A Yen for Japanese Food

Out of the blue, it just came to me – this terrible craving for Japanese food. The last two weeks, I managed to drag friends to dine in three different Japanese restaurants in the city—Rai Rai Ken, Mikado, and Tokyo Joe’s. And still, I want more.

Every now and then, I get these terrible cravings. And by terrible I mean – non-stop, never-mind-the-expense, who-cares-if-everyone’s-sick-of-it-let’s-go! kind of thing. I remember one phase in my life when I had this yen for Yakisoba noodles that I ate it everyday for lunch for two straight months – much to my friend's disgust and (I’m pretty sure) amazement too ;) Not once did I puke and up to this day I still love it. Then there was Jollibee’s peach mango pie that I managed to eat five pieces of at one time and at least 2 pieces everyday for months too. Then there was strawberry ice cream, vegetable lumpia and, well, let’s just say there was a lot. And now, adding on to that list is Japanese food.

But why on earth Japanese food? It never was my favorite cuisine. Japanese food used to make me think of eating raw fish (which for me translates to French kissing with dead fishes), and the guy who French kisses so bad I simply want to forget him. Yet here I am, still not eating raw fish, mind you – but daydreaming of tempuras, maki, beef teppanyaki, chicken teriyaki, Japanese rice and much more. Yummmm

For lack of anything else, I’m blaming it on the chopsticks. If only F, my crush from long ago, taught me how to use them sooner like he said he would, then I would no longer have this overwhelming urge to eat Japanese food to prove that I can use chopsticks beautifully not only on my hair but my food as well.

The first time I successfully picked up a California maki and brought it to my mouth with my chopsticks, I decided right then and there it was definitely one of my favorite dishes and that I gotta have more. Then I tried chopsticks on tempuras and fell in love some more. So what if I’m still having trouble with my rice and noodles? Laugh all you want, but I’m getting there. I figure a few more Japanese restaurants ought to do it. Then I’ll never have to go hungry in China or Japan or Korea. What a thought!

Sigh. Who am I kidding? Raw fish aside, with chopsticks or without, Japanese food simply tastes so good it’s knocking off Sunburst chicken on the number 1 spot of my favorite food list. And mind you, that is no small and easy feat.

Anyone in the mood for Japanese food, call me.