| Author | Post |
|---|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 10 Aug 2006 01:09 am |
|
Konnichi wa.
Here (below) is my lunch today - sushi, together with a cup of miso soup, made from a packet bought from the supermarket.
I have added the soy sauce to the sushi, distributed the ginger (there is never enough ginger) and thrown the wasabi (Japanese horseradish) away.
My firm belief is that wasabi is a joke which the Japanese play on the rest of the world. Having lost the War, you see, clever people in Japan decided to punish the West, so they invented wasabi. No-one in Japan eats wasabi, just as no-one in Japan eats those disgusting breakfasts of pickled vegetables. Behind those rice paper doors in every Japanese home and ryokan the Japanese are having weetbix, bacon and eggs, and laughing into their coffee at the thought of the rest of us eating wasabi and pickles.
Japanese man at breakfast (translated for the benefit of those who lack my fluency in the language): "Two sausages with my bacon and eggs this morning, please. Just think of those gaijin eating wasabi every day! And we even coloured it bright green to make it look even more poisonous than it already is!"
Japanese wife: "Hahahahahahaha."
Japanese child: "Yeah, they real irriots! Hahahahaha."
And so on.
A friend went to Japan for the first time some years ago, had a wonderful time there, and decided to return to Australia via Japan Air Lines to complete the experience. They have superb food in First Class on JAL, and he enjoyed himself thoroughly working his way through the Japanese menu. Sitting next to him was a Japanese businessman who confided in broken English that he was travelling outside Japan for the first time. Acting on the same principle as my friend Craig, but in reverse, the Japanese gentleman elected to have a European meal - a steak with sauted potatoes and a salad. He ate the meal slowly, and with some signs of enjoyment, and even more signs of wonderment. At the end of the meal he sat for several long minutes staring at the elegant container of vinaigrette which sat next to the empty bowl of salad. Suddenly, before Craig could intervene, the Japanese gentleman raised the vinaigrette to his lips and drank it off in a single gulp.
His face, Craig says, was a study. Whether he ever tried European food again is to be doubted.
Sayonara!
Attached Image (viewed 266 times):
|
Ichardray
Guest
|
Posted: 16 Aug 2006 12:54 am |
|
| Wasabi is a dirty word in this household!!!! Ever since himself ate a whole dollop thinking it was avacado. The top of his head nearly blew off and it was an hour before he could breath normally......................... It was a very badly lit restaurant, the wasabi came with seared tuna................. Last edited on 16 Aug 2006 12:55 am by
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 19 Aug 2006 09:10 am |
|
Wikipedia has a long entry on Wasabi. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasabi
This begins:
Wasabi (Wasabia japonica, Cochlearia wasabi, or Eutrema japonica) is a member of the cabbage family. Known as Japanese horseradish, its root is used as a spice and has an extremely strong flavor. Its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard than a chile pepper, producing vapors that burn the sinus cavity rather than the tongue. The plant grows naturally along stream beds in mountain river valleys in Japan. There are also other species used, such as W. koreana, and W. tetsuigi. The two main cultivars in the marketplace are W. japonica var. Duruma and Mazuma, but there are many others.
The Wikipedia article refers to a number of irruptions of wasabi into popular culture, including the scene in Jackass: the Movie in which one of the characters has to snort wasabi, with dire consequences, but fails to mention Douglas Adams' reference to wasabi in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Readers of that erudite work will recall that the second worst poetry in the Universe is that of the Azgoths of Kria, whose poet master was Grunthos the Flatulent. Adams records that during one of Grunthos's readings "four of his audience died of internal haemorrhaging and the president of the Mid-Galactic Arts Nobbling Council survived by gnawing one of his own legs off".
The poem Grunthos was reading on this memorable occasion, Adams notes, was his "Ode to a Small Lump of Green Putty I Found in My Armpit One Midsummer Morning".
The "green putty" was, of course, wasabi.
Krian wasabi is milder than the Japanese variety. It is, however, even greener.
