12.わんこ蕎麦

Aoyama Gakuin College of Economics students entering from the work force　Present

世界の料理　the world Food

12．わんこ蕎麦 [Wanko-Soba]

盛岡の麺料理（わんこそば）

私の故郷は、岩手県盛岡市です。故郷の有名な料理は、盛岡名物じゃじゃ麺・盛岡冷麺・わんこそばなどの麺類が挙げられます。

わんこそばは、給仕さんの威勢の良い掛け声とともに、手元の椀に放り込まれる一口量の蕎麦を食べた椀の数を競い合う、遊び心たっぷりの蕎麦料理です。ルールは、椀のふたを開けてスタート。後は食べられるだけ食べるのみ。終了の意思表示をする場合には、椀の中の蕎麦を食べきった状態でふたを閉じます。それまでは容赦なく蕎麦を放り込む、給仕さんとの掛け合いです。食べ終わった椀の数が記録です。いっぱい食べるコツは、麺つゆは美味しくても飲まない事。蕎麦は、あまり噛まないで飲み込む事。薬味は始めのうちは食べない事。（蕎麦だけに飽きたら食べ始める事。）ゆっくり食べない事です。

As the climate is cooler than in most other parts of Japan, buckwheat is grown throughout the prefecture, particularly in the north and centre.Buckwheat can be grown even where the climate and soil are not suitable for other crops; it is ready for harvesting in only about 75 days and has strong resistance to disease. Thus farmers in Iwate find buckwheat easier to grow than other crops.

Buckwheat can be prepared in a number of ways. The most common is slender soba noodles. Traditionally these noodles were served to guests on auspicious occasions. Another form of preparation is kakke, or triangular pieces of buckwheat dough.

An Iwate buckwheat specialty is Wanko Soba: a wanko is the bowl used for miso soup. The idea of Wanko Soba is to compete by eating as many bowls as possible. Waitresses, with lively shouts of encouragement, tip mouthfuls of noodles into eaters’bowls as quickly as they can empty them.

わんこそば

わんこそば

Choose the correct answer.

1. An Iwate buckwheat specialty is Wanko Soba.A wanko is the bowl used for _____________ .

a: miso soup

b: salad

c: candies

2. The idea of Wanko Soba is to compete by eating bowls of wanko as_____________ as possible.

a: slow

b: fast

c: many

3. You must eat ______________ one spoonful of soba at a time.

a: continuously

b: with intermission

c: for a while

4. Throw the _______________ away into the bowl placed in front of you .You cannot eat much if you drink the soup too .

a: soba

b: soup

c: vegetables

5. _______________ cups of Wanko Soba is equal amount of an ordinary full bowl of Soba .

a: 15

b: 30

c: 3

Created by Toshio Takahashi

わんこそば T or F

True or False Quiz

1. The idea of Wanko Soba　is to compete by eating as many bowls as possible.　

2. You　must eat in fifteen minuteｓ one spooｎful of soba at a time.

3. You cannot put the lid on if there is still some soba left to eat.

Source; http://www.pref.iwate.jp/english/food/food.html

http://www.wankosoba-azumaya.co.jp/english/index.shtml

You MUST wear a special apron and take a seat on the tatami mat and sit at a low table.

1.	Side dishes of food will be served and the GAME is started.
2.	You must eat continuously - one spoomful of soba at a time.
3.	Throw the soup away into the bowl placed in front of you. You eannot eat much if you drink the soup too.
4.	You can eat side-dish food too but don't eat too much or you can't eat a lot of soba
5.	They won't stop serving you -even if you say "MAITTA" (enough) YOU MUST put the lid on the bowl or cup when you want to stop. You cannot put the lid on if there is still some soba left to eat.
6.	Soba-soup or tea will be served and the GAME IS OVER! How many cups did you eat ??? 25 - 50 - 100 ??? More? 　　　　　　　　　Thank you.

Are you ready? Its only a mouthful. You can eat it plain as it is tasty. I will serve you one after the other.

The special apron

Throw the soup away here.

Choose your favorite side-dishes. You can eat more if you don't chew soba. Just swallow it.

You cannot STOP until you have put on this lid. They will keep serving you even when you say. "I'M FULL. I can't eat anymore".

　　NOTES

　　　　Wanko Soba　　わんこそば　　tatami mat　　畳　　climate　　気候　

　　　　buckwheat　　そば　　bowl　　椀　　soil　　土

　　　　Crop　　作物　　lid　　ふた

15 cups of Wanko-Soba is equal amount of an ordinary full bowl of Soba .

You can buy an apron for 1,200 Yen .