When in Japan, the host orders food for the group who are then required by the rules of social etiquette to eat whatever fare this person selects. During Grandmama’s visit, I was sure to order japanese specialties which never fail to disappoint when one’s goal involves watching the reaction of table occupants. We started with a dish that Offspring #1 and Andretti-san crave.
Note to self- when the sign pictures octopi, it’s probably a predominant ingredient.
In this case, a dumpling-like street snack filled with octopus. Takoyaki.
Takoyaki Wikipedia
Filled with octopi, topped with bonita flakes, mayonnaise and a takoyaki sauce tasting suspiciously like BBQ sauce, this dish is a love it or hate it. I hate it therefore, I strongly encouraged Grandmama to try it. She obliged by digging in with her usual gusto.
Although it appears inviting and tasty when viewed from above, the inside separates the men from the boys when viewed through a gastronomic lens.
Offspring #1 got a double helping that day.
A promise of a boon to the taste buds lured Grandmama to the next table top delight.
With such a lovely presentation it is easy to ignore the gaping mouth, pointed teeth, and swollen belly laden with guts.
Instructions for eating- the whole thing.
Offspring #1 plunged in biting off the head and torso in a show of gastric machismo. Grandmama inspected hers carefully and decided it was best filleted. OS#1 was surprised to see the insides oozing out once she was finished with the dissection having not seen any in his fish to which Grandmama replied,” You ate yours in the first bite.”
This course was followed by a mystery substance which left us sporting green goatees no matter how masterful the user of chopsticks.
The vegetable best able to deliver this amount of slimy punch turned out to be okra.
We all passed on this dish while on a visit to Yokohama Chinatown-
Shark Fin Soup
and marvelled at the size of this dried fin- about 5 feet tall.
Grandmama craved a dish called sunomono- thinly sliced cucumbers served in a vinegar sauce. What we learned as the dish was set before her is that sunomono can be served with a variety of ingredients. Hers consisted of tiny fish about half an inch long each surrounded by a casing of gelatinous organic material. No one asked for a taste. Grandmama earned an “A+” in chopsticks as each fish oozed between the tips when gripped causing her to chase each potential bite around the plate.
I know many of you are feeling sorry for poor Grandmama, abused and taunted by her oldest daughter, to which I respond with “Payback is Hell.”
And for the entertainment of all of us, please post your most “challenging” meal – we’d love to see pictures….
Hey from Japan- or wherever the moving van arrives- Emily Cannell 
Haha! Grandmama is a champ. I’ve never laughed so hard WHILE dry heaving in my entire life!
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I hope to be just like her- minus the annoying parts.
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Oh My God. I just realized I’m next on your list of victims!!!! I may start throwing up before I even exit the airplane.
But you are absolutely right. Mom WILL eat anything.
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You certainly are, you certainly are….
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Yikes! I’m sure you’d agree–I won’t find any of these foods at Third Street Stuff! Hope you enjoy your adventure with Offspring# 2! Can’t wait to hear about it!
Hello to the Nose, as well, if she reads this.
Kathy
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That was such a good sandwich! On our way out tomorrow- completely forgot about small things like malaria pills and typhoid shots. My arm is now killing me from the doctor`s visit!
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Have you ever eaten this in Japan?
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Humm- That is quite creative. I can honestly say no- but – believe it or not, probably the least delicious component of this dish is the green ball! Absolutely no taste but a strange texture- usually served with ice cream.
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I discovered this on a friend’s Facebook page yesterday and can’t stop watching it. I think I’ve played about a dozen times.
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I`d really like to see the video of how that is eaten! It is very common here to eat live octopus- apparently the tentacles stick to your throat and mouth on the way down.
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I just noticed that there is another video you can click on at the end that shows how the octopus is cut up and served. CRAZY.
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I’m with you – I can’t stop watching it! The while thing plus the others!
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oh. i always wondered, but now i know how “death by soysauce” must look like. poor little thing. i prefer to have my food killed before it gets on the plate (except oysters, maybe).
