Visual Lunch Diary: 7 Bold Shots from Bistro Quatre Avril

Hi there! Today, I’m sharing 7 photos of the main dishes from the lunch menu at Bistro Quatre Avril, the place I often feature on this blog☆

"Ready? Let's feast your eyes!"

❶ November 3, 2024

Special de chef: Macaroni façon paella

<本日のスペシャル>シーフードたっぷりのマカロニのパエリア

❷ November 19, 2024

Entrecote sautée SP sauce avec gratin dauphinois

ビーフステーキ スペシャルソース グラタンドフィノワ添え

❸ January 21, 2025

Gratin de fruits de mer <限定>シーフードと野菜のグラタン

❹ February 11, 2025

Hachis parmentier

アッシパルマンティエ（マッシュポテトとひき肉のグラタン）

❺ February 25, 2025

Escalope de porc panné sauce Milanaise avec pate

エスロカップ（ミラノ風カツレツ）パスタ添え

❻ March 20, 2025

Poulet roti à la provençale sauce BBQ avec gratin dauphinois

ローストチキン プロヴァンス風 BBQソース グラタンドフィノワ添え

❼ April 26, 2025

Special du jour: Roast-beef servir avec pureé de marron, topinambour et pomme de terre

<本日のスペシャル>ローストビーフ 栗と菊芋とジャガイモのピュレとともに

That’s it for this Visual Lunch Diary — I’ve shared 7 shots from my recent lunches. I hope you enjoyed this series of delicious moments😀

You can check out my previous post about Quatre Avril here:

Not a Bakery Croissant, but Bistro Quatre Avril’s Deeply Satisfying Handmade One.

Stay tuned—I'll keep bringing you Quatre Avril's powerful yet elaborate dishes through the impactful photos!

My Favorite Way to Enjoy Hot Biscuits: Day Two Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Birmingham

Here’s a look at my Day Two breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express in Birmingham, Michigan!

I grabbed a cinnamon roll, a biscuit, hash browns, a sausage patty, and omelets (one egg white veggie, one regular). A banana too! Fresh coffee is a must ❤︎ of course, and a little orange juice.

♪ A plate loaded with all my handpicked favorites ♪

Here’s the post that really focuses on the signature cinnamon roll from Day One.

→Holiday Inn Express Breakfast Day One—Plus the Sweet Story Behind the Cinnamon Rolls

Right now, let me show you my favorite way to enjoy this breakfast. I love making a little sandwich by putting the sausage patty inside the warm biscuit. The mildly sweet biscuit with a bit of syrup on top plus the savory sausage makes a sweet-and-salty combo absolutely irresistible.

I’ll keep enjoying my style of having a warm biscuit with a sausage patty inside😊

+*+*+* A little side story +*+*+*

I had three different mini chocolates from Whole Foods on the dresser, just for the cuteness, planning to enjoy them one by one… but somehow, one of them mysteriously disappeared.

The one that went missing was the blue coconut milk chocolate, which was such a letdown for me. The only small silver lining is that coconut isn’t really my favorite, but still, coming back to the room and finding it gone was a total shock😳 When I told Collie, he was surprised too and said it might be because I didn’t leave much of a tip—though of course, that still doesn’t make it okay. I even asked AI about it, and it said that small treats sometimes get eaten by the housekeeping staff, so if you don’t want them to disappear, it’s best to put them away… which honestly left me with mixed feelings😔

I once read that in a survey of Americans, about 70% said they don’t leave a pillow tip, so I figured even one dollar would be better than nothing. Still, the next day I decided to leave two dollars. Collie said I really should leave at least three dollars, or even five, but coming from Japan, where there’s no tipping culture, two dollars seemed like all I could manage.

So, I’m off to Kroger now.  Stay tuned for my little exploration report next time!

Small Joys, Gentle Steps

**Quiet Blessings and a New Year’s Rhythm

After spending the New Year holidays with my family, I’m back in my own place now, slowly settling into my quiet, everyday rhythm again. How has your New Year begun, I wonder?

