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Volume 101: End of the year lunch feast at Minami Restaurant in Yaletown on December 27, 2012. More photos available on Flickr and Tumblr.

Saying goodbye can so hard to do. As 2012 nears it’s end, we look back and reflect on the year that was. I find the week in between Christmas and New Year’s a sort of a weird transitional nexus period. In this spirit, Sophia and I gathered for a post-Christmas lunch to celebrate and close out the year.

On this grey afternoon, downtown was a ghost town with most folks still on their holidays. Yaletown looked so peaceful and eery as we met up at my favourite new restaurant from this year, Minami.

As we reflected, Sophia and I dined on prawn ebi fritters (left) and kaisen soba pepperoncino noodles (right). The food was superb, delicious, and delightfully prepared.

I can’t get enough of the famous aburi salmon oshi roll or crab and shrimp gyozas.

The crackling crunchy scallop roll (left) did the trick as well. To send off both our meal and the year, we split a delectable chocolate salted caramel walnut (right, filled with chocolate caramel pâté and glaze, fresh pear, and coffee ice cream). What a sweet end it was.

To close off a crazy year of events and social happenings, make sure to spend time with your friends and loved ones. Be safe, reflect, end off the year, start the new one right, and toast to 2013!