I love traveling and exploring new places and meeting new
people as I feel it is the best way to learn about various cultures and
countries. However I am not the typical traveller who focuses on just the main
tourist attractions. I am more the type who likes to explore the by lanes to
experience the life as it exists and feel the pulse of the city.
On one such trip I was visiting the beautiful country Singapore. I
had heard a lot about a Japanese restaurant and wanted to try it out. It was
the last day of my stay and I was keen to eat at this Japanese restaurant which
happened to be really very far from where I was.
By the time I reached there it was close to ten at night .
It was just a few minutes before the closing time .The restaurant was very
particular in not entertaining guests after ten. I told the manager that I had
heard much about the restaurant and having come from India wanted to try out the food.
Seeing me so excited she let me in despite the fact that it was well past the
time they let their last guest in.
They served hot Japanese tea and brought the menu. I
confessed that it was my first time at a Japanese restaurant and needed help in
ordering food as I was a strict vegetarian. She looked perplexed and went to
the kitchen .She came out accompanied by the chef Patrick who wished us with a smile and asked
“from India?”.
Yes I said?
Jain? He asked
No. But we are strict vegetarians.
To this he explained even the vegetarian dishes that they
prepared used a stock that would be considered as non vegetarian from Indian parameters so we would not be able
to consume them.
We were really disappointed and were about to get up and
walk out
Then he had a brain wave and he said. “If you give me some
time I will prepare something vegetarian for you”
It was his closing time and the chef Mr Patrick was eager to
prepare a meal for total stranger.
I waited, and through the glass window he was visible
frantically mixing ingredients and preparing dishes .I could see all his
assistants busy helping him in the kitchen.
I witnessed all this frantic activity while sipping hot
Japanese tea .
Flat twenty five minutes later he arrived with trays upon
trays of variety of food.So on our table lay an elaborate lavish Japanese meal
spread. A meal so special and personalized keeping in mind my vegetarian diet.
Later he told us quite a few of his colleagues were working
as chefs in India .
Finishing our dinner I could not thank him enough for the wonderful
Chefs special meal.
Just as I was about to leave He came back with a box of
sweets that he handed to me saying from my side. Adding Indians like to have
sweets after meals
