All this talk of food...

[Jeff S]

I wasn't a rice or potato person, but grew up eating pasta with every dinner, myself. When my wife arrived, I thought I'd surprise her with one of those big, industrial strength rice cookers, so had one waiting for her. She arrived with, not one, but two herself. They keep rice warm and edible for days. And the first couple of years it was a main staple. Of course we always use the short grain Japanese style rice that's very available here in the US, and excellent. It's MUCH cheaper in the US than Japan. Shirakiku, New Rose, Cal Rose, Tamaki, Kokuho, Botan (some of the major US grown brands of Japanese rice) goes from about $8 to $14 for a 20 lb sack In Japan it runs from $35 to $50 for 10 kg. (22 1/2 lbs) Back in the feudal years in Japan, rice was the standard for money - like gold in the US. In fact the Japanese word for cooked rice and the word for meal are the same  (gohan) so there an almost religious reverence for rice in Japan. In fact for Shinto purification riites, sake, salt and uncooked rice are left out to appease friendly spirits and scare away evil ones. When a friend of mine came to visit us from Japan for the first time he was astounded at the prices for rice. He went home shaking his head saying over and over again, "In America, rice is cheaper than DOGFOOD!" We don't really care for Jasmine rice - in fact have given it the  rhyming nickname,  gusai mai (stinky rice.)

I was plenty used to Japanese food when my wife arrived so had no trouble adjusting to her mainly Japanese cooking and could eat everything - the raw fish, spicy fish roe, odd sea creatures (jellyfish, sea cucumber) odd vegetables (renkon - lotus root, kabocha - green pumpkin, etc.)  and she had been used to many European dishes - even attended a culinary institute in Tokyo to learn French cooking. The only area where her skills were sadly lacking was in Italian cooking. Apparently in Japan, French cooking is considered elegant but Italian only for fast foods - like pizza & ketchupy spaghetti - very disappointing in Japan. I've educated her considerably since on nicer Italian dishes, kosher food, and other ethnic cuisines, and she has been fascinated with US regional favorites - like cajun cooking. She now makes a killer seafood gumbo - in fact we made a big pot on Sunday as a cooperative effort and it wasa great. I get homemade Chorizo from one of my Mexican employees and we use that instead of the Andoule sausage.

As the years have passed and Mariko gets more Americanized, she seems to eat less Japanese food everyday and now makes typical Japanese meals only two or three times a week - down from 5 or 6. We go out to a sushi bar about usually once every week or two also, and often go to a Japanese noodle shop (soba) for weekend lunches, She's taken to watching the Food Network on cable TV, and goes in cycles trying different cuisines. A couple years ago when "Mario Eats Italy" was popular, she surprised me with all sorts of killer Italian dishes. These days she's into new Greek. Morroccan, and other mediterranean dishes. Fortunately we've become used to each other's tastes, so prettty much know what each other wil like. We both like it hot, too, so have no trouble with Mexican, Thai or Korean dishes, even those that bring tears to the eyes of experienced hot food aficianados - so like Don, we consider jalapenos fairly mild. If you really want to sweat, try Korean fried squid!

One thing for sure, it this has been an adventure!

- Jeff S.

[Febtember]

... in response to All this talk of food..., posted by Jeff S on Jul 30, 2002

Hubby and I prefer to dine Japanese restaurant than chinese.Japanese food were good.Or maybe hubby prefer most in japanese than filipino.

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to All this talk of food..., posted by Jeff S on Jul 30, 2002

Jeff and  the  Gang

I got together with my friend Masami yesterday in LA.  As  we  were  driving  up  to  the  Griffith  observatory  to  catch  the  sunset  I  mentioned  to  her our  discussion  on  rice  on the  board  and  she  was  very  amused especially  about  men  talking  about  how  to  cook  rice  and  our favorite  blends.  She  of  course  told  me  that  I  will  have  to  try  the  Japanese  rice  when  I  go  on  my  trip.  I  told  her  while  I  dont  mind  rice,  yet  I  prefer  to  have  some  flavoring  in it  like dirty  rice, Spanish  rice, fried  rice, and  my favorite  -- Rice  with curry chicken  and  pineapple.  We  sometimes  make  rice pudding  at  work  with  cinnamon  and  lemon  grass  and  that  is  not  too  bad either.

