Lou Mitchell’s: The Starting Point of Route 66

              The United States of America, is a nation of dreams. As a Japanese international student, I have some stereotypes about this country: greatness, hugeness, consumerism, but the most impressive is “adventure”. Like Dennis Hopper in the movie “Easy Rider (1969)”, I tend to associate America with a reckless but grand travel, which tries to go across the continent one one’s own motorcycle. The 60’s, going beyond the horizon, Born to Be Wild, motels, and Route 66…what an American! Actually, Lou mitchell’s is a magnificent restaurant which plays an important role in this Route 66 trip. The restaurant exists in Chicago, and the beginning point of Route 66. It is known for serving great breakfasts for ambitious tourists who are beginning their travels.

              The restaurant “Lou Mitchell’s” was founded in 1923, by the man “Uncle” Lou Mitchell. According to the menu, “His graciousness, friendliness, hospitality and constant efforts attention to quality, and excellence soon had droves of hungry, eager customers standing in line.” Located at the beginning of Route 66, the restaurant has been host to many Americans for 93 years. Everyone from Presidents, mayors, governors, and tourists on Route 66 have stopped here to charge their energy. Now this restaurant has been attracting many customers not only from the entire United States, but also from all over the world.

Before I went there, my personal image of this restaurant was like this; it is energetic and filled with busy people. All of them are beginning their day. Some are businessmen who are reading newspaper quietly and the other are tourists who are checking their guidebook. In every moment there is lively chatting by ambitious people and they are talking about current business situations or their sightseeing plans rigorously. Unceasing crossfire of waiters’ yells are flying through the air, in order to offer as great as services they can. When I sit down, a person sitting next to me speaks to me and we enjoy our cross-cultural conversation about difference between the United States and Japan. I had imagined such an experience on this place. And, the result was far beyond my expectations. It was totally excellent.

                           ▲ Lou Mitchell's. It was cuter than I had expected.

The restaurant is near from West Door of Union Station, so accessibility is perfect. Walking couple of minutes from the station, it will be so easy to find “Lou Mitchell’s”, for there is already a long line of people eager to experience the best breakfast in the US. In my case, because it was on Sunday most of them looked like families and tourists. Many people wait to be in, but thanks to quick services they can enter the restaurant much faster than they expect. Actually, it took 5 minutes to get in. Upon entering, I felt overwhelmed. How many, energetic people! The inside is well lighted and the walls are made of warm-colored timbers. Many tables and chairs are set neatly, then many, many people are having their breakfast in a limited space. However, it was a little disappointing because this showed there might be merely one of the sightseeing-spots in Chicago. The restaurant has an image of a “commune” for travelers, and that never goes well with a consumer-centered pop image. Still, I did not feel cramped at all, for customers and furniture are set neatly. Without being kept waiting, soon waiter led me to my table. The restaurant looked very busy, but my table was already cleaned and a glass of water, folks and a napkin were well-prepared.

                           ▲Inside of the restrant.

 Maybe because it was Sunday, most of customers seemed to be families or tourists. From children to elders, everyone was enjoying the restaurant. Just listening to them, were talking about their sightseeing plans or their impressions of Chicago. I was already excited because this situation totally matched my expectations. I went by myself so I sat in front of a stranger who was a very kind, old American lady. She spoke to me, “Where are you from?” I answered,” Japan, Tokyo.” According to her, my choice to come here was nice. She told me that she has lived in Chicago for ten years and often comes to this restaurant to enjoy a nice breakfast. We talked about similarities and differences between Tokyo and Chicago. Then realizing that I am Japanese, the other people sitting next to me got into our conversation. Perfect. This is the “cross-cultural conversation.” I really wanted it. Despite the fact that the restaurant was very busy, ordering was not difficult at all. That is because waiters fly to every table. All of them check all customers carefully so that they can respond immediately. In fact just after ordering, the other waiter came to me and filled a cup of coffee quickly for free. Surprisingly, they served many free appetizers. Coffee, toast, oranges, and even ice creams, all of them for free. They said that if a customer ordered some food, he/she can get free appetizers. Waiters gave them me on the best timings. The hospitality allowed me to relay despite how busy it was.   

