Final Meal at Maroo Restaurant

After returning from the farm to Sydney,
I had worked at a newly opened restaurant run by my former head chef for about three months.
The restaurant’s name was Maroo (まる), which means “circle” in Japanese.

Before leaving Sydney, the chef contacted me and invited me to have a meal before I go.
Although we had said our goodbyes and parted ways, he expressed a desire to cook for me one last time before I returned to Korea, so I visited the restaurant again.

The weather had entered summer, but it wasn’t too hot.
We took a seat on the outdoor terrace.

It was just after the lunch service had started, so there weren’t many customers yet.
I wished there were more customers to show support, but it was a bit disappointing.

I had always been on the serving side, providing service to customers, so it felt strange to be on the receiving end like this.

Next door was a Thai restaurant,
which always had more customers than our restaurant.
Occasionally, we would share food with the staff during their mealtime,
and that’s when I first tried Tom Yum Goong and Pad Thai.
They were delicious.

At our restaurant, we were treated to Japanese cuisine such as Yakitori chicken and sushi.
The Thai restaurant owner and staff were also very friendly.
Even during busy hours, when they were overwhelmed, I remember the moments when their eyes met, they would greet each other with a “Hi~” and share a smile.

I ordered the mocktail that I had wanted to try while working.
The restaurant made and sold it themselves.
It was a mocktail made with mango puree, juice, and syrup.
I still remember the recipe, and thinking about it makes me want to make and enjoy it once again.

I prefer meat dishes over sushi and sashimi.
The chef, who knew my taste preferences while working, created a menu item that wasn’t on the menu.

He made a combination of Yakiniku Beef, Teriyaki Chicken, Karaage Chicken, and a small amount of sashimi.

Looking at the photo, even though 14 years have passed, I can still remember the delicious taste and aroma lingering in my mouth.

I enjoyed the last dinner so deliciously, even though I was alone.

After enjoying lunch,
I went up to the empty second floor and admired the sky.
It was a sky and scenery that I couldn’t look up at when I was busy cleaning.
I realized that the same scenery could look different depending on the situation I’m in.

Farewell, Maroo,
Goodbye, Maroo,
Goodbye, Sydney!

2009.12.09
(The restaurant Maroo no longer exists, so I can’t visit again.)