Best of Karate Chop Chop

For most people it was Karate Kid that made them aspire to "wax on, wax off."   But for me it was one particular episode of The Flintstones with Dr. Sinister and the "Ah Judo chop chop" that Barney and Fred deploy to escape him that made me fall in love with martial arts.   Who knew it could be that easy!

It was with great ceremony that I took Zayne to his first karate class.   We had the karate outfit - no idea what it's really called - surely not karate outfit, but either way, I loved that it was white.   We show up and the first thing I saw is a row of women, dressed like they were going to an Oprah show, smacking their lips with gloss.   All of them were fluffing their ta tas and frankly I was a little taken aback showing up in my get up.

Their gaze rested on the Sensei, who was SENSEI-tional :-)   He was taking off his jacket and it was as if his muscles were revealing themselves in slow motion.   It didn't take long before I joined the ranks of the mommies smacking their lips and fluffing their _ _ _ _ (rhymes with lips :-).   All in the name of our kids, of course.

My joy was short lived.   The eye candy was to become an eye sore when I saw Zayne had no aptitude for using his ears to actually listen.   When Sensei said "los" all the kids jumped up and ran except Zayne.   He wandered casually down all while checking himself out in the mirrors along the side of the wall.

We went back enough times to see if Zayne would take to Karate.  It wasn't meant to be.  But that was last year.   It seems Zayne is way happier with ski poles in hands instead of running barefoot - Indian traitor - but I think Karate deserves another shot.

The Sensei is fantastic, truly.   The classes are easy to get to and the timings are great.   Check the calendar on the website.

If I recall correctly you can pay for 1 month, 3 months or 6 months.

I look forward to you joining me on mommy row soon.   By the way I go to the one in the 9th district.

Smiles,
Ruchika

Karate Samurai
http://www.kyokushin.at/
For times and locations go to "Zeiten und Orte" on the website menu

Locations:

1090, Roßauer Lände 27	1130, Amalienstrasse 31
1040, Rienößlg. 4/1	1230, Alma Seidler Weg 2
1160, Brüßlgasse 18	2130, Mistelbach

Best of Romance

Spring is here, the birds are chirping outside my window and the sun is shining again. Romance and pollen are in the air!


Nothing is more romantic than walking Vienna hand in hand, to Schwarzenberg Platz to admire the fountain. What is it about water gushing up, ejaculating to the sky that makes us love it so :-) Sit for a while and let the wind dust you with the tiny beads.

Walk to the ring, sit outside at Cafe Schwarzenberg and order a melange. The sun hits the outdoor seating at around noon and stays a while. Don't eat a thing there (yuck) and don't sit inside (it has an old person odor), but enjoy a melange and lazy conversation in the sun.

Walk the ring to the Opera, go into The Albertina to see just one painting - pick one to admire and walk away. I find nothing sexier than watching my husband watching art. The silence, the space, the immense creativity, the soft light, the love of beauty all make for a breathtaking experience.

Make a left to Naschmarkt and admire Klimt's Secession building from the outside. It is stunning. Don't go inside, there isn't much to see. But stop and contemplate the words written on top "to every age its art, and to art its freedom."

Then walk Naschmarkt. It is the largest farmers market in Europe and the left side is all the produce and on the right are make shift restaurants that use those fresh ingredients. It is a sensory delight. Men and women shout out offering you a taste of their wares. Enjoy.

After the first traffic light move to the right aisle and make your way to Te Wa. Sit outside if possible unless you want to smell like the bottom of an ashtray. Order anything on the menu. Order what I do - the hummus platter. Oh heaven. It's all organic and all yummy.

Bri enjoys a tall beer as we sit for hours talking and people watching. It's the best place for people watching because the walls of all the restaurants at Naschmarkt are made of glass.

If you go there on a Saturday then make sure to walk further to the flea market. Close your eyes and listen to all the languages making music with each other.

The buildings that flank the right of the flea market are done in the Art Nouveau style and just make you smile. To think of big flowers painted in the most delicate colors gracing each window..sigh. Wouldn't you love to be the face peering out?!

Just writing about this walk has made me want to read poetry. "What imagination seizes as Beauty must be truth," said Keats.  And the truth is this. Make time for romance. It is beautiful.

Kim Kocht Kicks Ass!

The most mouthwatering, exotic adventure awaits your taste buds at Kim's. There are no menus, there is a lengthy questionnaire to fill out prior to showing up and reservations are a must, but when you step in to the intimate space and are greeted by Kim herself, the trek is worth it.

Reaching the summit of culinary ecstasy is delicious. It's Asian infused seafood and Kim is an inventor of incredible proportions. Last week we were treated to tuna sashimi three ways, with three sauces ranging from bitter, to sour to sweet and were told to go left to right. Seriously the yum is in the details.

It's expensive, but really it is a two hour experience in the passionate hands of a master craftswoman. You feel cared for, tended to and the happy ending (Lemongrass creme brulee) is happier than any I have ever had.

So don't think, just do it. Pick up the phone and call Kim. And after the meal, you can write me to say THANK YOU :-)

A tip - if you don't want to wait months to get a table, ask for the early 6 - 8 pm seating. You are sure to get in within a week. And really you want to have the rest of the evening to talk about the meal in bite by bite detail.

Enjoy!
Ruchika

Kim Kocht

www.kimkocht.at

Lustkandlgasse 4
1090 Wien, Austria
+43 (01) 319 02 42