                            ▲Greek Sausage Special Omelettes

I ordered “Greek Sausage Special Omelettes”. The omelette was served on a tiny cute pan. The Omellete was served with well-baked sliced potato and crispy fried bacon. The plate had enough volume so that any people could get satisfied. The Omelette itself was very fluffy. At the moment I touched it with my fork, it softly tore. From inside the happy smell of consommé and onions emerged. The taste was very subtle. Because it is not too salty, we can enjoy how eggs, onions, sausages taste. In addition, the contrast of fluffy eggs and crispy bacons are very enjoyable. However, in a sense they were too subtle. The omelette is not small, so there should be tastes’ contrasts with bacons. But both of them do not have much flavor and consequently a customer can be bored. Generally speaking, compared to Japanese cuisine many American food lacks flavors. Yes, it is salty and always over-sweet, but that’s it. Food should have five flavor categories: saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and the most importantly, umami. In my opinion, the restaurant should serve such cuisine that customers can enjoy each flavor. In this case, the omelette was durable but bacons were not; they were baked too much and as a result their own flavors have gone. I could feel only crispiness. That is shame. Anyway, ketchup, salt, pepper, mustard are prepared on the table, so you can customize food as you want.   

                           ▲A veteran waitress. Writing down orders precisely. 

On the menu, of course you can find many kinds of food rather than the omelette: sandwiches, special toasts, fountains, beverages. Fortunately, all of them are affordable price. My omelette was 10 dollars and in addition I could enjoy many appetizer for free as I mentioned above. You can drink coffee as much as you want, for example. I am sure that you can start the day in Chicago with the best feeling, for only 15 dollars.

Lou Mitchell’s is nice place to begin the day in Chicago. You can enjoy not only food, but also everything it has. Talking with other tourists, seeing quick and well-trained waiters, and of course fluffy omelettes. This restaurant allows you to feel you are one of uncountable tourists who had been there and traveled on Route 66 for 93 years. I recommend you to “experience” this nice spot, sincerely.   

 

CYOA: Japanese Cuisine

Japanese Cuisine

              Tofu, Ramen, and Sushi… Now that people all over the world came to be able to enjoy Japanese cuisine. Of course, Japanese people eat much more various Japanese food. I will make a presentation and general features of Japanese cuisine, and then three types of Japanese food. Here, I state the reasons why I chose this topic.

              The first reason is that after I came the Unite States, I got interested in Japanese cuisine and willing to look at them from the third-person’s view. Before study abroad, I thought that food would be not so different. However, despite globalization I realized Japanase cuisine is different from American ones, and it is happening about not only authentic ones but also casual ones. It is very easy to understand that Sushi and American Pizza are completely different, but I got surprised when I found even omelettes are not the same. Accordingly, I got motivated to find “something” that makes food like Japanese-style.

              The second reason is that simply I would like to introduce Japanese Cuisine to American people. Of course there are many wonderful food besides Sushi, but many of them are ignored now. Sushi is semi-authentic Japanese food but in my opinion casual ones are also very tasty, full of flavors. Therefore, I am going to introduce them in my presentation.

Lou Mitchell’s: The Starting Point of Route 66

Lou Mitchell’s: The Starting Point of Route 66

              The United States of America, that is a nation of dream. As a Japanese, I have some stereotypes about this country: greatness, hugeness, a consumer society, but the most impressive is “Adventure”. Like Dennis Hopper in a movie “Easy Rider (1969)”, I tend to associate America with a reckless but grand travel, which tries to go across the continent by own motorcycle. 60’s, going beyond the horizon, Born to Be Wild, motels, and Route 66…what an American! Actually, there is a magnificent restaurant which plays an important role in this Route 66 trip. The restaurant exists in Chicago, which is the beginning point of Route 66. The restaurant has been serving great breakfast for ambitious tourist who beginning their travels. The name of the restaurant is “Lou Mitchell’s”.

              The restaurant “Lou Mitchell’s” was founded in 1923, by the man “uncle” Lou Mitchell. According to the menu, “His graciousness, friendliness, hospitality and constant effort attention to quality and excellence soon had the droves of hungry eager customers standing in line”. Located at the beginning of Route 66, the restaurant has been host to many Americans for such 93 years. Everyone from Presidents, mayors, governors, and tourists on Route 66 have stop here to charge their energy. Now this restaurant has been attracting many customers not only from entire the United States, but also from all over the world.

My personal image of this restaurant was like this; it is energetic and filled with busy people. All of them are beginning their new day. Some are businessmen who reading newspaper gently and the other are tourists who checking guidebook desperately. In every moment there is lively chatting by ambitious people and they are talking about current business situations or their sightseeing plans rigorously. Unceasing crossfire of waiters’ yelling are flying in the air, in order to offer as great as services they can. When I sit down, a person sitting next speaks to me and we enjoy our cross-cultural conversation (I am Japanese). I have imagined such an experience on this place. And, the result was far beyond my expectations. It was totally excellent.

