This is a wonderfully touching scene from a Japanese movie called Tampopo. Thank you to my great friends C and J that recommended, nay, insisted that I must see it, because it would knock my socks off. It did, and I now I must also insist that you check out this sweet, hilarious love letter to all that is good about food and eating. Enjoy!
One fine day I went out with an old man.
He’s studied noodles for 40 years. He was showing me the right way to eat them.
“Master. Soup first, or noodles first?”
“First, observe the whole bowl.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Appreciate its gestalt, savor the aromas."
“Jewels of fat glittering on the surface. Shinachiku roots shining. Seaweed slowly sinking. Spring onions floating."
“Concentrate on the three pork slices…
They play the key role, but stay modestly hidden.”
“First caress the surface, with the chopstick tips.”
“What for?”
“To express affection.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Then poke the pork.”
“Eat the pork first?”
“No. Just touch it. Caress it with the chopstick tips."
“Gently pick it up and dip it into the soup on the right of the bowl. What’s important here is to apologize to the pork by saying:
"See you soon.”
Tampopo (1985)
Directed by Juzo Itami
Won 1986 Award of the Japanese Academy
Nominated 1988 Independent Spirit Award, Best Foreign Film
Directed by Juzo Itami
Won 1986 Award of the Japanese Academy
Nominated 1988 Independent Spirit Award, Best Foreign Film