On my visits to my mother's, I often come back home with wild yuzus and summer citruses she’s picked for me.

A glass bowl with yuzus and summer citruses, placed quietly in my room

When something becomes ordinary, we tend to stop seeing its beauty. But the fact that I can see the world with my eyes, hear its sounds, speak with my voice, and walk on my own feet to the places I go every day — that’s something truly precious.

And owning the home I live in is one of the quiet joys in my life. It came at just the right time — a sanctuary where I can slow down and breathe. While I hadn’t always expected to be living on my own, if I were to do so, I wanted to live in a lively city. I’m not rich, but this modest, renovated apartment has given me the city life I hoped for in this current chapter of my life.

That little mini pumpkin from back then — I got one for myself.

I’m learning that it’s okay not to push myself. For example, if I give my heart to someone and they don’t respond in kind, I think it’s necessary to step back a little — to protect my heart and let it rest. I shouldn’t accept being treated that way as normal. I am someone who deserves to be treated with more care and kindness.

I’ve already given so much of my love. That’s truly enough.

Sometimes it’s good to step back and see things through a different lens. When I feel hurt or unseen, I don’t have to keep giving my heart endlessly. I can rest. I want to remember the quiet blessings around me: the soft light in my cozy room, the warmth of coffee, the view of the city and sky from the window. I don’t need to be perfect or do big things. Just living gently, noticing small joys, and being kind to myself — that’s how I want to move through this year.

Wishing you peace and beauty in your day, Rose

Come to the Table: PIME Missionary Fr. Piero Masolo's 'From Heart to Heart' Story

Before I left Japan for Michigan, Collie came up with the idea that I might like to go to a fundraising dinner. When I told him I’d love to, he bought two tickets in advance and made a reservation for us. I had never been to a fundraiser in the U.S. before, so I wondered what it would be like.

I’d be talking with the other guests at the table, I realized. I should be ready to respond naturally in English. I’d like to leave a good impression as a Japanese person, if I can. Would they welcome me warmly, I wonder?

The dinner was scheduled for my second day in Michigan! As evening approached, Collie came to pick me up by car at the back entrance of the hotel. We hadn’t coordinated what to wear, so I just went with the outfit I had planned myself.

He complimented my outfit—phew😌. And I finally had a chance to wear my very first pair of about 3-inch heels, which had been sitting in my closet, waiting for a special occasion like this with him.

The PIME fundraising dinner on October 2, 2025, was held at the San Marino Club in Troy, Michigan. We arrived early and helped ourselves to a little bit from the appetizer corner before taking our seats.

The tables were round with assigned seating like this. I was nervous, but Kathy from the ITALIAN TRIBUNE, sitting to my right, was such a lively woman and spoke to me very friendly. The two men sitting across from me also welcomed me warmly. I introduced myself, saying I had just arrived in Michigan from Tokyo yesterday when I shook their hands, and surprised them.

And to my left was the reassuring presence of Collie. I couldn't quite keep up with the local topics between the locals...💦, but there I was, feeling relieved.

One of those cheerful men across from me was Fr. Piero Masolo, a PIME missionary. He even came over to me to talk and scrolled through his phone to show me photos of his friend—a Japanese woman living in Japan. He also showed me pictures of the girls he cares for so dearly. I was truly moved to see this priest enthusiastically searching through his photos just to share them with me.

The meal was served family-style, with large platters brought out one by one for each of us to share.

After returning to Japan, I read an article written by Fr. Piero Masolo in the PIME quarterly magazine MISSION WORLD (September/October 2025 issue) I had received that evening.

It was about his experience at 17 in Bogliasco (a beautiful village near Genoa, Italy). There was a woman named Maria Teresa, a friend of his relatives. She was kind, but there was something else, something special about her. Even though they were meeting for the first time, he felt like she already knew him. What she said applied perfectly to him, even though it wasn't directed at him specifically. This is weird! Maria Teresa was about to leave that place soon. He offered to accompany her to her car in the street—because he wanted to figure out why she seemed to know him so well. When he asked, she just smiled and handed him a book she had written.

