Trails to Tsukiji

Sounds like "Sook-ji"

It's about cabbage.

And I can hear you going, "aw, crap."

The thing is, I have never liked the stuff and just recently turned on to Napa cabbage as an excellent substance to combine with a few Asian flavor elements for a very fast knock out lunch or dinner. I actually look forward to making it for myself and try not to overdo it.

My refrigerator feels empty without one of those giant cabbages in it.

With frozen shrimp for protein it's fantastic. Soon as the shrimp is cooked then it's done. The whole thing fires in two minutes. Even the crispy white parts that are so gross and impossible on regular cabbage is actually delicious on Napa cabbage. You can eat it raw. It bursts with water in your mouth, and when cooked very briefly it continues to weep in the serving bowl as you eat it and the water that's released as you go blends with stronger elements added, soy sauce and such other things added by teaspoonfuls that combines with the released water for an incredible sauce so delicious that you're compelled to drink it to finish.

And it's not just me thinking this. I've shown this to people, some even coleslaw averse, and they all have the same reaction as I do. (I even got a few people to use chopsticks.)

I enjoyed watching Zach.

Observe how he ingratiates himself to a farmer, to a cabbage warehouseman, to two cooks, to a restauranteur, to a chef.

Watch Zach's reaction to new information. Watch his reaction to new flavors. His manner is to give the person he's talking to a visible reaction they want. He says stupid funny things to amuse them. So that people who appear at first growling and unapproachable introspective and insular are immediately broken open and receptive to Zach's responses to all of the things that they tell him and show him. Zach shows his appreciation for their attention each moment as they go. He's constantly making facial expressions of surprise.

He acts a bit like a Japanese woman. He seems to occupy a space between foreigner and female. He says, "ooOOOOOOoo" all the time. Constantly receptive throughout, and to everyone. He holds his hand to his mouth as he's eating, politely and daintily, as Japanese women do. He speaks Japanese as females do. I believe all that makes him much more approachable with each person he comes into contact. It's fascinating watching him work.