Aoyama Tree of Stars

     "Lunch in May will be held at Hoshi no Naruki (Tree of Stars), Porto Aoyama building, Omotesando, Exit B2."  On the fourth floor of an office building, Eating Out Group met for its monthly gathering at noon, as usual. Although the group favors Western food this month was the exception: Modified kaiseki (multi course Japanese meal) in a private room of a popular eatery for Y3,100 ( $35, no tipping in Japan). Top restaurants often perch above the ground floor in Tokyo, which is startling to gaijin. Western Muzak (Danny Boy, among others) was incongruous and distracting, so the server kindly turned down the volume.    

      When six Tokyo ladies first created Cooking Group 15 years ago, they met at each other's homes. Once the husbands retired, they shifted to Eating Out Group. Very different in their interests, they  met through the academically oriented women's club. Their objective was to have a good excuse to wear jewelry and speak English over lunch, which meant inviting one or two native speakers along. One gaijin member lasted nine years! Ever since dear Wanda-san left town two years ago the onus has been on me; few gaijin can commit to a monthly lunch.This month a "graduate" from Australia made her annual visit, plus another local gaijin was able to make the time.

   "My mother told me that breakfast is gold, lunch silver, dinner is bronze," said pianist-san (who has been playing Chopin concerts all year to honor his 200th anniversary). Isn't it funny that Western wisdom advises eating breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper? Breakfast may be considered the most important meal yet we all prefer lunch. According to Haha (mom) we must eat 30 different things a day for good health. The chef at Hoshi no Naruki insured one day's supply all in bite-size portions in our meal, including some slippery potato and other dishes unknown outside of Nihon. What falls into the bronze category? "Bronze must be warm food, and not as healthy as gold," said pianist-san, who has slimmed down considerably by riding her bicycle around town. "For example, red wine. It's the most important part of dinner." Gaijin, take note.