To Teppanyaki or not to Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki: a Japanese dish of meat, fish, or vegetables cooked on a large griddle usually built into the diner's table ; also : this style of cooking. (Etymology: Japanese, from teppan griddle + yaki broiling. Date: circa 1970, from Merriam-Webster Online)

I FORGOT TEPPANYAKI would be "forced socialization," which generally doesn't bother me, but today I was looking forward to a more private meal with my husband. What was I thinking?

Apparently I wasn't.

We visited Miyabi Kyoto Japenese Steak House and Sushi Bar today, a beautifully appointed new restaurant at 200 Eisenhower Drive. As soon as we were seated at the table, I remembered the deal. I had to do an immediate attitude adjustment because, just as I realized what we were in for, a family of five was seated at our table.

I rose to the occasion, which I generally am able to do, but I was very grateful for our chef, who fancied himself a comedian of the Teppanyaki table.

I'm easy. I laughed a lot when he called the shrimp "Nemo" as he fileted and flipped it. When he squirted me with a "fake" bottle of sauce, I giggled like a school girl. 

He saved the experience for me as he juggled the pepper mills, whacked his spatula on the grill and threw shrimp tails over our shoulders. He had a tough room, though, as my husband and I were the only attentive diners at the table.

Take your appetite if you go, or plan on taking home a box filled with leftovers. You'll get enough rice to feed a family of six, and the meat, fish and vegetables are plentiful.

I enjoyed it in spite of myself and my expectations. You know what they say about expectations....

Yours,
Miss T. J.