Fun in Tokyo 2024 - Dining in a Traditional Building

The Tokyo National Museum has a historic building in its garden, which happens to serve food and contain beautiful ink paintings.  So... I went!  My iced almond milk matcha latte was superb, and my fruit plate contained unusually flavorful fruit.  It was a lovely experience.

Having a chance to dine in a room with tatami mats is special.  This felt special.

Napa Lunch (Los Agaves)

Delicious veggie taco plates, delicious and pretty beverages, and very good guacamole. 

Farmer's Market Bounty (29 July)

 It's so good to live in California...

Photographing food without styling it

Eventually I'll pull recipes together for a book, and earn the pity of some young food stylist over not having the common sense to ARRANGE noodles.

What?  Oh, this is real buckwheat soba in men tsuyu (minced ginger, scallions, shiitake mushrooms, soy sauce, sake, and water).

Spooky fruit

Food for humans shouldn't look like spicy sea creatures.

It was clever for the distributor to market these rambutan as a Halloween treat: ram-BOO-tan.  (Boo!)

Purple daikon

Bell pepper fist

Wild rice (in a domestic setting)