As  we  were  up at  the  observatory  we  were looking  at  a  map and  discussing  places that  I  would  visit.  she  would  say  oh  this  city  is  good for  seafood  but then  she  would  remember  that  I am  allergic  to  it  ha ha ha  so  she  is  convinced  I  will  live  on Raemen  and  Udon  noodles  for  3  weeks.  

There  is a good  chance  that  she  will  be  back  in japan  (most likely  Tokyo interpreting)  so  I will  have  a  good  friend  to show  me  around for  a  few  days.  On  thursday  she  flies  Thai  Airlines  back  to Kanazawa for  a month   and  I gave  her  a  couple  of  extra  pictures  that  I  recently  took  so  she  will try  to  pass them  out  and  find  me  a  girlfriend  or  at  least  warn Kanazawa  that  I  am  Coming  ha ha ha.

We ate  lunch  at  a  Korean  restaurant  in Glendale  and  I  was  showing  Masami  the  pictures of  my  trip  to  Las Vegas  for  my  sugar classes  and  also the 6 hard  to  find French pastry books that  I  bought at  a  good  price  in  the  Paris  hotel. (in my  last  half  hour  in  Vegas  I spent  as  much  money  on  these  books  as  I tried  to  budget  for  myself  for  the  8  days  that  I  was  in  Vegas).  Masami  saw  a  picture  of  edible  gold leaf that  we  sometimes  apply  to  desserts  and she told  me  that 95 % of  Japan's  supply  is  made  in  her city  of Kanazawa  which I thought  was interesting.  I  think I  have  some in  my  tool box  and I  will  check where it is from.
 
We  both  had  pizza before  we  departed  and  we  both  agreed that  pizza in California is  not  as  good as it is  on  the  East  coast  and  maybe Chicago also.  She  lived  in NYC  before so  she  spoke from  experience.  I  had  a  sugar classmate from  Phoenix  but  originally  from  connecticut who  was  happy  with her  pizza  in  the  casino during  lunch  finally  a  good slice  of  pizza like  the  east  coast.  I  asked  her  Jokingly  if  she  had  been  to  Mystic  for  their  pizza  but she  had  not.  My  brother and his  family  stopped  there  and  he actually  liked  it.  Masami  warned  me  about the  pizza  in  Japan  ha ha ha  but  I  told  her  that  you  showed  us  the  link to  the  pizza  web site and I  was  aware  of  it ha ha ha.

Otherwise I  have  a  new Chinese American Coworker AUDREY from Philly  who  just  joined  us.  her  fiance  is  still  back in philly.  she  is  assertive  somewhat  and  I  am trying to  figure out if that is her chinese heritage or that she is from the East coast.  I  like  talking  with  her  reminds  me  of  home and Boston.  It  is  nice  to  see  her  go  through the same culture  shock that I went  through when I  came  here.  We are  having  fun  laughing  at  how  Californians  pronounce APRICOT  like  APE RICOT.

I figured  that  my  coworkers  told her  while I  was  away on Vacation  in  Vegas  so  I  told  her  on  the  first  day  that  I  have  a  strong preference  for  asians.  She  said that  she  thinks  that  I  am  strange  if  not  even  somewhat  scary  but  I  said  I  can live  with  that assessment.  I  have  so  say  that  while I  was  in  Las  Vegas  I  saw  many  appealing  asians  but  I  dont  think  that I  even  gave  any  americans  whether  they  be  White  Black  or  Latino  even  a  second  look.  the  interest just  isn't  there --- as BB King  Says  THE THRILL IS  GONE -- Baby

Jeff are  we  still  on  with  Akiko  in August? and  of  course I  would  still like to get  together with  you and  the  Southern California  people  from  the board.

On  my  social calender  coming up I  have  a  thai  frind  flying  into vegas from houston  and driving  with  her  cousin to  go  to  Thai  Town in LA  and I  hope  to  meet  her in September.  Her family  owns a  Thai  restaurant  in Houston  but  She  says  she  can  get  more  authentic  Food  and  Supplies  in Thai  town  in LA.  I  think  she  just  likes  to  go  on a road trip  with  her  cousin  personally.  

