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Show 1 "f'T Park Record Thursday, September 15, 1988 Page A7 Peggi Ince couldn't ignore her culinary calling "1 'T" By RON GEORG Record staff There are a number of unusual paths people have taken to get to Park City, but few have the direction direc-tion of the trail taken by Peggi Ince. In-ce. Peggi is the chef at Ichiban Sushi on Main Street. Anyone who's ever been to a sushi bar should be doing a double-take about now. A non-Japanese non-Japanese native behind a sushi bar is almost unheard of. A female, non-Japanese, sushi cheis unique uni-que but then, that's Peggi Ince. When Peggi, 28, was still going to East High School in Salt Lake City, she was on a special program which gave her the responsibility of a college student. She used the extra ex-tra freedom to edit her high school newspaper. With all her journalistic experience, ex-perience, she received scholarships to the University of Utah for mass communications. To compliment her scholarships, she cooked at the Hibachi restaurant. Cooking was still just a hobby when she graduated from the university. An active Mormon, she signed up for a mission after school. "It's funny how things fit together; I didn't plan it this way," of the direction her life was about to take. "I didn't ask to be sent to Japan. When I turned in my mission mis-sion papers, I didn't say where I wanted to go. Who knows, if I had been sent to Mexico, we might be serving Mexican food." While she sees it as funny, Ince isn't fatalistic about her direction. She's quite certain of its source. "I'm making the most of the talents the Lord has given me. With all of the opportunity which has been given me, it has to be a blessing." bless-ing." Going on a mission seems to have been a turning point in Ince's career. The IDS Church prepares its missionaries well, so she was immersed in Japanese culture for some time. "They give you two months worth of intensive language training and some culture classes so you don't sit on Buddha's hand." One might think Eastern philosophy would preclude Christian Chris-tian thought, but Ince says her work there was effective, and the Japanese people are extremely open-minded. "They say they are Buddhist, but for the most part they don't practice it." Ince also says the Japanese are fond of Americans, though one is inclined to believe it is her gregarious personality they were enamored of. "The Japanese love Americans. They'll have you to dinner din-ner just because you're an American." When Ince returned from her mission, she returned to school to study more Japanese. Again, she took a cooking job, this time with 47 Samuri. After stepping behind the sushi bar, she discovered she had a talent for the delicate work. Soon she had developed a following, follow-ing, one of whom was impressed enough with her talents that he contacted con-tacted a Japanese business partner who agreed to sponsor her as an apprentice. In Japan, he found a Tokyo sushi bar which was willing to accept a female, American cook. The Japanese businessman was paying her salary, and the restaurant needed only to allow her to work. The restaurant was willing, but the other cooks were wary. "At first the chefs were just so shocked about a woman stepping behind the bar that one of them didn't even talk to me for a month." Suprisingly, it was her experience ex-perience as a cook during school which saved her. She says the cooks began to respect her when she demonstrated her tempura cooking experience when a huge party came into the restaurant. The next time a chef got sick, they let her behind the bar. Even still, there were stigmas she has had a good deal of trouble overcoming. The two big ones are about women's hands. They are supposed to be too weak and too warm. "They say that women's hands aren't strong enough to press the rice, and that they are, on average, two degrees warmer than men's." Supposedly, two degrees are enough to change the taste of the fish. Since Ince's fish tastes just like it ought, she seems to agree with the suggestion that the stigmas were set up to keep women out of the trade. "The thing I liked the least about Japanese culture was the way they treat women. It is difficult for an independent woman to live like that." i i f it' ... p r! ' i, r a "' ' " 1 ' ' . ' - 0- ' . r 1 Li Even in Park City, she has encountered en-countered some wariness. Only one person refused to eat sushi prepared by a woman, but others have developed myths to account for Ince's ability. Word around town is that she has cold, strong, dry hands. That may be true, but Ince herself makes no such claim. Today, Ince is making a name for herself in the sushi world. Last spring, she was