A Hen and a Jiraffe

Last night was Stephanie's Hen's Night. Though she and Jason are officially married, their American ceremony is coming up in January, and tonight was the ladies' night that has been in the planning since May. Clearly, I was far from in the mood to go out and be social, but I was able to rally and at least get myself out the door for the festivities. The plan? To have dinner in Santa Monica and then karaoke at Max's Karaoke Studio. I had never been to Max's, but it was much like the traditional karaoke places in Japan, where you rent a private room by the hour. Naturally, here in LA, the place was a bit shadier than those in Osaka and Kobe, but it was still a lot of fun. However, the highlight for me was definitely dinner!

We dined at Jiraffe. I've been there before for Phil's birthday, so I knew that the food was outstanding. But right now, they are catering to folks who are headed to see the Cirque de Soleil in Santa Monica, so they have a Prix Fixe Menu for $44. With that, you get a choice of three appetizers, three entrees and three desserts. And after enjoying my own meal (and sampling the dishes of those around me), I was reminded of how good a fancy restaurant can be! So, the next time you are looking for a swanky night out (I'm thinking '12 Dates of Christmas,' Carmen!), definitely check out Jiraffe. It's well worth it!