Some Memorable Moments Between Food and Me (1/2)
May 21, 2008 – 9:18 pmI am notorious worldwide for my appetite (really, everywhere I’ve gone, at least one person in a group with whom I’m sharing a meal just has to comment on how I can eat). Even in Costa Rica I sometimes ate three plates of rice and beans for dinner. And in Sweden people said feeding me was like feeding a family of three.
Of course, I’m a different man now and have been told so by traveler friends who have known me for quite a while. This was all before I adopted the philosophy outlined in this article.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my most memorable food experiences. This is by no means an authoritative list of the world’s cuisines (come on, I don’t even remember the names of most of the restaurants) but just a recollection of fine times I’ve had while putting something edible in my mouth. Aspects of consideration were quality of the food, the price, and the circumstances surrounding the meal (or snack).
In no particular order of rank or chronology…
The revolving restaurant in Waikiki where we had our lobster/steak restaurant. Yes, the weather sucked, as does this photo. You can’t really tell in the picture, but the restaurant did revolve.
Basashi at Kawaguchiko in Japan
You’ve heard of sashimi, right? Well, basashi is a type of sashimi. A very special type. It’s not any kind of fish. It’s horse. And it doesn’t taste like chicken. Sorry to all those pony-lovers, but the taste is definitely unique. Oh, it’s pretty expensive too. Sometimes I suspect the meal was so good because we had just gotten out of a hot spring.
The restaurant is right across the street from Kawaguchiko Train Station. You might remember that train station name from my climbing Mt. Fuji article.
Lobster/Steak Dinner in Waikiki
I actually don’t remember whether I ordered lobster or steak. The weather was a little gloomy too, but, hey, we were in Hawaii, and it was twilight, and the revolving restaurant really did revolve.
Beef Stone Bowl in Mexico
It was in a huge bowl made of black stone! I’ve eaten out of bowls made of ceramic, wood, plastic, paper, and even metal, but it was the first time for stone. And people who know me know how much I love beef. Having a Bavarian beer with it made the dish even spicier. It was kind of like getting high…I guess. Not that I would know with any concrete certainty.
Fish Dinner with White Wine at the Luxembourg Garden in Paris
The fish wasn’t too great, and the wine wasn’t of excellent quality either, but the mood was magical. First off, it was Paris. Second, I’m a sucker for gardens. I’m pretty much tired of seeing huge cities and big buildings (except at night from the 63rd floor), but gardens and natural landscapes still have their hold over me.
It had also been a very hot day, so the soft breeze at 7 in the evening was more than welcome and refreshing. And in case you’re interested in trying it out, there’s only one restaurant in the Luxembourg Garden. You can’t miss it.
A Little Bowl of Instant Noodles in Shanghai
Yes, you read that correctly: instant noodles, a staple food in the diet of most American students (by the way, in Japan, instant noodles are much more respected). In this case, it wasn’t the meal at all. Naturally, it wasn’t too delicious or filling, but I believe it was the first time someone outside of my family had deliberately and personally cooked for me.
It was a girl, no less. I remember thinking that she shouldn’t encourage gender stereotypes by serving a guy food, but I was grateful nonetheless. She and I both regret that we have that little lake called the Atlantic (well, sometimes it’s the continent of Eurasia) between us.
