It's Hard to Eat Eggs Benedict with Chopsticks

While out for sushi this weekend, my lady warmed up to her chopsticks. It's been a long time coming, but she finally handled her chopsticks without that look of frustration, sadness, bewilderment, and defeat simultaneously being broadcast by her knotted brow. Good thing too, because we are going to Japan soon, and those heartless bastards would heckle her in the streets.

We both enjoy Japanese cuisine. We've had trips to NYC, and know we are settling for an inferior product, in the landlocked state of Illinois. Can Tokyo be that much better than NYC? 35 million thin, short, people simultaneously just said "Yes."

All the travel books say there is no bad sushi in Japan, and a friend said he has even had amazing sushi from a 7-11.

The thought occurred that I might get tired of sushi, udon, etc on our trip. That's fine. I'll break that up with a good breakfast?

From what I read, Japanese breakfast is not what us westerners think of as breakfast. While that may not come as a surprise, since raw sea creatures are all the rage over there, it is a surprise that, what they eat for dinner, is also what they eat for breakfast.

The typical "breakfast box" consists of rice, smoked fish, and miso soup. Sometimes you'll get salad. From every post I've read, any attempt at securing a western style breakfast, by local businesses, induces a longing sadness and sudden weight loss in your wallet. Even Denny's disregards their heritage in Japan. Although going to a Denny's in Japan is sad, I can understand the quest for breakfast temporarily clouding your judgment. The idea that all those people will never know the beauty that is Moons Over My Hammy, is also sad.

I've never had the premo cable package (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax) for various reasons, but mostly because I'm worried about inexplicably losing countless hours to "Taxi Cab Confessions." And, if there is the occasional series I'd like to see, I just can't bring myself to sign up for one show. So, when the Sopranos started, I made arrangements with a friend to tape it.

A few of his friends were as cheap as me, so he came up with the idea to host a weekly pot luck / Sopranos dinner. Eight of us watched an entire season together. One night Italian, then Mexican, and one time ... wait for it ... breakfast.

There were scrambled eggs, fried eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets, hash browns, french toast, and pancakes. All made lovingly by friends, and delicious because of it. That was nearly 4 years ago, but the memory has never gone stale. It's going to be sad not having breakfast for 10 days, but as far as problems go, I'll take this one. When I get back, I'm definitely having a breakfast party.

So, congrats to the lady, and no pressure. Just don't relapse and embarrass me over there. If you do, I won't share any of my smuggled Coco Puffs.