I think after a year of blogging it’s time for a GIVEAWAY don’t you?

Unfortunately it’s not deep fried avocado.

Nor is it anything remotely edible.

But, it’s still pretty freakin’ cool. Ask Mandy, she knows.

You may have noticed this extremely happy piece of cutlery in a few of my cooking posts. Well, today I was gifted a set of two more smiley bamboo spoons and since I already have one, and my mother, sister and Mandy have already had one sent out to them by moi, then this merry pair could be YOURS! Speaking of merry, let’s call it a Christmas giveaway; open to anyone, anywhere.

The rules are simple.

LIKE iaccidentlyatethewhole thing on Facebook then tag a friend in the Facebook post about this giveaway.

Giveaway closes Sunday 29th.

Winner will be announced Monday 30th.

japanese noodle water slide (nagashi somen)

Technically, I’m not allowed to post anything about my students or my work on social media – even though yesterday I posted a picture of cut watermelon (red and yellow – redandyellow redandyellow redandyellow) on my work desk, on Facebook. Woops. But I swear we work hard! I mean, it’s the bloody school holidays and we’re still here slaving away – Japanese style (work hard, play hard or just work hard).

Anyways, my recent staff lunch experience of nagashi somen, literally: “flowing noodle” or as I like to call it “noodle water slide” was too good not to share! So, if I get fired/deported for this, then so be it.

During the hothotheat of summer, the Japanese take playing with your food to a whole new level. Aquatic, to be exact.  Families split bamboo reeds in half and prop them up like slides in their backyards. A hose is placed at one end of the contraption and handfuls of cold boiled somen are dropped into the water. The host yells “Ikuyo!” and the noodles shoot forth. The aim of the game then, is to catch your dinner using chopsticks before it slides/flows away! Seriously, what the hell. Why eat noodles (stationary) out of pot or a bowl when you can slide them high-speed down bamboo? Japan, I love you.

If you already struggle with chopsticks then I recommend you watch from the sidewalk or do as my young colleague did, position yourself at the end of the slide (taking the place of the bowl/bucket which catches the uncaught noodles) and use your mouth to directly catch your dinner (and your weekly recommendation of H2O) caveman style -okay, now I’m definitely getting sacked.

We served our deliciously cool and refreshing somen with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions, ginger and sliced ham all topped with tsuyu, a rich condiment made of shoyu (soy sauce) and dashi (fish stock).

SO MUCH FUN