Saturday, February 3, 2018

Okonomiyaki!


I was a moody, timid child. Glad to say those traits have improved to a vast degree. Part of that is just maturity, I suppose. Still, my SO and I tend to sit quiet while another might speak up in complaint of this or that, especially at restaurants.

The other day at a local Japanese eatery enjoying a bowl of savory Osaka soba (tender pork rib meat with thick noodles in a rich broth), I decided to speak up about something very different from complaint. Having learned it’s possible to order off menu, I bolstered my courage and asked our friendly waitress if the chef would ever agree to make okonomiyaki.

Her face lit up! She asked my name, telling me to call ahead to make the request, and said we would call it the Darla Special. I am tickled pink. SO suggested that could be my birthday meal later this month.

Here is a Wikipedia article on those savory Japanese pancakes if you are interested. There are many variations and I made up my mind to give the chef his choice if asked. I like to think trusting his judgment would impress him as well as being the wisest way to go. These men and women in the kitchen know what they’re doing.

My Breakfast, Leftover Osaka Udon
Definitely no 'Consolation Prize'
Now I will just have to laugh if I end up not liking it and already have a contingency plan. If it’s not to my liking, I’ll just act like I struggled to decide before leaving the house and then request the standard noodle dish. ~grin~ Amusingly, the proprietress asked if I’d ever been to Osaka upon my first excited order of that udon. I answered, “I wish!” My reply amused her. I will admit over the phone that pickled ginger doesn’t agree with me (probably sacrilege, but oh, well).

Have you eaten any of the foods I mentioned?

-

8 comments:

  1. Darla, timid? HAHA...I see that! Me, always the social butterfly. But not one to speak up that much for fear of being told no or hurting someone's feelings. On the flip side of that, I was a PICKY eater! I worked with a friend that would not tell me was in stuff that she would bring to work for me to try...she would tell me to eat it then she would tell me what was in it! HAHA...I have outgrown that now, I will at least, within reason try things. It might just be a bite but I will try it. As for what you have mentioned, no I can't say I have tried any of that. However I have had snails! In a garlic butter sauce....yummy. Fried, not so much! HAHA....But how awesome that there is now a Darla Special! haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet we would have a great deal of fun together. ~grin~ Hope you have better days ahead!

      Delete
  2. I have had none of these dishes. That is so cool that they will make something special for you and name it for you. Be sure to celebrate your birthday all month. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! That's not a bad idea. I don't know how much it will cost, however. My partner and I deem it uncouth to ask. Our philosophy is, "If you can't afford that cocktail or appetizer or whatever, you have no business being there."

      Delete
  3. I have never heard of that, but good for you for asking for what you want. There's complaining just to complain, and then there's standing up for yourself and asking for what you want. I hope it lives up to you expectations.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Replies
    1. Oh, no! ~grin~ I wonder if you'd like it. Be well!

      Delete

Hope you enjoyed stopping by and please drop a line. I love comments.

Any and all will be published upon approval. Thanks!