#japchae (a korean noodle dish often served for celebrations) inspired I'm sure

[riftdancing]

Softer question this time.

Question Three! Siyoh grew up in a bakery. She helped work it. She suffered for it. Does she still bake? Does she have a favorite recipe? A favorite food?

Siyoh's life at this point revolves around food and hospitality. She's dedicated her life to becoming a passionate culinarian and trades woman.

After the revolution Rex helped her reclaim her family's business by financing her purchase of the old family Bakery, which was at least still mostly intact. Now that the occupation had passed Siyoh wanted to restore the honor her parents had fostered before her and celebrate their memory.

She considered reopening a bakery, but with it brought many ill memories of living a life under occupation. Furthermore, since living in Limsa Lominsa she'd learned a lot about both Othardian and Eorzean cooking. Too, she learned many out West were not familiar with Eastern customs nor food, and this was something she wanted to change.

Siyoh is incredibly passionate about Doman (and Thavnarian) culture. She loves spreading the wisdom both her Mother and Father passed on to her about their traditions and culture. She's excited to share Eastern food with those who have never tried it before, and since the revolution brought so many new faces to the East it cultivated the perfect opportunity for her current business, the Umbral Udon, which operates out of the building which used to be her Mother's bakery.

A now thriving venture in the East, it serves primarily as a Ramen Shop/Noodle Bar. However, there is an RSVP only venture in which Siyoh cooks a multi-course meal for a group of up to six diners she calls 'A Taste of the East.' This is mostly for foreigners but some locals enjoy participating too. The goal of this meal is to introduce patrons to an assortment of both Hingan and Doman cuisine and educate them on the historical and cultural influences and significance of each dish.

As a trader following in her Father's footsteps and working with a lot of his pre-established contacts, Siyoh has access to a wide range of the most fresh and delicious ingredients on the Eastern roads, seas, and winds. Further more, as the Umbral Udon works hand in hand with her sister establishment, Azuma's 'The Doman Dragon', they also have a large plot of land where they work their own fresh foods and ingredients.

Her work ethic, trading know-how, and contacts are what likely originally caught Rex's eye and influenced him to finance both establishments. But also likely led to the early attractions between both Rex and Siyoh, who are now romantically involved much much later down the line.

These days, most of the labor for the Umbral Udon is worked by staff which have been carefully curated by Siyoh. Why? Because she has moved her business further West to be more involved with Firelight Trading Company leading their Hospitality division. (You know, so that she can be closer to her man and not an entire ocean apart...)

Part of her job entails things such as curating the menu and management of The Fireside. Which is why if you ever attend one of the Fireside in game roleplay events, you might catch Siyoh make an entrance in the last 20-30 minutes before close to take inventory, see what sold, make adjustments to the menu, and make sure the staff and Baristas (like Mihli and Sarrai) are happy.

So she absolutely still bakes. I don't think she bakes for sale any more, but rather more as a love language for those around her and to keep the memories of her Mother close.

When Siyoh was still spending time under As'htola's roof in Limsa Lominsa, I once wrote about how she covered her kitchen in currant tarts. She spent the entire day and night making them, desperate to perfect them because she could almost remember why they mattered so much to her. And that Starlight, she remembered it was because of her Mother.

So food and cooking, also played major parts in Siyoh regaining her memories and healing too.

Food is her love language, but also a universal language. Food brings people together.