The Culinary Adventures of a Brooklyn Bodega Cat

Back at the Ryokan, Rosie and Axel changed into their yukata and readied Otto and Gidget for dinner. They had reserved a private dining room so the cats could wander about unimpeded. As they entered, they caught a glimpse of two servers in traditional dress peeking around one of the screens, giggling to one another. They had been informed that Otto and Gidget would also be at dinner and were excited to serve this unusual group of visitors. Axel and Rosie were directed to sit on beautifully embroidered cushions placed on the floor in front of a long wooden table. Pots of green tea were waiting for them, two cups as well as two saucers, just in case the cats wanted to try the piping-hot, herbal beverage. As soon as Rosie and Axel had (somewhat awkwardly) lowered themselves to the 17-inch low table, and as Otto and Gidget explored the nearly empty tatami-matted room, the servers proceeded to carry in lovely enameled trays laden with multiple tiny plates. The dishes each contained bite-sized bits of fishy deliciousness or veggies which had been harvested from the Ryokan’s own gardens. Otto and Gidget quickly caught a whiff of the goodies and settled onto Axel and Rosie’s laps waiting to partake. Sushi, Sashimi, Buri Daikon, Shioyaki Sakana, Katsuo-no-Tataki, Sanma-no-Nitsuke, Miso-zuke Salmon, Nanban-zuke… Girl oh girl, don’t ask me what all that means. I just thought it would be fun to try to pronounce the names of these classic Japanese dishes in a language we so seldom hear spoken. In words we might understand, there were multiple kinds of fish: mackerel, sea bream, salmon, tuna, and eel which had been prepared in rice, on rice, in rolls, and in balls. The fish had been breaded, fried, pickled, dried, or grilled. It was served with even more rice, steamed and fried, pickled vegetables and condiments like fresh wasabi, grated ginger, radish and don’t forget soy sauce for dunking. The fact of the matter is there was a lot of FISH and two excited felines waiting to dive in. And they did. One plate at a time and over a period of hours. Otto was particularly smitten with the dried eel skewers which he gently pawed at before popping them in his mouth, followed by some patient chewing (so unlike Otto who normally swallows everything whole). These delectable niblets (is that even a word?) were small nibbles of chewy, savory, salty, mouthwatering lusciousness. Gidget, on the other hand (I mean paw) was a fan of sardines marinated in “mirin”, or sweet rice wine, leading us to what Rosie and Axel were sipping. We previously spoke about adult beverages vs. non-adult beverages, i.e. those your parents or guardians might drink and those you drink. Axel and Rosie were enjoying the former, specifically “sake”, an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin made from fermented rice. This might not seem like a big deal but sake can have an alcohol content of somewhere between 13-17%. As a result, this non-carbonated, sweet libation can really pack a punch even though it is made from just two simple ingredients: rice and water. Dinner progressed leisurely, everyone in awe of the unusual treats and taste buds aglow from new and curious flavors. Just before they thought the meal was over, a selection of a most refreshing dessert called “mochi”, walnut-sized, colorful tidbits, dusted in powdered sugar, was brought into the dining room. The outside of these dainty morsels was made of chewy rice paste and they were filled with creamy ice cream in the traditional Japanese flavors of pistachio, green tea, mango, black sesame, red bean and plum wine. We know Otto loves cheese and to which food group does this belong? Dairy? And ice cream belongs to….? Check. So, who might have been particularly pleased with the dessert following this extraordinary meal? On returning to their room after dinner, they found that futons had been laid out on the tatami floor. The futon sets included a mattress and duvet (blanket) and were rolled out for sleeping, a bit like camping but much cozier and comfortable. (Futons disappear easily into a closet in the morning so a room can be used for daytime purposes. This is quite practical in traditional inns such as this but also for many Japanese whose homes are often much smaller than those you might be accustomed to.) Otto and Gidget were quite enamored with the futon set up and snuggled in for a peaceful night’s sleep.