food snob

The Japanese are not many things, but they are food snobs. That fact is not, however, totally unjustified. I am always exciting and curious (if only briefly) as a foreigner, and kinda cool being British, but there's always a gentle wince kept to give that sympathetic look with tilted head when we talk about British cuisine. The Japanese are a very proud people and they will seize any opportunity to talk about having the best food in the world, just as a Scotsman can tell you where the worlds most important inventions come from. Both subjects, as with everything in life, are interesting the first time you hear it but become an uninteresting cliche after a hundred people tell you.

Perhaps the best thing about living in Japan is the food. The food is wonderful and it's local. As everyday is a pleasure it's easy to see why the Japanese gloat. The Islands that stretch from the near arctic north to the tropical south have astounding produce, year round, that keep it's people as healthy as they are. On one of my protests that British food had gotten a lot better recently, the limited diversity of menu probably being down to the poor climate, it was pointed out that it's how cuisine has developed that is the question. Perhaps indeed it is.

I was on the BBC website the other day and read an article about the possible demise/much needed overhaul of the road side restaurant chain, little chef (or little shit, as some affectionately know it). As a child I loved going for the sickly sweet sauces and free lolly if I cleaned my plate - but now I have different opinions. I was kind of horrified that such a place still exists. The realm of the artificial, frozen and packaged. What I was reminded of when I read the article was that although my tastebuds had since been educated - a lot of people enjoy the stuff. What shocked me though, were the prices - and people think Japan is expensive. Jesus. If I was Mr Tanaka on holiday, stopping at the little chef for breakfast and paying £7 for the pleasure - I'd have a pretty poor view of British food too.

It's probably down to the service as well. Out Christmas shopping today (okay so I'm late) and after two and a half years in the country, I still can't get over the happy faces that continually greet you. The joy that the girls behind the counter, getting paid next-to-nothing, appear to be getting. Considering that the customer rarely acknowledges their existence, it borders on saintly. Britain is almost the opposite - rude, grumpy cashiers serving smiley, talkative customers. It's all very odd. It'll take more than a celebrity chef to change make the little chef big again, but I suppose it's a start.....

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