Eel Jelly
Sunday, 15. July 2007, 19:40:54
Do you know eel jelly? Famous British delicacy.
It is basically boiled eel bits, but the collagen of the fish makes this clear jello.
It used to be a kind of food you could find in fish & chips shop, but now you have to go to fishmonger to find it. This one I bought from a local fishmonger.
First I tried to eat it with lemon, but mud taste of eel was too strong. So I added some soy sauce, and it improved much, and with some wasabi, it became even better.
I think, however, the eels are best eaten in Japanese ways.
By sugarwinx, # 16. July 2007, 09:53:53
By tabatakayoko, # 16. July 2007, 17:22:36
I'm not good at names. I just point to what I want in the menu. And if I am dining at an authentic Japanese restaurant (I usually go to Ozeki Tokyo Cuisine cos I know the Boss), normally, the waitresses recommends and also the Boss would always make me something special. Things I dunno the names off.
By sugarwinx, # 16. July 2007, 20:09:43
By allhewrote, # 18. July 2007, 15:18:30
Hey, aren't you Chinese!? Chinese people are supposed to eat anything!
By tabatakayoko, # 18. July 2007, 15:28:33
The closest thing other than fish I've had is squid...li'l did I know it's an aphrodisiac! a mistake I don't want to repeat! So usually need to know wht kinda sea food I'm eating! How does EEL taste like? I found squid as 'slightly crunchy lemon chicken'...tht's the only way I can describe it...ate it at a Mr.Greek's restaurant.
By ss_ali, # 19. July 2007, 01:59:35
Chinese ppl don't really eat everything, Yoko. I'm Chinese and I'm one heck of a picky meat eater. I told u already that I ain't vegetarian but I don't eat pork, beef, venison, lamb and other land animals except some chicken and even that, I don't eat them often.
Some Asian ppl have tasted croc meats and dog meats even. As for me, dog meat would be a big no-no. I have and love my dog, u see...
Basically, yes, Asian ppl, especially the Chinese, are very adventurous in food, but then again, it's a personal thing too. So, having said that, I happily declare that not all Chinese are adventurous eaters.
By sugarwinx, # 19. July 2007, 14:22:56
It is a pity that you have never tried eel. It is quite good and even foreigners like Japanese style eel dishes. Eaten in Japanese way, it does not even look fish! It is difficult to explain how it tastes like: it is quite fatty, hint of mud smell (as all the sweet water fish
It is thought to be aphrodisiac, partly because of the shape
If you don't even fancy squid, you'd fair better avoiding it. But it is still a pity...
Oh, Sugar,
You did not get it. I was just joking.
By tabatakayoko, # 19. July 2007, 15:43:25
well, eel yes. the japanese unagi style but when you mentioned "mud taste of eel was too strong", it's really too much for me to handle
maybe cause i'm not china chinese thats why i don't eat everything i see
By allhewrote, # 20. July 2007, 05:42:26
Ooooh, unagi is too good! Cooked in Japanese way, it does not smell bad, does it?
Actually, in Birmingham central market, there is a stall that sells live eels and Chinese lookin' people buy them. I have wandered how they eat them.
Another type of fish smells a bit mud is carp; have you ever tried? Friend of my told me also telapia smells pretty muddy, but I have never tried.
By tabatakayoko, # 20. July 2007, 06:05:47
i don't think i've tried them before. haha i guess this is a sign that i need to get out more.
By allhewrote, # 20. July 2007, 07:16:32
Dog meat, winx?!!! I hate dogs, but I could never c myself doing tht to a dog!
By ss_ali, # 20. July 2007, 07:17:54
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eel
By allhewrote, # 20. July 2007, 07:28:46
By tabatakayoko, # 20. July 2007, 15:33:38
By allhewrote, # 20. July 2007, 17:13:13
Hahaha! That was just a joke?? Oh man, NOW I'm embarrassed!
Anyway, it's true that though most Chinese ppl will be adventurous eaters, there are still "cowards" like me, who prefers to stick with the safe stuff...
By sugarwinx, # 21. July 2007, 16:44:13
By tabatakayoko, # 22. July 2007, 06:05:29
By anonymous user, # 28. May 2008, 23:30:55
I am glad to hear that you like eel! I wonder where are you from. Here in UK, people don't seem to appreciate it so much. They still sell this eel jelly, but it is a sort of rare food eaten by only a fraction of population. They should learn the way how the Japanese and Chinese eat eels, I think.
By tabatakayoko, # 29. May 2008, 16:42:42