号外!SPECIAL ISSUE

“NOT WELCOME ANY MORE!”

 

Many memberships have been cancelled for failing to make reservations in accordance with the rules.
Visit the Contact Us page for members’ guidelines for contacting Wafu.
No name? No customer number? You lose membership.
Also, STRICTLY NO ADMITTANCE without suitable doggie-bag container.

 

CLOSING DOWN SOON?!

 

Unfortunately too many Wafu members continue to show poor conduct and a lack of understanding of the aims of Wafu. This has become a keen source of disappointment to Yukako.
One example of this poor conduct has been new members who, flush with good intentions though they may be, immediately on becoming a member try to invite large groups of guests. This shows that these new members have not read and understood the rules at all.
Another example of misconduct is when members invite guests but do not properly introduce them to Wafu by teaching what is expected. Guests of Wafu members must be taught how to order and - most importantly - how to share meals.
For the last time, those who come to Wafu for the sole intention of eating food, without supporting Wafu's aims and philosophies, are not welcome. The situation must change.

If members do not actively support the building of greater understanding, effectively building an educative environment supportive of relearning the important art of food, then Wafu will regrettably be compelled to close its doors before the end of the year.

 

LAST CHALLENGE

To avoid this outcome a new system of membership will be implemented, one comprising three categories, each with different levels of responsibility.

There will be a transition period from 3 April to 30 June  during which all memberships will be reviewed. The category of membership assigned to you will be determined by attitudes exhibited at your next visit to Wafu. (If existing members do not visit Wafu by the end of the transition period, a category of membership will be automatically assigned.)

KANGAROO, KOALA OR WOMBAT?

Considerations affecting assignment of membership categories:

• Do you have a doggie container always with you for taking home leftover food?
• Did you order suitable amounts of food without Yukako's help?
  (Meaning that you did not have to ask whether your order was "Enough?" or "Too much?" and after finishing eating you have not bemoaned, "Too full!")
• Do you chew food at least 30 times per mouthful ?
• Were all foods on your table shared? (If there were vegans and meat-eaters at the same table was this communicated when ordering?)
• Did you leave even as little as a few grains of rice? (If a few people leave a few grains each, a full bowl is wasted and someone goes hungry.)
• Was any soy sauce wasted? (Liquid seasoning is food too.)
• Were all of Wafu's rules and explained and understood by your invited guests?
• Do you understand why Yukako works alone, and did you explain this to your guests? (This goes to your personal impact on the smooth running of Wafu.)

Categories of Membership

'Kangaroo’
You are responsible for upholding all Wafu rules and philosophies. You are permitted to pre-order, because of (lunchtime) time constraints. You are responsible for yourself and may not invite guests.

'Koala’
You are responsible for upholding and fully explaining all Wafu rules and membership responsibilities to your guests and others. You may invite up to three guests. No pre-ordering is permitted, as you must explain how to order to your guests. You are responsible for seeing that all dishes ordered for your party are fully shared. You may suggest appropriate guests be added to the membership list, but only initially as members of the 'Kangaroo' category.

'Wombat’
You are responsible for upholding and actively advocating Wafu rules and philosophies in the wider world. You take responsibility for educating people and implementing Wafu policies whenever necessary, and actively intervene to uphold Wafu’s policies and philosophies. You may invite guests, but must negotiate in advance (including pre-ordering) to bring larger parties to Wafu. You always encourage sharing.

All new members are accepted on the basis of the new conditions.

PLEASE NOTE: When requesting a guest be added to the membership list it is most important to be aware of how busy Yukako is. It is not a good start to a new membership, and most difficult to be welcoming, when little or no consideration is shown. Personal convenience is rated very low at Wafu if it is asserted at the expense of consideration for others and our philosophies.

*NEW* SATURDAY TRADING HOURS (after Easter Holidays)
Monday & NOW Saturday are Vegan (no fish, no meat) nights: 6pm-9:30pm.
Tuesday to Friday: 12noon-3pm / 6pm-9:30pm. 

NON-MEMBERS ADMITTED!
(but only to Vegan nights – Monday & *NEW* Saturday)
Wafu News is pleased to report that non-members can be admitted on Vegan Nights, Monday night and now also Saturday night, without making a prior reservation.
Members are urged to encourage others whom you may feel are appropriate.
The Monday & Saturday night exception to Wafu’s strictly members-and-guests-only policy is to allow non-members to try out dining at Wafu and see if the Wafu experience is appropriately enjoyed.
The limited menu currently made available to non-members on Monday & Saturday nights ensures a gentle introduction to a more practical understanding of the Wafu ethos, in which non-members can gradually gain experience of healthy, balanced, Wafu meals without being wasteful. 
NB: NO ADMITTANCE WITHOUT SUITABLE DOGGIE BAG CONTAINER!

You must – repeat must – bring a suitable doggie bag container every time when visiting Wafu. Even if you intend to eat everything, with the best will in the world, it is not acceptable to neglect bringing a doggie bag by simply saying, “I will eat everything.” 

