"Les Poissons" my little lovelies,
As the title implies, hats off to the chef, however as that chef is not me no need for a kissing booth. Today we explore Japanese Cuisine, at least the ones that I have tried so far. Japanese Cuisine is a meal wrapped around the concept of nutrition, balance, and harmony with the season. Seasonal foods are considered an integral part of any proper Japanese meal. Seafood is also a huge part of the meal, particularly in Hakodate as it is a port city. When all of this is combined it creates a rich, flavorful meal which can be easily enjoyed.
My first experience in traditional style food was at a Japanese Style bar. Not only was the food fun but the atmosphere and room themselves were meant to take you back to a more traditional time. Upon entering the restaurant the customer removes their shoes and places then in a small locker. We were afterwards guided to an enclosed room you had to step up to get into. The table is low and to the ground and the walls of the room connected and made of sliding doors. These doors can be pushed open to connect separate rooms when the visiting party has a large number of people. The floor underneath the table is a hidden delight. I was so excited when i found out the floor is actually sunk down to allow room for the legs to sit comfortably under the table. You are sitting on the floor as you would a regular chair. The lighting provides a cozy atmosphere and small cushions make the ground very comfortable.
The scene is set and the food is now on it's way. One of the most interesting things I have found in Japanese Cuisine is that most food is served and eaten in a "buffet" style setup. Food is brought out on individual platters and shared among those dining. The menu, a small electrical wonder of a machine, was placed at the head of the table. When you wanted to order something for the table you simply selected it on the menu and the item was shortly brought out. Granted this isn't even in the simplest sense a "traditional" aspect of Japanese Eatery, however I find no fault with it's ability to make the eating experience more enjoyable. (I would rather enjoy having such a technical-minion in the United States.)
Another fun part of Japanese cuisine is のみほだい - All you can drink. Usually added to the meal at a base fee のみほだい allows you to order any number of drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, from the menu with no limit on the number of drinks you can have or try. You are not limited to one type of drink with endless refills but you can have fun and try several different drinks. One limit is the number of drinks you can have at one time. They will bring your next drink once the drink you have is finished. のみほだい can be limited to a certain number of hours or last the entire time you are dining, it varies depending on the establishment you visit.
As with the meal, the bill is also "buffet" style. The bill arrives in it's entirety and is split evenly between the guests. This means there is no pulling out of calculators and whipping of frenzied fingers on the phone. The reason for this is that the experience and food is enjoyed evenly among the guests therefore the bill is too. if during the meal, you partook of the meal more or less than your compatriots the principal is that next time you can balance the odds. A rather enchanting concept if I say so myself.
The entire meal was a delightful experience and I look forward to doing it again sometime in the future. Until then I shall satisfy my nutritional needs with simple home-cooked fare and my humble attempts at cooking. I do make a mean omelette, ask my mother, she agrees. (I hope. :) )