Someone who should know better has emailed me to say that she thinks I am making all of this up. So here is what a packet of wasabi looks like. *
You, gentle reader, can have it if you want it. I certainly don't.
* Incidentally, I have had the Japanese on the packet translated. It says:
"If you can read this do not repeat do not eat this stuff. For gaijin consumption only. Hahahahahahahahaha, and Banzai!"
Attached Image (viewed 238 times):
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 19 Aug 2006 10:30 pm |
|
And before anyone asks, here is what the third worst poetry (i.e. Vogon poetry) in the Universe is like.
Consumption of copious quantities of wasabi is recommended before reading:
Oh freddled gruntbuggly,
Thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits
On a lurgid bee.
Groop, I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes
And hooptiously drangle me
with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon
See if I don't.
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 19 Aug 2006 10:42 pm |
|
I'm sorry but I have to tell you that there is a New Zealand company growing and marketing wasabi!
Yes, it's true.
New Zealand Wasabi Limited is the commercial company developed from the ideas and vision of Jenny and Michel who put all of their abilities and the future of themselves and their family on the line in the belief that they would be able to develop a growing system for Wasabi (Wasabia japonica), and from there establish an international business for the production, processing and marketing of Wasabi based products of the very highest quality. This is the story of that development...
You can read the rest at this website:
http://www.wasabi.co.nz/nzwasabi.html
Attached Image (viewed 268 times):
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 19 Aug 2006 10:47 pm |
|
I also see that in America people are selling wasabi mayonnaise and wasabi cashews (whatever they might be), and this is being discussed as part of the "wasabinisation of America".
As one (Japanese-American) writer puts it:
Although Japanese goods such as wasabi are being used with increasing frequency in American products, the question is whether these products are being marketed to capture an Asian audience seeking something familiar to their own culture, or if the target audience is mainstream American culture seeking something foreign and exotic...The back label on Wasabi Peanuts says 'Offer peanuts with the fiery taste of the Orient at your next get-together!'. I would say this was marketed towards non-Asians, since I'm fairly sure Asian people don't need to share the 'fiery taste of the Orient' with each other.Attached Image (viewed 231 times):
|
Anna
Member
|
Posted: 20 Aug 2006 07:50 pm |
|
Should I be ashamed to admit I LOVE wasabi?!
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 20 Aug 2006 08:04 pm |
|
Anna wrote: Should I be ashamed to admit I LOVE wasabi?!
No, but tell us more.
What is it that you like about putty?
|
Anna
Member
|
Posted: 20 Aug 2006 08:34 pm |
|
The kick, the taste, the aroma and above all the expressions of the uninitiated! 
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 25 Aug 2006 11:47 pm |
|
That makes some sense, Anna. As Mr Bennet says to Elizabeth:
"For what do we live, but to make sport of our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?"
Meanwhile, the wasabinisation of New Zealand continues. A local "food critic", David Burton writes this weekend in his review of Copita, a local restaurant, that:
"The texture of the squid was meltingly tender, while a sting of wasabi in the aioli lifted the seafood flavour and merged perfectly with the sweet, sour and salty dressing of its accompanying Asian salad."
A sting of wasabi in the aioli!
Of course, it's possible that Burton was taking the piss, but one's hope that this might be so tended to be dashed by passages such as this one:
"'Pistou' is French for 'pesto', in this case a puree of parmesan, fresh basil and almonds, made with great integrity and utterly delicious with the fillet steak, served over a rich, crispy polenta cake revved up with olives and herbs and more parmesan."
... made with great integrity ...!
I suppose that it's faintly possible that "Great Integrity" is the nickname of a sou chef at the Copita, and this food was made with his/her assistance, but it is much more likely that Burton is merely another complete prat of the kind New Zealand journalism is so richly endowed with.
|
David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
|
Posted: 19 Sep 2006 02:01 am |
|
Those of you who have been closely following this thread - and I do realise that this is a large number of people - will be interested in two further discoveries which I have made.
