Want to know a secret?  Before I moved to New York, I had no idea what Japanese cuisine and culture consisted of beyond sushi and hot sake.  After spending a few years here, all the great Japanese food is one of my favorite things about the city.  Granted, I still don’t really know which places are authentic and which aren’t (Emma’s our authority on that one), but what I do know is that there is some really terrific food available at Japanese places all over the city.  I have a favorite soba place, a favorite katsu place, a favorite ramen place…

Today I’d like to share with you one of my favorite blocks.  East 9th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, is a powerhouse of great Japanese places that are totally worth a visit.  There are terrific Japanese places all over the city, but it’s hard to beat this block for sheer density.

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Looking to pick up something new for lunch?  Try out the crab club sandwich at The Lobster Place.

The Lobster Place has two locations, one on Bleecker and one in the Chelsea Market.  Although it’s primarily a fishmonger, the Chelsea Market location is set up for takeout for the lunch crowd, with a sushi counter at the front, a row of cauldrons of seafood soups, and a sandwich counter at the back doing made to order sandwiches to supplement the ready-made wraps and salads in the cases.  I’ve sampled a couple of the wraps and on occasion picked up some of their very solid lobster salad for an elegant dinner, but my favorite by far is the crab club.  The crab club consists of great crab salad (lightly lemony, entirely delicious), lettuce, tomato, bacon, and avocado, panini pressed on white or wheat bread for $9.95.  Yeah, there are cheaper sandwiches to be had in the city, but the crab club is a treat. They have a variety of other sandwiches available on order too, but frankly, I can’t tell you about any of them because I am far too taken by the crab club to give it up for something else just yet.

So next time you’re passing by the Chelsea Market, step in and grab one.  While you’re waiting for your sandwich to be made, check out the gorgeous displays of fish filets, oysters, and other treats from below the waves.  (Personally, I never say no to a nice briny Malpeque.)  You may find yourself picking up something for dinner too while you’re at it.

Lily just apologized for having spent yesterday in a hung over mass falling half over the edge into her exhibit’s pond. I’m just going to step up right now and apologize in advance.  By Thursday afternoon, I anticipate being an incoherent puddle of goo, fit only to ooze slowly from room to room in my apartment, desperately seeking hydration.

Why?  Emma is coming into town on Wednesday for a flying 20-hour visit to the Big Apple, during which time she anticipates getting her hair cut, visiting three different fine dining establishments, and running me, Betsy, and anyone else available into the ground.  Let me say to begin with that Emma is fun.  Lots of fun.  You can’t imagine how much fun Emma is.  However, visits with Emma invariably leave you impoverished, with a headache the size of Texas, shaking with palsy in every limb, and vowing never to eat again.  At least until the next time she shows up. During her visit to the city last summer, a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was instituted with regard to our credit card bills and was much needed.  It worked for both of us (although I’m less sure as to how Em’s husband felt about it).   A typed three page schedule was necessary to keep track of all the reservations and important chocolate shop locations.

On the tentative schedule for this time around?  The bar at the Four Seasons, Roy Teeluck Salon, Caviar Russe, Sugiyama, and Balthazar.  We’ll be reporting back… but probably not until Friday.  Or maybe Saturday.  Wish me luck!