Tsukuba Monogatari: Thirteenth post
For many years natto (gooey fermented soybeans) has reigned supreme as the Japanese food item most likely to arise in a conversation which begins with the question, “Can you eat Japanese food?” or “What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?”
This is a REAL makunouchi bento
However, I believe natto has finally relinquished its throne to none other than the makunouchi bento that was served at my visiting boss’s session on “Coaching Your Japanese Subordinates” for expats at The Company. Perhaps it was some poor Japanese subordinate’s way of taking revenge on the expats. I believe Hori-san ordered the lunches.
Anyway, great expectations were raised at the sight of 14 gleaming faux-lacquer (i.e., plastic) boxes rolled in on a cart, only to give way to sheer disbelief as lids were raised. There was the familiar rectangle of white rice with umeboshi (pickled plum) artfully arranged in the center to simulate the Japanese flag; but there all resemblance to the traditional Japanese o-bento ended.
In one corner was what appeared to be a shrimp tail emerging from a breaded, fried snowball. No shrimp known to man would assume that shape, breaded and fried or not. The adventurous among us discovered that there was indeed a shrimp in there, encased in a huge cocoon of mashed potato. Moving on, the next delicacy was weiner tempura. Enough said. The last memorable item shall remain unnamed, not from a desire to protect the innocent, but because to this day the substance has not been identified. It may have been meat, as it resembled a patty; however, I sincerely doubt that any respectable animal would step forward if questioned on this one.
JBT (Japan-Bound Training) trainers who trained Meg Murphy, please note: In follow-up training, Meg should concentrate on suppressing overt displays of mirth upon biting into a shrimp encased in a breaded, fried, mashed potato snowball. In the event that Nick Papadakis should receive re-entry training, please explore the issue of why he thought the lunch was good. What I would like to know is what that man has been eating for the past six months.
Let us take this lunch as a sober reminder that when east meets west, the results can be quite unpalatable.
“Natto“: Courtesy of JD. Licensed under cc by 2.0. “Makunouchi bento“: Courtesy of autan. Licensed under cc by NC-ND 2.0
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