Mako's birthday (2024)

Every birthday is a special day. This year is extra special because I did not hold a birthday dinner in 2023 due to travel schedules. As a result, this year will the best of not only 2024, but also of 2023.

Menu

Course #1: "Visit to Natural Lawson (Champagne + コンビニ salad + sandos)

Drink

• Piper-Heidsieck Champagne

Snack

• small shredded, daikon, cabbage, carrot and corn salad w/ miso dressing
• egg salad sando + katsu cutlet sando, shredded green cabbage, and okonomi sauce on white crustless bread
• satsuma mikan!
• ソフトサラダ ("soft salad" senbei)

Course #2: Salad

Drink

• Shot of garlic infused tequila (from オカダガーリック)

Snack

• baby kale salad w/ radish sprouts, fried garlic, crushed raw garlic, fried (but very soft) egg, "bacon" bits, parmesan cheese (from オカダガーリック but remade at home in 2024 by Lucy based on recipe above and picture)

Salad notes: We made it at the house and Lucy made it based on the recipe and this picture.

Course #3: Hashimaki

Drink

• Verbena Cocktail (from Chandalier Bar in Las Vegas) (don't read if you don't know!)

Snack

• Hashimaki, okonomiyaki on a pair of chopsticks (Mika made it at home)

Course #4: Soup++

Drink

• Cherry Blossom

Snack

• Laksa (recipe)

Course #5: Dessert

Drink

• Mango Sticky Rice Cocktail (from Vesper Bangkok) (picture from Instagram)

Snack

• Apple, mascarpone, and honey pizza (Pizza Mafia Tokyo) (picture from Tabelog

I think the drink will be:

• Something like https://www.acouplecooks.com/mango-martini/ (a bit less sweet)
• heated (~75°) coconut cream + sweetened condensed milk in the iSi Whipper

Course #6: Cafe y Matacafe

Drink:

• espresso (decafe from vivace for those who prefer it)
• Meznar (composed shot of mezcal and Cynar)

Ingredients

already ordered/acquired:

• [DONE] Coconut cream (1 can) [MSR cocktail]
• [DONE] sweetened condensed milk [MSR cocktail]
• [DONE] can of mango [MSR cocktail]
• [DONE] lemon verbena leaves [Verbena Cocktail]
• [DONE] buzz buttons [Verbena Cocktail]
• [DONE] Laksa leaves [Laksa Leaves] (sayamindu is bringing)
• [DONE] Dried red chiles (plenty)

Lam's:

• [TODO] calamansi (quat tac chua) [Verbena Cocktail]
• laksa paste ingredients [laksa]
  • [DONE] Fresh turmeric (100 g) (check)
  • [DONE] Shallots (10!)
  • [DONE] Galfangal (200 g) (check freezer)
  • [DONE] Lemongrass (200 g/15 stalks) (check freezer)
  • [TODO] 20 candlenuts (optional: can sub with macademia nuts if needed)
  • [DONE] Red miso (we have very dark miso)
• [DONE] 2 can coconut milk [laksa]
• [DONE] 1 package soy puffs (halved) [laksa]
• [DONE] ~8 portions noodles (ideally Hokkien egg noodles) [laksa]
• [DONE] 2 cups mung bean sprouts (trimmed and cleaned) [laksa]
• {{done} frozen shrimp [laksa] (check freezer)

Uwajimaya:

• [DONE] yuzu (or juice) [Verbena Cocktail]
• [DONE] radish sprouts [salad]
• [DONE] red ginger [hashimaki] (on bar)
• [DONE] aonori (on bar)
• [DONE] kewpie (plenty downstairs)
• [DONE] yamaimo [hashimaki]
• [DONE] fresh ginger (minced) [laksa]
• [DONE] daikon [kobini salad]
• [DONE] miso dressing
• [DONE] soft salad senbei
• [DONE] mikan/oranges
• [DONE] quail eggs

QFC:

• [TODO] shokupan / white bread [sando]
• [TODO] katsu chicken/pork like cutlets [sando]
• [TODO] cabbage [hashimaki, sando, konbini salad] (we have 1 but we need another)
• [TODO] baby kale [salad]
• [TODO] mascarpone
• [DONE] bacon [salad] (two options, bacon bits and those little bits)
• [DONE] eggs [salad, laksa, hashimaki]
• [DONE] 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves [laksa]

extra:

• [Pending] pizza dough (enough for 2-3 12in pizzas) (sayamindu will get)

foraged & found / ballard market

• [DONE] Lobster mushroom [laksa]

vivace:

• [TODO] decaf beans for an after-dinner espresso

liquor store:

• [DONE] Piper-Heidsieck Champagne