invited to the Cherry Blossom Festival iri Washington, D.C.. The Festival is a huge gathering of Japanese people along the Potomac river, where the cherry trees are blooming. Being invited to the event was a huge honor. She cooked alongside about 10 Japanese men, and they were cooking for ambassadors, beauty queens, and other , Peggi Ince IPmrk'City IPipffSle "Who knows, if I had been sent to Mexico, we might be serving Mexican food" Peggi Ince dignitaries. A sushi bar may seem like an odd place for a young, Mormon woman, but Ince doesn't see it that way. "Yes, it's a party place. Other people have said it's a contradiction contradic-tion for me, but I'm iust cooking. All my customers know I don't drink, and I don't have any problem pro-blem with that. Everyone has the right to their free agency." While she has been living the life of an independent woman, Ince says she will be giving up the sushi. 0 Ron Georg bar some day. "I do plan to get married, and I will have children." Right now, however, her top pro- . spect is in Japan. He's a Utahn who, like Ince, went on a mission to Japan. He's currently teaching English to the Japanese. Judging from the wall behind the sushi bar, however, Ince will break a few hearts here if she goes. The wall is covered with sets of chopsticks from various regular customers. When a regular comes in, he gets to use his own, personal set. In fact, at least one customer could be a long term one. "See, I've just gotten my first set of children's chopsticks," said Ince, pointing to a tiny set of the utensils used by youngest Park City fan. PARK CITY SKI AREA 1988-89 SEASON PASSES AND UTAH RESIDENT COUPON BOOKS NOW ON SALE 1988 89 SEASON PASSES 1988 89 UTAH RESIDENT COUPON BOOKS FULL SEASON PASSES Sept. 3 Oct. I AFTER Nov. INDIVIDUAL RATES: . Sept. 30 Nov. I Jan. 5 Adult $525 $590 J67S Youth 13-18 $415 $455 S535 Child 1 2 years & under $175 $195 j235 ADULTS: Adult 5 Coupon Book Adult 1 0 Coupon Book CHILDREN 12 YEARS & UNDER: Child 5 Coupon Book Child 10 Coupon Book $525 $590 $675 $430 $485 $535 $320 $345 $400 $131 $143 $165 FREE FREE FREE Full Season passes are valid seven days a week for day and night skiing (when night skiing is available). FAMILY RATES: First Adult Other Adults Youth 13-18 Child 7-12 Tots 6 years it under On Family Season Passes, receive an additional 25 discount on the amount over. $1,380 $1,465 $1,680 MIDWEEK SEASON PASSES: All ages $360 $425 $500 Midweek Season Passes are valid Monday through Friday for day and night skiing (when night skiing is available). They are not valid on any weekend or during the following holiday periods: Thanksgiving Holiday. November 24. 25. 1988 Christmas Holiday. December 20, 1988 January I. 1989 President's Holiday. February 20. 1989 Midweek Season Passes will be good daily, including weekends, beginning Monday. April 1 7, 1 989 for the remainder of the ski season. NOTE SEASON PASSES WILL NOT BE SOLD AFTER JANUARY 5, 1989 1988-89 SEASONAL SKI LOCKERS $ 150.00 Lockers will be available on a first come, first served basis SALES LOCATION: $100 $180 $50 $95 Coupon Books are available to Utah residents only. Proof of residency must be supplied at time of purchase and acceptable forms of I.D. include: 1 . Utah Drivers License. 2. Utah College I.D. with current registration sticker. 3. Utah High School Card for current year. 4. Youths 1 7 years and under who do not have an I.D. must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with valid Utah I.D. at time of purchase. Any unused coupons from the previous season may be redeemed at face value when accompanied by the Coupon Book Photo I.D. Holder for any of the following: A. A 1 988-89 Coupon Book B. Any Park City Ski Area Season Pass C. A Seasonal Locker D. Any lift or ski school ticket anytime during the 1 988-89 ski season. COUPON BOOKS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE NOTE DEADLINE FOR COUPON BOOK PURCHASE IS 5:00 p.m. NOVEMBER IS, 1988 1988-89 V.I.P. Passes $1,150.00 The fully transferable pass, worn around the neck, is good for day or night skiing throughout the entire 1988-89 ski season. To order your V.I.P. Pass, please contact the Ski Area Marketing Department. No Deadline For Purchase of V.I.P. Passes NOTE Deadline sales dates listed above The Sports Desk, located Inside the Ticket Building at the Park City Ski Area Plaza. Sports Desk Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ' 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 7 days a week 7 days a week Sept. 3-Openlng Day of Ski Season Opening Day of Ski Season Ian. 5. 1989 Any Season Pass, V.I.P. Pass or Utah Resident Coupon Book holder will be able to gain general admission to America's Opening Pro Cup Races Nov. 24-27 1988 |