                                                                                                  

When I visited Chicago, I could find “Lou Mitchell’s” so easily, for there was already a long line by people who were eager to experience the best breakfast in the US. Because it was on Sunday, most of them looked family and tourist. Thanks to splendid quick services, I was able to enter into the restaurant much faster than I had expected. Just entering, I felt overwhelmed. How many, energetic people! The inside is well lighted and the walls are made of warm timbers. There are many tables and chairs neatly, then many, many people are enjoying breakfast in a limited space. Interestingly, I did not feel cramped at all, for customers and furniture are set appropriately. Without being kept waiting, soon waiter led me to my table. The restaurant looked very busy, but my table was already cleaned and a glass of water, folks and a napkin were well-prepared.

 I looked other customers. Maybe because it was a holiday, most part of them were families or tourist. From children to elders, everyone was enjoying. Just listening to them, they were talking about their sightseeing plans or impression of Chicago. I was already excited because this situation totally matched with my expectations. I went by myself so I sat in front of a stranger, who was a very kind, old American lady. She spoke to me, “Where are you from?” I answered,” Japan, Tokyo”. According to her, my choice to come here was nice. She told me that she has lived in Chicago for ten years and often comes this restaurant to enjoy nice breakfast. We talked about similarities or differences between Tokyo and Chicago. Then realizing that I am Japanese, the other people sitting next to me got into our conversation. Perfect. This is the “cross-cultural conversation” which I really wanted. Despite the restaurant was very busy, ordering was not difficult at all. That it because waiters are literally flying every table. All of them are checking all customers carefully so that they can response immediately. In fact just after ordering, the other waiter came to me and filled a cup of coffee quickly for free. Surprisingly, I was able to have many service appatizers. Coffee, toast, oranges, and even ice creams, all of them are for free. Waiters gave them me on the best timings. The hospitality was so good that I could get relaxed in spite of the busy inside.  

Everyone is enjoying



I ordered “Greek Sausage Special Omelettes”. The omelette was served on a tiny cute pan. With Omellete, also well-baked sliced potato and crispy fried bacon were there. The plate had enough volume so that any people can get satisfied. Omelette itself was very fluffy. At the moment I touched it with my folk, it got softly teared off. From inside the happy smell of consommé and onions are coming. The taste was very gentle. Because it is not salty too much, we can enjoy the true taste of eggs, onions, sausages themselves. In addition, the contrast of fluffy eggs and crispy bacons are very comfortable. Some of you may be worried about getting bored with such an amount of omelette. But, no problem. The omelette has flesh onions, tomato, green paprika, and papurspicy sausages so they will keep you satisfied. Also, many ketchups, salts, peppers, mustards are prepared on the table, so you can customize food as you want.  

On the menu, of course you can find many kinds of food rather than omelette: sandwiches, special toasts, fountains, beverages. Fortunately, all of them are affordable price. My omelette was 10 dollars and in addition I could enjoy many appetizer for free as I mentioned above. You can drink coffee as much as you want, for example. I am sure that you can start the day in Chicago with the best feeling, only in 15 dollars.

Lou Mitchell’s is the best place at where to begin the day in Chicago. You can enjoy not only food, but also everything it has. Talking with other tourists, seeing quick and well-trained waiters, and of course fluffy omelettes. This restaurant allows you to feel you are one of uncountable tourists who had been there and traveled on Route 66 since 93 years ago. I recommend you to “experience” this nice spot, sincerely.   

 

 

 

 
 

 

Lou Mitchell’s: The Starting Point of Route 66

Lou Mitchell’s: The Starting Point of Route 66

              The United States of America, that is a nation of dream. As a Japanese, I have some stereotypes about this country: greatness, hugeness, a consumer society, but the most impressive is “Adventure”. Like Dennis Hopper in a movie “Easy Rider (1969)”, I tend to associate America with a reckless but grand travel, which tries to go across the continent by own motorcycle. 60’s, going beyond the horizon, Born to Be Wild, motels, and Route 66…what an American! Actually, there is a magnificent restaurant which plays an important role in this Route 66 trip. The restaurant exists in Chicago, which is the beginning point of Route 66. The restaurant has been serving great breakfast for ambitious tourist who beginning their travels. The name of the restaurant is “Lou Mitchell’s”.

              The restaurant “Lou Mitchell’s” was founded in 1923, by the man “uncle” Lou Mitchell. According to the menu, “His graciousness, friendliness, hospitality and constant effort attention to quality and excellence soon had the droves of hungry eager customers standing in line”. Located at the beginning of Route 66, the restaurant has been host to many Americans for such 93 years. Everyone from Presidents, mayors, governors, and tourists on Route 66 have stop here to charge their energy. Now this restaurant has been attracting many customers not only from entire the United States, but also from all over the world.

