Yaki Tori to Nori Maki, But Hold the Sea Urchins

Yaki Tori to Nori Maki, But Hold the Sea Urchins

Fine Japanese dining at the Randolph Union High School cafeteria?

Believe it.

A first-class Japanese dinner will be served up the night of Wednesday, June 1 in the specially decorated cafeteria in a festive fundraiser for a student exchange trip this summer to Shizukuishi, Japan.

The 12 junior high students going on the trip will assist Nina Gaby of Brookfield in preparing the authentic Japanese meal. Gaby, until recently a co-owner of the Green Trails Inn, knows her cooking in general, and Japanese cooking in particular.

"I lived in Japan for a while, and I was lucky enough to learn cooking from a traditional Japanese housekeeper in Tokyo," Gaby explained.

She has planned an elaborate, multi-course meal that starts with a miso soup, with fishcake, tofu, cellophane noodles and fresh greens.

Next, diners will be served a sampler plate of seven dishes, including yaki tori (broiled chicken on skewers) marinated with shichimi seven-spice pepper sauce, and nori maki (rolled sushi) with pickled ginger and wasabi horseradish.

Other "samplings" will include a rolled, seasoned omelet, soba noodles, and a cucumber salad.

The meal will conclude with a cake, sweetened with adzuki beans, cookies, and ban-cha (green tea.)

Gaby notes that most Americans find Japanese food to be "an acquired taste."

However, Gaby promises to serve up an appealing meal—with no raw fish or alarming-looking urchins —that all can enjoy, even those unaccustomed to Far East flavors.

She notes that "the visual aesthetic" of a meal is generally just as important to Japanese as taste. Gaby and her young assistants plan to pay attention to presentation, as well.

Gaby’s daughter Zöe will be one of the assistant chefs, as she is part of the exchange group.

As an extra treat, the Panhandlers Steel Band will perform at 7:30 p.m., after the 6 p.m. meal.

Resevations Required

Early reservations are a must, as the meal will require extensive preparation and special food purchases. For price information and to reserve a place, contact Gaby (276-3726), or RUHS, or any of the junior high students going on the trip.

Families may take advantage of a special price offer.

"Please call by May 26 to confirm your spot," Gaby added. The RUHS cafeteria seats 200, and the Shizukuishi group hopes to fill every seat.

The June 1 dinner is one of a series of fundraisers scheduled this spring to generate the significant funds needed for the school’s third exchange trip to Japan.

Thanks to the success of the activities held to date, and the generosity of donors, it seems likely that students and their chaperones will be able to add three days of sightseeing in Nikko to their homestay in Shizukuishi, Gaby said.

By Sandy Cooch