Addendum - Virgin Territory & The Absence Of A Soul

Haha! I cracked up when I read Matt's comments on FB. Reread the part on bastardized food and realized that I sounded pretty harsh.

Actually, I love bastardized sushi rolls. My favorite is the Volcano Roll. They have them in Japan, but they are considered more a novelty.

In 2001, I brought a few Japanese friends out to eat in Oklahoma. They told me that it is not real sushi. I replied, "I know, but what can we expect in Oklahoma."

We still had a great time and we enjoyed the food for what it was.

Volcano Roll
Though I love the Volcano Roll, I will stop short of calling it Japanese. Just as curry pizzas are not "Italian", sushi rolls filled with craw fish and avocados are not Japanese. And yes, curry pizzas are delicious.

Butter Paneer Pizza
Because sushi and pizza have become commonplace, every culture has their own variations. My favorite place for Singapore sushi is Sushi Tei. They are a conveyor belt style restaurant.

Cuisines are constantly changing. For any cuisine to evolve, there has to be an influx of new cooking techniques and/or ingredients. I love trying new cuisine, fusion (bastardized) or traditional.

What is fusion? Is fusion just slapping some teriyaki sauce on a steak? Or is fusion mastering the different techniques and intricacies of different cuisines to create something new and amazing?

I lean towards the latter.

Again, I do not have anything against multicultural foods, just how it is classified.

Virgin Territory & The Absence Of A Soul

Today is forever etched in my mind.

Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson passed away today. Today, Gen X lost 2 icons. BUT that is not why today is special.

Today, we signed the lease for my restaurant. This is my virgin foray into the restaurant business. I am excited.

Though this is not the kind of cuisine I want to pander, it is a start. Being a newb, I have partnered a few people with a combined experience of more than 100 years. They have no management roles, just advisory.

Many immigrants to USA get into the restaurant business because they don't know how to do anything else. They sell bastardized food that passes off as ethic cuisine. Their only goal is the gold.

It is true that cuisine evolves. But when the soul of a cuisine is absent, can it still be classified as such? Does dressing an Irish in Chinese clothing make him Chinese?

Is teriyaki brisket still Texas BBQ even if you smoke it in a pit for 12 hours? So why are all those Tex-Mex rolls called Japanese just because they are wrapped in rice and seaweed?

As a business, I will sell what people want to eat. As a foodie, I will try to introduce new culinary experiences. In time, maybe expand the palates of my customers?

No matter what my product, my commitment is to quality!

*Addendum


Beat It - Michael Jackson

Trial By Fire

The last 2 weeks was rough but fun. Henry and Cindy went to China on vacation leaving Sherry and me in-charge. They return today.

Equipment and structural failure, surprise health code inspection, Henry's home A/C broke down, and other small (but no less annoying) issues. All in a day's work of a restaurateur.

Last year, I was asked to manage the restaurant 2 weeks after arriving in the US. Aside from being clueless plus all the unexpected situations that comes with running a restaurant, Chloe decided to pop out 4 weeks early. There isn't a word to describe the stress and anxiety I was experiencing back then.

This time, everything just feels natural. I managed with a lot more confidence and authority.

I think I'm ready for my own restaurant.


Ready Or Not - The Fugees