[OPEN] Questions about local flavors (backdated to mid-may)

[vitalfunction]

[The scroll missive is completely open again, but the handwriting might be familiar to some.]

We have been traveling and have discovered that food is prepared in different ways in different areas. The taste is also different, so we are curious.

How is food prepared in your country? What tastes do you recommend visitors try, and how are they prepared?

The Embryon

Comments

perma-sealed

[vitalfunction]

Where might the citrus fruit, salt, pepper and cooking utensils be found? We have none of the tools you have mentioned, though presumably kunai and our other blades could be substituted for cooking knives. The base of our captors may have some things, however, currently we are traveling, and a search will have to wait.

Cooking the fish does sound like it would be pleasant, however, so it is worth looking into.

[awokentospring]

Generally you can find all those ingredients and items at any marketplace! Unless the village you happen to visit is really, really small. Then you may have some trouble, but you can always ask a local where you might buy such things if you feel at a loss!

I would refrain from using kunai as knives unless you are sure to properly sanitize them before and after use. Raw meat can carry dangerous germs that can make you ill, so always be safe! You can boil the kunai in hot water to rid it of most of the bad germs if you do not have the proper cleaning detergents!

Fish can be served either raw or cooked, though a few fish are dangerous to eat raw as well! I would suggest asking a fisherman his thoughts on such things, however, as I am not well-versed in every type of available seafood out there! I know salmon, tuna, snapper, yellowtail... Several fish can be done either way!

And that is all just the beginning! If you have the funds you could look into buying some cook books as well! I would suggest delving into those for more complex dishes.

[vitalfunction]

Perhaps that is the reason for occasional aches. Does cooking meat and fish improve the flavor?

[Because... they've always eaten it raw, and discovering cooking is very new.]

[awokentospring]

Occasional aches?!? Be sure to take care of yourselves! It seems you all will need a good sit-down lesson about cooking anytime you can get it!

But to answer, generally yes! Sushi often uses raw fish but it is still prepared in a very delicate fashion that enhances the flavor! Beef can be eaten raw just fine but you need to make sure you thorough cook most other types of meats to avoid getting sick!

Much of this would be too much for one person to explain on paper. I will need to send you a list of reference guides on beginning cooking and sanitary measures.

[vitalfunction]

Some of them are likely from eating too much, or from consuming bones and other undigestibles. Yes, cooking is unfamiliar to us. Some may remember bits and pieces, but most of us do not.

That list will be helpful. Does cooking also preserve the meat for a longer period? We are having difficulties with storage, especially while on the move.

[awokentospring]

[That's pretty metal, Gale. Lee has to pause and think before he responds.]

Do not push yourselves to try anything too elaborate at first, then. Cooking skills build up from the basics. If you happen to stop in a town long enough, try to see if there is a way to take a class or two, and to get a place with a stove and oven could help! Cooking over a fire is more difficult than cooking on a range so understand that while on the move you are basically making things even harder on yourself from the get-go. Not much to do about it, so just take your victories where you can.

I will make sure to write out that list for you as soon as I can!

As for preserving, at this time your best option is smoking your meat, curing it, or dehydrating it. Smoking your meat usually requires a two-chambered instrument where you can trap the smoke in with the meat and use that to slow-cook it. The process takes some hours. Curing meat means placing it in a salt bath completely covered. This method does help keep the meat fresh and usable, but you must leave it in the bath for a long, long time, sometimes several months and that is a little out of your current needs range.

I think dehydrating it would be best for you. Just cut your meat into strips, brine it, then lay it across a rack over your fire. You do not want the flame touching your meat and burning it! In a sense, you are smoking your meat, but you leave it until it is very, very dry. This will keep your meat much longer, though jerky is quite tough to eat and will often not taste as good as you might wish. Still, it is generally a good ration to have in storage.

[vitalfunction]

We cannot help that at the moment, as we are in the middle of a journey first to the shores of Fire Country, and we have been invited to visit Wind Country as well. To turn back or stay in one area for as long as lessons might take would delay our arrival more than is wise.

This information will prove very valuable for our clan, so thank you for taking the time to explain it for us.

[awokentospring]

Understandable. That means you will be visiting my country sometime soon before you head to Wind! That is exciting! Perhaps I will see you all on your journey and manage to teach you something in person!

I hope it did help somewhat. I am not the best cook, but I am good at the few things that I can make!

[He's actually a lot better than he thinks. Lee was meant to be a domestic.]

[vitalfunction]

If you are still amenable and in the area when we arrive, we would welcome lessons. This seems like an area where watching and performing along with the activity will end with better learning.

[awokentospring]

Certainly! I generally learn best hands-on as well! It will be a lot of fun, and it will be a pleasure to meet you, Embryon-san!

[vitalfunction]

Then we look forward to meeting with you.

My name is Gale, and my companion on this venture is Argilla.

[awokentospring]

The same could be said for me!

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Gale-san! I hope to meet with you and Argilla-san soon! Just ask around for Rock Lee if you are ever in Konoha!

[vitalfunction]

Until that time, then.