Travelers' Night @ 旅 Café & Dining おでかけ日和, Kyoto (#47)

Text by Misako Ozawa

 Raincouver? 420? The Bun Festival? Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Sightseeing is not only about saying cheese in front of too famous and touristy places, nor spending your money in duty-free shops. It’s time to immerse yourself in a new world, to feel the heartbeat of people’s lives; what they eat, see, and do. It is to discover yourself actually!

 This happy Friday night gathered all travelers together for their next off-the-beaten adventures and let our beloved friends Sandra and Carrie speak for their own hometowns, Vancouver and Hong Kong. You might say you have been to those places and you don’t really need to hear about what they have. You are right and wrong, as I myself found so many new interesting 
stories and subcultures which I didn’t see while I was there!

Did you know that Vancouver has a record of 28 consecutive rainy days? Did you know that Marijuana (otherwise known as weed, pot, etc) is ILLEGALLY but OPENLY consumed on the street that even the local police is helpful to get organized a crazy and huge Marijuana festival in order on April 20th? Or, how about the Bun Festival on a small and long island named Cheung Chau Island (長洲島) in Hong Kong, where people race for nothing but buns by climbing up the buns-made tower?

You will certainly have to stop me from telling you those unique yet very fascinating secrets, as these are only a few and there’s more and more to follow! So, if you missed out on this great opportunity this Friday night, why don’t you just join us for the next and maybe you can also share secrets of your hometown!

Japanese translation by Naomi

If you are tired of the usual traveling information found on usual guidebooks and official tourism websites, and you want to have some unusual traveling experiences despite going to some usual destinations, Travelers’ Night will bring you to some unbeaten tracks guided by people who have been there and done that.

通常のガイドブックや公式観光サイトのありふれたトラベル情報にも飽き飽き、ありきたりの旅とは一味違った旅行経験がしてみたいと思う時に、トラベラーズナイトは皆さんを実際そこに行って珍しい体験をした人達の案内でまだ踏み入れたことのない道へとお連れします。

To kickoff the first Travelers’ Night, We Are One organizers, Sandra and Carrie will be sharing with you something about their home cities, Vancouver + Hong Kong.

Listen to what they have to say about these two cities at two sides of the globe. Find out how you can witness the world’s biggest trading place for something controversial and illegal in Canada and where you can discover the natural and traditional sights of Hong Kong at its many off-shore islands which are only a stone throw away from its densely built-up city.

第1回トラベラーズナイトでは、We are Oneの主催者、SandraとCarrieがそれぞれの故郷、バンクーバーと香港について語る予定です。　彼女たちが話さなければならないこれら２つの都市の世界の表と裏に耳を傾けましょう。　世界最大の違法薬物の売買取引が行われているカナダの都市をどれだけ目の当たりにできるか、また建物が密集する都市から目と鼻の先にあるたくさんの沖合いの島のどこで自然かつ伝統的な名所を発見できるか突き止めてみましょう。

As the secrets of these two cities unfold before you, enjoy a dinner provided by Odakakebiwari Café & Dining accompanied with dessert and tea. Be ready to meet like minded people and you may find your next traveling partners heading off to these exotic destinations.

皆さんの前で繰り広げられるバンクーバーと香港の裏話を聞きながら、おでかけ日和カフェ＆ダイニングが提供するデーザートとお茶付きのディナーを楽しみましょう。　気の合う人達に出会う準備をしましょう。　このようなエキゾチックな都市を次回一緒に旅する旅行仲間が見つかるかもしれません。

Date & Time: 25th March Friday 2011 1930~2200

Venue: 旅 Café & Dining おでかけ日和 http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~tabicafe/

〒604-8251　
京都市中京区三条油小路南東角　三条油小路町145-1
（入口は、三条通り側の階段です。）
ＴＥＬ：075-255-3399

Cost: 2500yen (buffet style dinner, dessert & tea will be served)

　

Program :

1930: Registration 受付 2000: Dinner starts　夕食 2030: Presentation by Sandra (Vancouver Japadog & Marijuana)　 2045: Presentation by Carrie (Hong Kong off-shore islands) 2100: Quiz & Prize giving 2200: Home Sweet Home

About 旅 Café & Dining おでかけ日和

おでかけ日和（Odekakebiwari）is a café restaurant situated in a reformed 京町屋(Kyomachiya) with travelling as its theme. From its menu alone, you are able to have around the world traveling experience with lots of small dishes and dessert in the styles of various countries in the world. It is located in a quite neighborhood along Sanjo Dori, it is certainly a nice place to spend your afternoon chatting with friends or enjoy a wonder dinner in this cozy Japanese style wooden house.

