Saturday's Axis Powers

I spent Saturday with WWII's Axis Powers of Japan, Italy, and Germany.

First, a mea culpa. For the second time in this vegan quest I ate something non-vegan. Obviously, by accident, just like those tiny, white cheese shavings in my salad last month.

JAPAN
For lunch I ordered from one of the best Sushi restaurants on the East Side, Ten Zen. They do a marvelous "healthy roll" of vegetables wrapped in mango slices. I also ordered a asparagus and avocado roll, and a avocado and peanuts roll - all with brown rice. When it arrived I happily indulged, and after eating one piece I had a strange sensation -- this was good, a little too good. I realized they made a mistake and sent me an avocado and eel roll. So, that was mistake I corrected. Although many will say, "Oh, who cares? One tiny sliver of eel. No big deal." Well, it was an honest mistake, true, and there is nothing terribly unhealthy about a small piece of eel, but I hate making a mistake like that because I have gotten great joy in eating nothing but a strict vegan diet for these past 3 months without withdrawals, or any sneaking of meat, fish, or dairy. Many people say that it is "impossible" for them to give up, say, dairy, or meat, or fish. Not true! If I can do it, anyone, ANYONE, can do it!

ITALY
For dinner, the Skeptical Doctor, ("SD") and I went Italian. Not just any Italian, but some good old school, Sinatra's favorite eatery, Italian. PATSY's (The restaurant, not the pizza parlor). Whereas most of the authentic Italian deli's and casual restaurants in Manhattan are an endangered species, there a plenty of family-owned, upscale, great Italian restaurants. My favorite? Il Mulino. Patsy's was good (they now bottle their spaghetti sauce and sell them in grocery stores like other classic Italian places like Rao's). "SD" had the broccoli rabe over whole wheat spaghetti, and I had the whole wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce. The takeaway here is that Patsy's serves the best whole wheat pasta I've had to date. Only some Italian places serve it, and it is becoming more popular, but had we not known it was whole wheat, we would have never known. The salad was tasty but it was "drowned" in Balsamic vinaigrette - too much.

GERMANY
In weather reminiscent of what was experienced by all the heroic souls who braved the hellish Battle of the Bulge (including my grandfather, K.I.A., may he rest in peace), we walked off our meal in frigid 18 degree weather (-7 Celsius). First we stopped for coffee and soy milk, and then headed to Lincoln Plaza to see the German film, The White Ribbon. A favorite to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. As a budding film writer I am thinking that the best way to garner accolades from critics is to make a film as disturbing and unclear as possible. The casting and acting were excellent, and it was beautifully shot in black and white. But, in the end it was just too disturbing for complete enjoyment.

This 3 month anniversary is certainly not lost on me, and I will have more to say later.