Happy Father's Day

Today was the father's day, so in the morning, I gave my dad this brain-stimulant toy where he will have to answer some numeric questions in a short period of time and this alum can full of games and toys to improve his memory. LOL That's right. I noticed how forgettable my dad has become recently, so I thought these were the perfect gifts for him. LOL

Then my grandma, my mom and I went to my grandma and my father's family's cemetaries for the final visit before my departure tomorrow. We stopped over at a store to buy some fresh fish for the father's day dinner, which I wanted to prepare. Then came home. I went to bed around 3am the night before packing some mails to be sent out on Monday, so I was exhausted. I took a nap and then went to the gym to say good bye to the old gentlemen who work there during the night as well as to have my last work out looking at the huge mt. fuji through open windows.

I stopped over at a grocery store to pick some stuff that I needed for the dinner, and once I came home, I started cooking right away. Unfortunately, I did not have much time to prepare for this dinner, so I could not make much creative things, but here is what we had for dinner tonight.

Avocado Mousse with Sea Trout and Cavier:

Yeah, the color of avocado mousse seems strange in this photo. :( It was my first attempt to make something like this. It tasted good though. Good appetizer to start, I think. But I want to make the mousse just before serving so that the color of avocado will be more appealing :)

Fresh Oyster: ewww NOT FOR ME!!!!!! :( but my family loves it.

Pumpkin Gnocchi with Baby Bok Choy and a Mushroom Consomme:

This was such a tasty and "the contract of green-orange colors are looking pretty sweet"-kinda meal. It was my first time making gnocchi, and I absolutely loved it!! :) This was an easy to digest meal for my grandma, who can not eat heavy-duty dishes (with loadsa cream etc), so I was happy to hear that my grandma enjoyed this one :)

Rockfish on a Bed of Green Asparagus with a Tarragon and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Emulsion:

I was afraid that this may turn into a heavy tasting meal, but really, it tasted quite light and had a lot of flavour. I think usage of tarragon on this fish dish was the key. I think I will use it more frequently when I cook fish-dishes in future :) And I shall cut both asparagus and fish larger so that it will be more of like a mail dish.

Arch Shell Toppings over a Bed of Colorful Greens:

My mom helped making this salad for me. Was tasty :)

Well, I wished that I had more time to communicate with my dad today, but really, a lot of different kind of emotions going thru, I could not openly express or communicate my feelings with my dad, because I could have started crying at any moment, if I was to share my feelings with him, you know?

I was going to write my family a fare-well message, but I can not face my feelings towards them right now. My eyes will look like a Japanese ghost standing under the willow tree (obake) by tomorrow, if I let my thoughts get revealed and accept however I am feeling right now. But at the same time, I feel that it is important for me to always be honest and communicative with my feelings with my family, so although it is already 3am right now, I am going to write letters to them right now :)

Dear Friends:
I deeply apologize that I have not replied back to your thoughtful e-mails. I have been super busy that I could not make time to sit down and write personal mails to each one of you. All of you are in my thoughts, and I will write you back as soon as I settle down in Toronto! Until then, please do know that you are in my thoughts :)

Hugs,

Kumi

P.S.
Toronto, here I COME!!!