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Project News

2010-04-07

"Okonomiyaki" Party

In order to deepen the friendship between the Panamanian and Japanese staff, we sometimes hold an "okonomiyaki" party after the day's work. We either borrow the kitchen of a restaurant (whose owner is the family of Suleima, the assistant hired by the Project) nearby the Project or the kitchen in the dormitory of the Chagres National Park Office to hold our party.

The Chef is yours truly, the Project's Chief Advisor (at least I have been until now). I don't deny that at times I do feel some internal struggle regarding the fact that I, the "Chief Advisor", is in the kitchen sweating away while everyone else is enjoying a cool juice or beer and eating okonomiyaki. But everyone is happy with my cooking, so how can I complain?

The ingredients for okonomiyaki (which is like a fried Japanese pizza) can be bought in a regular shop and include flour, eggs, cabbage, bacon (or chicken, ham, frozen shrimp), vegetable oil, barbeque sauce and mayonnaise. Panamanians in general are really fond of fried food and also strongly flavored food. Therefore, I use a lot of oil when frying and put a lot of sauce on top of the finished okonomiyaki. They advise (?!) me that, "It would be even more delicious if you added salt or spices to give the batter more flavor." But as the Japanese Chef, I firmly resist such ideas.

The okonomiyaki party has been a big hit with the Panamanian staff every time we did it and if we don't do it for a while they now begin to ask, "when is the next okonomiyaki party?" There is only a year and several months left until the Project ends. I wonder how many more times I will be able fry okonomiyaki for them. Better still, I should teach them how to make it. Will I then be able to sit coolly sipping a drink while someone else sweats in the kitchen?

photo“Here it is...hot off the griddle!” Evelyn, a Project Assistant, takes the plate. (At the Arauz restaurant, March 11, 2010)

photo“How shall I cut it?” Everyone looks on. (At the Arauz restaurant, March 11, 2010)

photo“Just wait, I’m cutting it.” Ednadeliz, in charge of environmental education and mother of 3, takes charge. Standing is Suleima, a Project Assistant. Her family is the owner of the restaurant. (At the Arauz restaurant, March 11, 2010)

photo “Chow time!” (At the Arauz restaurant, March 11, 2010)

photoEdnadeliz and Carrion, an extension worker, dancing. Among the Project team they are the two with the greatest difference in height. (At the Arauz restaurant, March 11, 2010)

photoPutting sauce on the finished okonomiyaki. In the back is Carlos, an extension worker, who is cooking “delicacies of the sea”. His dish is also a masterpiece. (At the Chagres National Park office, May 7, 2009)


(Mr. Isao SAKAI, Chief Advisor / Rural Development)

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