Mike and I been gently settling into our life here in Tokyo. We’re spending the days wandering and eating, going to the awesome 100 yen stores – like a dollar store, but better – and generally having a blast. The other day I did laundry for the first time before we went out on an epic walk. Halfway through, after pausing by a flower store to squee over the cuteness, I gasped.

Me: Where’s my pudding pot? The one I wanted to use as a mini vase?!

Mike: I don’t know, you were the one that packed it…wait, is it in the laundry? I was wondering what that thumping noise was.

Me: AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yeah, okay, here’s what happened. We spent our first week in Japan traveling to Hiroshima, Kobe, and Mount Fuji. In Kobe, I bought a pudding – they’re known for pudding in Kobe! I ate it, it was delicious, and it came in a cute little earthenware pot. I washed the pot out to keep as a memento and decided to put it in with our dirty laundry, thinking that it would pad and protect it. Mike did warn me that it was a bad idea, but I thought it was perfect!

Anyway, when we got to our place in Tokyo, I emptied out our laundry into the machine and I guess I kinda sort of didn’t realize that I put the pot in with the laundry? The funny thing was, we did keep hearing this thumping noise, but I was like, eh, must be nothing. I was actually really worried when we figured out where the pot was. We were about an hour and a half away from our place and we didn’t really want to take the train home. But, fear not, the pot was ok! It didn’t break into a million pieces or start a laundry fire or anything! If anything, our clothes came out softer?

This story has nothing to do with this post, really. What it does illustrate is how much I love Mike’s reactions to things. Whenever I do something questionable, he doesn’t freak out. He is the calm to my frantic, the chill to my fire, the steak to my fries. We’re better together and I love him unabashedly and wholeheartedly.

So, in a little ode to Mike, I made him steak and fries. Steak frites is one of our things together. On our first ever trip overseas (Europe!) we went to Relais de L’entrecote in Paris, a place that does steak frites and only steak frites. It’s a huge tourist trap, there are lines, and it’s kind of kitschy, but it’s absolutely delicious and the secret recipe green sauce is addictive. We lined up in the rain, made it in, dried off over juicy steak and crispy fries; the outside world was wet and dark, inside it was warm, cozy and candle lit. It was insanely romantic and it’s no surprise that we both have a soft spot for steak and fries.

Thus, this bone-in, pan seared steak with curry fries! I went with a lemongrass curry sauce in a nod to Mike’s love for Vietnamese curry and curly fries because curly fries are his fave. The steak’s done uber rare because it’s the only way Mike eats steak. It’s a celebration meal right up Mike’s alley. Happiest of birthdays to my best friend, partner-in-crime, and favorite person to overeat with! I love you :)

PS – How awesome are the photos on the blog lately? It’s because Mike’s been taking them :) Hip hip hooray!

PPS – I wanted to update you guys on the pot. I just broke it. I’m heartbroken. I was reaching in the cupboard so I could make some tea and I knocked it over :(