History in the making!!

Feb 11, 2010 == A very good day. =]

So first, a quick story leading up to this day. Atsushi and I planned that Thursday, we're going to a Japanese restaurant because I said I wanted Takoyaki (and he knows a place). Lisa then messaged me not long after asking me if I knew about this lunch thing happened on Thursday, which I have no idea. Lisa said the lunch is at 12, so I asked if Atsushi wanted to go there first, then Takoyaki later -- he was fine with it.

So at 11:30 I got to Atsushi's house to meet up with him to go the this restaurant called La Fenice. We got there around noon, just on time. Lisa and her friend, Jinglin are already there though (damn we lost D:). We went in the restaurant and our face went like this ---> OoO.

The restaurant was so high class; every customer going there was wearing suits and dresses. Everyone except us. We're wearing hoodies, t-shirt and such -- so out of place. We all got one appetizer, one main course, and one dessert because it's all that for $20.

I got this Mussel thing for for appetizer

Zuppa Di Cozze
Mussels in light tomato and white wine broth with garlic and fresh herbs

It was not bad, but for a 'high class' restaurant I kind of expected more. This just taste like a bunch of mussels with this sauce. As for the main course I got...

Cioppino Di Gamberi E Calamari
shrimp and calamari in a light tomato broth with garlic. fresh herbs and chili flakes

It was just okay, too. Nothing really special that makes me want to talk about it, so I'll just move onto the dessert.

creamy chocolate ice cream with a gianduia centre, covered with crushed almonds and hazelnuts, dipper in dark belgian chocolate

This is the only dish, which I thought was good. You can't really go wrong with dessert though... Still, the dessert was good, but nothing special. I was the only one that got this while the others got this

creamy amaretto ice cream with a mocha centre, covered with amaretto cookie crumbs

I think I'm gonna stay away from coffee desserts from now on (after the Apricot Tree failure). Group picture!!!

Left to right: Lisa, Atsushi, Me

All the pictures from this restaurant was from Jinglin(which I stole off of her facebook XD)

After this lunch, we walked to Eaton Centre to get our crap sorted out. I had to return something to the Apple Store, Atsushi exchanged stuff at the Apple Store, and Lisa bought an ipod using my credit card. We then headed to the Japanese restaurant for Takoyaki.

Not long after we're here!

Manpuku entrance

This wonderful place known as Manpuku. First have a look at their menu.

Back of the menu

Front of the menu

I know there's not much selection, but quality is what matters =]. I came here to eat takoyaki, so of course that's what I got. Two orders of takoyaki and a milk tea. Lisa got just the milk tea, Jinglin had the takosen (takoyaki and senbei), while Atsushi had the takosen and milk tea. (Yes, I know I ordered the most and we just had lunch).

Failed Artsy shot of the milk tea

I don't know what this milk tea is, but it's good. I love it. The bottle is so pretty, too!! If I ever go to Japan, I'm gonna buy so much of those!! =]

Super good Takoyaki!!

It was so good. They cook to order, so it's fresh, but you have to wait 20 minutes. The inside is soft, but the outside is crispy. The dressing they used is so good, too. Lisa said she couldn't taste the octopus, and I didn't really pay attention so... In my defense, a good takoyaki is good when the octopus doesn't stand out; it blends in with the rest. I wouldn't like a takoyaki where the octopus is way too chewy or something.

I looked at Atsushi and Jinglin's Takosen, too. They were really interesting. I think I might get it next time.

Takosen before squished

It's basically Takoyaki being sandwiched by two senbei(rice crackers). And yes, when I said sandwiched, it means you need to squish the takoyaki. It should look something like this:

Takosen after squished.

Yup! It looked so good. Mmmm. Next time I go there, I'm gonna try the Udon or the Don =]! Thanks Atsushi for introducing this place to me.

Enough about the foods. In the first restaurant, it was still pretty awkward, first time meeting, plus the high-class restaurant tension. It lightened up a lot when we're at the Japanese restaurant though. We talked a lot (mostly me). I talked about some pretty dark and deep stuff, and I wouldn't usually do that if the situation was awkward, so it's a sign that the atmosphere was pretty good.

Today was a really good day. After around 4~5 attempts of trying to introduce Atsushi to Lisa and Kristie(and vice versa), it FINALLY worked.

Lastly, here are some artsy pictures that I took recently.

It's that really good milk tea from the Manpuku.

Carbonated water with different concentration of cranberry juice.

~Daniel Chou