I'm Suzume.
I'm a maid who serves at a mansion in the UK.
However...
Due to various circumstances, said mansion has collapsed.
EEK!
Until it's repaired,
I'll be staying here in Japan for the next year!
Done!
What shall I have today?
prepared foods
HAND-PREPARED FOODS
LION
HAND-PREPARED FOODS
LION
There's a girl who always shows up right when we open.
Hello!
Welcome.
I was surprised at first, but I've gotten used to it now.
There's a fashion school nearby, so maybe she's a student there.
EGG & BROCCOLI IN MAYO DRESSING
When she's here...
she takes her time.
She makes her selections with great care.
As if she's admiring precious stones,
her eyes light up.
My personal masterpiece today is the simmered bamboo shoots.
I carefully skinned the burdock root with the back of a knife,
then cut it into quarters lengthwise.
I slowly soaked the dried shiitake mushrooms in water to rehydrate them.
I peeled the carrots and chopped them into rough chunks.
I split the konjac into bites with a spoon,
then boiled it for two minutes to remove the bitterness.
I sliced the bamboo shoots into bite-sized pieces,
mindful that each end has a different firmness.
For the seasoning, I used sugar, mirin, soy sauce, and cooking sake,
plus plenty of dashi made from bonito and kombu.
After a quick sauté, I simmered everything thoroughly...
Because it was prepared in advance and had time to cool,
the flavors are fully absorbed and it has a beautiful sheen.
I want to have some right now!
Pardon me.
Yes?!
May I place an order?
Of course.
She's made up her mind.
The egg stir-fry with spring cabbage and sakura shrimp...
Plus the German-style potatoes with smoked bacon.
Right away.
She slowly and carefully tells me each dish, one by one.
Oh, actually maybe this one here...
No, this one...
I'm so sorry. I'll stick with that.
Okay.
Maybe she's telling herself what she wants to eat.
She didn't go for the bamboo shoots.
Oh well. That's all right.
And also...
I'd like these beautifully simmered bamboo shoots.
Certainly.
The way she calmly stands to pay...
Everything she does is just so graceful.
It makes me mind my own posture.
It's as if...
this prepared foods store were a mansion!
Excuse me...
Thank you very much.
Likewise.
Thank you very much.
HAND-PREPARED FOODS
LION
Lunch and dinner secured!
I'll share some with Komatsu-san too!
I hope to see you again soon.
Late afternoons...
They're full of wonderful smells.
They come from every home.
I think they're having fish. Grilled, probably?
This house... I can't say exactly what that is.
I smell a complex, wonderful aroma.
Japanese food, I guess?
This home is having...
It's actually pretty hard to tell what's cooking just from the smell.
But it still makes me want to have some!
I know this smell!
It's curry!
This is my place!
Someone in my apartment building is having curry!
...having curry! ...having curry!
I can smell the curry so close by, but I can't eat any...
Come to think of it...
I think Grandma gave me some for emergencies.
Hold on to these for emergencies, okay?
I'm pretty sure I put them in here...
Found you!
INSTANT CURRY SATOU
Instant curry!
The somewhat fancy kind.
But... common sense says this is for emergencies.
I WANT TO EAT CURRY
COMMON SENSE
I want to eat curry...
Common sense...
I want to eat curry...
Common sense...
I want to eat curry! Common sense!
I want to eat curry, and not having any curry is an emergency, right?!
It is not.
Grandma, I'll restock another day, so please forgive me just this once!
All right, then.
Grandma, I'll restock the microwavable rice another day as well,
so forgive me just this once!
Well, yeah, expected that.
SATO RICE
Chyun!
The pouches used in ready-to-eat foods were first created for military rations.
After being developed for space food, they're now in households everywhere!
Packed full of innovation!
What an aroma...
Let's eat!
The meat is sweet and tender... So tender!
I get more of the umami and the aroma than the heat of the spices... I think.
I have no words except "delicious"!
Done with work early tonight!
I even grabbed booze and snacks.
Is it game night or TV night?
The whole apartment building smells like curry?!
This means...
One of my neighbors is having some right now!
Should I go back to the store?
But, well...
It's kinda too late now.
That was delicious!
fava beans
Coming!
I have a package for you.
For me?
PLOP {10:02}
This package... I wonder who sent it.
I got those from an acquaintance.
You really need to get into the habit of locking the door right away.
How irresponsible.
I-I'll take that to heart.
But what timing!
It was a coincidence.
I was on a walk and happened to pass by.
So, what's in the package?
These are... fava beans.
Good. They weren't damaged at all.
Happy, let's go.
All you need to do is boil them. You can handle that, right?
I've got to run, so I'll see you later.
And just like that, Grandma left.
But... I'm not the best cook.
If you take your time and don't rush, you'll be fine.
I'll give it a try!
She told me the steps.
They're beautiful.
