How to Make Nice With Your Wife Through Japanese Food

As a businessman, I get to enjoy perks and privileges not a lot of people can experience in their lifetime. One of these is being able to travel overseas to meet clients, strengthen bonds with partners, and oversee projects that my company has established in faraway places.  Of course, these experiences have gotten me away from my family, so I do miss them at lot. But I also have to count my blessings and consider that these experiences have made me a more well-rounded person and have exposed me to so many thing I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Just a month ago, I finally went to Japan to strike a deal with potential investors. Oh, the place was just fantastic! I got to experience the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but our Japanese hosts also took us on a tour to the countryside, which was only an hour away from the city, thanks to those superfast trains the Japanese have. I went back to the States quite overwhelmed with the experience, but so glad to be with my family again.

If only my wife were that excited as I was. She was very quiet when I told everyone about things in Japan over dinner. The sights, the sounds, and yes, especially the food! That was some delicious and exotic food we had. I also couldn’t help but feel healthy because we were served a lot of seafood, lean meat, and veggies! Then, when we were finally alone, she confessed to getting irritated because I wouldn’t stop talking about Japan. But really, can anyone blame me about being excited about the whole thing?

Well, nobody blamed me all right, but I sure received really cold treatment during the next few days. My wife gave me monosyllabic answers when we talk! I knew I had to get out of this fix, but how? Then, I suddenly thought, how about if I treat my wife to a romantic dinner in a Japanese restaurant? That way, she could also get to taste the things I’ve been raving about for the past week. But the question is, where do I get really good Japanese food without going broke in San Francisco?  

   
After soon reading on restaurant reviews on the Web, I finally settled on this place that’s supposed to serve great Japanese food and offer spectacular sights of San Francisco bay. So, Hana Zen it was for a dinner at the water front for my wife to talk to me again. Well, having tasted the authentic thing from the source, I kept my expectations at a manageable level, both at the scenery (I’ve lived in San Francisco for twenty years, so what really could impress me about its sights?) and the food.

So, I was genuinely surprised with both when we finally arrived in the Pier 39 store of Hana Zen. It was breathtaking, indeed! I have never seen San Francisco from this vantage point, and the panoramic windows of the restaurant allowed us to bathe in the twinkling lights of the bay. And when we finally got to our food, I have to say, I was impressed. Hana Zen’s chef got the flavors just about right, something I would never think could be done outside Japan.

It’s great to know that Hana Zen also has a restaurant in the city center, which should be perfect for casual dining or for taking my Japanese counterparts when it’s their turn to visit us here. As for my wife, the dinner by the bay plan was a success. In fact, it was so successful, she now can’t stop talking about Japanese food and dropping hints about joining me in my next trip to Japan. I’m taking it one victory at a time, so I’m just glad she’s talking to me again, and how!

Hana Zen for a Breathtaking Japanese Food Fix

If there’s anything my husband and I agree on, that would be hankerings for not-so-usual food. It is actually good that we have very diverse tastes, because it allows for everything – from going to exotic fruit hunts at night to visiting foreign countries and tasting tripe, innards, and different things most people may find inedible or simply disgusting. It doesn’t surprise us when one day, out of the blue, one of us will just suddenly surprise the other by declaring we should have dinner at the water front for some seafood. After all, we are proud residents of San Francisco, and we take advantage of its proximity to the wonders of the sea.

One day, though, we both had our sights set on different things. I had a craving for Japanese food, while he was thinking of having an intimate romantic dinner with a splendid view of the San Francisco bay.  Now, that was a bit of a challenge, right? We would have to look for a restaurant that serves Japanese with a view in the wharf area that would have an aura of intimacy.

So, we headed off to the Bay area, just in time to see the glorious sunset. It was simply breathtaking to watch the sparkle of the water going all around the edges of the Golden Gate Bridge. It looked like a golden crown! The sunset, the bridge, and just the quiet simplicity of it all made us appreciate the drive, because it was still quite far from the tourist trap of Tendernob. We know there were good Japanese restaurants in that area, but we were sure we do not want to pay such a steep price and get lost in a sea of camera and shopping bag-tagging crowds.  

We finally decided we were going to have our intimate dinner by the bay in Pier 39, in a restaurant called Hana Zen. What struck me were the panoramic windows of the restaurant that overlook at the breathtaking sights! Whether you’re there on a casual dining binge or a romantic dinner, you can’t help but feel a certain intimacy because of the amazing scenery you can appreciate from inside the restaurant. With its delectable selection of Japanese staples and some fusion dishes, my craving for some really good sashimi was satisfied.

Another thing that really made our visit to Hana Zen quite memorable was the great service we got. The attendants were really knowledgeable of what they were serving and did not keep on intruding and disturbing us while my husband and I were having our moments. I really do not appreciate those waiters that keep on butting in to do something like refilling drinks or taking out plates on the table when you are supposed to be having a romantic dinner. That really spoils the mood! I know they are only doing their job, but that can be a real drag!

So, for anyone with a sudden craving for great Japanese food and spectacular scenery, go to Hana Zen. The specialty rolls and the sushi, plus of course, the sashimi are top notch. You definitely won’t regret coming!