My personal image of this restaurant was like this; it is energetic and filled with busy people. All of them are beginning their new day. Some are businessmen who reading newspaper gently and the other are tourists who checking guidebook desperately. In every moment there is lively chatting by ambitious people and they are talking about current business situations or their sightseeing plans rigorously. Unceasing crossfire of waiters’ yelling are flying in the air, in order to offer as great as services they can. When I sit down, a person sitting next speaks to me and we enjoy our cross-cultural conversation (I am Japanese). I have imagined such an experience on this place. And, the result was far beyond my expectations. It was totally excellent.

When I visited Chicago, I could find “Lou Mitchell’s” so easily, for there was already a long line by people who were eager to experience the best breakfast in the US. Because it was on Sunday, most of them looked family and tourist. Thanks to splendid quick services, I was able to enter into the restaurant much faster than I had expected. Just entering, I felt overwhelmed. How many, energetic people! The inside is well lighted and the walls are made of warm timbers. There are many tables and chairs neatly, then many, many people are enjoying breakfast in a limited space. Interestingly, I did not feel cramped at all, for customers and furniture are set appropriately. Without being kept waiting, soon waiter led me to my table. The restaurant looked very busy, but my table was already cleaned and a glass of water, folks and a napkin were well-prepared.

 I looked other customers. Maybe because it was a holiday, most part of them were families or tourist. From children to elders, everyone was enjoying. Just listening to them, they were talking about their sightseeing plans or impression of Chicago. I was already excited because this situation totally matched with my expectations. I went by myself so I sat in front of a stranger, who was a very kind, old American lady. She spoke to me, “Where are you from?” I answered,” Japan, Tokyo”. According to her, my choice to come here was nice. She told me that she has lived in Chicago for ten years and often comes this restaurant to enjoy nice breakfast. We talked about similarities or differences between Tokyo and Chicago. Then realizing that I am Japanese, the other people sitting next to me got into our conversation. Perfect. This is the “cross-cultural conversation” which I really wanted. Despite the restaurant was very busy, ordering was not difficult at all. That it because waiters are literally flying every table. All of them are checking all customers carefully so that they can response immediately. In fact just after ordering, the other waiter came to me and filled a cup of coffee quickly for free. Surprisingly, I was able to have many service appatizers. Coffee, toast, oranges, and even ice creams, all of them are for free. Waiters gave them me on the best timings. The hospitality was so good that I could get relaxed in spite of the busy inside.  

Everyone is enjoying



I ordered “Greek Sausage Special Omelettes”. The omelette was served on a tiny cute pan. With Omellete, also well-baked sliced potato and crispy fried bacon were there. The plate had enough volume so that any people can get satisfied. Omelette itself was very fluffy. At the moment I touched it with my folk, it got softly teared off. From inside the happy smell of consommé and onions are coming. The taste was very gentle. Because it is not salty too much, we can enjoy the true taste of eggs, onions, sausages themselves. In addition, the contrast of fluffy eggs and crispy bacons are very comfortable. Some of you may be worried about getting bored with such an amount of omelette. But, no problem. The omelette has flesh onions, tomato, green paprika, and papurspicy sausages so they will keep you satisfied. Also, many ketchups, salts, peppers, mustards are prepared on the table, so you can customize food as you want.  

On the menu, of course you can find many kinds of food rather than omelette: sandwiches, special toasts, fountains, beverages. Fortunately, all of them are affordable price. My omelette was 10 dollars and in addition I could enjoy many appetizer for free as I mentioned above. You can drink coffee as much as you want, for example. I am sure that you can start the day in Chicago with the best feeling, only in 15 dollars.

Lou Mitchell’s is the best place at where to begin the day in Chicago. You can enjoy not only food, but also everything it has. Talking with other tourists, seeing quick and well-trained waiters, and of course fluffy omelettes. This restaurant allows you to feel you are one of uncountable tourists who had been there and traveled on Route 66 since 93 years ago. I recommend you to “experience” this nice spot, sincerely.   

 

 

 

 
 

 

