幼い頃の我が家には、外食という概念すら存在しなかったけれど、
父の事業が少しずつ動き出して、年に何度か特別な日に、家族で外食する機会ができた。
肉が食べられなかった私は、焼肉屋で唯一食せるのがレバーだけ、
ファミレスのメニューでは、スパゲティミートソースしか目に入らない、変わった子供だった。
初めて連れられて行った寿司カウンターには、シェフの頭上にお品書きがあって、
父は寿司屋のマナーとして、右から順に注文をするのだと私たちに教え込んだ。
きゅうり、かんぴょう、梅、たまご、と廉価な巻物が続き、小肌やしめ鯖ですでにお腹が膨れ、
マグロや中トロまでにも行きつかず、イクラやウニは遥か遠く、左の端の方にあった。
社会人になって、少し高級なレストランに行けるようになった時、
友人達があまりにもその料理やサービスに慣れていることにカルチャーショックを覚えた。
何事も経験が大事、見よう見まねだけでは追いつけず、改めて学ぶことが多かった。
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ニューヨークで常にトップ５にランクインするフレンチの老舗「ジャン・ジョルジュ」。
予約をしていっても、メインダイニングに通してもらえない場合がある。
顧客リストに名前を連ねているセレブはジーンズで行っても問題ないけれど、
服装や雰囲気次第でレセプションが判断する、それが、ニューヨーク。
コロナ禍を経て、今なおレジェンドの健在ぶりを痛感する。
When I was in childhood, the concept of eating out didn't even exist in my family.
However, as my father's business gradually took off, we had the opportunity to eat out as a family a few times a year on special occasions.
I could not eat meat, so the only thing I could eat at a BBQ restaurant was liver.
I was an unusual child, as I could only eat spaghetti meat sauce on the family restaurant menu.
The first time I was taken to a sushi counter, there was a menu above the chef's head.
My father taught us that the manner of a sushi restaurant was to order from right to left.
The inexpensive rolls of Cucumber, Kanpyo, Ume plum, and Egg were followed by Kohada and Shime-Saaba (mackerel), which had already filled our stomachs.
We didn't even get as far as Tuna and Chutoro (medium fatty tuna), and Salmon Roe and Sea Urchin were far to the left.
When I became a working adult and was able to go to a slightly more upscale restaurant
I was culture shocked to find that my friends were so accustomed to their food and service.
Experience is the key to everything, and I had a lot to learn again, as I couldn't catch up just by imitation.
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“Jean-Georges” is a long-established French restaurant consistently ranked in the top five in New York City.
Even if you make a reservation, you may not be let through to the main dining room.
Celebrities on the client list have no problem wearing jeans.
But the receptionist will judge you according to your attire and atmosphere, which is New York.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, we are keenly aware that the legend is still strong.