What if you are full, but still there are food scraps? Will you keep overeating until you burst?
No, this is not the way at Wafu. Bring a container, bag up leftovers, enjoy them as part of a later meal.
Yukako considers it most important that Wafu’s supporters (and those wishing to become supporters) understand and adhere to strict hygiene guidelines in general, and in relation to doggie-bagging (how long food can be kept, how to warm up of leftover foods, etc). Assistance in helping Yukako with setting up education systems regarding food information, hygiene and correct manners of eating for publication on the Wafu website will be greatly appreciated.
To reiterate, non-members coming to Wafu’s Vegan Monday & Saturday night sittings may choose options from the daily gohan set. The cost is $25 pp (no penalty).
Non-members are asked to show courtesy and consideration, and not to trouble staff unnecessarily during busy times. Please note that waiting times may vary. And always, please read signs.
As usual, regular members (and their guests) are welcome on Vegan Night, with usual Vegan night menu and members’ reservation rules applying.

Orientation session and non-member cooking class.
A non-member Orientation session (vegan lunch included) will be held on Saturday or Sunday by appointment, followed by a cooking class. The orientation session will discuss matters pertaining to Japanese home-style cooking and kitchen maintenance. Only those specifically invited from the Orientation session may participate in the cooking class. At the cooking class a takeaway dinner will be prepared, and it is required that participants bring their own containers (or plate) to take these home. A fee of $110 is payable at time of booking (see below).

Note that members, as well as non-members, may attend Orientation sessions.

Date:	Saturday or Sunday
Time:	10am-1pm Orientation and lunch 1pm-3:30pm Cooking class and take-away dinner Participants must bring their own containers or plate
Cost:	$60 pp for Orientation and lunch plus $50 pp for cooking class
Number of people	Minimum 4people Maximum 8 people

If a participant is not invited to the cooking class, the $50 fee will be refunded.
Conditions for group cooking classes booked by members have not changed. Members may still invite non-member friends to participate in cooking classes. Please obtain an application form from the front counter at Wafu or send email.
Please make payment in full when lodging a completed application form.

Yukako’s appeal to customers: mind your manners & chew food
at least 30 times per mouthful

So many poor eating habits have been found, even among Wafu’s members. Each time recently Yukako has confirmed that Australian eating mores are deficient when it comes to chewing food. Each table of late has had to be reminded of the simple good health advice to chew, chew, chew, at least thirty times.
Please understand very clearly that will not you will not be welcomed by Yukako if you think only of your personal enjoyment of meals. You must consider your whole body.
Nutrition balance is not only a matter of counting calories (or similar nonsense fads): eating each meal taking into account sufficiency and balance is crucially important.
Sometimes it may be important to reduce weight. However, if one loses weight through eating unhealthy, unbalanced meals, in the long term this will be very dangerous for the body.
First of all, good eating manners are an important aid to digestion. Good posture when eating is very important: the correct posture is to sit deep back in the chair, with one’s back straight and feet evenly placed on the floor. A relaxed mental attitude will also help.
Second, make sure that chewing is complete before swallowing, at least thirty (30) times. Doing this ensures that each mouthful of food is half digested by saliva, and reaches the stomach well pulverised into small pieces which makes the nutritive substances easy to absorb. This considerably eases the burden on our internal organs which is of enormous health benefit.
This also means that one needs to eat less, note well potential weight-watchers, and means that .less food needs to grown to feed the world’s population (and that includes you).
But at the very least adequate chewing helps digestion.
There are those who may try to excuse themselves by claiming not to want or care about taking time to appreciate their meals. When dining, it is important to always maintain good posture and to chew thoroughly. Slouching is bad for digestion, and is not an acceptable manner in which to engage with food, even if you have had a few drinks. Sadly, too few people realise this
Third, it is also very important to know how to use chopsticks.
Food leftovers are minimised by correct and sure use of chopsticks. Using chopsticks correctly is also a good way to reduce the pace of eating. After placing food in one’s mouth, always rest your chopsticks by placing them down carefully, and then chewing each and every mouthful. These matters, part function and part form, are extremely important.
Fourth, after starting to eat foods, the brain takes 20 minutes to receive a signal from the stomach that food has arrived. This means that eating without chewing will cause one to overeat simply because the brain has not received the stomach’s warning signal that it is full. It is important that the quantity eaten at each meal is not pre-determined, but can be adjusted every time you eat so that a satisfactory quantity is eaten and no more.
Fifth, while drinking water is important for hydration, using water to wash down poorly chewed food is bad manners and promotes a sloppy attitude to chewing. Swallowing food without the benefit of partial digestion by saliva places an unacceptable strain and burden on your internal organs. This is most dangerous.
Only drink when your mouth is empty. Drink when one’s throat becomes dry. Liquid is so important, but excessive hydration has its own risks. The correct amount of liquid per day depends on each individual and the sort of physical activities undertaken. If you are engaged in strenuous activity, and perspire freely, then more liquid may be required. But for average people, who do not do large amounts of physical activity, about 2 litres of liquid per day is recommended. This amount includes all liquid, such as juice and soup. Try to limit the amount of chilled liquids drunk, as excessive cooling of the body can have serious health implications.
Finally, please do not ever say: “I am too busy to spend time eating correctly, or to chew each mouthful at least thirty times.”
If you work at a desk, please take a lunch box, and spend all of your lunch break taking the time to chew.
See articles on the website or the in-house “textbook” for more details on dining etiquette.