Do you know the Route 66?
For me, it seems the word "America " contains many meanings; huge, magnificent nature, consumer society, greatness , but the most impressive is...DREAM. And sometime, that dream is associated with a adventure that traveling across the US. My stereotypical image of America comes from a movie "Easy Rider(1969)". This is a one of the New HolIywoods and a story is about two men who try to travel across the US with Harley-Davidson. Imagine this huge trip. Driving far beyond the horizon, motels, hippies, Born to Be Wild, and the Route 66! Now I'm in America so I have to experience this spirit. But unfortunately, I do not have a Hippie-like long hair, enough time, and a Harley-Davidson. So I was searching the good place in Chicago, which is the nearest big city. Then, I found a surprising information. There is the starting point of the Route 66 in Chicago, and surprisingly there is also a very famous and popular restaurant for Route 66 travelers. It is "Lou Mitchell's".
After browsing the Internet, I knew "Lou Mitchell's" is the famous and traditional restaurant for the breakfast. It is near from Chicago's downtown, a train station, and the Route 66. Many travelers will have breakfast at this place. Here is a starting point of the huge trip to West Coast. I am very excited because I may be able to experience a just image of America. Like Al Pacino in a movie "ScareCrow(1973)", I may be experience a busy traveler's breakfast, in a noisy-crowded restaurant. Perhaps, the seat will be made not from a cushion but from a hard plastic, and in the air crossfire of waiters' yelling will be flying. In the kitchen many cooks will be flipping pancakes then a little dirty plate of omelette will be served me. During eating a plate, I will start to talk with a traveler sitting next to me to exchange the information about how many years we had been in a jail and how beautiful girls are in a next city. What an American dream. Even although I might have  exaggerated the stereotypes too much, am still excited.
One of my anxieties is that if “Lou Mitchell's “ will be modernized too much or not. Even though here is America and it is the starting point of Route 66, now is 2016. Hippies disappeared into the industrial society, some Harley-Davidson motorcycles can no longer exist because of “the eco-friendly emission laws”, and there are many Starbucks or McDonald's, which kindly serve us well-processed breakfast with exploiting an amount of Human Resources. If “Lou Mitchell's “ was modernized like fast food restaurants, I will be deeply disappointed. Also, it is some time happening in many famous restaurants that they act just like one of sightseeing spots. For example, in Tokyo, some Japanese Cuisine restaurants have huge vulgar signs for foreigners like “THIS IS NINJA SAMURAI”. Of course it is very good thing that many foreigners come to Japan, but these advertisements in the restaurants are too commercial-centered. There are no NINJA SAMURAI in modern Tokyo. Foreigners also are expecting not commercialized NINJA foods, but authentic Japanese cuisine. I want “Lou Mitchell's “ to serve not unnaturally exaggerated snacks, but the authentic daily breakfast for Chicagoan, even if it will be somehow mediocre.

The memoir final draft

Get a food

“It’s almost there!” Someone is shouting to me. I know, I know it. But always, that “almost” seems to be really hard and frustrating. I am standing on a tree, with my trembling legs, my left hand is grabbing a branch very tightly, and my right hand is aiming at …a certain fruit. I am running out of my energy. “Hang on! You can do it!” I heard somebody else yell up at me. I wanna give up, but everyone is staring at me. I cannot quit, actually I know even some girls are looking at me from a corner of the park. Don’t give up! I can do it! Look, finally I slightly touched the fruit! But well…by the way, what is this fruit? This brown, red “fruit” doesn’t look like it’s edible. It must have an astringent taste. Maybe rotten. Why on earth am I struggling to pick up this extremely weird material?

“Watch out!” At the same time my friend was screaming so, I fell on the ground, from the tree. Having mud all over myself, I checked my right hand. I got it, there was the “fruit”.

I was eight years-old. You know, it is the time when boys are the most ambitious, courageous, and reckless. In school, we were always talking about who was the fastest runner, the best player of soccer, and the bravest explorer. When I scored a goal (it rarely happened), I used to feel like I was the champion of the schoolyard. Although, the world of children was sometimes very harsh. We all knew that person who had the strongest power in our “tribe”. The bravest leader was admired by every boy. He could do everything quite well. I did not know why, but he was the best soccer player, knew many nice hidden places to play, and never flinched from anything, even from very frightening Mr. Sato. Then of course, I was one of those ordinary boys, who was always surrounding him.

One day’s lunch time, suddenly our leader said. “Let’s eat a fruit on a tree.” What? I just thought. Shall we eat a fruit on a tree? That’s absurd! Even though I was a typical eight year-old boy and not smart at all, I knew normal humans don’t eat such wild stuff. Absolutely it will be nasty, at least it’s not the fruits like we know. He continued, “Hey boys, why not?” But…wait, he is our leader. He is not an idiot. He must be considering for something I cannot think out. Indeed, that might be wonderful in a sense. We will go to the familiar park and climb up a tree, and then eat the fruit! It seemed as a huge adventure that getting our own food without any grown-ups’ hand. For me, foods had been always prepared for a meal. In most cases they were cooked or industrialized, so I just got curious about where are they from, what are they before cooked. What an awesome plan it is! Then I said,

“I wanna do that!”

“Oh, really?” He answered unexpectedly. “I just said so but you look really excited!” Other boys were also surprised and saying, “Do you want to do that?” “You are a man.” “I want it, too!” I turned white. Now our leader is loudly declaring that after school today we would meet in the park, in order to “eat” tree fruits. Everyone is so excited over the totally abnormal adventure. Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and said, “That’s the spirit! Yoji! Show me your move, first!” What the heck, I screwed up. I was deeply regretting what I said, already. I had a fear of heights, actually.

