外国で生活していると、おふくろの味が故郷の味になる。そして、故郷の味が必ずしも和食ではなくなり、アジアの味が故郷の味へと進化を遂げる。なかでも中華料理は、日本食が恋しくなるのと同じくらい愛着がある味で、美味しい中華を食べれた日には心の中からすーっと力が抜ける。生活様式や価値観は似ていない中国の味を、故郷の味のように位置付けてしまうって乱暴だけれど、正直ほっとしてしまうのだからしょうがない。

NY州の小さな町にあるこの中華料理屋は、時間が止まった店の空気と、アメリカにいながらもっとも非アメリカな空間がたまらなく安心感を与えてくれる。アメリカ帰省時の、私の「おふくろの味」だ。

20年も住んだドイツを、もしもいつか離れる日が来た時、次の土地で懐かしく思い出す「ドイツのおふくろの味」は何だろう。サワーブレッドと酢漬けの魚、赤ワイン。カルテスエッセンかもしれない。

Living in a foreign country for a long time, the taste of mom’s cooking will become the teste of home. However, the teste of home is not necessarily Japanese, and the taste of Asia evolves into the taste of home. Among other Asian food, I think Chinese food is as special as Japanese food, in terms of its connection to my feelings, and when I have a flavoursome Chinese dish I am so happy and feel home. It might be a bit too rough if I regard Chinese food as the taste of my home, which has quite different lifestyles and values to ones of Japanese, but I cannot help it. I feel home when eating Chinese food…

This Chinese restaurant is located in Northville, a small village in Upstate New York. I love their timeless atmosphere and non-Americanness, despite it is standing right in the middle of the authentic Americanness, and I feel home every time I go. They are undoubtedly “the taste of home” when I am visiting America.

If I ever leave Germany, where I live for 20 years, what will be “the taste of Germany” that I find sentimental about after settling down in a new place? I think, it can be a slice of sour bread, rollmops (pickled herring fillets) and a glass of red win, that is the Kaltes Essen!

_{photographed in jul/2018}