The next day she took me and my buddy out to LAOS (which sounds like like the Lao People's Democratic Republic) but is spoken as La-us. It is an ainu(native japanese) word/name for the area. It is located in the North Eastern Parts of Hokaido-which took about 3 hours from where we were. It is famous for Konbu(kelp) which is used for broths here in Japan.
If you want to learn about konbu continue(but pass to next paragraph if not interested):
Japanese people use kelp to make broths. This is applicable all over Japan. Even my family (back in Canada) has been using konbu since i was a little child. Konbu is a dense dried kelp. Kelp that is raised and supported by minerals and microbes drawn in from the mountains. Anyways, this kelp is absolutely amazing and the farmers/harvesters devote their lives to dry and pick out the best kelp. I got a chance to see the harvesters:
and ate Uni on a bed of rice for $15 (Ba-hun-Uni: Hokaido sea urchin: which is the most delicious/expensive) which would usually cost over 3000yen(over $31.50 converted)a bowl.
We drove back the same day(again a 3 hour drive).The Okasan bought Budou-Ebi (Purple Shrimp) behind my back to give me a taste. Apparently it cost 50bucks for 4 shrimps. They are rare because only one harvester/master is permitted to capture them throughout the year. The eggs were delicious too.
I ate two as sashimi and the head in a miso soup. Absolutely-ridiculously Amazing. Shrimp stock is amazing- youd know if youve had Sauce Americaine or Shrimp/lobster/crab bisque
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The next day I woke up and there were 3 crabs I had never seen in my life on the dinner table. And let me tell you Ive seen and eaten many types of crabs. It is called Hanasaki-Gani(Blooming-flower Crab) which i researched is part of the Hermit Crab family. They taste slightly like King Crabs but significantly more rich.
They had tons of meat and was full of flavor. It is red because it is partially boiled in salt water. Breaking it apart to eat was tough because its spikes were all over. Apparently $25 a crab.
Had some drinks and learned a lot hanging out with my buddy's father and brother and had a great time that night. Hopefully they arent pissed off that i posted this pic. Its 2:30am. Father's partially blacked out I think. ( Left to Right: friend's father's brother - friend's father - me- mother)
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I woke up the next morning with guests who was apparently okasan's brother. He brought a box full of fish he caught that morning. Among them was some deep sea fish i had never seen before
and a massive Atka mackerel(called Hok-ke). 
The next day my friend's father took me loach catching (not fishing). I had never experienced this before. Apparently it is rare for even modern Japanese people. He had a special net. We'd set it up in places where they might hide; the other people run around cornering the fish. It took a while to capture a lot but a hour and a half or so in I pulled in a huge load. probably about 30 or so. This is the place:
We took them home and the okasan and I gutted and decapitated them and made them into karage(deep fried with rice starch powder) Delicious.
That night we had a bbq feast.
I had Octopus Beak marinated in sweet vinegar for the first time. Delicious. Perfect Beer snack. They were about the size of a Ping pong ball.
On the last day in Hokaido I traveled to Sapporo, Hokaido. I stayed at my friend's brother's place for a night. During the day we went out for a drink at what is called a beer garden (beer festival). And ordered a beer tower which is pretty much a giant tube with a tap. I love that place. Hundreds of people gathered to drink.
This was my last day in Hokaido. I had a long train ride ahead of me. About 7 hours back to Tokyo.
Hokaido (the end)
What an awesome trip Kento!!
ReplyDeleteMore blogging!!
Hope to talk with you soon!