* First, there is a restaurant in Cuba Street (where else? I hear you cry: Auckland readers, think "Karangahape Road") named "Wasabi". Yes, it's true. When I passed by the other day several Japanese employees were eyeing potential customers, no doubt wondering whether the gullible gaijin would be game to try their Takifuguburgers ("You try; you die").
* Secondly, you will of course recall that I observed in the first message in this thread that there's never enough ginger in the sushi boxes at the New World Supermarket. I find that this is not true of the packs of four, which include a packet of ginger which is the same size as that supplied with the packs of eight. Yes, it's true. The cute fish-shaped soy container is half-size, but you can pig out on the ginger. I thought you would want to know this.
And I can't leave you, despite your appeals to stay, without a word or two about Fugu. As Wikipedia reports, this wonderful fish:
"... is highly toxic, but despite this — or perhaps because of it — it is considered a delicacy in Japan. The fish contains lethal amounts of the poison tetrodotoxin in the internal organs, especially the liver and the ovaries, but also in the skin and the testicles. Therefore, only specially licensed chefs can prepare and sell fugu to the public, and the consumption of the liver and ovaries is forbidden. But because small amounts of the poison give a special desired sensation on the tongue, these parts are considered the most delicious by some gourmets. Every year a number of people die because they underestimate the amount of poison in the consumed fish parts. The poison paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious, and eventually dies from asphyxiation. There is currently no antidote, and the standard medical approach is to try to support the respiratory and circulatory system until the effect of the poison wears off. The fish is also featured prominently in Japanese art and culture."
In another website I have found two (seemingly execrable) haiku on the subject of fugu. Here they are, for your delectation:
fugu poison
hardly my affairs
hit me
whoever I meet
popular subject
fugu accident
I know that you're going to think I made this piffle up. But no. Check out:
http://www.kyoshi.or.jp/inv-haiku/routine.htmAttached Image (viewed 197 times):
|
kipper
Member
|
Posted: 5 Oct 2006 06:19 pm |
|
| no anna wasabi is great but in small doses too much takes the taste of the delicate food away
|
jaybee2003
Member
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 272 |
|
Posted: 7 Oct 2006 01:35 am |
|
LOL @ the skulling of the mayonnaise. Thank you for that delightful story.
Wasabi - My Lesson in Gluttony.
A few months back while in Tropical North Queensland, we visited Mt. Uncle Distillery in Walkamin to sample their liqueurs. First sample was their "elixir de musa' a banana liqueur (about 48% proof). First cautious sip was mmmm - very nice... second larger sip was phwooooah!.. firewater.
Himself was sitting back, thoroughly enjoying his and eyeing up their 'Calli' a lime cello liqueur while I discretely played with my glass determined not to drink another drop. Spying some sample bowls of macadamia nuts, I reached for one, hoping for a change of taste to my palate. Much to my delight I discovered delicious honey coated macadamias. So I reached for another.
A few minutes later, as the assistants back was turned, I greedily reached into the bowl, grabbing a small handful and quickly shoved them in my mouth. Shock, horror - the top of my head nearly blew off!.. talk about hellfire!
Trying not to spit out, not wanting to chew any more let alone swallow, glancing frantically down at the bowl, I noticed the discrete labels.. one was "Honeyed Macadamia Nuts", the other was "Wasabi Macadamia Nuts". To make it worse, instinct had me reaching for my glass and I skulled before I even thought about it. Fire hot liqueur and hellfire hot wasabi nuts... well.. need I say more. Even the large full of water on the end of the counter wasn't enough to quell the flames.
Of course, to have Himself laughing at me, saying "Serves you right..." didn't help the 'being inflamed' situation.
|
Anna
Member
|
Posted: 9 Oct 2006 01:22 am |
|
Sorry - I have been laughing my socks off!!!! (Still am in fact . . .)
|
Current time is 02:46 pm |
|
|