おでかけ日和は、京町屋をリフォームし「旅行」をテーマに掲げたオシャレなカフェレストランです。メニューの中には世界の有名な料理が並び、食事やデザート等そしてドリンクと種類が豊富で、カフェに立ち寄ると、旅をしているような感覚にさせられます。三条通りに位置する日本家屋のこのカフェは、お昼時にお友達とおしゃべりしたり夕食を楽しんだりするのに最適な場所です。

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Christmas Lunch Party at La Table de Thierry

English by Sandra

Japanese by Chie Nakamura

　La Table de ThierryでのWAOのクリスマスランチパーティーは、とても和やかでアットホームな雰囲気の中、素敵なお食事を素敵な仲間と楽しむ素敵なパーティーになりました。

まずランチコースの前に、クリスマスについてのクイズ大会で盛り上がりました！今回のパーティーには、お子様も一緒に家族で参加して下さった方もいて、一人の男の子がクイズ大会で正解を連発し、見事チームを優勝に導くという予想外？の展開に！優勝記念にクリスマスキャロルも披露してくれました、「so cute!!」と誰もが目を細めて今日のラッキーボーイに拍手しました。

クイズでアイスブレイクしたテーブルの雰囲気は、子どもたちに負けないくらい生き生きとしたものになり、食事中も楽しい会話が続きました。でも、何といっても、かわいくておいしい９品の前菜プレートが登場した時は本当にときめきましたね（笑）メインのフランス産ローストチキンが出てきた時には、「う～ん♪」という声と幸せそうな顔でテーブルはいっぱいになりました。

最後のデザートは大人のスイーツと呼ぶのにふさわしい一皿で、食後のコーヒーを引き立たせてくれました：）

食事中にも、お楽しみが用意されていましたよ！Alexのマジックに目を輝かせて夢中になったのは子どもだけではありません。おいしい食事に、サプライズな楽しみを与えてくれたAlexに拍手！！

そして、フィナーレはお楽しみのプレゼント交換☆参加してくれた皆さんが、それぞれ持参してくださったアイディアいっぱいのプレゼントをお土産に、パーティーは幕を閉じました。

参加して下さった皆さん、La Tabel de Thierryの皆さん、今日は本当にありがとうございました。

今回参加できなかった方も、ぜひ一度La Table de Thierryでお食事をされてみてはいかがでしょうか。

 Christmas is a time to reconnect, to revitalize, and to rejoice!

At one of the world’s biggest festivities, how can we make Christmas in Japan merrier rather than just digging in Kentucky fried chicken and exchanging presents with our lover?

On December 23^rd, We Are One International hosted a Christmas lunch at a French restaurant, La Table de Thierry, in Kyoto. We invited our members to celebrate this traditional festival altogether as a big family.

At 11:30am, attendants gradually arriving with their friends and family, each brought a present for the gift exchange. They were impressed by the stunning view of Kamogawa and Higashiyama from the 9^th-floored restaurant and the sophisticated yet warm setting of the dinning space. More than 40 people filled 5 tables. Once everyone had arrived and seated, A Christmas quiz game started the lunch party, it energized the groups and surprisingly was dominated by a little boy! The two winner teams won prizes to share among them. Christmas spirit is high and alive!

After the quiz game, the restaurant started to serve lunch. The specialty of the restaurant, roast chicken, came after the appetizers. The strictly selected chickens are imported from France and roasted in a high-quality French-made machine. It was Iron Chief Thierry Houngues’s intention to bring authentic French tastes to Japan. The crisp, golden-brown chicken skin with juicy meat exceeded the expectations of both sophisticated diners and little children. The lunch set finished with a creamy chocolate mousse with caramel sauce.

