You Want to Know What's A Big Damn Mistake?
Apart from the whole Obama election of course? Starting a web search about sharpening Japanese knives, that's what. It leads to such places as the Japanese Food Report which makes me: First - hungry at 11:00pm, Second - desirous of accumulating a whole slew of ingredients that I don't have on hand (I am now in dire need of katsuobushi), Third - misty with nostalgia for a childhood of delicious Japanese treats and Finally - trepid that I don't have the capacity to cook those wonderful foods.
The great thing about it all is that it drives creativity. The leading picture of thinly sliced beef wrapped around scallions and grilled sets my mind on fire. What would make this exceptional? Hoisin brushed over the exterior? A red miso paste with a dash of mirin inside with the scallions? I love the spicy sprouts as well, which stand by themselves but would a flavored rice go with this? A plain white rice? Would a miso soup starter preclude the idea of using miso in the dish itself?

So, as manifold as the awful things such late night caprices contain are the wonderful they contain as well. I'm now planning to acquire a roast and thinly slice the raw beef in order to make this dish. I'm not sure it would be spectacular, but with a few iterations to test some ideas and refine them, this could be a dish that might be both excellent on the palate and possibly easy to assemble. Fingers crossed. When I get to it, I will blog it.