2009.10.22
131. Octopus
I was a bit surprised when I found small octopuses in a jar on Alex's shelf in a fridge. Western people tend to dislike octopus and squid because they are chewy. But of course, many eat them.Japanese food is popular here. I have met 1 British who dislike green tea, but I have not met people who dislike Japanese food. If I was asked to make 3 Japanese dishes, I would make Maki zushi (< sushi), Nikujaga and Okonomiyaki. From my experience, these 3 dishes are accepted by almost everyone regardless of nationality and age.
When we have a potluck party (a party everyone takes a food or a drink and share them with others), at least 1 Japanese person always brings Maki zushi. I have a concern about this... Though this is also good traditional sushi, king of sushi is, after all, Nigiri zushi. So I worry that people might think Maki zushi is proper sushi. I learnt how to make Nigiri zushi long long time ago, but I forgot :-P Silly me (><)
Western people like Nikujaga because ingredients (potatoes, carrots and beef) and soy sauce are familiar to them.
The same to Okonomiyaki. But interestingly, opinions about Takoyaki (tako=octopus) split. One of my British friends and an American friend of my friend's and his family do not like it at all. My friend's friend and his family tried it and did not like it. My friend even cannot try because, he says, it looks like eye balls. Strangely, all of them like Okonomiyaki. For Japanese people, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki are basically the same, aren't they? But this proved (?) that people eat food with their eyes! Visual effect is important!
Personally I prefer Takoyaki. To tell you the truth, when I went back to Japan last Christmas holidays, I wondered to bring a Takoyaki pan back...
Oops, I have not got a chance to ask Alex how he cooked octopuses.
By the way, a word "octopus" has 3 plural forms. One is "octopuses", which I used in the entry, the second is "octopi" and the third is "octopodes". According to Oxford English Dictionary, the third form is rare. "Octopi" sounds cute to me and also reminds me of a musical "Okepi"(Ochepi) (English, Japanese) (YouTube).
*** References ***
sushi day
About.com: Nikujaga, Takoyaki
Visual Recipes
Kateigaho International Edition
The Japan Foundation: Play of the Month, English, Japanese
Momoko
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Hi, Momoko san.
Thank you for telling us about food.
I've heard that foreign people don't like octopus and I felt that it is a true story.
Okonomiyaki and takoyaki seem the same for us
Japanese, but foreign people have completely different idea.Very interesting!!But I 've never tasted okonomiyaki with octopus so I have come to think that they are different.
In Japan we can get frozen takoyaki or okonomiyaki. Can you get them in Britain?
Thank you for telling us about food.
I've heard that foreign people don't like octopus and I felt that it is a true story.
Okonomiyaki and takoyaki seem the same for us
Japanese, but foreign people have completely different idea.Very interesting!!But I 've never tasted okonomiyaki with octopus so I have come to think that they are different.
In Japan we can get frozen takoyaki or okonomiyaki. Can you get them in Britain?
Posted by lucky mom at 2009.10.23 10:35 | Edit
Dear lucky mom san,
Yeah, they might not like takoyaki because of octopus. Do you know takoyaki with octopus ocellatus (iidako)? Its head is in takoyaki but legs are sticking outside. If you haven't seen it, you can find photos on the net.
I checked websites of Japanese food shops in London and found that we cannot get frozen takoyaki and okonomiyaki, but they are selling okonomiyaki flour and a takoyaki pan!!
Momoko
Yeah, they might not like takoyaki because of octopus. Do you know takoyaki with octopus ocellatus (iidako)? Its head is in takoyaki but legs are sticking outside. If you haven't seen it, you can find photos on the net.
I checked websites of Japanese food shops in London and found that we cannot get frozen takoyaki and okonomiyaki, but they are selling okonomiyaki flour and a takoyaki pan!!
Momoko
i have not known that Western people tend to dislike octopus. thank you for teaching it.
in fact, i don't also like octopus. so i remove it, whenever i eat Takoyaki.
my friends say, "it's not Takoyaki if you remove it. it's a merikenko-yaki."!! haha:-)
i put cheese into Takoyaki instead of octopus, whenever i make it.
if you have a chance, please try it!!
tastes good!!
in fact, i don't also like octopus. so i remove it, whenever i eat Takoyaki.
my friends say, "it's not Takoyaki if you remove it. it's a merikenko-yaki."!! haha:-)
i put cheese into Takoyaki instead of octopus, whenever i make it.
if you have a chance, please try it!!
tastes good!!
Posted by m18 at 2009.10.23 14:08 | Edit
Dear m18 san,
Don't you like octopus? Why?
Because it is chewy or it is called devil-fish (joking)?
Do you have a Takoyaki pan at home? I seriously want it :-)
Takoyaki with cheese sounds nice.
If I have an opportunity to eat Takoyaki,
I will definitely try it! Thank you for a new recipe!
Momoko
Don't you like octopus? Why?
Because it is chewy or it is called devil-fish (joking)?
Do you have a Takoyaki pan at home? I seriously want it :-)
Takoyaki with cheese sounds nice.
If I have an opportunity to eat Takoyaki,
I will definitely try it! Thank you for a new recipe!
Momoko
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