Manaita chopping board

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Chopping board (manaita )

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation


chopping board, chopping block, , mana-ita, mana ita
manaita まな板, 真魚板, 爼板, 俎板, まないた
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MANA means either "true vegetables" 真菜 or "true fish" 真魚 (sweet water fish). In former times, all things to eat with rice like fish and vegetables were called NA no okazu 真のおかず. There are also these Chinese characters for MANAITA 俎板　俎. This comes from Chinese, a block where fish and vegetables were stapled before cutting. In China, it was customary to staple food on a board and present it as an offering for the gods, which were later eaten by men.


Mostly made of wood, but modern ones also made of plastic.
Wood must be sturdy and easy to dry, also with natural desinfectants. It should not get scratched easily by the cooking knife.
For Chinese cooking a strong hard wood is necessary, often keyaki is used.


Wood used for Manaita

イチョウ Gingko
朴 hoo no ki
柳 yanagi, willow
桐 Kiri, paulownia
ヒバ Hiba
ケヤキ Keyaki
スプルース supuru-su

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Proverb

manaita no koi, like a fish on a cutting board
to be helpless in a situation.


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Itamae, 板前　いたまえ cook, chef cook
"the one before the board" ita no mae, ita mae
Also called "Ita San", Mister Board.

To become a sushi chef, for example, you have to undergo an exhaustive training. Sometimes it is just washing dishes and sharpening the knives and observe keenly (minarai　見習い) for two years.

ryoricho, ryoorichoo　料理長　is another word for a kitchen chef.


quote
Iron Chef is a Japanese television program produced by FujiTV. The original Japanese title is Ironmen of Cooking (料理の鉄人, Ryōri no Tetsujin, Ryori no Tetsujin).

The television show began airing on October 10, 1993 as an hour-and-a-half show with preliminary contests between chefs, then final battles. After 23 episodes, it was shortened to a one-hour format, dropping the preliminary contests. The show ended on September 24, 1999, but had television specials until 2002. The series aired over 300 episodes.

The program has an eccentric flavor even for a game show. Its host is the flamboyant Takeshi Kaga, known on the show as Chairman Kaga (鹿賀 主宰, Kaga Shusai). Its production values are highlighted with extensive commentary made by two regular commentators and one to two guest commentators (who also serve as judges). The commentary presents thorough background information (e.g., ingredients, past history of contenders) to give a viewer context for what is happening in the kitchen; it also serves as entertainment, as friendly banter is shared among the four commentators.

While always a success in Japan, Iron Chef became a surprise cult favorite in the United States when it was picked up by the Food Network and dubbed in English. Much of the U.S. appeal was due to the dubbing, which gave the show a campy charm that evoked English-dubbed Chinese kung fu movies of the 1970s. Audiences also found amusing some of the over-the-top culinary concoctions regularly featured on the show.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Eiserne Küchenchefs, Eiserne Köche
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Worldwide use


Hackklotz, Hackbrett, Küchenbrett, Schneidebrett

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Things found on the way


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HAIKU


manaita hajime 俎始 まないたはじめ "first chopping board"
manaitabiraki, manaita biraki 俎開 (まないたびらき) first use of the chopping board
first use in the New Year : kigo



SAIJIKI – THE NEW YEAR


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まな板の表も裏も梅雨に入る
manaita no omote mo ura mo tsuyu ni iru

the rainy season begins too
for the front and the back
of my chopping board


Kikumari Junichi 菊鞠潤一
Tr. Gabi Greve


A normal kitchen board is used on two sides, one for fish or meat and one for vegetables.
Sometimes they are marked like this:




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まな板と百回喧嘩胡瓜揉み
manaita to hyakkai kenka kyuuri momi

a hundred fights
with my chopping board ...
kneading cucumbers

柏 Kashiwa
Tr. Gabi Greve

Cucumbers are rubbed and kneaded in salt before use for some dishes.

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俎板に鱗ちりしく桜鯛　
manaita ni uroko chirishiku sakuradai

on the chopping board
the fish scales are everywhere -
cherry sea bream
　　　　　　　　　　　
Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規
Sakuradai, tai and other sea bream and Haiku


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まな板に小判一枚初鰹
manaita ni koban ichimai hatsugatsuo

on the chopping board
a golden thaler -
first bonito


auf dem Hackbrett
ein goldener Taler -
der erste Bonito

Takarai Kikaku (1661-1707)
基角

The first bonito was especially expensive for the inhabitants of Edo.

Der erstenBonito der Saison, der als besonderer Leckerbissen im frühen Sommer mit Sonderschiffen von Kochi aus in die Stadt Edo gelangte, war besonders teuer.



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Related words

*****WASHOKU ... Tableware and Tools

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