B
The e-mail request came in to Ekiben restaurant in Balti-
more,Maryland one afternoon:tempura broccoli(面拖花椰菜).
The man who sent the e-mail was writing on behalf of his moth-
er-in-law,who loved the dish very much.He explained she was
now in the final stages of lung cancer at her home in Vermont and
that he was hoping to be told how to cook the dish so that he
could make it for her.
Steve Chu,one of the restaurant's co-owners,read the e-
mail and quickly replied with an alternative suggestion."Thanks
for reaching out,he wrote."We'd like to meet you in Vermont
and make it fresh for you.
Brandon Jones,the son-in-law,thought it was unexpected.