Para i mali tanjuri

Mara je stigla na noćnu tržnicu u sedam sati. Ulica je bila puna svjetla, pare i ljudi. Svaki štand prodavao je nešto drugo: rezance, knedle, voće na štapićima, hladni čaj. Bila je gladna, ali nije znala odakle početi.

Mara arrived at the night market at seven. The street was full of light, steam, and people. Every stand sold something different: noodles, dumplings, fruit on sticks, cold tea. She was hungry, but she did not know where to start.

Zaustavila se kod štanda s dugim redom. Žena je pekla knedle na velikoj plitkoj tavi. Mara je promatrala ostale kupce. Pokazivali su prstom na jelovnik, rekli broj i platili. Kad je došao red na nju, pokazala je i ona. "Pet, molim", rekla je. Žena je kimnula i nasmiješila se.

She stopped at a stand with long lines. A woman cooked dumplings in a big flat pan. Mara watched the other customers. They pointed at the menu, said a number, and paid. When it was her turn, she pointed too. "Five, please," she said. The woman nodded and smiled.

Knedle su bile vruće i hrskave na dnu. Mara je sjela na malu plastičnu stolicu i polako ih jela. Zatim je otišla do sljedećeg štanda, pa do idućeg. Te večeri naučila je najvažnije pravilo ulične hrane: dug red znači dobru hranu.

The dumplings were hot and crispy on the bottom. Mara sat on a small plastic chair and ate them slowly. Then she walked to the next stand, and the next. That night she learned the most important rule of street food: a long line means good food.