              Anyway, I had no other choices. A man should be responsible for what he said once. I talked to myself to inspire myself. I was ready to die, when I arrived in the park, there were already many boys, girls (totally unexpected) and they were waving to me. “We’ve been waiting for you, man!’ I said hello to them awkwardly, and I felt cold drops come out on my skin. Maybe I looked unusual, the leader spoke to me. “Are you ready? If not yet, I will do it first.” Then he run to the tree! It’s lucky! I was looking at his back, with feelings of splendid gratefulness. He’s just climbing up! Everybody’s admired-eyes are on him! Hang on! It seemed that he would go on steadily…..but, what happened? He stopped. A few moments later, he got down from the tree. “…What’s up?” Somebody asked. He doesn’t answer. …Wait a minute, come on, is he scared? He doesn’t say anything, looking at the ground. And an awkward pause followed. And then, he just said, “It is too high.” You can’t be serious. The next moment, everybody turned to me simultaneously.

              It can’t be better. Oh my Gosh, because even he surrendered, I cannot do it. Although I was thinking so inside my head, my legs were going forward against the tree, pushed by an unopposable force. I felt everybody gazing every movement of me. I put my hand, then my foot on the tree. Then I tried to climb. But my foot slipped down, scattering small pieces of barks. I just glanced at people behind me. All of them are staring at me. I cannot run away. I tried again. This time, I felt my foot firmly spiked the tree, and my hands bring my body upward unexpectedly. I managed to climb up to one of the main branches. Occasionally, leaves hit my face and smell like grass. Pieces of bark get into my nails, and it hurts. I must already have climbed high. I thought I shouldn’t watch below. That moment, I found something unfamiliar in front of me. That was a “fruit”, not a leaf nor a branch. I tried to pick it automatically. But, there was a distance. So, I boldly threw my right hand into the air.

               “It’s almost there!” Someone is shouting to me. It was not until this time that I could hear someone’s yelling. Actually I am running out of my energy. I wanna give up! But everyone is staring at me. I cannot quit. Don’t give up! I can do it! Look, finally I slightly touched the fruit!

              “Watch out!” At the same time my friend is screaming so, I fell on the ground, from the tree. Having mud all over myself, I checked my right hand. I got it, there was the “fruit”.

              My friends were hurrying to me. “I got it.” I said. That fruit was in my hand. Of course it still looked dirty, weird, and nasty. However, I didn’t know why but I strongly felt the significant accomplishment. It was not like “clean” fruits in supermarket, nor in my refrigerator, though that heavy weight, a wild leaf left behind upon it, and the unprecedented feeling when I wrenched it off from the tree made it a special entity. Definitely, I harvested “food” by myself. I felt like I spent all of my energy on this nasty lump. In order to get just one fruit, I had to get exhausted so much. After that, of course I ate it. The taste was… not sweet at all but hard and mouth-puckering. Nevertheless, this experience became a special, precious, memorable one for me. When I first heard “eating a fruit on a tree”, what my intuition sensed was genuine. It was totally fantastic. I could feel how exhausting it was to get food, how interesting it was to get food, and how grateful it was to be able to get food. Of course when I got back to home, seeing my muddy clothes, my mother scolded me sharply, “What on earth did you do!?” But at that day, the good smell of her cooking let me appreciate her, a little more than usual.

Reading Response 3

              In the latter half of this book, “Secret Ingredients”, there are three works in a row, written by the same writer, M.F.K Fisher. Her works are not necessarily funny, humorous, or descriptive, but I got interested in something of her works. We can say they sound like a story, novel, or essay. Some parts are written in different styles from other parts, but each transition is so natural that readers can immerse in her world, without feeling any awkwardness. Also, all of three parts seem are written in the most suitable styles. The first one, “THE SECRET INGREDIENT” is written like a novel, so we can be absorbed in her a little mysterious atmosphere of the passionate cook, Bertie Bastalizzo. The second one, “THE TROUBLE WITH TRIPE” does not have so clear style, but it sounds like a memoir, which succeeds in describing her vivid emotion about “Tripe”. The third one, “NOR CENSURE NOR DISDAIN” can be categorized as a certain essay and it effectively explains what casseroles stand for as one of the most popular American cuisines. Thus, three different styles let me enjoy her world from each different point of view, without getting bored. Thereafter, despite she used three ways of writing, I felt there are one important theme in her works. That is a respect for foods.

              In the first work, an outstanding sentence for me was “I still like her and regret that since she succumbed to a second love we no longer taste her beautiful dishes. (104)” In this section, we can see the author’s striking curiosity on the “secret ingredients”, and because of it also can see her cling on Bertie. Then thanks to a novel-like expression “succumbed to a second love”, we can read how the author loves Bertie’s cuisines and her spirit to inquire the secret recipe. Hence, in the first work the author makes novel-like atmosphere so that readers can follow her curious feeling about secret ingredients.

