Lost in Translation

AS returned to the land of the rising earthquake today. He was still experiencing culture shock as of last week, when we went to PJ Cooke’s, an American diner type place. He just flew back from Miami, and was having a little trouble reading the English menu, I guess because he’s been in Asia for like 7 years. I was trying to help him out with a little translating:

Waitress: What do you want to order?

AS: [Hopeless trying to read the menu, grunts, finger pointing]

FC: This part of the menu are the hamburgers and here are the brunch specials….

AS: Huh?

FC: Je ge hai ham bo pou…

AS:???

FC: Esto es hamburgesa con queso, y eso es huevos rancheros…

AS: Oh. [Having a double take] Wow, the menu actually says “huervos rancheros”!

…..

Went to Sobaya tonight with P- for Japanese Restaurant Week. I had the duck soba, and she had the chirashi udon. Both very good – rich broths, handmade noodles with bite – impressive. What was more impressive was the starters, especially the yuba “sushi”, which was bean curd skin wrapped around fresh soft tofu, and then offered with real wasabi and dumpling soy sauce. Outstanding, and 20% off this week. Recommended. Afterwards, P- had a chocolate craving, which was satisfied by going to Max Brenner’s Chocolate by the Bald Man, the neighborhood edition. This new cocoa outpost around the corner is way less crowded than the flagship store, but just as audacious. We had crepes to top off desert, but it was just way too rich. Maybe we should have had the ice cream at Sobaya instead.

Trip on Saturday to DC, woo hoo. P- gets a 5 day girls night out….