Japan has announced that the name of its new imperial era, set to begin on 1 May, will be "Reiwa" - signifying order and harmony. The country's old era, Heisei, ended with Emperor Akihito's historic abdication. People in Japan got an extra holiday, like 10days? Because of the event. My father visited me in Boston, and we enjoyed family time. Other than showing him around the city, I did Tatekitchen on the weekend.

Boston is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Sources of entertainment are seemingly limitless in Boston. Still, seniors do often face limitations when it comes to being active and exploring, such as low stamina and difficulties with mobility, but my dad walked everywhere. Surprisingly, he hit more than 30,000 steps on one day he stayed.

Boston is a city chock full of history; so why not take a walk through the history and follow the Freedom Trail while you’re here for Parents Weekend? The 2.5-mile, red-lined route takes you through 16 historically significant sites. Make a pit stop on the way for a bite at a classic Boston spot such as Union Oyster House while you’re at it!

Boston has tons of museums to visit, from science to art to history, to ones that are interactive. Taking a museum trip with your family for Parents Weekend is a great way to explore the city for an afternoon. Some of my favorite museums include: the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Science, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, and the Mapparium. Fun fact—on the Boston Tea Party ship you get to commit some treason and toss a block of tea overboard!

For another great outdoor activity, you should visit the South End’s SoWa open market in my neigboor. Check out all of the local artists, farmers, and vendors and the amazing goods they are selling. It’s never too early for a little holiday shopping and this is the best place to do it. Be sure to leave some room in the car because it’s hard not to buy everything at SoWa! I walk there every weekend from May to October. This was the biggest thing I wanted to show my dad. You can enjoy lunch too at one of the awesome food trucks serving there.

Well, I almost forget to give feedback on what I cooked. We started Greek-style octopus for an appetizer. At this time, I grilled it, instead of boiling. Take your octopus out of the liquid and place in a bowl. Add some olive oil, some balsamic vinegar, dried Greek oregano, freshly ground black pepper, and, if needed at all, some sea salt. Place the octopus on the grill and sear for about 2-3 minutes on both sides. Remove from the grill and place on a serving plate. Simple as it is!

Primavera means "spring" in Italian, and this dish is full of springtime vegetables. I added my homemade guanciale for extra flavor. I love spring vegetables such as asparagus, artichoke, and spring onions. This dish should be an unfussy yet colorful affair, ideally made with the freshest spring vegetables and herbs you can find.

In Brazil, the top sirloin cap — called picanha (pronounced pee-KAHN-yah)– is served grilled over the open flames. It is one of the most popular cuts of meat served in the churrascarias or Brazilian Steakhouses. There is my favorite butcher shop in South End, Boston Walden Meat, and luckily enough, I found the cut there! Traditionally, the only preparation for picanha in Brazil is the use of rock salt, but I added truffle and foie gras. Did I ruin Brazilian tradition?
For dessert, wild blueberry Panna Cotta is such a beautiful dessert to serve. Delicious and naturally gluten-free! Panna cotta (Italian for "cooked cream") is an Italian dessert of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and molded. The cream may be aromatized with coffee, vanilla, or other flavorings. I added organic wild blueberry. Best of all, this impressive dessert is easy to make and can be made days ahead of time, and with no baking required, this panna cotta dessert is the perfect dish to celebrate when you are busy.