Food, Food, and More Food Thread

Wynter wrote:

Does Octopus have a real taste, or is it the type of seafood that has no real/strong taste and is flavoured according to additions?

i'd say it has a taste but it's not very strong like some other seafood such as sardines or mackarel....so i guess it's more about the preparation...i don't care much for the texture so i don't eat tako (octopus) sushi...because it has a chewy, rubberery texture....i don't mind calamari (squid) that's battered and fried....or takoyaki because it's in a batter that keeps it crispy on the outside while soft on the inside....the octupus in takoyaki is boiled before it's cooked in batter.

Tu_triky wrote:yakisoba
[image]

did anybody trip on the yakisoba triplets? :beaten:

Tu_triky wrote:

i'd say it has a taste but it's not very strong like some other seafood such as sardines or mackarel....so i guess it's more about the preparation...i don't care much for the texture so i don't eat tako (octopus) sushi...because it has a chewy, rubberery texture....i don't mind calamari (squid) that's battered and fried....or takoyaki because it's in a batter that keeps it crispy on the outside while soft on the inside....the octupus in takoyaki is boiled before it's cooked in batter.

Ah okies. Then I prolly wouldn't hesitate to try. I don't like chewy, rubberery textures either, which is why I hesitate to eat any type of shell fish, but takoyaki doesn't sound so bad. Plus it's breaded. I always prefer breaded seafood. Like breaded shrimp. :drooling:

Tu_triky wrote:

did anybody trip on the yakisoba triplets? :beaten:

Omg, those socks are crazy! When of the funnier scenes in Swing Girls was when they were cleaning themselves up in the river and ringing out their sixty-foot long socks. :mwahaha:

Wynter wrote:

Ah okies. Then I prolly wouldn't hesitate to try. I don't like chewy, rubberery textures either, which is why I hesitate to eat any type of shell fish, but takoyaki doesn't sound so bad. Plus it's breaded. I always prefer breaded seafood. Like breaded shrimp. :drooling:

generally i would say the texture is more rubberery than shellfish...i don't really think that lobster and crab is like that...unless it's been overcooked :sweat: yeah but breaded seafood...that's like a favorite, right?

i've had lobster tempura before...

Wynter wrote:

I usually start off with sauteed onions, garlic, and ginger. It's really important to add sugar AFTER you have added the okra, otherwise you release too much of the "sliminess", which results in a slimy dish. To avoid the slime, add the salt a good few minutes after the okra has been added to the pan.

I add a lot more spices, as well... like pepper, red pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, and yummy chili pepper. Sometimes I'll add a lemon combo, or a masla combo, but that depends on taste.

At the very end, a few minutes before I'm ready to take the dish off the heat, I add in slices of fresh tomato.

The dish is quick and easy and totally yum-num. The hardest part is washing the okra and squeezing each piece between paper towel. This takes away the moistures and lowers the slime as well.

My okra pieces are smaller, for bit-size purposes, and I usually eat with naan.

Thanks for the okra cooking suggestions Wynter. Thanks Tu. I might actually try it again.

bmwracer wrote:Oh man, the homemade chicken enchiladas were terrific, topped with homemade guacamole and pico de gallo.... Delish.

Ooooh Man that sounds sooo good!!! :good: Now I am really getting hungry! :grumble:

Say does anyone one know if Benihana is a real Japanese style restaurant? I went there many, many, many years ago. My friends want to go there this week before our Costco run. I know they cook the food on a grill in front of you with the chef flipping the food for show, and that is all I remember. Anyone been to one of these restaurants recently?

Enna wrote:

Ooooh Man that sounds sooo good!!! :good: Now I am really getting hungry! :grumble:

Say does anyone one know if Benihana is a real Japanese style restaurant? I went there many, many, many years ago. My friends want to go there this week before our Costco run. I know they cook the food on a grill in front of you with the chef flipping the food for show, and that is all I remember. Anyone been to one of these restaurants recently?

the restaurant does have it's roots in Japan

i haven't been to benihana in years but it it's real in the sense that it is an authentic style of japanese cooking....teppanyaki....teppan meaning steel yaki meaning to cook....yeah they cook the food in front of you.

it can be fun with your friends...it's a bit pricey though....they also serve other japanese foods such as sushi and teriyaki items

Tu_triky wrote:

generally i would say the texture is more rubberery than shellfish...i don't really think that lobster and crab is like that...unless it's been overcooked :sweat: yeah but breaded seafood...that's like a favorite, right?

i've had lobster tempura before...

Breaded seafood is definitely a fav with me. But then, I love all things breaded (YAY CARBS!).

I have never tried lobster before. I'm avoiding Red Lobster after all the horror stories I've heard, but I'm also in no rush to try it.

