... With a Cherry on Top.

The first time you visit a restaurant in Japan (at least, a large majority of them), you'll notice something a little different.  No, I'm not talking about the corn on the pizza, or the mayonnaise on everything, or the exceptionally polite service.  I'm talking about this:

 The front window display; a veritable menagerie of faux food.

The fake-food-in-the-window thing has been popular (and, therefore, pretty common) in Japan for many years.  I'm not sure what the exact appeal is to the Japanese, but I know it's helped me countless times as I struggled to choose a dining spot or dish based on signage and kanji I couldn't read.  Friends have said they've even ordered via the display, by taking a waiter or waitress by the hand, leading them outside to the front window, and pointing to the item they want.  Pretty handy, really.  And the food itself looks surprisingly realistic.

Why do I mention the fake food?  Because, just today, Dan and I (along with a small group of friendly area JETs) went to Sample Riki, a display food studio here in Fukuoka.  We saw examples of their work, watched an amazing wax-food-making performance, and got to make some sweet plasticine treats of our own!

The staff and our friend share a pretend "kanpai!"

First, we chatted with the Sample Riki staff (thanks to the skillful translations of a fellow JET) and we wandered around the studio.  Naturally, we had to pose with some of the samples.

Open wide!

Impressive orange, peel and all!

After our quick tour, we started the creation process.  The base items each came with different starting prices, and (for our reservation / tour) we could choose to 1.) Make a parfait, 2.) Make a cookie / cake / tart, or 3.) Decorate another hard plastic item, like a cell phone case or business card holder.

So, once we'd all chosen our base item, we began the extreeeeeeemely difficult task of selecting the toppings.  I mean, look at all these choices!  Chocolate cows?  Cookies shaped like hippos?  Gummi robots?  M & M's?  Tiny taiyaki?  Perfect pineapple slices?  Itty-bitty cherries?!  Where do you even start?

And this is only 1/3 of the available toppings.

"Hmmm... well, maybe this.... or, no this!  Well... hmmm...."

DW, going straight for the mini-fruits.

Toppings in hand, we moved to the worktable.  There, we learned the art of perfectly piping the plasticy-cream.  Some of us took to it quickly, and... well, some of us (cough, cough, ME, cough)... not so much.  But, fortunately for us (cough, ME, cough), Sample Riki lets you practice as much as you need to before starting on the real thing!

WR and the Sample Riki worktable.

Then came the super-fun / super-stressful part:  WE MADE STUFF!  Our group chose a variety of the base options at hand, so we left with a smattering of parfaits, cakes, cookies, tarts, and one adorable chopstick case.  Here are a few shots!

DW's adorable lemon-berry macaroon.

 

WR's taiyaki island atop a choco-pie.

Beautiful parfait made by other JETs!

Next, we saw the display of mad faux-food-making skills by the staff.  They used colored wax and various water-baths to make some incredibly realistic dishes in mere moments.

Adding the "tempura" for a sweet potato.

Coating the potato.

Looks good enough to eat, right?

Then, having made us all hungry with his tempura display, he gave us a demonstration on making wax lettuce, which was... well, it was amazing.  Seriously.  This guy has some skills.

Lifting the new-made-but-unformed lettuce from the water.

Teaching DW "The Way of the Wax Lettuce."

DW cuts his creation, with staff guidance.

The fake lettuce ball!  Craziness!

So, if you're ever in Fukuoka and you need something to do for 2-3 hours, we highly recommend heading over to Sample Riki to get a taste of the food-sample-making business.  Though it can get a little pricey (watch out for the toppings!), it's a really fun and unique experience.  And, hey!  Where else are you going to get a custom-made macaroon paper-weight?

Smiling for the camera, showing our love for wax tempura.

For this week's life-in-Japan snapshots, please check out the photos in the categories listed below.

Thanks for reading, everyone!  And, don't forget to feed the fish!
WR

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FOOD.

DW made pizza from scratch.  YESSSSS.
This one: Red sauce, onion, pepperoni, cheese.

This one: Basil sauce, baby greens,
garlic-paprika mushrooms, sea salt, black pepper.

WR's Taiwanese omiyage on display.

STUDY.

We don't have our own pic, but we've been hitting the Japanese recently.
Me, prepping for the N4.  DW, prepping for random izakaya conversation.

 

DW, reading his Biology book.
More impressive, he stayed awake.

EXPLORATION.

A snapshot of the route from WR's "Zombies, Run!" 5K Training Program.