              The second section is about a tripe. Undoubtedly, one of the most impressive parts of it is the sentences when she states about her favorite restaurant. “If I had not come, a potted plant would have been set neatly in my place, I know.” This states the author’s very personal thought. In this page, she describes her feelings narrating in the first person, so that we can follow what she thought when she visited the restautant. The memoir style succeeds in telling her actual vivid emotion in these sentences.

              The third section explains what is casserole. The sentence which shows the feature of the section is this; “ Increasingly, there are such compromises between one’s knowledge of good cooking and one’s harried way of life, and a friend of mine with a large family has evolved her own formula for casserole cooking. (117)” After this sentence the author explain casserole is a preeminently American style food and good for mass feeding. She chooses descriptive style so that we easily understand characters of casserole.

              Accordingly, she use different styles which goes with each theme. Further, this represents her respect for writing about foods, or foods themselves. Though choosing the most suitable ways, she tries to tell us how attractive foods are. The reason why I like her works may be that indeed she has splendid particularities about food writings. (557 words)

Reading Response 2

               In this section he wrote about actually there are many unsavory secrets in restaurants industry. There were sometimes awful ones which I should not have read, maybe. Still, his detailed descriptions were based on his own carrier as a chef in New York so they were very persuasive and worth to read. Actually, his descriptions about “secrets” are very interesting for me. One reason is that I just liked to eat out in ethnic restaurants, and the other reason is that I have worked in the kitchen.

“In America, the Professional kitchen is the last refuge of the misfit.” Anthony Bourdain says. Then he continued, restaurants are one of the best working place like heaven and in New York chefs use mainly Spanish when they talk each other while they cook. It was very easy to imagine these chaotic but smooth scenes. In fact, there are many foreigners in restaurants’ kitchen and it is very interesting to see how they cook, talk, and serve. The reason why I know this is because I really liked to explore Tokyo for unique and ethnic restaurants. Actually, in Tokyo it seems that quite a few people are working at restaurants. There are many kinds of ethnic restaurants; they are Italians, Frenches, Turkish ones, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thais, and in my town there were several types of Myanmar restaurants, according to the differences between each tribe. The interesting point is that we can enjoy cultural differences not only from dishes, but also from the way how cooks behave. In Italian restaurants, all waiters gleet me with loud voices, “Buonasera!!” , at the moment I get into. On the other hand, in Spanish restaurants, basically chefs and waiters are quiet. However, when the number of customers are getting increased, we get the opportunity to talk with chefs. In that restaurant, a chef told me about his life as an activist, the reason why he drifted to Japan, as a cook.

Last year, I have been working in a convenience store. It was not a restaurant, but because I dealt with food, Bordain’s story sounded like very real. The most interesting part was about quality. He stated that there is difference about quality on each day of the week. In fact, this exists. In my case, the coffee machine were washed only on Monday and Friday, so Monday’s and Friday’s coffee were much better than the day before. Also, we recycled rice for our packed lunch products. These “secrets” may seems very fearful for customers, but they do exist. Bordain succeeds in making his work be characteristic, through describing the other side of food industry. However, his story does not sound only unpleasant, but also funny and interesting. That is because he leads us to inside of kitchens, where cooks are working proudly. Of course, sometimes there may be dirty secrets, but even that beautiful cuisines which we love are from there. We are curious about magical places where chefs are displaying their awesome skills. Bordain satisfied that our curiosities, anyway.   

Get a food

“It’s almost there!” Someone is shouting to me. I know, I know it. But always, that “almost” seems to be really hard and frustrating. I am standing on a tree, with my trembling leg, my left hand is grabbing a branch very tightly, and the right hand is aiming at …a certain fruit. I am running out of my energy. “Hang on! You can do it!” I heard somebody else yell up at me. I wanna give up! But everyone is staring at me. I cannot quit, actually I know even some girls are looking at me from a corner of the park. Don’t give up! I can do it! Look, finally I slightly touched the fruit! But well…by the way, what is this fruit? This brown, red “fruit” doesn’t look like it’s edible. It must have an astringent taste. Maybe rotten. Why on earth am I struggling to pick up this extremely weird material?

“Watch out!” At the same time my friend is screaming so, I fell on the ground, from the tree. Having mud all over myself, I checked my right hand. I got it, there was the “fruit”.

I was eight years-old. You know, it is the time when boys are the most ambitious, courageous, and reckless. In school, we were always talking about who is the fastest runner, the best player of soccer, and the bravest explorer. When I scored a goal (it rarely happened), I used to feel like was the champion of the schoolyard. Although, the world of children was sometimes very harsh. We all knew that who had the strongest power in our “tribe”. The bravest leader was admired by every boy. Then of course, I was one of those ordinary boys, who were always surrounding him.

