Two tales of D.
Mar. 27th, 2009 10:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarea
I finally did my tax return. It's kind of cutting it close, but there was one year when I did it on April 14. This time I actually started it in February, possibly even earlier, but I kept waiting for this one 1099 from one of my banks. I get Web statements from them, but thought that tax info came to the physical mailbox no matter what. K. said the same thing (though she also said that they're required to deliver that info in January). So I waited and waited until yesterday, when I finally called them. And found out that yes, because I get Web statements, the tax form is on the Web instead of paper delivery. Oops.
Since the gov'ment raised the limit on how much you can put into your Roth IRA (yes, I decided to go ahead and contribute this year), I'm actually getting less back from my refund than I'm putting into the Roth, but oh well. I'm still going to splurge on something, because that's what tax refunds are for!
There's nothing I really want in terms of clothing or accessories or technology, but I hit upon the perfect thing when having lunch with K. She was talking about how her husband, D., and his friend had recently gone to Nishino, a trendy and expensive sushi restaurant that many have said is the best in Seattle. I've actually been there several times before, years ago, when I was still friends with my now ex-friend Jennie. She lived right around the corner from the restaurant. The sushi was good, but it was rather pricey and from the things I ordered when I went it felt more like we were paying for atmosphere rather than the food.
Anyway, it's been a really long time since I was last there. D. and his friend sat at the sushi bar and ordered the omakase. Basically, when you order omakase you're putting yourself in the sushi chef's hands -- he picks out the best and freshest of what they have. At least, that is what they are supposed to do. I've done this a few times elsewhere, but it's always risky because you know they're a business, so how can you be sure you're actually getting the best, and not just what they have extra of, or their cheapest fish, or whatever? What if they give you tiny portions of some regular boring fish (or fish you don't like), and then charge you through the nose for it? Omakase should only be ordered at places you can trust to have a) high quality; and b) pride in what it serves. You're less likely to be ripped off that way, imo. I think Nishino is such a place.
There's a bit of a discrepancy with cost. D. and his friend were charged $106 for the both of them, which he considered 'cheap' because it was like, the most amazing sushi experience he's ever had. He's a big sushi snob (he doesn't like I Love Sushi!), so that's saying something. He even liked the salmon, which he normally doesn't like. However, the online menu says that the 'regular' omakase is "from $60," while the 'exclusive' version is "from $75." So did they charge them less that night because despite how good it was, they didn't feel it was $60 good and didn't feel right charging that amount (wow at their integrity if that's the case)? Or is it because of the current economy, that they have some kind of discount going? Either way, it's unusual to be charged less than a stated price. Still, it's really not 'cheap,' and that's why I consider it a splurge. I'd love to experience that kind of omakase.
The problem is, it requires a minimum of 2 people, which kind of sucks because that means I won't be able to go solo. :( If D. wants to go again so soon I could go with him, or maybe wait until after my cousin gives birth and is feeling up for it. One other option is that my mom is supposed to be here in May, and I could just take the two of us. She loves sushi/food so it would be enjoyable in that sense, but she's also really frugal so all the potential nagging about the expense kind of makes me think twice about it.
I also have another story about D., one where I think he's a freak. So you know how my cousin and I went to Chez Shea the other day? Well we were supposed to go to Art earlier in the month, and she seemed to really look forward to taking a break from the kids/her husband to have a lunch, just the two of us. (I prefer it also because I don't have any patience for children, especially in nice restaurants and the movies.)
The next time I heard from her, she said that D. wanted to go so it was going to be everyone. Then it got postponed and postponed until the other day. And she said that D. had wanted to come, but she was like, "You can't! It's 21 and over only!" (Chez Shea's lunch is in the Lounge, a bar where it enforces that age restriction.) She said that he just hated missing out on stuff. He called while we were having our appetizers, and asked her about other places that were doing the 3-for-$15 promotion, as he wanted to take the girls out -- they are age 3 and 1, possibly 4 and 2, respectively. Little kids.
He called again while we were having dessert ... and guess where they were? Matt's at the Market -- RIGHT NEXT DOOR. Literally like 20 feet away. After we finished up we stopped by to say hello, where he had a small table for himself and the girls. It's like, seriously? You drove the kids out to have lunch right next door to where K. and I were having lunch?! We might as well have just gone somewhere together (not the Lounge, obviously)! Honestly, how freakish is that.
