Every day, the idea of 給食 (kyuushoku), or school lunch, always makes me feel a little scared. It could be anything. I hate the feeling of walking into the lunch room to grab my tray of food and discovering something I would rather feed a dog. Some days are fantastic; today we had minestrone soup with two slices of bread (and not white bread too I might add! Brown bread is almost impossible to buy), a simple salad, and a small slice of salmon. I would've been happier without the salmon, but that's a seafood hater for you!
Other times I have had...what I can only describe as whitebait piled onto a piece of toast about five times thicker than usual, and covered in cheese. I hate the little fish most. Actually any kind of fish is not exciting for me. I usually do my best to eat it first, then finish it off with my rice and (usually) miso soup. Sometimes a tasteless piece of meat. Once I even had whale...even though it actually tasted okay, if a little dry.
There is one Japanese food that a large amount of visitors to Japan try to avoid: 納豆 natto. It has been described as smelling like an old foot, rotting cheese, amonia...the list goes on. Back in Kiso I was lucky and never got natto in my school lunch. However as of last Friday, I have had it about four times.
I suppose I should explain exactly what natto is! It is basically fermented soybeans, covered in sticky goo. When eating it, you must wave your chopsticks round and round so that the goo doesn't turn into spiderwebs and go everywhere!
We get our natto in little tubs, accompanied with small packets of soy sauce and mustard. I must admit I have never smelt natto without the soy sauce and mustard already stirred in, nor do I plan to. Actually, with the mustard it is bearable to eat, and there isn't any disgusting smell. All it tastes like is mustard-y sticky beans. It doesn't taste amazing, but it doesn't taste awful either. Here is a photo from wikipedia of natto:
To be honest, I prefer natto to fish. With fish, there is always a distinct flavour. With natto...well I already explained. We always have a bowl of rice, a yummy soup and yummy salad along with natto, so I can always finish my meal with something delicious!
Other times I have had...what I can only describe as whitebait piled onto a piece of toast about five times thicker than usual, and covered in cheese. I hate the little fish most. Actually any kind of fish is not exciting for me. I usually do my best to eat it first, then finish it off with my rice and (usually) miso soup. Sometimes a tasteless piece of meat. Once I even had whale...even though it actually tasted okay, if a little dry.
There is one Japanese food that a large amount of visitors to Japan try to avoid: 納豆 natto. It has been described as smelling like an old foot, rotting cheese, amonia...the list goes on. Back in Kiso I was lucky and never got natto in my school lunch. However as of last Friday, I have had it about four times.
I suppose I should explain exactly what natto is! It is basically fermented soybeans, covered in sticky goo. When eating it, you must wave your chopsticks round and round so that the goo doesn't turn into spiderwebs and go everywhere!
We get our natto in little tubs, accompanied with small packets of soy sauce and mustard. I must admit I have never smelt natto without the soy sauce and mustard already stirred in, nor do I plan to. Actually, with the mustard it is bearable to eat, and there isn't any disgusting smell. All it tastes like is mustard-y sticky beans. It doesn't taste amazing, but it doesn't taste awful either. Here is a photo from wikipedia of natto:
To be honest, I prefer natto to fish. With fish, there is always a distinct flavour. With natto...well I already explained. We always have a bowl of rice, a yummy soup and yummy salad along with natto, so I can always finish my meal with something delicious!
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