Okonomiyaki!!!!!!!!!!!!

.....

I have friend named Lisa who used to work with me at Peet's. She decided she wanted to teach English in Japan so and applied to be a teacher in Japan and once she got accepted she quit her job at Peet's and went over to Japan. Months before she left, she knew I was gonna be in Japan and we had talked about meeting up when I came over.

So once it got closer for Sonos to depart for Nippon, I emailed her and told her I was gonna be in her city. She couldn't believe I was actually gonna see her! She had always assumed we'd be playing in the big cities and never venture down south to any of the small country/cities.

Sunday was our second to last concert in Makizono at the Miyama Concert Hall. And Lisa got to come! She brought her friend Elizabeth along. They were simply amazed! Lisa had heard me talk about handbells but never really knew what they were or what they sounded like. She was impressed by how loud we could play and how soft we could play. She definitely has a better appreciation and respect for the art of handbell ringing. Oh and apparently she enjoyed watching Joel ring...whatever

After the concert I met up with and Elizabeth at my hotel and they took me out for dinner. We went to this okonomiyaki bar. Okonomiyaki is a pan fried food that consist of a batter (cooked on a grill) topped with cabbage, shrimp, octopus, pork, yakisoba noodles and many other things if you wanted. And then it is flipped so the fillings are cooked. One egg is fried and placed on the open side.

It is then covered in something similar to Worcestershire sauce and then topped with mayonnaise and mustard. It is left on the grill and you are given a spatula to break off pieces.

Definitely the best traditional Japanese food I've had in my two weeks here! Gotta find a place like this in the states or learn how to make it myself!