He was curious and puzzled, so that same night he started reading it. It was entitled "From Heart to Heart." And that book brought him to tears—he sat there reading and crying. For the first time in his life, he felt Jesus' presence. His Heart was finally talking to his heart through Maria Teresa's words, and his heart started burning. Meeting Maria Teresa changed his life.

Fr. Piero Masolo likens his experience to the two disciples devastated by Jesus's death. They didn't realize the traveler walking and talking with them was Jesus himself. However, when the three sat down at the table together and the traveler took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, those two recognized him. This became proof of the Lord's resurrection. The first effects were their burning hearts. For Fr. Piero Masolo, the theological journey of those two disciples in the Gospel of Luke was embodied in his encounter with Maria Teresa.

Sad that my first-time event 3-inch heels are missing from the shot!😅

Back in Japan, I took another look at the PIME quarterly magazine and became curious about "From Heart to Heart" written by Maria Teresa, so I searched for it—but I couldn't find the book anywhere.

One of the cheerful men sitting next to Fr. Piero Masolo came over to me as the dinner ended and we left the table. He complimented me, told me to enjoy my time in Michigan, and shook my hand.

I'm so grateful to Collie for giving me this wonderful experience. If I ever have the chance to meet Fr. Piero Masolo again, I'd love to talk with him about "From (Jesus') Heart to (your) Heart."

"Were not our hearts burning while he spoke to us

on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Luke 24:32

The PIME U.S. Mission Center    www.PIMEusa.org 

27405 West 10 Mile Rd Farmington Hills, MI 48332

Not a Bakery Croissant, but Bistro Quatre Avril’s Deeply Satisfying Handmade One.

＊Light, flaky, elegant — the bakery way.

＊Satisfying, warm, homemade — the Quatre Avril way.

At my go-to bistro Quatre Avril, they serve lunch and dinner dishes, plus a changing selection of baked goods on display each day. Their croissant is one of my favorites — honestly, I’d be happy coming here just for coffee and a croissant. But since the place isn’t open all day, I usually enjoy it after having lunch there.

So why do I always eat it there instead of taking it home? Mainly because I don’t want to ruin the croissant on the way. And also, they warm it up just right — that perfect balance of crispy outside and soft, buttery inside. Plus, enjoying it as fresh as possible is one of the best things about having it at the café❤️

When I’m having a meal there, Chef Bosco often talks about what he’s thinking of creating next — it’s such a heartwarming sight, seeing his constant desire to try something new in the kitchen.

On this day, the croissant came with icing — sweet and very dessert-like♪

Croissants from specialist bakeries are made with machines in factories or shops, rolled thin and even — so they’re perfectly delicate. But the handmade croissants at a bistro like this are different: rolled and folded by hand, so the layers are a bit thicker, the shape a bit more relaxed. That’s exactly what makes them special — lovely butter flavor, a warm homemade feel, and that satisfying taste.

Bistro Quatre Avril is all about the cozy, everyday flavors of French home cooking. And their croissant, with that everyday kind of happiness, pairs perfectly with their special coffee beans, brought in just for the bistro.

Here’s my previous post about Bistro Quatre Avril if you like  ↓

Bistro Quatre Avril Lunch Diary: A Regular That’s Never Regular

⭐︎　⭐︎　⭐︎

This is my last post of 2025. Thank you so much for being part of this little journey with me.

Wishing you peace and beauty in the new year!

Please feel free to come back anytime in 2026 — I’d love to share more memories with you...

A sweet little lunch, sweet mistakes, and a warm cup of coffee ☕️

A small, happy moment at Holiday Inn Express, Birmingham, Michigan

After my morning exploring downtown, I headed back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, the storage space and shelves were dusty, so I had to wipe off the dust myself before I could put my things away and arrange them on the shelves. Since I’m staying here for six days, I want to arrange my everyday items in a comfortable, convenient way.

Another small letdown was that a certain part of the wallpaper was wrinkled and quite loose (I cropped that part out of the photo). It wouldn’t be an expensive repair, and once fixed, I think future guests could enjoy a much more pleasant and comfortable stay.