@Enna: No probs, girly! Let me know if you want a step-by-step recipe for the Okra dish. I'll write one up. :)

Tu_triky wrote:

the restaurant does have it's roots in Japan

i haven't been to benihana in years but it it's real in the sense that it is an authentic style of japanese cooking....teppanyaki....teppan meaning steel yaki meaning to cook....yeah they cook the food in front of you.

it can be fun with your friends...it's a bit pricey though....they also serve other japanese foods such as sushi and teriyaki items

Thanks Tu for the info. It would not have been my first choice. We are going for lunch so hopefully it won't be too pricey. IIRC the guy who owned it was nicknamed Rocky. That restaurant has been around a long time. Oooh well friendship is more important than the choice of the restaurant.

Wynter wrote:

Breaded seafood is definitely a fav with me. But then, I love all things breaded (YAY CARBS!).

wow, you've never tried lobster....that's a surprise.

man, if you ever come to visit here i can direct you to this one fast food seafood restaurant near downtown....it's legendary among native Angelinos who are in the know....cheap plentiful and always fresh....ppl line up in droves during lunchtime....the ppl that work there will literally take orders of ppl standing in line without writing anything down....they'll just go down the line and take 7 or 8 ppl's orders and memorize the entire lot without writing anything down. it's friekin' nuts.....this place has been open for over 35 years...

Enna wrote:

Thanks Tu for the info. It would not have been my first choice. We are going for lunch so hopefully it won't be too pricey. IIRC the guy who owned it was nicknamed Rocky. That restaurant has been around a long time. Oooh well friendship is more important than the choice of the restaurant.

yeah i 'member reading about that rocky tidbit many moons ago....i don't think the food is bad mind you....it's just a bit expensive...given the explosion of quality japanese restaurants in the East Village and elsewhere I know YOU might have picked another joint.....like Gyu-kaku or Yakitori Taisho (hint, hint :sweat: )

Tu_triky wrote:

yeah i 'member reading about that rocky tidbit many moons ago....i don't think the food is bad mind you....it's just a bit expensive...given the explosion of quality japanese restaurants in the East Village and elsewhere I know YOU might have picked another joint.....like Gyu-kaku or Yakitori Taisho (hint, hint :sweat: )

Nah my friends picked it because it is close to the Costco we will be shopping at on Long Island. We are not going into NYC for this shopping trip. Don't worry one day I will surprise you and find my way down to the East Village and try at least one of the places that you have recommended. :sweat:

Wynter wrote:@Enna: No probs, girly! Let me know if you want a step-by-step recipe for the Okra dish. I'll write one up.

Thanks Wynter. If you are going to try lobster then Red Lobster is definitely NOT the place to do so! :shakehead: I went there many years ago, again because a friend chose it, and all I gotta say is Never Again!

Enna wrote:

Nah my friends picked it because it is close to the Costco we will be shopping at on Long Island. We are not going into NYC for this shopping trip. Don't worry one day I will surprise you and find my way down to the East Village and try at least one of the places that you have recommended.

ah i see...my misunderstanding i thought you were going for lunch in the City. have fun....benihana & costco...that sounds like a good time. :dancing:

Wynter wrote:Does Octopus have a real taste, or is it the type of seafood that has no real/strong taste and is flavoured according to additions?

Tako has a subtle flavor... Very little brininess or fishiness, unlike mackerel.

It's a bit chevy, but I wouldn't call it rubbery... The thin-sliced tako sashimi with the garlic vinaigrette at Musha is an excellent example of tako done right. :victory:

Went to Hog's Breath Cafe Friday night for my brother's birthday.... they have such huge servings there.... I had the Finger Food Combo (which is a "snack" or entree) and I couldn't finish it.

Anime Dad wrote:Went to Hog's Breath Cafe Friday night for my brother's birthday.... they have such huge servings there.... I had the Finger Food Combo (which is a "snack" or entree) and I couldn't finish it.

Super size me... :victory:

Probably no relation, but Clint Eastwood has a restaurant in Carmel, California called The Hog's Breath Inn... :)

It's an Australian chain of stores.

Look at http://www.hogsbreath.com.au/index.php?itemid=11 the finger food combo is the pic at the top.

Anime Dad wrote:It's an Australian chain of stores.

Look at http://www.hogsbreath.com.au/index.php?itemid=11 the finger food combo is the pic at the top.

Nice....

Startin' to get hungry again... :sweat:

I had Japanese food today at Honda-ya for dinner..

Chicken ponzo w/dipping sauce
Salted Shio Salmon
:applaud:

qilver wrote:I had Japanese food today at Honda-ya for dinner..

Chicken ponzo w/dipping sauce
Salted Shio Salmon
:applaud:

mmmm..sounds grub.