International Cuisine | Monday, first period

[sharp_as_knives]

"Good morning," Hannibal greeted the class when they arrived at Portalocity. "We'll be heading off for dinner today - the vagaries of international times." Not that he couldn't have gotten a portal to a different time, but there seemed no point at present.

"Today we're going to Tokyo, Japan. Seafood is much more prominent in Japanese cuisine than in the French we had last week, as are rice and noodles; the sauces tend to be lighter. We'll be dining at Mikawa Zezankyo, a restaurant that serves tempura - seafood and vegetables, deep fried. Specifically, this one serves food in the style called Edomae tempura - tempura in the style of the Edo period, approximately one hundred fifty years ago. The chef uses traditional ingredients and techniques that would not have been out of place then."

Their portal opened and he ushered them all through to a small, mostly residential street, where they stood outside an unassuming door. "Chef Tetsuya Saotome prepares all the food himself and will be standing in front of you, so I trust you will all use your best behavior," he told them. "I will demonstrate the use of chopsticks to those of you who've never used them, and I trust your classmates who know how will also help. Also, when we enter, you'll need to remove your shoes and leave them by the door; it's tradition and proper etiquette. If you have any questions, please ask me, as the chef and his assistants do not speak English."

Comments

Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Notice that the restaurant seats nine and the class and Hannibal make eight. Pity the poor local or tourist that has to sit with you!

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[bestatmystery]

The restaurant was so teeny! It was just like sitting in someone's elaborately decorated kitchen! Lottie did her best not to outright vibrate in her seat and played "count the fedoras" while she fiddled with her chopsticks.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"You seem excited," Hannibal observed. "Do you know how to use chopsticks?"

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[bestatmystery]

"Well yeah! I've never been ta Japan before!" She'd barely made it to France before coming to Fandom. She looked down at her chopsticks, which she was currently holding like drumsticks. "Sure I do. Maybe." She fussed with them a bit until she had a serviceable albeit non-entirely-traditional grip on them, then made made pinchy noises at Hannibal while she showed them off. "See?"

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal chuckled. "Here, try this." He adjusted the bottom stick a bit. "Better?"

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[bestatmystery]

Lottie looked at the adjusted sticks thoughtfully, then tapped them together.

"I suppose," she said with supreme dignity.

She would agree more firmly once she started using them to eat with.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal gave her a little bow and hid his amusement.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

Mabel gave her toes an excited wiggle once she had kicked off her shoes, and then immediately reached for her chopsticks and started working on her technique.

Huh. It really did look easier in the cartoons.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"Like this." Hannibal adjusted the bottom chopstick so it sat better in her hand. "Now, move the top one only."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

Mabel did as she was told, giving the top chopstick an experimental little wiggle, and then a click against the bottom chopstick, and then she looked up at Hannibal with a grin.

"Heeey, that's not so bad at all! Thanks!"

This was definitely a step up from the kickin' drum solo she would have attempted if she'd never figured out how to properly hold them.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"You're very welcome."

Please, no drum solos.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[wildandbrave]

The chopsticks were going to take her some work, Cosette could tell, but after a little bit of practice she thought she could at least move them without dropping one.

Whether she'd be able to keep that up when there was actual food between the chopsticks was going to be another story.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal watched her for a moment. "You have it," he said encouragingly. "Take it carefully, and you'll do fine."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[wildandbrave]

The tip of Cosette's tongue was poking out between her teeth as she opened and closed the chopsticks, she was concentrating that intently, so it took her a moment to respond.

"I'll do my best, monsieur, but I'm afraid I'll be eating slowly today."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[justwantedfriends]

Kira was very adept with chopsticks, and she let out a happy sigh as she sat down, taking in the ambiance.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"Have you been to Japan before?" Hannibal asked her. "Do you still have family there?"

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[justwantedfriends]

"No, my family has been out of Japan for quite a while," Kira said. "But my mom made sure I learned the language, and I've been dropping hints that going there would be an awesome high school graduation present since forever."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal smiled. "Well, now you haven't had to wait until graduation. Although it isn't a very long trip."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[justwantedfriends]

"And while you and everyone else in the class is nice company, I want to see everything with my parents too," Kira said, laughing.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"I'll try not to be offended," Hannibal said, grinning. "Do your parents know the sort of place the island is?"

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[notamascot]

Kaylin's eyes were huge as she looked at the sticks she was supposed to eat with. Gods... Maybe she'd just go hungry so as not to insult anyone or look like an utter fool.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal leaned toward her and picked up one of her chopsticks. "Don't worry. You can hold a pencil?" He handed her just the one stick. "Hold it like that."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[notamascot]

He'd clearly never seen her fisted grip of a writing utensil. She grabbed it that way, then glanced around and saw that people were holding them the hard way of writing. With a muffled sigh she awkwardly turned her hand around to mostly hold it the right way.

Hey, she was new to the whole writing and reading thing (and reading was a whole hell of a lot easier - not that that was saying a lot). Before she was 13 she'd never even seen a writing utensil that was more than a stick of charcoal, and that only rarely.

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Well, Hannibal's classes hadn't exactly been big on writing.

He nodded. "Almost. Here." He adjusted the stick slightly. "Now move your second finger down a bit."

Re: Enter, sit, learn how to use chopsticks!

[notamascot]

"Maybe I should just be a watcher today," Kaylin suggested as her fingers slid along the chopstick seemingly with no input from her brain.