Most  likely I  will  fly  home  and visit  mom  and  brothers  in October  when  the  trees  are  a  changing colors.  and I can  find  my  beloved  Grape  Pies.

Otherwise  I  have  to  get  some  excersise  and  start  to  work  out  as  I  will  have  to  pull  lug  and carry  my baggage around  Japan for  3  weeks  hopefully  in January.  the  bag  I bought  weighs  10  lb at least  empty  as  it  is  ha ha ha.  so I  will have to start  doing  the dreaded  sit ups?  at least  the  walks  on the  beach are  enjoyable.

Thats  all  folks

Windmill boy

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: All this talk of food..., posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 30, 2002

.. is a fabulous city on the "back" side of Japan (The Japan Sea coast) All the major modern industrial cities are on the other (Pacific) side (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, etc.) and the back side tends to retain it's old world charm. My last trip to Japan, my wife and I went to Kanazawa on a side trip. We took the JR train from Kyoto, past Lake Biwa and through the Japanese alps to the town of Fukue, where we stayed at an onsen (hot springs) resort. One day we hopped the train for the short ride to to Kanazawa. The big park in the center of town was stunning, especially since the day we were there, a very gentle snow was falling but it was barely cold enough to snow. The castle, famous samauri house, the museum, and the koi ponds were sights not to be missed. Just when we started getting cold, found a teenie hot soba resturaunt (steaming fish broth with buckwheat noodles.) That with a few orders of atsukan (hot sake) and we were nice and toasty again for the ride back in time for a furo (bath) in the steaming mineral springs, followed by a big pot of kani-nabe (boiled crab with veggies)- served in your room while you relax in the hotel supplied robes. What a great few days. Anyway, I remembered that Kanazawa was the golf foil artisan capitol of Japan and bought several pieces of kanazawa-bori (foil covered laquered wood cups, bowls, etc.) while we were there - some to keep and others as gifts.

-- Jeff S.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: All this talk of food..., posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 30, 2002

Hi WB,

Yes, I've heard that from women too; you're strange or some kind of racist for having an ethnic preference in women.  I'd guess that your new coworker's assessment of you is the result of 'enlightened' thinking, due to an East Coast education or just a strong PC attitude.  These women think that "it's what's inside that counts", exclusively, and nothing else.  If you consider a woman's appearance, you're shallow.  Physical chemistry is a barbaric barometer.

I think that physical attraction matters to a degree, especially for men.  It has nothing to do with pretty vs. ugly; one man's pretty is another man's ugly.  There is someone out there for everyone.  The visual stimulus is usually what starts things off, even for many of us who went the penpal route.  We chose an introductory service specializing in a certain ethnic area, chose from a short bio and probably non-representative photo, and took it from there.

Just my .02 - best regards to "Material Girl" :-)

Jim "strange and scary" bo

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to preference for asians, posted by Jimbo on Jul 30, 2002

Jimbo

Being  that this new coworker  is Chinese American  and  has  possibly  been  on  the  receiving  end  of  harrasment or inquires  due  to  her  ethnicity  I'll  give  her  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.  She  is engaged to a  Frenchie  who  grew up  in  bermuda anyhow. Though  she  might  have  an  east coast elementary  education    she  went  to  college in Wisconsin  and  then  to  the  Cordon bleu in London  as  I  understand  it.  So  she  is So  she  is  a  Philly  Cheese head  with  a  side  of  bangers and  mash -- and I've  seen  her  wrap  a  mean  banana  eggroll  already  ha ha ha.   I  think  she just thought  that it  was  unusual  and I was restricting  my  dating options because I am  pretty  much soley  looking towards  asians.  all  of my  coworkers  think  I  am crazy  and  even  my  new  french boss  raised  his  eyebrows  a  little  when  he  heard  of  my  selective  interests.  oh  well  que  sara  que  sara.