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Isn`t that just the creepiest video! I`ve not seen that live but pictured a smaller sort of octopus! I mean, how do you bite in to that?
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Is ordinary food available in Japan? Can’t imagine myself eating anything of what there is in the photos.
The video is great! Do they really eat something moving on their plate?
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I just put together all the nasties for my mother`s benefit. The food here is actually wonderful although not at all like American Japanese food.
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I need to loose a good 40 lbs. I think i am moving to japan, that should do the trick!
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What happens is you lose weight when you get here then gain it back once you discover the good stuff- which is very good! I`m in love with the ramen noodle…
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I’m laughing too hard to think about my strangest meal. I’m sure it was in Japan though. Probably namako which I find truly nasty. Or maybe natto.
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I haven`t had namako- and I`m one of the few that can tolerate Nato….. Funny stuff!
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Very funny post! Although I wouldn’t have liked to actually be there witnessing this abuse. First, Emily – the tour guide from hell; now Emily – the hostess from hell?! 😉 What I’ve learned from this post: do NOT let Emily order for you!!!
Does your mother read your blog? (Think I may have asked this before, but forgotten the answer).
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She does ~ who do you think I learned all this from? The Nose is coming in Sept and that should be a lot of fun as she “tries” different things!
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Sure beats sea monkeys – much more natural flavour and texture!
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Once you’ve downed Sea Monkeys you’re game for anything!
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When I visited Malta many years ago, I ordered Octopi salad, which came with pink tentacles, chopped up in bits though you could clearly see what they were, but they tasted GREAT and I chuckled because most people would have been grossed out by my fantastic looking salad, I regret I never took a photo of it. The Takoyaki looks good to me, I’d definitely try it, the fish, oh no, I don’t like to see a face on my plate to eat, bleaugh…
Admirable grandmama for her adventurous spirit 🙂
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I could write a blog about Grandmama’s adventures and let’s leave it at that! Malta is on my “see” list. Glad to see you by the way!
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Been around, though in lurking mode as my hand is not back to normal still, over-use of computer so I’ve had to cut down on my internet use for the time being.
Malta is lovely and full of cats. I remember seeing tons of them, and when in the hotel I used to order beef, and then only eat half, so I could share the rest with the kitties who were always out and about around the hotel gardens.
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Wow! Kudos to Grandmama for winning that challenge gracefully! She definitely beat me in that area – I don’t think I can stand eating weird-looking food. 😐 With that said, I don’t think Japan should be my next destination although I think the country is pretty gorgeous! Man, why do the food there have to be so exotic?
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What a brave Grandmama!! And your kids – they’re wonderful eaters. I don’t know if I’d be able to withstand some of those food textures and vast amounts of sea food.
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Weirdest food I tried – definitely in Japan. I later discovered it was called shiokara. Bleurgh.
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Wikipedia definition of shiokara: Shiokara (塩辛?) is a food in Japanese cuisine made from various marine animals that consists of small pieces of meat in a brown viscous paste of the animal’s heavily salted, fermented viscera. The raw viscera are mixed with about 10% salt, 30% malted rice, packed in a closed container, and fermented for up to a month. Shiokara is sold in glass or plastic containers.
Anna- thanks for the heads up on this dish. Although I`ve just discovered the two most disgusting dishes of all time – in Borneo. More on that later. Thanks for the comment- I`m going to add it to the list of things to feed my sister when she gets here….
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That’s the one! It’s been over 1 year since I had it and it still makes me feel a bit sick… I feel for your sister!!!!
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I can see why!!
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Well I am glad for that bit of education but will leave it for you of a more adventurous nature!! Grand mamma sounds like a mostly good sport. Must run in the family!
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Oh dear…still gagging on the picture of OS #1 with fish in his mouth…I also prefer my fish headless and gutless…
Wendy
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haha- your response made me laugh!
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I could never get my grandma to eat any of this. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t even get her to go to dinner with me.
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She eventually hired a food taster and then started doing all the cooking- which was my plan all along.
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Grandma sounds like a good sport! Great photography BTW my breakfast is almost over the screen!
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