The Susaki 14th Annual International English Club (now in its 2nd year) took me to Gusto tonight. Modeled on Bonanza, Gusto serves the usual western fare: corn and mayo pizza, fried shrimp sets, tuna salad, rice and Japanese radish. Plus, there's a drink bar (or, for those of us fluent in Japanese, dorinku ba). There is even a western-style menu with pictures and the prices listed and everything. Needless to say, nobody knew what was going on.

First off, the tuna salad was a can of tuna on a piece of lettuce. That threw everyone off. The corn and mayo pizza was all right, but there were't any plates. I asked the waitress for some but not before Ishikawa hopped out of his chair and raided the drink bar of its soup bowls. We wanted to order a fried food platter, but it was only for takeout, so Hosogi-san made everyone order extra food. Then Ishikawa went for the spoons. Bad news, believe you me.

Actually, it seemed a lot crazier at the time. When a large group of people goes to a Japanese restaurant there is no ordering. You phone in how many people are coming and the food is ready and waiting when you get there. There are always enough plates and never a drink bar. It's simpler and the focus is on the chit-chat, not on who is getting what.

Anyway, I think tonight's Gusto experience was a special one for my senior citizen friends. I know it was for me.