It  is  pretty interesting  going  though  the  personal  adds  of  Asians  in America (LA &  San Fran mostly)  that   80  %  of them  all  say  the  same  thing and I  think  that they have  relatively  unrealistic  expectations  I suppose  this  might  apply  to  other  ethicities  also  but I don't  bother to read their ads too much.

....  I  am healthy  and I go  to  the  gym  3 -  5  times  a  week  I  am driven in my  career  and  many  of  them make  good  money  but  I want  to spend  the weekends  with my  man hiking  in the forest  or going  on long drives or  spending  time  with my  family together. I love  to  travel  or  enjoy  a  nice  glass of  chardonney  while  watching  a video.  {many  of  the  san franciso girls absolutely love  the  bay area  and  wont  leave  and  they   expect  to meet  mr  perfect  with in 25 miles}.  They  want  to  meet mr.  right  with  little  to  no previous  baggage  kind and  gentle  towards  animals,  healthy, wealthy ( wouldn't  hurt) (professionals  preferred  but they  probably  wont  say this --  would  they bring  home  a successful  plummer  to  meet  mom  and  dad  -- Maybe but maybe  not  too. Tall, gentle  honest, and must have  a  sense  of humor ---  blah  blah  blah.  same  stereotypical  things  in most  of  the  ads.

Most  of  the  females  say that  looks  are  not important it  is  what  is  inside  that  counts.  all  of  my  female  coworkers  tell  me  the  same  thing.  but  in  the  next  sentence  they will  say  that  there  has to  be some  sort of physical  attraction  when I  press  them on  the  issue.  I  have  only  seen  a few  ads  where  the  girls  usally  younger  ones  will  admit that the  guy  has to  have  a  nice  butt  what  ever that  might  constitute  in  their  eyes.  

I  agree  that men initially  are  more  visual  and some of the women would  prefer  to  repress  this trait in  men  maybe or  at  least  deny  that  it  does exist.  but  there does  have to  be  some  sort of visual  spark  of  interest  from  both  parties initially.  I  am  of course  not saying  that  the  other person  has  to have  GQ  or Cosmo  looks  but  ask  yourself  how  long  will  you  correspond with someone else who  is  single  available  and on  the  market with  out  seeing  a picture  of them. Even if  they said  all  the  right  things  would  you  pursue  them after half a year seriously  without  seeing  their  image.  Many  of  the  women  write  that  they  won't  respond unless  you  include  a  picture in  their  ads.  I at least  have  more  respect  for  them   because  they  are admitting  they  are selctive.

For those  of  you  who   are  married  (happily I  hope)
Count  your blessings  that  you  are  swimming with the school  of  fish  and  not fighting to  swim  upsteam  like  us  single  salmon  ha ha ha.  I  see it  every  day and  I hear  the  same  thing  from my  single  female friends.  It  is  hard  enough  to  even find  another person who can even  respond  coherently  back  to you  on  a  semi  steady  basis.

all  the  best

Windmill boy

[SteveB]

... in response to Re: preference for asians, posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 31, 2002

Windmill boy,,,,  get over to the asian country of your choice and get away from this american one-sided attitude.  A lot of the women you have been around are so warped in their beliefs, that they wouldn't see love, if it slapped them in the face.  BTW, what country is your choice?

steveb

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to Re: Re: preference for asians, posted by SteveB on Jul 31, 2002

Steve B

Thanks  for  the  advice. I am  not  jaded  against  American  women -- they  can do  and look  for  what  they  want just  as  I  can too.  It  just seems  that  Our  opinions and  what  we  are  seeking  don't  always agree though. I  just  sent  an  e-mail inquirey  to  an  american asian  before  this note  to you.    my  results  in  trying  to  contact  american asians in the past has  been  less than  stellar so far  though.

Most  of  my  Asian Interaction  so  far  has  been  with  Japanese  women, coworkers  and  dates, and  I  like  what  I  have  seen  so  far.  They  provide a  differnt  outlook on  life  usually  with  a  refreshing  perspective  on things.  and  most  of  them are  just  plain  interesting  to  talk  with.  I've  got  nothing  against other  asians  but  it  is  easiest  to  find  Japanese  to talk  with  on  the  internet  due to  their  internet  access.  So  I  have  decided  that If  I  can  get  the money  together  in  time  I  am  going  to  try  to  visit Japan for  3  weeks in January / February.  I  just  received  an  e-mail  today  from  a  male  freind  that  reaffirmed  that  I  can  stay  with  his  family while I  am  in  Osaka  and  enjoy his wifes  cooking.  With  hospitality  like  that  how  can  I  go wrong.