Still, I was really happy with the interior of my Holiday Inn Express guest room. Sitting at the desk facing the wall, with sunlight streaming in from the side, felt so open and peaceful. Staying in the hotel room itself also turned into a lovely, refreshing change from my everyday routine.

Like this, I set up my laptop from Japan and studied here too — did lots of searching as well.  

One of the best things about traveling is that just being somewhere different makes everything feel fresh and fun.

Then I came back to the room with fresh coffee from the breakfast area — there’s a coffee machine that’s available 24/7. I pulled out the mixed berries and Greek yogurt from Whole Foods, plus the Danish and muffin I grabbed to go from breakfast (sorry, I just wanted to enjoy it here just once!).

Turns out, the Danish and muffin were super sweet — way too sweet, couldn’t finish them…😅

Lesson learned: from now on, at the breakfast area, I’ll just stick to the freshly made warm items😊

So… at this hotel, I’ll skip the super-sweet stuff and just go for the warm, fresh biscuits and cinnamon rolls "at" the breakfast area😄

A Little Angel, Pink Roses, and Tender Struggles of the Heart.

✼  ✼  ✼  ✼  ✼  ✼  ✼ 

When I stayed at my mother’s house, I took her out for a modest birthday lunch. That day was her birthday, so I bought a stem of soft pink miniature roses. “They’re expensive — just one is enough,” she said, and I took her up on it, buying only a single stem. But that one stem had several side branches, each with its own tiny roses, so when I cut it short at her house, it became three little stems — like a small, delicate bouquet. I placed it beside the little porcelain angel she treasures at home.

Sometimes, I feel as though my mother treats me more like a helper than a daughter, or that she needs to put me down, or to declare that she’s “won” in some small way, in order to feel that she is worthwhile. And yet, I also know that pulling too far away to protect myself might leave me with regret later — because I’m so grateful that she is still here, alive, and that simple presence feels like a quiet miracle from God.

There’s a teaching from God : “Honour your father and your mother, even when they are wrong.”  I don’t always agree with them in everything, but I try to hold this teaching close, because I believe God is saying: honour them, even so, for there are still things in them worth respecting.  God’s teaching is profound.

What I’ve come to believe is this: the kindest thing I can do for her is to gently help her depend on me less, so she can find more joy in her own life. And for that, distance matters. Not cold distance, but a kind of space — close enough to feel the good things about her, far enough to protect my own heart.

I try to keep her good qualities close in my mind, and to accept that people don’t change in the ways we hope. Within that space, I look for balance.  If these reflections resonate with you even a little, may they gently encourage you on your own journey.

Wishing you a gentle and grace-filled Christmas. May this season remind you that even in complicated relationships, even in tender struggles, there is room for love, for growth, and for quiet miracles. May you carry light into the new year, and may your heart feel a little lighter, too.

✼  ✼  ✼  ✼  ✼  ✼  ✼

 

Michigan’s First Starbucks Reserve Bar in Birmingham’s Ford Building

This Starbucks is on the same street as sweetgreen and PARIS BAGUETTE. I recently learned that this impressive, historic-looking building is the Ford Building, constructed in 1896 by a local businessman named Frank Ford. The first tenant here was Levinson’s, the first department store in Birmingham, Michigan. Founded by Jewish immigrants Morris and Gitel Levinson, Levinson’s occupied the prominent corner space of the Ford Building as its main tenant.

101 N. Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009, U.S.A.

Today, that very corner is home to Starbucks, which opened there in 2017 as the first Starbucks Reserve Bar in Michigan. 

Starbucks Reserve Bar in Birmingham is an upscale version of Starbucks that focuses on high‑quality, small‑lot coffees and handcrafted drinks. Compared with a regular Starbucks, it offers exclusive Reserve beans, special brewing methods like pour‑over and nitro cold brew, and a more premium, lounge‑like atmosphere.