One day’s lunch time, suddenly our leader said. “Let’s eat a fruit on a tree.” What? I just thought. Shall we eat a fruit on a tree? That’s absurd! Even though I was typical eight years-old boy and not smart at all, I knew normal humans don’t eat such a wild stuff. Absolutely it will be nasty, at least it’s not the fruits like we know. He continued, “Hey boys, why not?” But…wait, he is our leader. He is not idiot. He must be considering for something I cannot think out. Indeed, that might be wonderful in a sense. We will go to the familiar park and climb up a tree, and then eat the fruit! It seemed as a huge adventure that getting own food without any grown-ups’ hand. For me, food had been always prepared for a meal. In most cases they are cooked or industrialized, so I just got curious about where are they from, what are they before cooked. What an awesome plan it is! Then I said,

“I wanna do that!”

“Oh, really?” He answered unexpectedly. “I just said so but you look really excited!” Other boys were also surprised and saying, “Do you want to do that?” “You are a man.” “I want it, too!” I turned white. Now our leader is loudly declaring that after school today we would meet in the park, in order to “eat” tree fruits. Everyone was so excited over the totally abnormal adventure. Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and said, “That’s the spirit! Yoji! Show me your move, first!” What the heck, I screwed up. I was deeply regretting what I said, already. I have a fear of heights, actually.

              Anyway, I have no other choices. A man should be responsible for what he said once. I talked to myself to inspire myself. I am ready to die, when I arrived in the park, there were already many boys, girls (totally unexpected) and they were waving to me. “We’ve been waiting for you, man!’ I said hello to them awkwardly, and I felt cold drops come out on my skin. Maybe I looked unusual, the leader spoke to me. “Are you ready? If not yet, I will do it first.” Then he run to the tree! It’s lucky! I was looking at his back, with feelings of splendid gratefulness. He’s just climbing up! Everybody’s admired-eyes are given onto his back! Hang on! It seemed that he would go on steadily…..but, what happened? He stopped. A few moments later, he got down from the tree. “…What’s up?” Somebody asked. He doesn’t answer. …Wait a minute, come on, is he scared? He doesn’t say anything, looking at the ground. And an awkward pause followed. And then, he just said, “It is too high.” You can’t be serious. The next moment, everybody turned to me simultaneously.

              It can’t be better. Oh my Gosh, because even he surrendered, I cannot do it. Although I was thinking so inside my head, my legs were going forward against to the tree, pushed by an unopposable power. I felt everybody gazing every movement of me. I put my hand, then my foot on the tree. Then I tried to climb. But my foot slipped down, scattering small pieces of barks. I just glanced at people behind me. All of them are staring me. I cannot run away. I tried again. This time, I felt my foot firmly spiked the tree, and my hands bring my body upward unexpectedly. I managed to climb up to one of main branches. Occasionally, leaves hits on my face and smells like a glass. Pieces of barks get into my nails, and hurts. I must already have climbed high. I thought I shouldn’t watch below. That moment, I found something unfamiliar in front of me. That was a “fruit”, not a leaf nor a branch. I tried to pick it automatically. But, there was a distance. I cannot get it at this late. I boldly threw my right hand into the air.

               “It’s almost there!” Someone is shouting to me. It was not until this time that I could hear someone’s yelling. Actually I am running out of my energy. I wanna give up! But everyone is staring at me. I cannot quit. Don’t give up! I can do it! Look, finally I slightly touched the fruit!

              “Watch out!” At the same time my friend is screaming so, I fell on the ground, from the tree. Having mud all over myself, I checked my right hand. I got it, there was the “fruit”.

              My friends were hurrying to me. “I got it” I said. That fruit was in my hand. Of course it still looked dirty, weird, and nasty. However, I didn’t know why but I strongly felt the significant presence. It was not like “clean” fruits in supermarket, nor in my refrigerator, though that heavy weight, a wild leaf left behind upon it, and the unprecedented feeling when I wrenched it off from the tree made it a special entity. Definitely, I took “food” by myself. I felt like I spend all of my energy into this nasty lump. In order to get just a one fruit, I had to get exhausted so much. After that, of course I ate it. The taste was… I don’t mention it here. Nevertheless, this experience became a special, precious, memorable one for me. When I firstly heard “eating a fruit on a tree”, what my intuition sensed was genuine. It was totally fantastic. I could feel how exhausting to get food, how interesting to get food, and how grateful to be able to get food. Of course when I got back to home, seeing my muddy clothes, my mother scolded me sharply, “What on earth did you do!?” But at that day, good smell of her cooking let me appreciate her, a little more than usual.