Boarding Passes Please!

It all began in 1986! My parents volunteered to host a Japanese exchange student, through our local church! Norie flew to Washington State for a 3 week introduction to the our country. We hit it off the minute I met her. She came, with my parents, to pick me up from summer camp. Her little Japanese/English dictionary was the only way we could communicate. I guess in the end it didn't matter! She fell in love with the States, and I fell in love with Japan. I think that is what my parents had in mind, for us to understand a bit of culture that existed outside of our own. She quickly became my best friend. Through the years, she has visited twice (one of those times was when I was married in 1994), I have visited her in Japan in 1992, and then in New York in 2004. Norie loved the States so much that she ended up attending college here and currently resides in New York City! She has taught me so much respect for the Japanese culture. My desire to live there, has remained constant since I first visited Japan in 1992. I love the people, their ways, their food, and the land. I even filled out an application to teach English there in 1992. Unfortunately college and one CRAZY boy (not Mark) changed my mind! I intend to return there one day, if not live there. Mark and I even went as far as to buy Japanese speaking tapes, so that one day we might be able to speak the language. All this to say, I intend to blog about some interesting Japanese culture, and its ethnic foods throughout the remainder of this month! I sincerely hope you enjoy taking this plane ride to Narita with me. The Bullet train will take us to the cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, Fujinomiya, and Yokohama. Enjoy your flight to Narita, and please refer to the flight information sheets in the front pocket of your seat for safety features onboard this aircraft...

Here is my attempt to culture my children! Today's lunchbox menu:

Spring roll with cabbage, Shiitake mushrooms, and fried tofu
Soy sauce for dipping
Rice cake with nori wrap
Chocolate biscuits
Watermelon
Chop Sticks


And last nights after school snack:
Sushi with smoked salmon, avocado and cucumber! Oh and can't forget the pickled ginger and wasabi!

By the way, I took some to Jim over at Dad's Place! Nothing pleases a cook more, than to hear all the pleasure moans someone makes when eating their recipes. Thank you Jim, for all the wonderful feedback I received this morning. Your sushi order is always welcome here! I always enjoy educating the masses on ethnic cuisine, so if anyone out there is interested let me know! I could go into the sushi making business, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it would not last here!

Comments

Sugar-n-Spice said…
hey, think maybe you could make a whole lesson, complete with a craft and a meal, on japan and japanese culture and teach my kids one afternoon? they would love to see pictures. . .recommend a good book set in japan and i'll read it to them, first. i know its a lot to ask, but i'm always looking for others to share their expertise with my kids.
Yes,alot of people here are turned off by even the thought of sushi.My friends and I,took a trip to a local chinese resteraunt a few years ago because it was Sushi night.It was our first time ever trying it.We all hated it,but,maybe you could change our minds...in general the food at this establishment that is no longer here,was in my opinion,bad.So maybe the same is true for their sushi.I did enjoy the rice and seaweed but the center was not my fav.LOL.
Mark W. said…
Yow-za!! Do you still have that kimono? You should really pull that out of hiding! ;~>

That sushi was SOOOOO good!!! Thanks a million, babe!
Anonymous said…
Hey, next time you visit I want you to make some of these dishes for us (well, me at least) to try.
--ch-- said…
did the kids have to eat the chopsticks, since they were on the menu list? I didn't know that they had edible chopsticks. :-) I still think that the best sushi I have had is at Seki-sui in LR.
Anonymous said…
Hello,
We have something in common. My oldest son, Alan, has lived in Japan for twenty years. He teaches music and English and helps coach his, ten year old son's baseball team. They ended the season in second place. Baseball is very big over there. I would love to share things he has sent me over the years..also pictures. Yes, I plan to make a trip one day soon before I get too rusted up to make the 16hour flight to Tokyo.
Anonymous said…
You contantly surprise me. Where did you get all the interest you have. I know your love for Japan but for all the other cultures and foods. Yum. I know it did not come from me Miss North Dakota. They have little and I mean little culture there. I wish you were here and we could maybe take some cooking classes with Greek foods. Wow there is somewhere other than subway. Well Dad and I will be grading several resturants in the next few weeks. Maybe I will have to explore some more places other than Bistros. Mom
Anonymous said…
Hi I just looked up the copperhead snakes I hope you got rid of it or better yet KILLED it. I can do damage to you muscle if you are bitten. Where did you find it. Just a fretter. mom
Laurie said…
OOOOHHHHH!!!! I have soooooo been wanting to make sushi! I'm going to be doing it soon! You are inspiring me!
Jim said…
Angela, the sushi was INCREDIBLE! Can't wait till the next round! It really was as good as I have EVER had! Complete with chop sticks, pickled ginger, and that INSANE HOT WASABE!
Anonymous said…
Well, since I don't have a blog account, I am technically not allowed to comment on your blog, but hey, if the topic is about me... Can you please spell my name in full, so the people don't have a wrong idea that I am named after seaweed (the black seaweed seat wrapping sushi is called "Nori" in Japanese...)
Anonymous said…
Oops, not the black seaweed SEAT, but SHEET..darn, I need that little dictionary back!
Mark W. said…
Hi Norie!

You are right - that is a very embarrassing mistake, especially when Angela is writing about sushi in the same post! I'm sure no one wants to be named after sheets of seaweed (to be honest, I only noticed that it was called 'nori' when Angela was buying a package of it a week ago).

By the way - very glad to hear from you!

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