Ordering Food

We overcame the problem of ordering food last night - technology to the rescue. We arrived in a small fishing port called Koto and docked for the night. Eiko from Yokohama had called and found out that the restaurant closed at 7 p.m. and last orders were at 6:30. More of this curiosity of business later.

Michael had been there before so he knew it was a very popular fish restaurant and not one specializing in chicken entrails with gruel on the side. This might have been the situation the previous night which is why we did not employ the following method to order.

We were seated on the tatami floor much to the amusement of the local diners, who no doubt were equally repelled by the strong "Gauguin" stink emanating from our long day at sea. The little girl came over for our order, and fortunately it was beer to begin with so no problem there. We then asked her if she had English menus, and perhaps Japanese menus in the English language. Ha, ha, fools. Have you got Japanese menus in Big Bear? I don't think so!

So whipping out his iPhone, Michael speed dialed Yokohama and told Eiko to speak to the waitress. This of course, delighted the staff and the other diners. After a few minutes, everyone was smiling and our food was terrific. Sushi, of course, followed by Miso soup, small fishes and then larger ones grilled and full of flavor.

Come 6:50 we had to beg for a final beer and they eventually agreed it was better to break the rules than upset these strange hairy smelly red faced men from the deep. The bill was pretty good too - about $85 for the three of us.