Learning about culture can be done in many different ways. You meet locals, go sightseeing, watch local television. Or you can cook! Eating is a very important factor in most cultures and it’s fun trying out new things.

In previous entries I told you a bit about my contact with Japanese food culture: eating sushi, trying natto or spending an evening at an Izakaya.

Today, however, I would like to share a different kind of experience. While still in Sydney with my friend I told her I would cook traditional Venezuelan food for her and she asked me if I could do that in Japan. Great idea!

Why would you cook traditional food of your country while being abroad? Well, it gives your host or friends the possibility to learn about your food culture and this time you are the boss! Make whatever you think it’s typical for The place you live or come from! That doesn’t mean you’ll make a “sunny-side-up” and that’s it. I really like to eat my breakfast that way, but it’s nothing they couldn’t do themselves.

So what’s traditional Venezuelan food anyway? I made pabellón criollo, which consists of three parts: rice, black beans and beef – just check my blogtograph. It’s not a difficult meal, but it takes some time to prepare the way I make it. It wasn’t easy to find all the ingredients either!

The most important part? I prepared it myself. Well, the grandmother of my friend was very eager to help me, so I couldn’t refuse. In return for letting her help she made coffee and we even ate some sweets together. The great part about this: she doesn’t speak English and I understood one word out of 80!! But I really enjoyed.

This is what I learnt cooking alien food for my girlfriend’s family:

一 Reading the expression of their faces, it’s not common to serve the whole meal on one plate
ニ everybody tried and ate
三 it’s quite hard to find the correct ingredients if your meal is not “mainstream”
四 be spontaneous. One ingredient is missing, take something similar or create a new meal
五 be humble. Don’t expect to win a “golden teaspoon”
六 refill the drink of your host – it’s manner in Japan
七 don’t create an embarassing situation because you want to know if they like it – if they do they will tell you, if they don’t say anything it’s better not to ask.

After I refilled the glass of her sister’s husband I refilled mine, at least I tried. He jumped up from his chair, took the bottle out of my hand and refilled my glass. This Jedi-like reaction took him less than three seconds, that was awesome. That showed me something else.

Even when you prepare traditional food of your country never forget you are in Japan. Furthermore, consider that while making your meal. Japanese neither eat too much meat nor too oily. And maybe some fruits would be better than a triple-fudge-cake. Nonetheless, if you make that cake yourself, I bet they will appreciate it and that’s what it is about! Mutual appreciation and intercultural exchange made easy. Embrace the opportunity!

Best regards,

Andrés