I've always wanted to include Pocari Sweat* in an illustration (* Japanese isotonic drink with amusing name) - figured a bottle of Metaxa for the Greek reference might be slightly over-egging things perhaps...
(article by Michael Holden)
You might think there are places you can eat in the world where the couple on the next table won’t turn out to be English. And you might think a Japanese restaurant, in Athens might be among them. And you’d be wrong. The man looked like he could have been in Right Said Fred, the woman looked like Naomi Campbell disguised as Casey Jones.
Woman (looking at the man as he sat down): “You look bigger in your photographs.”
Man: (not joking) “Yes. I am bigger.”
Woman (sitting) “Busy day?”
Man “Not really. Lots have people have to wear a suit to work but not me, not today. I was going to wear a tie, but my big meeting got changed till Monday morning.
Woman (looking dubiously at the menu, and then around the restaurant) “I'm not really sure about the meat…”
Man “They have chicken…you know what chicken is?”
Woman “Yes I like chicken. Maybe I can try salmon?”
Man “Have what you like. Eat what you feel…”
Woman “I have to go to the toilet, will you order for me?”
Man “Sure.”
Woman (back-after less than a minute) “It’s busy. I don't like waiting in toilets. You never know what germs are there. I'd rather wait in here.”
Eventually some food arrived.
Man “You’ve seen chopsticks before?”
Woman “Yes, once. In Leeds.”
Man (demonstrating) “These will be the same. You can do it the Japanese way or the Chinese way…”
Woman (regarding the tempura he was holding-which to be fair-did look quite phallic) “What’s that about then?”
They burst out laughing. Then she opened her mouth and he steered the crooked lump of batter between her lips while I prayed for the bill.
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