Last year we lamented the loss of Takohachi, our favorite restaurant for saba shioyaki (grilled mackerel). As much as we loved the fish itself, they served it with a bowl of yaki meshi (fried rice) so full of bacon goodness you’d have been a fool to order the white rice instead. (Rumor has it the Takohachi chef is replicating that fried rice at Uwajimaya in Bellevue. Anyone been?) Saba shioyaki’s a staple at most Japanese restaurants. ...

tags: grated daikon, miso soup, pickled vegetables, nsaba, meshi, uwajimaya, koraku, japanese restaurants, shio, white rice, broilers, yaki, fried rice, favorite restaurant, mackerel, saba, soy sauce, bento, grocery stores, staple

One sunny day in 2009 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he’d been sitting on a park bench. He finally approached the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, ‘I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.’ The Marine looked at the man and said, ‘Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.’ The old man said, ‘Okay’ , quietly , and walked away. The following day, ...

tags: pennsylvania avenue, happy days, sunny day, old man, white house