Southern staple, Sushi Sticks, and Julia Roberts

Serious question: what beverage best compliments sushi? Well, sweet tea my dear!!!!!!

Last night was pretty darn incredible. I spent all day yesterday cleaning my disgusting house (how can dust accumulate that much and that quickly?) waiting for my favorite Cali-Texas girl to arrive (Kim H.) for Girls' Night. I had been looking forward to last night for several days. There were six ladies total and we had a FABULOUS evening! We met at Hibachi for dinner and later watched "Eat Pray Love," the new movie with Julia Roberts, based on the true story of Elizabeth Gilbert.

Dinner at Hibachi was nice. The service was great and the food was delicious. Plus, it is a great place for a variety of food palettes because not everyone likes sushi. Kim and I shared edamame (steamed soybeans) while the others had soup and salad.

For dinner, the ladies ordered items from the Hibachi and let me tell you: that was a HOT show!!!! The chef (I guess he was a chef, he prepared their meal?) was great though, I would like to know where he got his water bottle because I want one in my kitchen too. The scallops looked AMAZING - they were huge! Too bad everything on Hibachi was slathered in garlic butter, or I might have had to get me a little taste of the deliciousness. Kim and I shared several sushi rolls.

Tiger Roll - Salmon and tuna inside with tuna, salmon and eel, eel sauce and crunchy on top

Scorpion Roll - Shrimp tempura, cheese, green onion, cucumber, jalapeno, topped with avocado, crab stick, and flying fish egg

 
Rainbow Roll (pictured above, right side) - California roll wrapped with sashimi and avocado
 
Los Angeles Roll (pictured above, left side) - Snow crab, mayo, masago, avocado, cucumber ***Let me just say that the snow crab featured in the Los Angeles roll is actually Krab with a "k." Yeah, we rolled in high-style last night!
 
I learned something last night about myself: I'm not a fan of sashimi. I mean, last night the sashimi was too thick. There were "steaks" of salmon that would have been perfect portion-size for someone's Hibachi entree. I think my omega-3 intake for the month was consumed last night, geesh!

As for the movie, it was good. I liked the book better. I have to wonder though: what would a person think - who had not read the book - about the movie? Would they understand it?

Like the book, the trips to Italy, India, and Bali are separate and their own stories. Gilbert's story could be printed into three books and portrayed into three movies. The transition is abrupt. As for the experience: I loved it!

Note to General Hospital fans: James Franco is in this movie. He totally surprised me too. I was wondering, "where's the dead bodies and crime scene art?" Weird, apologies for my diversion.

I wish I had more Italian in my genes....maybe I would enjoy the journey of life more. Perhaps I could become a master of il bel far niente - a sweet Italian expression that means "the beauty of doing nothing." Although, most recently, I have gotten good at doing nothing!

Thanks to the girls that made Girls' Night so much fun: Kim H., L.D., M.J., C.Z., and D.K. We have to do it more often - and invite more friends!!!!!!!

Note to Premiere Cinema: turn the volume DOWN.