Historic plaque describing the history of the Ford Building

Although I didn’t get a chance to stop in this time, wandering around Birmingham led me to discover a piece of history I’d never noticed before, and now downtown Birmingham feels just a little more familiar and personal to me🌷

Adorable Mini Pumpkins in Whimsical Swirls of Nature's Wonder

Visiting my mother back home at dusk, I brought along some small decorative pumpkins and a mini bouquet as gifts.

Surrounded by these adorable mini pumpkins, the mini bouquet shimmered tenderly in the warm room light.

I arranged the mini bouquet and marveled at so much floral variety in one small bunch! Now, let's capture the pumpkins from another angle too.

The following day, in the soft morning light, I took fresh shots. These small decorative pumpkins fill me with wonder at nature's mysteries. How do such whimsical patterns emerge? Notice especially the one split in color between top and bottom.

Adorable mini pumpkins in whimsical swirls of nature's wonder. 

Around autumn, these adorable pumpkins of all varieties begin popping up around town. They keep delighting our eyes for over half a year, sometimes shifting in color along the way. Nature's wondrous creations leave us in awe, unable to do anything but marvel.

Scouting sweetgreen & PARIS BAGUETTE: Healthy Bites and Elegant Treats in Birmingham

After enjoying a morning stroll along Poppleton Street, it’s time to explore downtown Birmingham. Since I’ll be staying at a hotel here for several days, I want to get a good sense of the area on my own.

I wanted to get a clear picture of where sweetgreen and PARIS BAGUETTE are because they were the first places that caught my interest during my initial research. 

Let’s start by taking a closer look at PARIS BAGUETTE😀

PARIS BAGUETTE is a global bakery chain originating from Korea. Indeed, the Strawberry Soft Cream Cake especially seems to cater to Japanese tastes, with its fluffy sponge base and generous fresh cream. Every cake here has an elegant quality to it.

I’d love to try the EGG Salad Sandwich, and the packaging’s message, "Freshly made to make your day," is really heartwarming.

Their products are also appealing because they use fresh ingredients and keep additives to a minimum.

Cozy yet chic seating area inside PARIS BAGUETTE, downtown Birmingham, Michigan☕✨

Could it be that this bakery’s philosophy to French-style methods and natural flavors is also reflected in a twist on these American-style cookies?

Since I plan to have something sweet in my hotel room for lunch today, I'm just browsing here. I’ll definitely come back again because it’s such a lovely café!　Next up is...

.. sweetgreen, right next to PARIS BAGUETTE. I thought it would be a great choice to get plenty of vegetables and enjoy healthy meals during my stay in Birmingham, so I added it to my list of places to visit. This store seems to have locations all across the United States.

Customizing everything still feels a bit overwhelming for me, so yeah, this is it! When I come for a meal, I’ll just try the Autumn Harvest Bowl😙♪

I learned a wonderful story. At that time, campus cafeterias’ fast food was convenient but not healthy, while healthy food took time and was expensive. Graduates who believed in the power of real food redefined fast food for a new era: fast, convenient, delicious, and healthy. They also made it affordable. The first store was opened by these three university students in Washington DC. Their vision is now being realized nationwide in the U.S.

I’ve checked out two great spots, sweetgreen and PARIS BAGUETTE, and I memorized the route from my hotel. I’ll be sharing posts soon about my visits to each of these places. So please come back and visit my blog again♡　

Bistro Quatre Avril Lunch Diary: A Regular That’s Never Regular

Here’s another update in my Bistro Quatre Avril “Visual Lunch Diary” series ☆  

This time, I’m sharing a lunch featuring one of their regular menu items: the roast pork with special sauce, served with pasta.

Roast pork with special sauce, served with pasta

Longe de pork roti SP sauce avec pate

ローストポーク スペシャルソース パスタ添え

August 3, 2024

The classic version comes with a rich mushroom sauce, and the pasta is a delicate, ribbon-like rice pasta.

August 13, 2024

It looks almost like a luxurious steak, and this one comes with a white mushroom sauce.

August 31, 2024

Adorned with pink peppercorns, it has such a delicate, almost romantic feel…​

I used to love this fluttery, ribbon-like rice pasta, but apparently it’s no longer available.

