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Kaido in our garden

       Flower viewing lunch with my Father

Today was the first day of the year that felt warm enough to eat outdoors, and timely because the Kaido tree in our garden is blooming. My father suggest we eat lunch outside, and have a have a glass of wine with it.  The Japanese have a name for such flower viewing, sake drinking practice. It's called Hanami.  The occasion is devoted mainly for viewing cherry blossoms but our charming pink Kaido deserves a similar attention.

I made pasta with spring vegetables - fava beans, eggplant, carrots, and onions. Japanese vegetables are amazingly delicious. With the pasta, I brought out the bottle of wine, a Pinot Noir made in Tanba, Kyoto that my sister Fuyuko gave me as a birthday present. It was the first  Japanese Pinot  I ever tasted. It was a surprisingly decent red wine.  My father was so happy to have me back in Tokyo.  Wine with Hanami paired well.  Pasta was delicious!