It really has been quite a year....with more to come

oldwashhouse.jpg

How has the year been for you? 2009 has been a year of change and turmoil for me. It looks like 2010 is going to be just as exciting and turbulent as 2009 was. There's a lot to look forward to though!

For New Year's Eve, we are just going to have a quiet evening in, with some sparkling cider from our old home town. Tomorrow we'll be having ozouni. We still don't know where we are settling yet -- it may be France, it may be Switzerland, or...somewhere else. I still have a lot of work to do, on the bento book and other things, and I am leaving for 3 month stay in Japan in 2 weeks. That will be the longest time I've spent there in ages, and I'll have lots to report on from there.

In any case, thank you so much for your continued support of Just Hungry and Just Bento this year. :) Happy New Year!

Submitted by maki on 2009-12-31 12:48.
Filed under:  essays food travel

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Comments

tiptup

31 December, 2009 - 16:57

Best wishes for the New Year!!

Meaghan

31 December, 2009 - 23:52

Hi Maki,
Happy New Year to you! Thanks for sharing your recipes/life/thoughts on Just Hungry and Just Bento. I love reading your posts, and find lots of inspiration in the archives, as well. I hope 2010 is more settled for you. Have a wonderful time in Japan.
Best wishes,
Meaghan Franey

ginger

1 January, 2010 - 13:45

明けましておめでとうございます

Jen @ Tiny Urba...

1 January, 2010 - 17:08

Happy New Year to you too! I've really enjoyed reading your posts, and thanks again for letting me guest post on your other site a few months back. We did the same thing - just enjoyed some sparkling apple cider last night. Really low key, but relaxing. Have a wonderful new year.

kim

1 January, 2010 - 22:56

Happy New Year Maki, looking forward to your posts from your upcoming trip!

Gemma

3 January, 2010 - 16:27

I hope you enjoy your stay in Japan. I cannot wait to read your reports on that country. I have visited Korea and China but I have yet to make it to Japan. Good luck in the New Year. casino online

Wakkun

4 January, 2010 - 17:11

Maki,
Just wanted to wish you a wonderful 2010. Good health to you and your family.
Thanks for a great blog. Looking forward to reading more of your adventures!

TMiki

4 January, 2010 - 21:53

Akemashite Omedetougozaimasu! Best wishes to you and your family! Thank you for your wonderful blog.

aa

6 January, 2010 - 00:54

As much as I enjoy reading your NY restaurant round-ups, I've never been to the city and have no imminent plans. I have however, spent a reasonable amount of time in Japan and would love to hear about some of the restaurants you frequent when you visit - washoku or otherwise.

Part of me wonders whether this is deliberate. I imagine a sudden influx of non-japanese JustHungry foodies might possibly be the last thing the proprietor of a low-key establishment would want. Or perhaps you rarely eat out in Japan - if I had a mother who was packing some of the recipes yours has shared, I wouldn't either!

In any case, if you were able to fit in a Tokyo food round-up during your trip it would be wonderful and appreciated by all.

As for my prediction, or perhaps wishful guess, might you also be getting the photography/design for your book done in Japan?

There is just something compltely different about the presentation of Japanese recipe books - this bento book you recommended being a fine example (purchased immediately after reading your review).

The few Japanese recipe books I have in English, could easily be mistaken for any delia, lawson or oliver - perhaps with the exception of the Kodansha published 'enlightened kitchen', which still didn't look quite as exquisite as the soshoku no susme series. And yes, I can even understand why misguided non-Japanese publishers might want to replicate the success of celebrity chefs by applying the same mould, but...

I'm sure the ever expanding community of bento aficionados will be buying your book regardless, but it'd be great to see your recipes published with the attention to detail often found in Japanese books.

Just a thought ;-)

A belated happy new year Maki - 今年もよろしくお願いします。

maki

7 January, 2010 - 17:41

Hi aa, I'll try to answer your questions. I am not sure how much eating out I'll be doing when I'm in Japan, partly because of some family issues (my mother is in hospital) and partly because of budgetary issues! I'll do some of course and report back anything interesting.

The photography and design of the book will be done in Japan, by the same publisher as The Enlightened Kitchen. I don't know how it will look in the end, but I'm quite confident it will look great!