Japanology Night at Royal T Café

Ochazuke Night

 (Hot Green Tea poured over rice and accompaniments)

Japanology Night at Royal T Café

Ochazuke Night (Hot Green Tea poured over rice and accompaniments)

Japanese words can be used to describe ingredients in the food menus at non-Japanese Restaurants such as Yuzu (type of citrus), Nori (Seaweed), wasabi, Ramen etc. The Ramen boom hasn't declined its heat. It has been said, The Ramen and other Japanese words can be understood as it is. What I am trying to say here is hoping one day soon the Japanese traditional dishes which are still not popular dishes now can be eaten as a regular food item among non-Japanese back grounded people. So I dream that one day Ochazuke becomes a food item word without any descriptions or captions.

Jordan A.Yamaji Smith, PhD.

PhD

 Jan 26^th 2011 "The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice" as a part of the Japanology series was held at Royal T café in Culver city. Ochazuke Dinner starts 6pm, Lecture " Classic Flavors: Ochazuke, Ozu Yasujiro, and the film that Never was" by Jordan A. Yamaji Smith , PhD. Who teaches at UCLA and Cal State Long Beach department of Comparative Literature Asian Study. 8pm: screening. They had a special menu for this event.

The Menus were following

Ochazuke Menu: hot green tea poured over rice and accompaniments    

$8 Nori, $9 Ume, $9 Salted Salmon, $10 Tarako Spicy cod roe, $10 Unagi Fresh water eel

Sides

$4 Hijiki simmered brown sea vegetable $4 Kinpira sautéed burdock root $5.5

Ochazuke Salted Salmon topping

Kouya tofu dried tofu stewed with vegetables $6.5 Karaage fried chicken $6.5 Agedachi tofu fried tofu in broth $2.5 Oshinkou assorted pickled vegetable $5 Potato Salad $5 Example the hijiki, kinpira & Oshinkou

Japanese sake $12 Dassai Nigori 300ml $17 Okunomatsu junmai Nama 290ml

The selections on the menu were chosen by Mr.Smith except Unagi and Potato salads. The great chef Nobuko was preparing for guests for this event, and she was the one who added Unagi ochazuke, and side of Potato Salads on the menu.

A couple of Mr.Jordan's students were participating voluntarily in this great event. They were very serious and devoted to what they were studying.  A total of about 30 people were enjoying Ochazuke special meals, lecture, and movie.  

It was quite interesting to listen to Mr.Jordan's lecture. He was explaining how the movie was made, history,  the background and personality of the Director and main roles of actors or actresses. The lecture helped me to watch the movie than I would not have the explanation. I certainly watched the movie differently and was able to notice the things that I could not notice without the explanation. I was able to understand how the director wanted the actors or lighting to be as Mr.Smith explained the personality of the director. Dining scenes and food items are keys for many movies which can be used as very important props and make movies interested and meaningful. People and Foods are so close, so that the culture develops with Foods within the human. The movie is a great example to see the bridges between human and food culture. You may start watching movie differently from next time especially when foods or drinks or dining scenes are shown on the screen.

One Scene from the Movie

 Keiko Azuma

Writer/ Nutritionist