Where my culinary experience really excelled was Saturday at Epcot. We had reservations at Teppan Edo in the Japanese Pavilion. Teppan is a type of cuisine where chefs cook on a table-top grill in front of the diners. Marshall ordered the shrimp, Monique the scallops, and I ordered the chicken, along with a California Roll, which I love. Unfortunately, the food was so filling, but so delicious, at the same time, it was hard to stop eating. The chef put on a great show, making an onion volcano, errupting in a cloud of smoke, and dazzling the table with his knife skills.
My favorite moment of the meal, however, was when I offered to share my leftover California Roll with the table. There were three parties at our table, us, a group of Japanese travelers, and a single gentleman. This gentleman told us that he was facinated by Japan, and was hoping to visit there someday, although he had never tried California Rolls. Watching him take a piece and try it for the first time made me remember why I love food and traveling. He closed his eyes and I could see he was savoring each flavor and texture, and how they married together to make a cohesive bite. I love how food can evoke emotions, and take you back to a particular place and time. Traveling around the world (or around the World Showcase at Epcot) allows you experience many cultures and heritages, and to try something new, or reacquaint yourself with something familiar, and see it in a new light.