Our organizer and professional magician Alex moved from table to table between dishes to perform magic to our guests. His jaw-dropping tricks had brought laughter and surprises to our members and earned himself respects and admirations. ^^

At the end, gift exchange participants each got an anonymous present from another person. Some got goodies like wine and chocolates; some got useful kitchen tools; one little boy delightfully got a huge can of caramel popcorns, which his dad generously shared it with other people around the room; ^^ another guest got a statue of liberty as her gift! The party was heart-warming and filled with joy of the holiday.

As for organizers, we also got two cakes baked by our dear members, we were so glad and shared them right after the party! Thanks to these two anonymous members who made the cakes! You made our day!

This Christmas party was our last event before 2010 comes to an end. We sincerely thank all of you who have participated and supported us along the way during this wonderful year. We Are One has grown so much because of your supports. We look forward to planning more events and seeing you in the year to come!

We Are One International is inviting you to join us at our Christmas Lunch Party at La Table de Thierry to celebrate this festive season.

Together with a specially prepared French menu by the Fuji TV's 1996 Iron Chef, Thierry Houngues, we will have magic show, mini games and gifts exchange during the party. We sincerely invite everyone will come and enjoy this wonderful afternoon at one of the best French Restaurants in Kyoto. Let's have an early Christmas celebration and get a mysterious Christmas present from someone in the party.

All international minded people of any nationality are welcomed.

Date: 23rd Dec 2010 (Public Holiday)

Time: 11:30~14:30

Venue: La Table de Thierry

〒604-8004

京都市中京区三条通河原町東入中島町105 タカセビル9階

Tel 075-212-0069

Direction:

3 min walk from Keihan Sanjo Station Exit 7

5 min walk from Subway Shiyakusyo Station Exit 1

Cost: 2500yen (1500yen for child aged between 5～12）

(RSVP with advance payment before 17th December is required.)

Limited to first 30 registered participants.
Menu: Sparkling wine, red wine, white wine, Les 9 bouchées en hors d'oeuvrea (appetizers), Le poulet roti et garniture de saison (roast chicken), Mousse glacée au chocolat,sauce au caramel chaud (Chocolate mousse glance with Caramel sauce), coffee, tea and mignardises.

*Please come with a small gift for the gift exchange.

The gift should be about 1000yen in value and unisex.

For registration, please send us an email titled "Christmas Party" with your name number of participants to we.are.one.japan@gmail.com. You may also approach any one of our organizers if you are joining our other events.

We Are One Internationalはこれまで数々のイベントを主催する経験を踏まえて、今年のクリスマスには美味しい料理やゲームを楽しめるクリスマスパーティーを開催いたします！

鴨川の美景を背にしながら、クリスマスに一番合うスペシャルランチと共に、We Are One メンバーだけ味わえる時間を過ごしましょう！La Table de ThierryではNetworking Partyでお世話になり、1996年フジテレビ料理の鉄人にも出演したシェフThierry Hounguesさんが用意した料理は前回大好評でした。料理のほかに、日本人や外国人の方でも参加できるゲームや、クリスマス定番のプレゼント交換タタイムを企画しますので、たくさんの方のお越しを楽しみにしております！今年のWe Are One Internationalの最後のイベントとして、クリスマスという記念すべきシーズンをともに楽しみましょう。

日時：2010年12月23日　11時30分～14時30分

場所: La Table de Thierry
http://www.latabledethierry.com/〒604-8004
京都市中京区三条通河原町東入中島町105 タカセビル9階
Tel 075-212-0069アクセス:
■京阪本線三条駅7番出口より徒歩で3分

■地下鉄東西線市役所駅1番出口より徒歩で5分

費用：2500円 スペシャルセットランチ(お子様(5～12才):1500円）

(30名まで、12月17日までに事前予約・振込みが必要です)

☆パーティー当日までに、プレゼント交換用のプレゼントを1つ用意してください！（1000円程度）

予約はタイトルに「クリスマスパーティー参加」を明記し、名前を we.are.one.japan@gmail.comまでお送り下さい。

We Are One のイベントに参加する際にOrganizerに声をかけていただいても結構です。