Date night is back! And this time, it's Tokyo-Style
I remember, back in 2008, returning to work at Swarovski when Lulu and Friso were about six months old.
Johan and I were fully prepared and extremely proud of ourselves. We believed that we were fully organised - completely ready to take on newborn twins and full time careers.
We had a live-in nanny, on-line grocery delivery, the paediatrician on speed dial and the promise to one another that, above all else, Johan and I would make sure that we would take time for us.
We instituted date night right from the beginning and fully committed to it.
We tried.
I can even remember my co-workers giving me a voucher to an Italian restaurant in Zürich as a birthday gift my first year back. We really tried to keep that promise that we made to one another. But life and obligation and loads of stuff I cannot even remember got in the way.
The whole situation was awkward and new and exhausting and despite what I am sure were our best efforts, date night vanished.
I don’t even remember it ending. When did it stop? Did we even try?
Over the years, Johan and I began selecting our evenings out with a bit too much consideration. Our spontaneity seemed to have vanished with the addition of little ones to our family.
The thing is….and those who know me will agree... I am, at heart, a bit of a homebody.
I am happy to stay in with a bottle of red and a good book. I love sitting on my terrace, listening to the sounds of the world around me. I write, I read, I cook…. I enjoy the silence in the house as the children are sleeping peacefully. I enjoy the time to decompress and think. This is my slow-time.
So it was, perhaps, a bit of a lethal combination – a self-proclaimed homebody, new mother and career girl. The natural instincts kick in and, in my case, I found myself thinking more about my family and my business than about me. Or myself and Johan.
We see our new life in Japan as a journey.
It has given us the opportunity to embark on many new changes in our lives. While the changes are deep and the journey is long, there is one thing Johan and I fully agree on:
Date night is back! And this time, it’s going to be Tokyo-style.
Although I am not even sure what that means “Tokyo-style” I am set to define it. I see date night as a vital, gratifying ingredient to my experience over the next three years. Date night is important to me, and to us.
High heels, evening handbags, makeup….I have even, finally, bought a jewellery cupboard so there are no excuses why I don’t throw on those gorgeous pieces I collected for so many years.
Bring on date night!
Five months in to our exploration of Tokyo and we have had some exceptional experiences. With so many choices and our new attitude, we are set to eat, reconnect and take time away from everything – time for us.
We have been lucky enough to eat in many amazing restaurants.... Zurriola, Kyubey, Burgaz Ada, just to name a few. While I have loved (almost!) all of them, I have some favourites, for re-lighting the dating fire. Here are two:
Cedros, 1-32-3 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo
I booked Cedros for Johan’s birthday at the end of June. I was particularly excited about it for two reasons. One, they have a sister bar called Cabin in Naka-Meguro which I was itching to go to for a pre-dinner drink. And number two, because I had heard that the two-brother team was rocking the Californian – Japanese food fusion.
The minute we cycled up to the restaurant, I knew I would love it. Cedros is a small space with 6 tables, a bar seating area and an open kitchen. We sat down, ordered some wine and let the brothers charm us.
The menu, I can only describe as "crave-able". I personally have ordered the burrata, truffle and lobster salad each time I have been there - both on date night and each time I have returned. (If you don't know me, I am an incredibly boring creature of habit.) I have never, ever had one dish that included almost all of my favourite ingredients, like the burrata. The wonton, the poppers, the soft shell crab..... and back to lobster.....in the risotto.
For Johan and I, this evening was unexpected, in the best way possible. We felt totally taken care of, warmed by the delicious Sauvignon Blanc, satiated fully by the dinner and the sweet birthday treats after the meal.
Casita Hilltop, 1-9-2 Azabu Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Casita was special to me for one very weird reason - I had been in a terrible mood. For days. My grumpy mood was a real date night buzz-kill.
But Johan was trying very hard to snap me out of it - and with a little help from Casita, it worked. You see, this is the kind of restaurant you want to goto if you need a bit of a holiday charm, in the city. Something to relax you, make you step out of your own skin. slow down and take a moment. Oddly, right in the centre of town.
Once we entered into Casita, took in the reflections from the swimming pool on the palms (yes, a pool inside the restaurant - sounds very Ibiza, right?), ordered a bottle of the (very reasonably priced) Laurrent Perrier and gazed at the views from the roof-top, it was easy to see how wonderful life is. Add to this a view onto the city sky line, complete with Tokyo tower, et voila!
Aside from bubbles and city views, Casita offers sweet and considerate service. Our waiter, Don, was attentive and kind - and even ran out for fresh spinach when the kitchen didn't have any!
A good friend in Zürich told me that the first thing I should do when I landed in Tokyo was to find a great babysitter. And she was right.
Making that a priority was a very good thing and one of the reasons we can enjoy all our new city has to offer.
There are a thousand websites which can tell you where to have dinner next Saturday evening….but these are the spots where Johan and I re-learned how to date.
I would love to hear about your favourite date night locations. What can you recommend?