Tonight was dinner at the Japanese restaurant in the hotel, a very good Japanese restaurant.
It actually turned out to be a very formal meal. There were five of us dinning this evening and we had a waitress (that’s not the correct term, but I’ve no idea what is) that was dedicated to our table. Akemi poured the drinks and stood at the head of the table waiting for the next glass to be half empty, or the next course to arrive. I understand there is some tradition to this, that in Japan women have typically be subservient to some extent. She tried to explain the culture behind this and her role in the restaurant, but this was a little uncomfortable.
She was dressed in a very traditional kimono and in addition to the serving the food provided a commentary about what we were eating and the traditions behind it. The meal excellent, certainly top 10 ever, and could be the top non-steak meal I’ve had.
There were nine courses, it was the restaurants tasting menu, in total we were eating for almost two hours. Each course was wonderfull, the presentation perfect, all accompanied by Akemi explaining the food, its preparation, the correct way to eat it and its relevance to the region.
There was fresh miso, shabushabu, sashimi, and so on, and so on. All accompanied by small glasses of saki designed to accompany each course. While the food was unquestionably excellent, the education that went with it really made the experience.
I wonder what positions are open in Japan with in the company, I could handle eating like this every week or so…