The inside of the pod is all fluffy...
The beans were cozy in there.
Chyun!
The white layer inside the pod protects the beans from cold and dryness.
It's like a little blanket for the fava beans.
I'll relish every bite.
Okay... Drag the base of the knife against the dark line on the bean...
Chyun!
Making a little slit with a knife lets the salt soak in better,
enhancing the flavor and making it easier to remove the skin for eating.
Slowly... Slowly...
Chyun! Be careful, okay?
Add salt to boiling water...
About one tablespoon per liter of water!
That's probably good.
Boil two to three minutes.
CLUNK {12:31}
The last step is to plate them...
Done!
Oh, the slit opened and you can see the beans inside.
Smells like spring.
I know! I have an idea...
Let's eat!
It's delicious.
I better report to Grandma that this was a success.
Oh, and to Master too!
pickled vegetables
Suzume.
Take some plates home.
Plates?
That's right. I didn't see any at your place.
I've got two.
Two? You'll be in trouble when you have guests over.
Here, take a few.
You have so many of them.
Here, this one's a good one.
Um...
But you're still using it, right, Grandma?
We've been eating out a lot these days.
Is it really okay for me to take these?
I went to the trouble of bringing them to Japan from the UK,
but we don't have many big gatherings nowadays.
It's just me and Grandpa here.
It's better to have someone use them than have them gather dust.
Prepared foods look more appealing when you plate them... Right?
WHY DON'T YOU COOK MORE?
Well, let me show you what I mean.
Let's see... What do we have?
LET'S EAT
Let's eat.
The vegetables are bursting with flavor, and every bite stays delicious!
Lightly pickled veg are so crisp and fresh
that you don't really need rice with them.
Chyun!
Pickled vegetables are one of Japan's most iconic fermented foods!
Because climate, ingredients, timing, and bacteria all affect the flavor,
the same vegetables can end up tasting completely different!
It's such a deep and fascinating world!
MORE FOOD I CAN'T EAT...
It's kind of fun to eat pickled vegetables by themselves.
They're not a snack, but they go just as well with tea.
Doing the dishes is a hassle, but each little thing like this matters.
Even so!
Do I need this many?
I live alone!
You're saving me the trouble of throwing them out.
So heavy...
You were going to throw them out?!
Is that what you just said?!
Well, how about you invite friends over for dinner?
You should come over, Grandma.
After you get a table.
WAH
THAT WAS DELICIOUS!
It's freaking hot.
It's only May, right?
I want ice cream.
Um...
That ice cream! Where are they selling it?
Pardon me!
What a relief! Your clothes look okay.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen that maid lately...
Not that it really matters.
There she is!
That startled me.
Is she... asleep?
Excuse me.
Are you okay?
No response?
I'm sorry!
I think I just got...
a little dizzy is all.
I'll be fine with a little rest.
Thank you for asking!
Huh? Wasn't someone just talking to me?
Shoot, I accidentally bumped her.
Um...
You're probably starting to get heatstroke, so drink this.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but this is all I need.
I'm okay—
Please just drink it!
STARE
I'm sorry, but I really don't want you getting heatstroke.
I just bought these at the convenience store.
I've got the receipt as proof.
Please drink it.
Okay.
Oh, looking closer, it's the ice cream guy.
GULP
This is so delicious!
DE
DELI
DELICI
DELICIOUS
It's sweet and a little salty...
It's what my body is craving right now.
Ion supply drinks are similar to fluids in your body,
so they're easy to absorb!
They're great for replenishing lost fluids!
On hot or tiring days, sip them regularly before you get thirsty!
You should keep sipping on one after this.
Also, put this one on the back of your neck, and ideally under your arms too.
Max-level gear!
I'm sorry for imposing on you like this...
Will you give me the receipt?
I'll pay you back.
No, that's okay.
Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Thank you very much.
Do you live nearby?
Oh, yes.
Very close by.
If you can't make it back by yourself even after this,
I'm leaving you my cellphone number, so please call me.
Thank you very much.
See you.
What is this...
What is this feeling?!
He helped me again.
Suzume?
Tell me... What exactly are you doing?
THE DAILY LIFE OF MISS MAID
Chyun!
Her day starts at 5:30 AM.
Morning!
Get dressed.
At 6 AM...
I eat breakfast.
Clean.
At 8 AM...
I go on my first walk.
At 11 AM...
I shop for food.
At noon...
I eat lunch.
And go on my second walk.
At 3 PM...
It's time for tea!
At 6 PM...
I eat dinner.
Munch, munch!
Then I take a bath.
This is warming me up.
At 9 PM...
Good night.
THE DAILY LIFE OF MISS MAID
That's the daily life of Miss Maid!
Chyun!
It's starting to get warmer.
The soft green leaves are so dazzling!
I wonder why we start craving sweets on warm, sunny days.