I went for a cooking lesson today and out of the five people who signed up only another student and I showed up. The teacher announced that since enough material was measured for five people, we’d have to prepare five servings. A normal person who hears this will assume that the five servings of food will then all be consumed, now won’t she? Wrong!
I swear I’m not saying this just because I’m a pig (which I’ve been known to be at times) but isn’t it so wasteful to cook all that food only to dump them right into the trash? Yup, that’s exactly what we did. We were only allowed to take one serving of everything: three sections of sushi rolls, one inarizushi pocket, 1/5 of the grape jelly dessert, and only one of the five prawns for the soup (the teacher made sure we didn’t throw an extra prawn in the soup). The rest was all chucked in the bin!
We asked why we couldn’t take the rest home and were given some lame sanitary excuses. So fine, but there are so many other students at the studio who, I’m sure, would love to get some free food. But that wasn’t allowed either. I’m guilty of throwing out a leftover dish or two at times, but we are talking about freshly cooked, perfectly delicious food here. I really don’t understand.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Stumble It!
8 comments:
That is ridiculous! By the way, I want to take this opportunity to let you know how much I love your blog. I lived in Tokyo for seven years and miss it terribly, especially lately. Reading your blog reminds me of the two things I love- cooking and Tokyo!
Anyway, it is unfortunate that the teacher couldn't bend the rules, but in my experience, bending the rules is an idea that just doesn't exist in Japanese culture. The lame excuse of the take-out being unsanitary makes no sense at all- is one portion somewhat more sanitary than two or three?
I am looking forward to reading about your pastry courses- good luck and gambatte ne. Anata no blogu wa hontoni omoshiroi yo. Shashin mo kirei desu ne?!
Thanks
Anne Michi
Hi Lynn!
It hurts me to see good food go to waste as well... especially good Japanese food!
I feel a little ashamed that the Japanese can't find it in their hearts to share the food with others even if it is bending the rules (despite what Anne had said, which is pretty much true).
It makes no sense but what can you do?! Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed your lesson, which afterall, is what you paid for in the first place!
Cheers!
It seems your teacher could use an immersion in the slums or to take the ecological footprint quiz.
Hi Anne, I'm glad you like my blog. Tokyo is definitely one of those places that you find yourself hating at times but missing greatly if you actually leave. And thanks for the encouragement, gambarimasu!
Taku, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I did enjoy my lesson and just felt like venting a bit.
Karen, being a country of plentiful, people in Japan (as many people in developed countries) take a lot of things for granted. My other classmate wasn't even too bothered by all that food going to waste.
Wow. It never occured to me that they would throw out the food! I heard about your blog through Keiko. I'm starting culinary school soon :)
Any ideas about where would be good for a baking/pastry internship in Tokyo?
Hi Lady Lavender,
You are starting CIA? It's so exciting! You must blog about it so we can compare notes!
I'm afraid LCB will be my first attempt at professional pastry, so I don't have a clue about internships, but I'll keep an eye out for you (I noticed LCB has a job board).
Yes :) I'm very excited :) I'm just waiting on financial aide to come through (crossing fingers) and then I'll be starting in January.
If I'm allowed to bring my camera, I'd love to compare notes/pictures with you.
~emi
Totally agree,
I hate it when people wasting food.
Post a Comment