The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-04-22
DELICIOUS EELS.
hhe Japanese Mode OF Making tLe Scr
pentine Fish Delightful Morsel

Japan correspondent of the San
Francisco Chronicle writes: One after
noon in April | was strollng about the
streets engaged in watching the in
tercstlng occupations of tn epcOple, when
L met young Japanese who had been
educated ut Harvard, and who ap-
prcciatod slice of the breast of Il can
Vas-back duck and 4 tcndcrloin steak as
| perfectly rs zone of the manner born"
Having politely salutcd me, he re-
marked:
am aon my way to Manoki's.
would you like to join me in feast of
brollcd GELS? 1t is said that this month
the unaSi is fit morscl for the gods"
replied, with Il somewhat dubious
shake of the head. II never was very
fond of those marine snakes"
"Probably YOU have never tasted them
prepared by my countrymcn." he slyly
returned. II remember once eating
some at Dc!monico's (shuddcrng0
They were soft, ilavorlcss morscls, IN
closed in a quivering jelly. Come along
with me-
Are the cells good to-day?" patron
lzngly inquired my friend of the pro-
prletor. Il have heard that their flavor
is not quite what it used to be. DO YOU
procure them from the city canals or
are they from the Sumida rivcr?" The
proprietor bowed, then twitchcd the left
corner of his mouth, after the fashion of
II Japanese uttcring Il joke, and an
swcrcd:
"Honorablc sir, do you for moment
imagine | should ollrr canal-brcd cells TO
such judge as Yourself? No. no!
| You know that havra nirh reputation
| and bI1N moi hintr hi,t tl,,, ,,,>.,,
| cells that come from the Sumida. Re-
mcmbcring that the time was near for
you to pay us Il visit, | have saved some
of the finest fish YOU ever saw. Would
you like to come INTO the kitchen and
inspect thcm?"
'Hal," gently added his wife, who
bad listened TO his speech with down.
cast eyes, "that is so. We have some
ecls fit for Il daimio"
"What do you say?' inquired my
companion. "Would YOU like TO visit
the culinary dcpartmcnt?'
Not until have dincd,' | answered
smiling suspiciously at the faint odor of
| picked radish that issued from Il rear
| department.. The waitress quickly APP
| pcarcd with some trays containing q
square, black, lacqucrcd boxes, bcarin Q.
the signs of the house and Il number.
Placing one before each of us, she re-
moved the tightly-iitting lids and re-
vcalcd the contents. which were sec
tions of ccly-browncd, broilcd, split
GELS, skcwercd together, that gave out Il
most appctizing odor. The girl smiled
as she watched my looks, and rcplcn-
iShing my s;uccr, placed it near me,
| murmuring:
Il think you will find the magi very
pleasing to your tastc.n
L took my chopsticks in my righ
hand, inserted the points in the flesh
broke off 4 morsel and ate. Yc gods
1t was delicious! rich, tender, dclica;el,
favored, and boncless! / drew nv bon
toward me, nodded approvingly ut the
attendant, and enjoyed the dclcctaLlc
food. The smiling girl brought in box
after box, the contents of each bcino
nicer than the last. have partakcn OF
fried oysters at home. broilcd fish in all
countries, and the dclicaces of every
CLINE, but have never more thOrouohlv e
enjoyed any dish than | did those cells.
AT last laid down my chopSticks, and,
glancing at my friend, exclaimed:
You were right in saying that this is
dish for the gods. We ought to intro
duce it at home.n
The waitress bowed in acknowledge
mcnt of my praise, and inquired if we
would like to eat some rice.
Yes" nodded my companion, Il
think could empty bowl or two"
Away went the girl, who, after a brief
delay, returned, bearing large trav on
which was Il covered wooden tub, con-
tainn,G hot rice, two lacqucrcd bowls, q
teapot, and some tiny cups.
l contriNcd to cat one portion of the
delicious, woll-cookcd cereal, then
lighted my pipe and watched my friend,
who had his bowl reiilled a dozen
times, and moistcncd his food by satur-
ating it with tea.
chow do you cOntrivc TO render the
skins of the fish SO tendcr!' I asked the
girl.
81 do not know" she answered,
glancing timidly at the mats. "Thc
cooks never permit us to learn their
secrets. If you like to visit the kitchen
they will no doubt explain everything to
you"
Nov for the BILL" said my compan-
ion, rctilling his pipe. "Altogcthcr, you
have given us Il very tolcrablc meal" :"
In q few moments she came back
carrying n small scOop-ikc tray, in
which was placed a slip of paper con-
tanning a reckoning. This she pushed
along the mat toward him; she then
bowed and remained with her face close
TO the floor, while he minutcly scruti-
nizcd the document Taking his purse
from his sleeve he dropped some money
into the tray, and remarked in a low
tone:
"You may keep the change" 90
ccntS). His muniiiccncc almost over
powered the waitress, who bowed re-
pcatcdly, and gratefully murmurcd:
Your generosity resembles that of Il
foreigner. Anyone can see that You
have travelled After we had smoked
awhile he asked whether would like to
visit the kitchen, and on my replying in
the affirmative summoned the landlady,
who said: "You honor us too greatly.
My husband shall show you how we
prepare the cells" We rose, Quilted the
room and descending the laddcr-likc
stairway, the steps of which were
polished smooth as glass slipped on our
foot-coycrings and entered the kitchen.