I find these kinds of videos relaxing to watch- no dialogue, and food prepared in ways foreign to me. And hey, who doesn't want to use a blowtorch while cooking?

You can find scores of videos like this one youtube- restaurants, street vendors, Japanese and Korean.

Enjoy

One thing that always amazed me about Japanese cooking is that it is intended to be a delight to all of your senses.

Visual presentation of the meal

Smells of the food and restaurant

Texture/touch of each element

Taste a little more obvious

Hearing is more difficult but this is more environmental in the restaurant but even the sound of some of the food when consumed is pleasant.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I find these kinds of videos relaxing to watch- no dialogue, and food prepared in ways foreign to me. And hey, who doesn't want to use a blowtorch while cooking?.

Once again, thank you!

Yes, and each (Asian) culture has it's own focus, but all touch a spiritual aspect in that food is more than simply satiating the body's need for sustenance. A thing that is often lost on the American's desire to simply eat on the run, and never enjoying the journey that ends in the meal.

I love watching various "street cooking" videos (especially of Thai vendors, washing rice, prepping various food components, and then "getting it on", as it reaches an earlier place in my life)

It also reminds me of my time in food service, as a Kitchen Prep, cook and "Chef" in my younger years, before I entered the military.

There is something about all that goes into the effort to bring forth good food from bits and pieces, seeing people enjoying the results, and dafter it is all said and done, you did a thing that was not only for yourself, but shared with people you may never interact with, yet knowing you had a "meeting" on another level.

It is at once, basic to life, and then on the higher plane of honest and simple art.

Now I can't wait for the Benihana to open four blocks from me.

Thanks for this… it made a very positive difference to a difficult day!!

I also like these videos. One thing that bothers me is that they don't indicate what the dish is. How to order to try without the names?

What a great thread. Thanks for posting these.

We need to get back to real cooking.

I only watched the first item prepared, but holy cow! That’s how you get the eggs on the griddle without them running all over the place! Working the grated cheese was also impressive.

Thank you. I’m going to watch the rest and really up my griddle game. Off to Amazon I go to buy some offset paint scrappers.

These come up in my YouTube shorts feed.

I love the way that the street vendors make it a show. The prep is part of the price you pay.

And the clever short-cuts they develope in the prep. As you watch, you’re wondering why they did something a certain way…and then WHAM, it all comes together.

Dayum...now I have to go make my plain & boring ham & cheese omelet. Those dishes look wonderful!

They take technique to a whole other level. Their joinery (woodworking) techniques are astounding.

I love these, and once you start some good ones will pop up.

This one was first I saw, and I've actually found and made this. It's pretty good! Yes, it sounds strange, but try it. Recipe link.

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:
They take technique to a whole other level. Their joinery (woodworking) techniques are astounding.

Japan stands out from other Asian cultures in that it's very extroverted, there's a very high concern on social perception, which results in lots of pressure to perform and not be shammed or, insulated because of what you did or, didn't do. This translates to a high attention to detail, an obsession with every aspect of any creation from a spreadsheet, a new jacket or, building a foundation for a building. What this also breeds are traditions are upheld at all costs, social norms are rigid and processes are maintained many times beyond their usefulness. Not unusual for Japanese companies who face continual losses having to do deep-dives into their methods and un-do decades or, centuries of doing the same thing.

The other part to this thread, I think people enjoy seeing things created because much of what we have in our lives is built/created by others. Seeing videos of a machine working, watching a video of a block of metal or, wood get turned into something or, watching a cook work the kitchen and make a meal. All very satisfying for the modern age.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
Dayum...now I have to go make my plain & boring ham & cheese omelet. Those dishes look wonderful!

NOTHING wrong with that. I had a Black Forrest ham and raw cheddar sandwich for lunch. Excellent! Raw cheese is made from unpasteurized milk – makes a significantly different taste.

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:
I also like these videos. One thing that bothers me is that they don't indicate what the dish is. How to order to try without the names?

Fair comment. The basic dish is Okonomiyaki. You should be able to customize ingredients from there.

Kkina, thank you for the dish name