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It's Foodie Friday! In today's episode: Takoyaki.
Have you ever been to Japan? If so, there’s a large possibility that you’ve eaten (or at least seen) takoyaki. This popular, golf ball-sized street food can be found all over Japan. Tako means octopus. Yaki means grilled. Inside a simple savory pancake-style batter, chefs traditionally put a piece of octopus along with corn kernels, shredded cabbage, and pickled ginger. Just like another popular Japanese food, okonomiyaki, you can often find takoyaki dressed with mayonnaise, a brown Worcestershire-like sauce, tiny pieces of seaweed, and bonito flakes. The bonito flakes are so thin that the steam from the takoyaki makes it look like the fish flakes are waving back at you.
Going to Osaka this summer? If you are near Universal Studios Japan, stop in at the Osaka Takoyaki Museum inside Universal City Walk. The museum part is free. You can buy souvenirs (including the octopus plushie Son is holding in my picture) and takoyaki from vendors inside.
Reading my book TANABATA WISH this weekend for Friday Reads? Look for takoyaki in the Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival) scene along with a few other quintessential Japanese street fair foods. Itadakimasu!