Maitake is a mushroom, less commonly found in the Polyporaceae family. In Japan, its flavor is rich in Tempura, such a beloved family delicacy. It can taste like pork belly, sous-vide after 72 hours.
Before it was domesticated, a subtle secret, prepared for selected winter festivals. People would firstly see several white clouds then begin to dance, up and inside.
Dad could not help dancing - after seeing colors in all cloud-like whites - after being blinded for years. He tensed as he danced, tears spreading around.
Seeing this, Julia felt poignant, with also tears streaming silently along her cheeks. She wanted to remember this forever. Dad thanked Valentino in person, with Julia along. As we would have hoped, they fell in love, deeply and resoundingly. But not for long: Valentino had to die.
Julia received a letter, paper in white. She lived happily ever after, with tears no more. In her long life, she had children, husbands, and lovers. One day, one daughter reminded her, "Valentino is visiting." Julia shouted loudly: "Who?" and began to spell: "V-a-l-e-n-t-i-n...?"
Valentino was also masterful with Maitake. He knew the exact combination of salt - you need salt seven days before the crystallization of fleur de sel. Not enough, and a stream of tears (0.9% of Salt) was needed to soak the white spores of Maitake. Before that, he succeeded twice, no one dances.
This was his secret, never known before or after his death on February 14, a cloudy Sunday.
Maitake is beneficial for longevity, after the full spore. When the secret of the Dances was finally out, they called it "Dancing mushroom".
I dream about the spinning dances and wetting clouds, have to write and this letter.
------------------------------------------------
舞茸舞
Maitake是一种蘑菇,在多孔菌科中并不常见。在日本,人们用它做天妇罗,味道浓郁,是好吃的家庭料理。口感可以像用72小时低温慢煮的五花肉。
在被驯化之前,Maitake曾是一种小的秘密,只在冬季的几个节庆才会出现。人们会先看到几团白云,开始起舞,仿佛往上,又往内。
爸爸也是如此,他失明多年,初次看见颜色 - 各种不同云们一样的白色之后 - 开始自舞,哭泣,泪水散落四周。
Julia看着这场景,心头紧酸,泪水又涌落脸颊。她想永远记住这一刻。爸爸当面感谢了Valentino,Julia也在。正如我们所期盼的,他们深深地相爱了。好景不长,Valentino需要死掉。
Julia收到一封信,纸是白色的。她之后过着快乐的日子,不再落泪。在她漫长的有生中,有孩子们、丈夫们,情人们。有一天,她的一个女儿提醒她:“Valentino来了。”Julia大声喊叫:“谁?”随即开始默默拼写:“V-a-l-e-n-t-i-n……?”
Valentino也很擅长处理Maitake。他还知道如何精准搭配盐 - 要在盐之花结晶前的七天准备好,且盐不会够,需要0.9%盐度的泪水来浸润Maitake的白色孢子。那之前,他曾成功两次,迅速有效,无人起舞。
这是他的秘密,在2月14日那个多云的星期日他死掉前和之后,从来无人知晓。
Maitake在孢子充分发育后,对长寿很有帮助。它的“舞之秘密”被不小心泄漏,大家称它为“舞茸”。
我常常梦见那些旋转的舞蹈和湿润的白云,我要写, 和这封信。