Pasta and Realization

Today I made pasta. I know this is a blog about Noh but I promise pasta and noh are related in this blogpost.

So this morning I watched a video on how to make the perfect pasta. It showed what should be done every step of the way from boiling the noodles to how to warm the serving plate.

I have been making pasta for about 15 years but I never really bothered to study all the details.I made a delicious sauce, tossed in the noodles and served it on any regular dish. But for the first time today I did it quite simply and followed all the necessary preparation. When I tasted the pasta, it was simple and clear, the flavors were delicate. Back then it would be a boring pasta for me but then and their it hit me, I think I have somewhat understood perfection in simplicity in making pasta and in Noh.

Noh is about doing something with complete devotion. Chanters do not study the instruments but they focus on their craft, the drummers dedicate their lives to their instruments. The repetitions and the complete focus on one thing creates masters. Maybe italian chefs start from washing the dishes, to warming the serving plates, they move on to preparing the noodles and then the sauce... for a much immature me that life would seem boring but now to me it is showing their devotion to Italian cuisine.

Today's pasta was simple but I felt something from the depth of my heart knowing I made every effort to make it right. I made sure that water was well seasoned, the sauce was at the right consistency and that the plate was warm. I am sure that people who would eat my dish would not now how tediously it was prepared like a Noh performance but the joy of a chef or performer knowing that care, love and devotion went to that simple dish or moment is enough.

I think today I understood a lot more about my life.