Wednesday 22 October 2014

From Japan with love via Singapore



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
This floored us once more .
Lufthansa TVC

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