So many freaking meetings today. Why do people insist on scheduling them on Fridays? I also need to deliver something by the end of the day, but it's dependent on someone else delivering something to me. I hate having to rely on other people in order to be able to finish my own work.
Since the gov'ment raised the limit on how much you can put into your Roth IRA (yes, I decided to go ahead and contribute this year), I'm actually getting less back from my refund than I'm putting into the Roth, but oh well. I'm still going to splurge on something, because that's what tax refunds are for!
There's nothing I really want in terms of clothing or accessories or technology, but I hit upon the perfect thing when having lunch with K. She was talking about how her husband, D., and his friend had recently gone to Nishino, a trendy and expensive sushi restaurant that many have said is the best in Seattle. I've actually been there several times before, years ago, when I was still friends with my now ex-friend Jennie. She lived right around the corner from the restaurant. The sushi was good, but it was rather pricey and from the things I ordered when I went it felt more like we were paying for atmosphere rather than the food.
Anyway, it's been a really long time since I was last there. D. and his friend sat at the sushi bar and ordered the omakase. Basically, when you order omakase you're putting yourself in the sushi chef's hands -- he picks out the best and freshest of what they have. At least, that is what they are supposed to do. I've done this a few times elsewhere, but it's always risky because you know they're a business, so how can you be sure you're actually getting the best, and not just what they have extra of, or their cheapest fish, or whatever? What if they give you tiny portions of some regular boring fish (or fish you don't like), and then charge you through the nose for it? Omakase should only be ordered at places you can trust to have a) high quality; and b) pride in what it serves. You're less likely to be ripped off that way, imo. I think Nishino is such a place.
There's a bit of a discrepancy with cost. D. and his friend were charged $106 for the both of them, which he considered 'cheap' because it was like, the most amazing sushi experience he's ever had. He's a big sushi snob (he doesn't like I Love Sushi!), so that's saying something. He even liked the salmon, which he normally doesn't like. However, the online menu says that the 'regular' omakase is "from $60," while the 'exclusive' version is "from $75." So did they charge them less that night because despite how good it was, they didn't feel it was $60 good and didn't feel right charging that amount (wow at their integrity if that's the case)? Or is it because of the current economy, that they have some kind of discount going? Either way, it's unusual to be charged less than a stated price. Still, it's really not 'cheap,' and that's why I consider it a splurge. I'd love to experience that kind of omakase.
The problem is, it requires a minimum of 2 people, which kind of sucks because that means I won't be able to go solo. :( If D. wants to go again so soon I could go with him, or maybe wait until after my cousin gives birth and is feeling up for it. One other option is that my mom is supposed to be here in May, and I could just take the two of us. She loves sushi/food so it would be enjoyable in that sense, but she's also really frugal so all the potential nagging about the expense kind of makes me think twice about it.
I also have another story about D., one where I think he's a freak. So you know how my cousin and I went to Chez Shea the other day? Well we were supposed to go to Art earlier in the month, and she seemed to really look forward to taking a break from the kids/her husband to have a lunch, just the two of us. (I prefer it also because I don't have any patience for children, especially in nice restaurants and the movies.)
The next time I heard from her, she said that D. wanted to go so it was going to be everyone. Then it got postponed and postponed until the other day. And she said that D. had wanted to come, but she was like, "You can't! It's 21 and over only!" (Chez Shea's lunch is in the Lounge, a bar where it enforces that age restriction.) She said that he just hated missing out on stuff. He called while we were having our appetizers, and asked her about other places that were doing the 3-for-$15 promotion, as he wanted to take the girls out -- they are age 3 and 1, possibly 4 and 2, respectively. Little kids.
He called again while we were having dessert ... and guess where they were? Matt's at the Market -- RIGHT NEXT DOOR. Literally like 20 feet away. After we finished up we stopped by to say hello, where he had a small table for himself and the girls. It's like, seriously? You drove the kids out to have lunch right next door to where K. and I were having lunch?! We might as well have just gone somewhere together (not the Lounge, obviously)! Honestly, how freakish is that.
So many freaking meetings today. Why do people insist on scheduling them on Fridays? I also need to deliver something by the end of the day, but it's dependent on someone else delivering something to me. I hate having to rely on other people in order to be able to finish my own work.