October 10, 2024

There are days when it comes in slices like this ♪

The slightly pink pork and the pink peppercorns look so cute together.

Right after I snapped this photo, the chef added some veggies on top, haha.

This short pasta is rice-based as well, and the bouncy, chewy texture was really interesting. However, I don't get to see it either anymore.

March 6, 2025

There are also days when the pork is extra rich with fatty cuts.

And these days, the pasta that's usually served with it is wheat fettuccine.

How was that?

Even though it’s the same menu item, the details change from day to day, so every visit feels different. (And every version is delicious!) The pastas have almost no seasoning, yet they’re tasty enough to enjoy just by themselves. The pork and the sauces also vary depending on the day, so it’s always fun to see what they’ll be like this time.

Today’s post was a Visual Lunch Diary featuring one of Bistro Quatre Avril’s classic dishes: roast pork with special sauce, served with pasta!

Here’s the previous Bistro Quatre Avril Visual Lunch Diary ↓

Bistro Quatre Avril: Mains and Desserts to Brighten Your Day

◆ Quick Update ◆

I’ve switched my mobile carrier from BIGLOBE Mobile to Rakuten Mobile. The trigger was the upcoming price increase for basic landline phone service. I’ve had a landline for as long as I can remember, so it feels a bit sad to let it go…(..。But since calls within Japan are free when I use the Rakuten Link app (even from abroad!), I decided to go with Rakuten Mobile. So from now on, I’ll be using my smartphone for all my calls. ☺

Homes, Greenery, and Quiet Wonder — A Morning around Poppleton Street, Birmingham

After enjoying my first breakfast at the Holiday Inn, I stepped out for a morning stroll along Poppleton Street. It’s the kind of walk that feels like a tiny adventure — simple, quiet, yet full of small discoveries.

I wanted to walk along Poppleton Street again, to relive the memories it holds in the stillness of the morning. It was a stroll that began around nine thirty that morning.

Birmingham is said to be one of the most desirable places to live in Michigan. I used to walk around here often, admiring the many charming houses along the streets. The sense of peace and the harmony between the greenery and the homes are what make it even more beautiful.

Oh, I remember this house! It really feels as if I’ve slipped back in time. Even while I was far away in Japan, the world of Birmingham has stayed just as lovely as I remember.

This is the house Collie pointed out last evening when we were walking together, saying, “Look, a pink house over there.”  I had planned to come back on my own the next morning to take some photos of it at a slower pace.  

I find myself wondering what stories might be unfolding inside — it really sparks my imagination.

Just off Poppleton Street, I came across another beautiful scene like this. An elegant house, adorned with delicate flowers, stood gracefully behind the veil of rich greenery — such a charming sight.

In this way, the quiet residential streets of Birmingham always bring me a sense of peace and quiet wonder. For me, it’s not the well-known tourist spots that refresh my spirit, but these serene neighborhoods — where nature and everyday life blend together, and where I can see so many beautiful homes unlike any in Japan.

Softly Melting, Deep Sweetness of Mont Blanc in Winter's Quiet

As the year draws to a close, recalling Angelina's Mont Blanc in my heart, I softly ponder: what have I truly accomplished this year?

December 5th—autumn has slipped away, and winter season has quietly arrived.

ANGELINA Mont-Blanc Demi(Half-size) at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado

The moist, chestnut sweetness lingers in memory, whispering lessons of life's fleeting yet warm transience.

This year, my goal of traveling to America came true; I replaced my long-used computer and smartphone with new ones, and Father's third memorial passed peacefully...  Now, I notice a calm settling in my heart.

Two years approach since leaving the company, yet this sense of freedom and quiet is new to me. With duties fulfilled, surely my heart has shifted—from past experiences—to a phase befitting now: cherishing my own time.

It simply required time.

The dream of mastering English lies still far ahead. Yet, because of the effort I've put in, I shouldn't lose confidence.

Like pure white cream, I try not to forget pure softness. Now, my heart feels gently freed by the flow of time, arising from those very struggles.

Cherishing myself, from lessons lived through action, I step forward anew—toward the self deepening next year.