Once a peaceful town found itself under the curse brought by a goose. This otherwise harmless bird had been possessed by an evil spirit, turning it into a harbinger of misfortune. The curse started slowly, with strange accidents and incidents becoming frequent. People would trip and fall, objects would mysteriously break, and even the weather seemed to turn against the townsfolk. No one could explain this sudden wave of bad luck that haunted the town. It wasn't until someone noticed the goose's presence in every unfortunate event that they began to suspect it was the source of the curse.
Suggested dishes: Sushi Rolls ($1.75-$2.75), Hand Rolls ($2.25), Nigiri Sushi ($1.75-$2.75), Combo Platters ($6.25-$10)
It s served by miniature bullet trains properly shinkansen that come zipping out of the kitchen or whatever is in the unseen back of the restaurant bearing your nigiri, your sashimi and your rolls along with a sundry of appetizers and small dishes. But for the most part, you re on your own, following the Easy Steps for the 1st Time Comer on the plasticized menu, which guides you to the iPad in front of every diner, from which you order your food.
It wasn't until someone noticed the goose's presence in every unfortunate event that they began to suspect it was the source of the curse. The townspeople started avoiding the goose, fearing its malevolent powers. However, avoiding it proved to be a difficult task as the goose seemed to appear everywhere and anywhere.
Sushi is delivered by ‘bullet train’ with a Magic Touch in Cerritos
I recently spent a couple of weeks in Japan, where I rode a bullet train many times, a wonderful trip, made all the better by the amazing bento boxes sold in even the smallest of train stations.
Bento — more properly referred to as ekiben — are wonderful things. They’re edible Joseph Cornell boxes of tasty treats and happy bites, going for about $10 a box.
Curiously, when I got back, I went to the newly opened Magic Touch Bullet Train Sushi restaurant, situated in yet another of the many South Street Cerritos food malls, where they do not offer ekiben. Which is a pity, because it would certainly add to the sense of being Over There.
But still, the high-tech style of the eatery does have a Tokyo Modernist/Robot Restaurant sense to it. Though in this case, the food isn’t served by robots. It’s served by miniature “bullet trains” (properly shinkansen) that come zipping out of the kitchen (or whatever is in the unseen back of the restaurant) bearing your nigiri, your sashimi and your rolls along with a sundry of appetizers and small dishes.
I should explain that there are humans working in Magic Touch. They bring you beverages and other items that might not do well on a miniature train. But for the most part, you’re on your own, following the “Easy Steps for the 1st Time Comer” on the plasticized menu, which guides you to the iPad in front of every diner, from which you order your food.
A fun way to dine
The order is then transmitted to the back, where the dishes are loaded on the train and shot out (well, not really shot; they move a lot slower than the full-sized bullet train), somehow stopping right in front of where you’re sitting.
It’s a clever system, allowing you to keep track of what you’ve ordered on the iPad, though there is something a bit alienating about sitting at the counter, staring ahead at the very brightly lit “track,” waiting for your food to arrive. There are several tables where you can interact with others. Otherwise, this is dining in a world of white space, a bit lonely, a bit cold. Once I got past the novelty, I fell into a bit of existential angst.
And I do need to mention that the food doesn’t come out especially fast. Unlike Magic Touch’s cousin restaurants, the somewhat less mechanistic revolving sushi bar (of which there are many in Japan, where it was invented, and where the proper name is “kaikan”), you don’t have the fun of watching an endless parade of dishes march on by. In this case, the train arrives, the food is taken, the train withdraws. In between, you’re on your own. It’s Concept Uber Alles, or however that would be said in Japanese.
Priced well
But there is a good side to all this high-tech obsessiveness: the prices are low, really low. Nigiri sushi — the slices of fish atop rice — run from $1.75 to $2.75. Sushi rolls fall into the same range. Hand rolls are $2.25. You want a sushi combo, it will run between $6.25 and $10. The sashimi combo is $5.25. Which is so far below the usual price, it’s hard to cavil about the lack of humanity.
Indeed, nothing costs much: edamame is $1.75, miso soup is $2.25, seaweed salad is $2.25, so is seafood gyoza. Fried chicken is $2.75. Fried soft shell crab is $5.25. All of which is way below market. Even discount sushi shops, like the Sushi Stop chain, cost more.