Windmill  Boy

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: All this talk of food..., posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 30, 2002

Pepe's in New Haven had the best pizza on the planet. I have to agree, California pizza is nothing like New York, BUT far exceeds Chicago. I'm not a Chicago pizza fan.

Got another note from Bob S. (Hopefully you're on his mailing list also,) and he commented that in Japan where he's teaching, the pizza toppings are even weirder than he'd imagined. The one that really blew him away was kim chee pizza, or as the Japanese say, ki-moo-chi-pee-cha.

Don't worry about finding non-seafood dishes in Japan. You won't be able to get away from fish flavoring, in broths and such, but plenty of non-seafood foods are common. Yaki-tori (barbequed chicken on a stick,) chicken kara-age (batter fried nuggets) yaki-niku (thin barbequed beef - kind of like korean barbeque) tonkatsu (pork cutlet) chicken and beef katsu, chicken, beef & pork curry, shabu-shabu & suki-yaki (boiled beef dishes) chunko-nabe (chicken stew), along with all sorts of noodle dishes - ramen, udon, soba, yakisoba are everywhere, though hot uding and soba are made with katsuo-dashi (skipjack tuna broth,) Also croquette is popular, a potato and meatball battered and fried. Eggs are plentiful & cheap in Japan so western style breakfasts along with tamagoyaki (Japanese sweetish omlettes) are easy to find.

There's plenty of western style food in Japan also - but don't expect to get a sandwich anything like you're used to. There usually something like what you'd find in a first grader's lunch box rather than the deli creations we have here. Every train station will have cafes with attempts to sound european. I stopped with my daughter in Okayama last year and we ate at a small cafe at the shinkansen (bullet train) station called "le Estacion" which of course is French for "The Terminal Cafe." The waiter never caught on to our giggling. Anyway, if you must there's plenty of McDonalds, KFCs, and Pizza Huts with more or less the same cuisine as here. Of the three the only one I've tried was KFC and it was because a relative of my wife's was coming from the countryside to Yokohama and had always wanted to try it. I'd say it was at least as good as the US version, maybe better though I haven't had KFC here for so long that it probably isn't a fair comparason. I avoid McDs in Japan just as fervently as I do here.

I'll e-mail you about August when I know more.

-- Jeff S.

[bigjiro]

... in response to I always thought..., posted by Jeff S on Jul 30, 2002

hi jeff,

don't you like the more appetizing name 'medama yaki' over the plain old everyday 'tamago yaki'?

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to I always thought..., posted by Jeff S on Jul 30, 2002

I was supposed  to  get  together with  my  new  coworker  but  that  fell  through  due  to  her  getting  lost  --- forgivable  because  she  has  only  been  here  3  weeks.  but  I salvaged  the  Day  by  going  to  the  City  college  and  it  looks  like  I  might  be able  to take a  Japanese  Course  2 mornings a week  or  on  a  sat morning.

I  have  3 or  4  guide books / dictionaries  and  I  have  bought 2  audio  courses  on  tape  the  first one  was   all in  Japanese for  quick  imersion  into   the  culture  ha ha ha   but  I  find  even  the Japanese / English  one  goes  a  little  to  quickly  for  me  and  you really  have  to  follow  along  with  the  book  which  is  impossible  to do  while  driving  to  see  how  the  words  are  written  and  pronounced correctly. So  I  think  the  Class  might  be  good  for  me.  

I  have  been  put  on Bobs  mailing list  and  I  find  his  adventures  and  experiences  absolutely  facinating.  But  I  have  to admit  his tales  of  being  in  the smaller  train  stations  with  very  little  English  available  scare  me  out  of  my wits.  

