I'd like to take a moment to share with you Japan's single greatest contribution to the world: takoyaki
These delectable little treats are made with tako, or octopus. Yaki usually means fire or grill so I'm confused about its use here. Either way, these are fried octopus balls (and by balls, I refer only to their orb-like construction. No Rocky Mountain Oyster jokes here, please.) This particular batch was a homemade mix of octopus and shrimp topped with two different sauces. The topping pictured is a mayonnaise-based mixture of Japanese flavor. Upon arrival, it will take about 4.5 minutes to realize that the Japanese are obsessed with mayonnaise and use it like both ketchup and ranch dressing in the US. The other is made with the unique yuzu fruit that smells like an orange, but is as sour as a lemon. This little gem requires a more time in the countryside to learn to love. They are used in everything from sauces and garnish to winter solstice bath fragrances. It's contribution to my takoyaki, was simply the most recent of my many yuzu-enhanced experiences. If you are ever lucky enough to have a chance to try any of these uniquely Japanese tastes, please feel free to dive in head first.
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