A Taste of Okinawa The 3 ‘R’s to good eating – Restaurants, Reviews & Recipes 8-page pullout STRIPES OKINAWA E OF OK DECEMBER 10 – DECEMBER 23, 2020 AST INAW A T 2 A dishes you didn’t kn anese ow abo p BY LUCIO MAURIZI, u Ja LIVE JAPAN t! he famous Land of the Rising Sun is known for so many things, it’s hard to even mention them all: culture, history, pop culture, manga, anime, T cosplay, sights, architecture...the list could go on and on. A big compo- nent of this host of things for which Japan is world famous is food. No matter where you’re from, or whether you’ve ever visited this country, chances are you’ve stumbled upon more than a few Japanese food restaurants. Many of us know of sushi and sashimi, or ramen. Yet Japanese food culture is much richer than that. If you’re among those who like to experience food, when you travel to another country, then, unless you’re already an expert, you’ll need some guidance to navigate through the sea of restaurants and dishes this country has to offer. Butaniku no shogayaki The ingredients are fried in rigidly controlled by the Japa- Gyudon is a mouth watering Gyutan literally means cow 1 (ginger pork) lard and a soup of chicken and nese government. Chefs who as- one-dish meal of beef over rice tongue and yaki means grilled. pig bones is later added. The pire to prepare this fish must un- (gyu = beef). Gyudon is a quick This is exactly what the dish result is a robust and satisfying dergo at least three years of very meal served in specific restau- is: grilled cow tongue. You can taste that is rarely the same. rigorous training to get their rants or in Japanese fast-food usually find this dish in yaki- In fact, not only can different license. Before being served, chains such as Yoshinoya. niku restaurants, served with versions of this dish be found the toxic parts of the fish are re- A bawl of steamed rice is salt, or different sauces (usu- in many countries in Asia, but moved, making it safe to serve. topped with thinly sliced beef ally a lemon one) and scallion. also within Japan. This creates An interesting fact is that and tender onion, simmered in The meat is thin, tasty and ten- a variety of unique styles and the liver is considered to be dashi broth (a popular Japa- der. flavors that will keep you want- the tastiest part of the fish, but nese ingredient), and then sea- The dish originated in Send- ing for more! it’s also the one that can be the soned with mirin and soy sauce. ai where the owner of a yakitori Courtesy photos most poisonous. Serving fugu Sometimes it’s served topped restaurant opened a new one, in This is one of the most com- liver was outlawed in Japan in with a lightly cooked egg. 1948, which served gyutanyaki. mon (and tasty) Japanese dish- 3 Edamame 1984. Should you try this dish, If you want to experience Since then the dish spread all es. Try it in many restaurants, you’ll certainly remain amazed a typical Tokyo salary man’s over the country like wildfire. izakaya (traditional Japanese by its taste, but do careful re- lunch break, enjoy this quick Try it and you’ll know exactly restaurant/bar), in fast food search before ordering it in a and tasty dish and get back to why. chains, and even as a bento box restaurant (and never try to your tasks (although you prob- (a pre-prepared Japanese style prepare it by yourself). ably won’t be needing to go to lunch) found in many grocery work, you’ll definitely enjoy 9 Karaage stores and convenience stores. having more time to sightsee The word yaki means liter- 5 Gyoza and explore on a full and satis- ally “grilled”. This dish is pre- fied stomach). pared by grilling thin slices of pork dressed with a delicate Okay so they’re not really sauce of mirin, soy sauce, sake 7 Gyukatsu (beef cutlet) a dish, but they are a wildly (Japanese rice wine), granola popular food in Japan. These oil mixed with sliced onions are not yet mature soy beans, and ginger. still in their pods. They can The dish makes for a great be served hot or cold (at times quick and tasty meal and it’s grilled instead of boiled) and As soon as you set foot into perfect for any season. are dressed, usually, only with Japan, you’ll start seeing the salt. They make for an amaz- Gyoza are moon shaped typical Japanese style fried foods (Karaage). Karaage usu- Champon ing appetizer. Try a few and dumplings. Another one of 2 you will find yourself reaching