Masami  told  me  that  there is  a large Chinatown in Yokohama  and  also  maybe one in Kobe too. She  said  she  will  give  my  e-mail  to a friend  who  is  moving  back  to  Kobe  from toronto  and  that  her friend  offered  to  show  me  around  Kobe  if  she  is  there  while I  am.  I think  for  this  my  first  trip  I  am  just  going  to  tackle  the  zone  of  Honshu  from Tokyo to Kanazawa  and  Osaka / Kobe down towards Fukuoka and I am  interested  in  seeing  Nagasaki maybe  because  it  looks  so nice  geographically.  It  makes  sense  to me  to  see  the  warmer  areas of the  country  since  I  will  be  going  in  winter. I  was  watching  a documentary on the 98 Nagano Olympics Early  one  morning  and  the  scenery  looks  spectacular  also but I  don't  know  if I will  visit  since I  am  not really  a  winter  sports  participant. As  for Kanazawa  she  tells  me  that it  has  one  of  the  3 major public gardens in Japan the  KENROUKEN.  she  also said  it snows  there  alot  also.

WE went to  the  cold stone creamery yesterday  and  had  ice cream  cone  creations.  as  we  ate  we  were  discussing  Japanese  Salary men.  masami said that they  never would eat  ice cream, at least while they  were  dressed  in  their  suits on  the  job  like  american would. she  said  ice cream was considered  to  be  only  appropriate  for women  and  childrens.  I  don't  know  if it due  to  lactose  intolerence   but  they don't know  what they  are  missing. We  also  discussed  the  prevelance  of  Smoking  versus  america.  And an Asian  girl  who would  be  considered  thin  here  might  be  considered  fat  in Asia  and  that the  Japanese  girls  are  very  thin  sometimes she  said.  I  thought  they were  interesting  observations.

Eric / Windmill boy

[Ray]

... in response to All this talk of food..., posted by Jeff S on Jul 30, 2002

Hey Jeff,

If you drive down to San Diego, you can have all the free squid you can carry. Just go down to La Jolla and pick it up off the beach (LOL). And if you miss those Japanese whale dogs on a stick like I do, maybe Jimbo could go down to the beach and slice off a couple of big slabs of Massachusetts whale meat and ship it out here to us :-).

As far as the wife becoming Americanized over the years and trying more varieties of foods, I had a similar experience with my first wife. After a few years, she started cooking more Italian, Mexican, and traditional American dishes. She would take my favorite recipes and experiment with them until they were much better than what I could make. I always ate well, maybe too well. But from a health standpoint, maybe I would have been better off sticking mostly to the fish and vegetable fare. Does your wife still eat with sticks?

I eat a lot of rice, and actually prefer it to potatoes with a lot of dishes, like beef stew, chili, barbecued chicken, etc. And of course fried rice is always good! That’s funny that you also refer to jasmine as “stinky rice”. It’s O.K. once in a while but I couldn’t eat it every day. You’re right about rice being cheap here in the States. As far as that “religious reverence” for rice, I know some Japanese and Thai people here that will only buy rice that was grown in their homeland. And I know Filipinos who are superstitious about rice and always wash it exactly 3 times before they cook it ().

Ray

[Jimbo]

... in response to Free Squid!, posted by Ray on Jul 30, 2002

Hey guys,

About this "3 times" thing and Filipinos - does anybody know why they're so big on it?  I've seen "love you 3 times" and other stuff.  Sally thinks it is from an '80s comedy movie but I'm wondering if it goes back farther than that in the culture.

Jim

[Jeff S]

... in response to Free Squid!, posted by Ray on Jul 30, 2002

.. the Loepard sharks are schooling off La Jolla shores beach. You shoud head over there and go fishin' - especially at dusk (use cut anchovy baits on the bottom). They're GOOOOOD eating, a staple of mine when I was in college in Central California (free food from Morro Bay). Remember they have to be 36" or bigger to keep but as I hear it these are running 4 feet and over.

-- Jeff S.

[Ray]

... in response to Hey Ray - Just heard on the radio..., posted by Jeff S on Jul 30, 2002

Yeah, the water is full of them. The only shark I ever (knowingly) ate was thresher shark and it was pretty good eating. How do they compare to leapard sharks?

Thanks for the tip...

Ray