The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-11-09
An Oriental Dinner - Vegetables and
Fruit in Japan.

Accepting the invitation of Japanese
friend who resided some years in Amer
lea, we were conducted to hotel or res
taurant, pleasantly situated on the banks
of the river Sumida, which flows through
the eastern part of the city of Toxic
(Yeddo). Removing our shoes, we were
shown into clean, airy upper room look
ing out upon the river. We were then
asked if we would have bath, which we
declined, and our friend then explained
to us that the Japanese in hot weather
generally take a bath before dining, and
afterward don loose robe of thin, gauzy
material, which is furnished ny the pro-
prietor of the hotel, and which they wear
during the meal. We seated ourselves
crosss-legged upon the floor, which was
covered with mating, the only furniture
in the room. While waiting for the meal
to be prepared, small bronze brazier or
vessel, containing burning charcoal, was
brought in, together with tiny japanese
pipes and mild japanese tobacco, in which
| our friend INDUCED. The, first course
consisted of sweetmeats called quashi,
and was served upon small lacquered
wooden plates, placed upon trays or tables
| about three inches high, composed of the
same material. 1t is hard to describe the
character of these sweetmeats, but one of
them was small square or brick of some
kind of jelly of golden color; another
was small scarlet ball of a substance
that tasted not unlike our marsh mallow
CONNECTIONS, and the third was of green
ish color and of somewhat similar taste.
We understood that the ingredients of
which these were composed were princi-
pally rice flour and sugar. With this
course tea was served in delicate porce-
lain cups, upon each of which was frag-
ment OF poem. On one of these was
translated literally as follows: ~
How many times, my host, do you augh In the
Whenever we meet we ought to have a jolly
time.
You see the beauties of spring vanish as running
And the flower that scatters to the wind to-day
opened but yesterday. af.=s5.35..E
Thesecond course was /" Chawan- Nor, -
sort of soup with eggs, somewhat sim
liar to soup la Colbert. It was served
in bowl, but no spoons were provided, it
being expected that the guests would use
chop-sticks for the eggs and drink from
the bowl the liquid portion. This soup
was by no means unpalatable, and, with a
spoon, would have been quite tolerable
anywhere. The third course was CON-
posed Of a variety. of fish, with the collec-
tive name Of "Kuchi- Tori Sakana." The
first was q kind Of shell-fish (""Awabi'),
the second, the meat Of a lobster {" Ebr'),
and with these, served as relish I. was
small fruit called Youzo,'' species
Of citron, which it much resembled in
flavor. The fourth course consisted Of a
sweetened preparation of boiled beans,
served with green ginger-root, and an.
other variety of fish, called "tai,'' fried.
The fifth course, called tSachi-M Mi ]" con-
sisted of raw fish, served upon delicate
lattice-w work of glass, and accompanied by
two kinds of sauce, one dark in color.
salt in flavor, and tasting as if composed
Of soy and anchovies. The other was
preparation Of horse radish. The sixth
course was called Mia Cal, :" and con-
sisted Of, ."tkor,s' a kind of fish, boiled,
and served with pears and a variety OF
shell-fsh, very much resembling our
America scallops, .,and 4 cut, ID squares.
The seventh course was composed Of rice,
meshi, !" served perfectly plain in small
porcelain cups. The eight and last course,
called !" Skemono," was sort of salad
composed Of egg plants and small cucum.
bers.
With each course after tho first was