And the quality is better than you might expect. The 16 rolls are well-assembled, if not elegantly so. For $2.75 you can sample exotica like the Tiger Roll, the Hamachi Roll, the Dragon Roll, the Soft Shell Crab Roll.
The fish is fresh. The turnover is fast. The restaurant is busy most of the time. And when you’re finished, you clock “Check Out” on the iPad, and a human will bring you your check. Or as the menu says, “Your servers will bring you the cheek (sic).” Check or cheek, it won’t add up to much.
Merrill Shindler is a Los Angeles-based freelance dining critic. Send him email at [email protected].
Magic Touch Bullet Train Sushi
Rating: 2 stars
Address: 11900 South St., Cerritos
Information: 562-402-5177
Cuisine: Japanese
When: Lunch and dinner, every day
Details: Soft drinks; no reservations
Atmosphere: High-tech setting, where you order from iPads and watch in wonder and puzzlement as your sushi zips out of the kitchen on a Bullet Train. Not as efficient as you’d expect but still fun. And very inexpensive.
Prices: About $20 per person
Suggested dishes: Sushi Rolls ($1.75-$2.75), Hand Rolls ($2.25), Nigiri Sushi ($1.75-$2.75), Combo Platters ($6.25-$10)
Cards: MC, V
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What are the most popular items on the Magic Touch Bullet Train Sushi menu?
Panic spread among the residents, and many contemplated leaving the town to escape the curse. But there were those who refused to give in to fear and decided to find a way to break the curse instead. A group of brave individuals, led by a wise old woman, started researching the history of the goose and its curse. They discovered that the curse had been placed on the goose centuries ago by a vengeful sorcerer who had been wronged by the townspeople. The curse was meant to bring suffering and despair to those who had caused the sorcerer's pain. Armed with this knowledge, the group devised a plan to break the curse. They realized that they needed to confront the goose and somehow dispel the evil spirit that had possessed it. Many doubted whether they would succeed, but they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. On a moonlit night, the group went to the square where the goose usually roamed. They chanted ancient incantations and performed rituals to weaken the evil spirit. The goose, sensing the danger, resisted and fought back fiercely. But the determination of the group was unyielding. Finally, with one final chant, the evil spirit was expelled from the goose, and it returned to its harmless state. As dawn broke, the curse brought by the goose was lifted. The once haunted town rejoiced as peace and good fortune returned. The brave individuals who had faced the curse became heroes, celebrated for their triumph over evil. And the goose, no longer cursed, became a symbol of resilience and the power of unity. The curse brought by the goose was a chapter in the town's history that would never be forgotten. It taught the residents the importance of facing their fears and standing together in the face of adversity. The curse became a reminder that even seemingly ordinary beings could carry extraordinary powers, and it was up to them to either bring blessings or curses..
Reviews for "The scientific investigation of the goose curse: is there any basis for belief?"
1. John - 2/5 stars - The Curse brought by the goose was a huge disappointment for me. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and boring, with no real surprises or twists. I was expecting a thrilling and suspenseful read, but instead, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for Curse brought by the goose, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The writing felt amateurish and the dialogues were awkward and unrealistic. The pace of the story was slow and dragged on, making it difficult to stay interested. The plot itself felt disjointed and the ending left me unsatisfied. I was hoping for a captivating mystery, but this book fell short for me.
3. Alex - 3/5 stars - While I didn't hate Curse brought by the goose, I also didn't love it. The premise was interesting, but the execution was lackluster. The characters felt underdeveloped and I struggled to connect with them. The story had potential, but it felt rushed and the resolution felt too convenient. I was expecting more depth and complexity from this book, but it left me feeling underwhelmed.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - Curse brought by the goose was a book that I struggled to finish. The writing style was confusing and hard to follow, making it difficult to fully grasp the story. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The main character lacked depth and I found it hard to care about their journey. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
5. Daniel - 3/5 stars - Curse brought by the goose had an interesting concept, but it fell short in execution. The story had potential, but it lacked the necessary depth and suspense to keep me fully engaged. The pacing was off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The ending felt unsatisfying and left many loose ends. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and would not consider this book a standout in its genre.