| [ High Life ] |
Issue 46 |
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with The Countess Maud The first part of September is usually a slow time in Japan ..People just coming back from vacations..usually no parties till the end of the month but those people over at the Grand Hyatt surprised us all and had what has to be one of the happenings of the year..Three nights of wine and fine food..The Wine Makers Dinner..The wonderful Wines of the Leeuwin Estate in western Australia and the unforgettable food of Don Hancey the executive Chef of the restaurant on the Estate.. How can you describe perfection???? First champagne in the lobby!!! Then on to six courses and about eight or nine wines.. (I mean after a while who can count??) there were two wines for some courses so you could compare them..Like the 1987 AND 1992 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon.. with the Beef Tenderloin grilled with gooseliver on Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Jus and Asian Mushrooms..Oh! Did I forget to mention that wines were also used in most of the dishes..I love the Chef Don ..He stands about seven feet tall or over with his chefs hat on and was a true Aussie with that zanny sense of humour that I seem to find in most Aussies..I had met him a few days before the dinner and told him I positively abhor fish of any kind, shape or form ..and from then on he did nothing but tease me about the fish course.. and how most of the dinner was going to be fish ..but that darling man!! when the fish course was served mine didn1t come and when I ask why they informed me that the chef was doing something special for me..this at a party for hundreds??? I had visions of fish, fish and more fish..but that dear man served me the most delightful pasta dish..and every one around me was trying to steal it..have to mention Dennis Horgan who is the founder of Leeuwin and his son and a family friend who were also in for the dinners..Dennis tall , good looking with white hair caused a lot of those little old Japanese ladies hearts to go pity pat.. or was it all of that wine.. truly a nice evening .. good food, nice people and the flowers - I just have to mention the flowers .. Maggy the flower designer was in (from where ever in the world she happened to be) and made that wonderful ballroom that is already exquisite into a fairy land with roses candles .etc..I was sitting with Mr Ken Katayama the head of Sogetsu Ikebana for Fukuoka Prefecture and even he was impressed..before I leave this subject I have to say I got a card today from Don the Chef saying how much he liked Fukuoka and hoping we could get together again over some wine and FISH..Ahh those Aussies!!! (also requesting a copy of the next Gaijin Gleaner as I had given him some while he was here ..knows class when he sees it) The Japan American Society had a get together for the .. navy ship when it was in port .. most of the usual faces..but not so many local Americans just Jimmy Barttlet and myself other than the consulate people..had a nice talk with the captain about drugs or the use of which he is very strict with ..said after they leave port they check about 40% of the crew at random the next day and any one found having used drugs are immediately put out of the service..there are a crew of 400 enlisted men and about 23 officers ..now that's a lot of testing but the captain said it is necessary because there are only two or three men trained for every job and you cant have some one who is not able to function in times of emergency..makes me feel nice and safe ..and if that wasn't enough ..just looking at Americas best was.. most of the officers saw duty in the Persian Gulf and there were lots of ribbons on those manly chest.. Ikebana International had its opening meeting and Mr Katayama was the guest Demonstrator..big turnout of over eighty for this first meeting..lots of foreign members now ..and that day some guest from over seas in town on their way to the world convention being held in Nagoya from ) Oct 2nd.. coming through Suzuko Carlson in from California..S uzukkos husband Frank was an old Fukuoka resident ..he goes back to the old days when the only foreigners in town were GG, Jimmy Barttlet, Frank and myself..good old days !!! .. And speaking of good .. I am bored with "Passe Passe" - most of the people mentioned are so "out" I can barely see them anymore! So I have changed to the BEST..the best things I can find for any given month .. sorry to disappoint you all but there is no WORST...(boy I could have fun with that but it would give my editor's lawyer a heart attack) Maud's Best Issue 46 |
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