those dishes that can be found ally refers to chicken, but it can for more and more before you in almost every Japanese res- be found as a variety of meats, A wonderful beef varia- know it. They usually accom- taurant, regardless of their or seafood. tion of the popular pork-based pany a meal in all izakaya, but style, but that many people The meat or fish are lightly tonkatsu (which we also recom- they are almost always part of miss. Although Chinese in ori- coated with wheat flour or po- mend you try), this is a dish of the menu in the vast majority of gin, the varieties you’ll discov- tato starch and deep fried in oil. deep fried breaded beef, usual- Japanese restaurants in Japan. er during your Japan stay are Sometimes the ingredients are often quite distinct from the ly served with cabbage, barley marinated prior to the coating. original. rice, miso soup, potato salad, It’s usually served with a slice 4 Fugu Gyoza come in several vari- and pickles. of lemon on the side, but you eties in Japan. One of the most The preparation makes for can enjoy it with or without it. popular is “yaki-gyoza”: the a tender and crunchy texture, The chicken variety is espe- This dish may look like ra- dumplings are prepared with and for a very flavorful but not cially common to stumble upon, men at first sight (and you could a filling of minced pork meat, overwhelming taste. You won’t in restaurants, street-food say it belongs to same group of cabbage, garlic, onion, and gin- find this dish as easily as it’s carts, izakaya, convenience dishes) but it’s different and ger. They are then lightly fried, pork counterpart, but if you do, stores (and pretty much any- unique. If you want to taste until they become crunchy and you’ll be happy! where else). Karaage is cheap, something really traditional, of a nice dark-gold color. tasty and fast. Only downside? don’t miss out on this dish. Enjoy them with a dip made So good, it’s addictive! Champon is originally from 8 Gyutanyaki with soy sauce, rice vinegar, Nagasaki as it first appeared and spicy oil. there in a Chinese restaurant For those of you looking not 10 Katsudon during the Meiji era (1868- only for an amazing dish, but 1912). Unlike the many differ- also for a thrilling experience, 6 Gyudon ent kinds of ramen, its noodles fugu is the dish to try! (specifically made for this dish) The fugu is a pufferfish which are boiled in the soup itself, in- is yes, delicious, but it can also stead of being added at a later be lethal due to the presence time. of a toxin in some parts of its A great seasonal dish, Cham- body. Fugu is usually served as pon’s ingredients vary slightly sashimi, or in certain kinds of Depending on your country depending on the season (pork, Japanese nabe hot pots. of origin, this dish may appear, seafood, vegetables, or any The preparation of this fish, at glance, too atypical, but bear combination of these). due to its characteristics is with us and keep reading. DECEMBER 10 – DECEMBER 23, 2020 E OF OK STRIPES OKINAWA AST INAW A T 3 A enjoy with the rest of your food. If you’re visiting the coun- children! Once again we see dashi be- 14 Natto try you’ll want to try one of the ing one of the main ingredients. many kinds of this staple dish. Similar to gyudon, but pre- This stock is mixed with miso Hard to compare to other dish- 18 Onigiri pared with pork, this is another ou d (seasoning produced by fer- es, okonomiyaki can be consid- es y idn popular and often neglected (by ish ’t kn menting soy beans) paste cre- ered the Japanese frittata, or d o foreigners) dish that is as cheap se w ating the famous soup. Other pancake. e a as it is fast and tasty. Perfect n b ingredients are then mixed ac- The etymology of the name a o for those of you who are on the p u cordingly to preference. itself (meaning what you like or go, you can enjoy this meal in Ja t! Very often miso soup will be how you like + grilled) hints at specific restaurants, and in all served with tofu, scallion, and the number of different ingre- Japanese-style fast food chains. wakame seaweed. Other items, dients that can be used to pre- A bowl of rice is served with such as daikon, shrimp, fish, pare this savory dish. a topping of deep-fried pork Known as a kind of food dis- mushrooms, potatoes, onions, The most popular varieties cutlet, egg, vegetables and con- liked by most foreigners, natto or meat can be added.