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Nari and the Restaurant Cooking Class By Aileen Tran

Nari, Akira, and Fei were beyond excited to receive an invitation from their cousin Sana to attend a guest lesson at her junior sushi chef academy.

Sana's academy was the epitome of luxury, with sleek marble floors, state-of-the-art equipment, and a breathtaking view of the city skyline.

When the girls finally arrived, they greeted one another with friendly hugs and warm greetings from Sana.

"Hi, guys! You came!" shrieked Sana as she raced to them. "Of course we'd come," replied Akira with a smile.

"Can we get to the cooking?" asked Nari teasingly. "I'm starving!" The girls laughed merrily.

Sana was beaming with pride, eager to show off her academy and introduce them to her favorite mentor, Miss Linh.

Miss Linh was a petite Vietnamese woman with a fiery personality. Her smile was kind, and her energy was infectious.

She smiled and greeted the girls kindly, instructing them to wash their hands before class, prompting Akira to take off her Apple Watch before they started.

She welcomed the cousins with open arms and began the lesson by teaching them how to make spam musubi - a popular Hawaiian snack with grilled spam and rice wrapped in seaweed.

As they worked, Miss Linh shared stories of her journey to becoming a chef and the importance of mastering the basics, the smell of the steaming rice wafting in the air.

Miss Linh reminisced, saying, "My youth in Vietnam was my grandmother patiently teaching me the art of Vietnamese cuisine."

"Of the times they spent together in the kitchen, sharing stories and laughter as we cooked delicious meals." Miss Linh smiled dreamily.

"My passion for cooking during those early years showed me I wanted to become a chef someday.

"With hard work, dedication, and the guidance of my beloved grandmother, my dream became a reality. You see, cooking is an art," she said. "And like any art, it requires practice and dedication."

Next, they moved on to the Japanese onigiri - rice balls filled with savory ingredients like salmon, tuna, or pickled plum.

Miss Linh showed them how to mold the rice into perfect triangles and add the right amount of the desired filling, such as salmon, tuna, or pickled plum. The girls were captivated by the lesson and quickly mastered the technique. They were eager to try making onigiri themselves.

Then, they learned how to make Korean sesame fried chicken - crispy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil.

The aroma of the chicken cooking filled the room, making their mouths water.

Finally, Sana and her cousins Fei, Nari, and Akira learned how to make Vietnamese Jell-O, or sung xa, from Miss Linh. “My favorite childhood treat!” she smiled fondly.

Nari had heard it was a delicious dessert, perfect for hot summer days, and she couldn't wait to try it. Nari got distracted thinking what the sung xa was going to taste and she accidentally knocked over a roll of tinfoil.

“Whoops!” she laughed, grabbing the tinfoil off the marble floor. “It’s okay,” smiled Miss Linh. “Nari’s so hungry, she’s going stir-crazy!” giggled Fei. The class snickered.

Miss Linh guided the cousins through each step of the recipe. They learned how to mix the agar agar powder with water, sugar, and coconut milk and how to pour the mixture into molds to set.

As they waited for the Jell-O to set, Miss Linh told them about her childhood in Vietnam and how her grandmother taught her how to make sung xa. The cousins listened intently and asked questions, eager to learn more about their family's culture and traditions.

After the lesson, Sana led them to a private dining room where they saw a feast of the dishes they had just learned to make.

The spam musubi was salty and satisfying, the onigiri had incredible flavor, and the sesame fried chicken was immaculately sweet and savory.

Finally, it was time for the sung sa, and the cousins eagerly tasted it. It was sweet and creamy, with a slight hint of coconut.

They couldn't believe the taste, thanks to Miss Linh's guidance.

As they sat and enjoyed their dessert, Sana, Fei, Nari, and Akira were struck with the perfect tropical flavor.

"I can't believe we made this!" exclaimed Fei, taking another bite of the chicken. "It's so delicious!"

"I know, right?" agreed Nari, savoring a piece of onigiri. "I feel like a real sushi chef now."

Akira nodded in agreement. "I think we should come back here and take more lessons. I want to learn how to make everything on the menu."

The cousins laughed and toasted their newfound culinary skills, feeling grateful for the opportunity to learn from Miss Linh and Sana's luxurious academy.

They thanked Miss Linh for teaching them, and the girls left feeling full, satisfied, and inspired to continue their culinary journey.

THE END.