spa day + nikujaga

Today we both managed to wake up early. Breakfast was rice, cucumber/octopus salad like Nobu-san makes, ham with lettuce and mini-tomatoes, baby bamboo (a very spring ingredient) salad, and tea.

Yukari, her mom, and i set out early for the Lake Forest Resort. It was Kyoto Pref., way up in the mountains, and it was a very beautiful (if a little scary and confusing) drive. We crossed bridges over famous rivers, went through tunnels, up narrow mountain roads with hairpin turns, through little hillfoot towns, and past fields and fields of tea.

The first thing we did after finding the place was take a bath in the onsen. I had never visited an onsen before so this was rather intimidating and scary.... but, i did it. Of course the hot baths (hot springs, i don't know) were warm and relaxing and wonderful... but it was certainly a cultural experience.

After the onsen, we had lunch. This was included in the package we got. We each ordered something different, but i had this udon, takenoko rice, and yuzu jelly.

Then we went to the hot stone spa. This one was a little more rustic feeling than the one in Tokyo, and it seemed much hotter! And here, we stayed in for fifteen minutes at a time with breaks in between. I may have taken one turn too many, because i was not feeling so great by the end, and i was soaked! and really red. But after changing i felt better, and could enjoy my massage. This was the last treat of the spa package. I've never had a massage before. We could choose to have our face, back, or legs done. I chose legs.

We stopped at the grocery store and then Yukari's mom taught me how to make NIKUJAGA (again). This time i took notes.

nikujaga
1. peel 3 potatoes
2. cut 1 onion and the potatoes into large chunky pieces.
3. heat oil in a large pot.
4. cook beef until not really done, then remove. cook veggies for 5 minutes or so, then add meat again.
5. add water to almost cover. cover pan. cook 20 minutes or until a potato can be stuck with a toothpick. skim off the fat from the top of the broth as it cooks.
6. add 3-4 T. brown sugar, quite a bit of soy sauce, some mirin, katsuodashi, an simmer for about 15 minutes more. it's better the next day.

Dinner came in courses and i got full quickly. We watched a quiz show. Yukari's dad asked me every day "doko e ikimashitaka?" Eventually he fell asleep. She tells me he's been coming home from work and eating sliced cheese and beer since she was in kindergarten.