Tunicate on a plate

The Escaped Ape · 10/01/2010, 08:08 AM

No really. One of the benefits of living in Tokyo.

Tonight my wife and I went to an izakaya (Japanese bar/restaurant) near our house. It turned out to be a real find. Real old school ambience, delicious food and excellent service. We ate the usual range of tasty Japanese food - aji tataki (horse mackerel sashimi with scallion and grated ginger), yakitori (charcoal grilled chicken skewers, nira gyoza (garlic shoot dumplings) etc. But then I saw something I had to have. Something I've never eaten before, but wanted to try once. Yes, hoya. Hoya is Halocynthia roretzi, an edible sea squirt. It looks like something out of a sci-fi/horror movie.

The internal organs are served raw inside the shell, as sashimi, in vinegar, with a touch of sugar and soy sauce. You then dip the pieces in soy sauce and wasabi. Surprisingly fresh and tasty, with a vague iodine taste.

They're farmed here as they're so popular. Picture from the web:

The Escaped Ape · 10/01/2010, 08:10 AM

I should add that most Japanese people don't eat them - they're popular only in some places. It was the first time my wife (Japanese) had eaten one as well. She wasn't impressed!

aleonn · 10/01/2010, 11:44 PM

Eww, looks nasty! Did it taste fishy?

GhostCon1 · 10/01/2010, 11:46 PM

You win a pair... lol.

I would never try something like that, despite wanting to.

The Escaped Ape · 10/02/2010, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

Eww, looks nasty! Did it taste fishy?

The taste was closest maybe to squid sashimi, but maybe with a bit of something "odd" thrown in (maybe a little like raw oyster?). Not really like anything I've had before. But I was expecting it to taste really strong and for it to be hard to eat, but it was surprisingly fresh and clean tasting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostCon1

You win a pair... lol.

I would never try something like that, despite wanting to.

Believe me, this is the second time I've lived here (I was here for four years last time) and this is the first time it's seemed like a good idea to me.

I'm glad I tried it once, but I won't rush back to try it again.

petemattersen · 10/02/2010, 07:52 AM

ahhh I think I'll have a burger!

brycerb · 10/02/2010, 07:57 AM

Holy crap, better you than me.

The Escaped Ape · 10/02/2010, 08:37 AM

We had a burger tonight, I think the sea squirt might be a once in two years experience.

thebanker · 10/02/2010, 11:47 AM

Wow that's one weird looking meal. I'll stick to my tuna sushi.

wloftin · 10/20/2010, 03:54 PM

just saw this picture searching tunicates... I love sashimi, but the look of this thing is a definite turnoff for me... pretty scary looking! haha. can't believe some of the weird looking stuff people eat, no matter the taste..

thebanker · 10/20/2010, 04:32 PM

It looks like something from "Big Trouble in Little China"

10/01/2010, 08:08 AM	#1
The Escaped Ape In The Canopy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Taiwan Posts: 1,098	Tunicate on a plate No really. One of the benefits of living in Tokyo. Tonight my wife and I went to an izakaya (Japanese bar/restaurant) near our house. It turned out to be a real find. Real old school ambience, delicious food and excellent service. We ate the usual range of tasty Japanese food - aji tataki (horse mackerel sashimi with scallion and grated ginger), yakitori (charcoal grilled chicken skewers, nira gyoza (garlic shoot dumplings) etc. But then I saw something I had to have. Something I've never eaten before, but wanted to try once. Yes, hoya. Hoya is Halocynthia roretzi, an edible sea squirt. It looks like something out of a sci-fi/horror movie. The internal organs are served raw inside the shell, as sashimi, in vinegar, with a touch of sugar and soy sauce. You then dip the pieces in soy sauce and wasabi. Surprisingly fresh and tasty, with a vague iodine taste. They're farmed here as they're so popular. Picture from the web: __________________ Tom Victoria Concordia Crescit Current Tank Info: Currently tankless

10/01/2010, 08:10 AM	#2
The Escaped Ape In The Canopy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Taiwan Posts: 1,098	I should add that most Japanese people don't eat them - they're popular only in some places. It was the first time my wife (Japanese) had eaten one as well. She wasn't impressed! __________________ Tom Victoria Concordia Crescit Current Tank Info: Currently tankless

10/01/2010, 11:46 PM	#4
GhostCon1 Rebmem Deretsiger Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,590	You win a pair... lol. I would never try something like that, despite wanting to. __________________ In the works Current Tank Info: Getting a big'un

10/02/2010, 07:52 AM	#6
petemattersen Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Waterman Posts: 154	ahhh I think I'll have a burger! __________________ Hot rodder/Fish nerd Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 gal mangrove swamp

10/02/2010, 07:57 AM	#7
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	Holy crap, better you than me. __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

10/01/2010, 11:44 PM	#3
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Eww, looks nasty! Did it taste fishy?

10/02/2010, 08:37 AM	#8
The Escaped Ape In The Canopy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Taiwan Posts: 1,098	We had a burger tonight, I think the sea squirt might be a once in two years experience. __________________ Tom Victoria Concordia Crescit Current Tank Info: Currently tankless

10/02/2010, 11:47 AM	#9
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Wow that's one weird looking meal. I'll stick to my tuna sushi.

10/20/2010, 03:54 PM	#10
wloftin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 55	just saw this picture searching tunicates... I love sashimi, but the look of this thing is a definite turnoff for me... pretty scary looking! haha. can't believe some of the weird looking stuff people eat, no matter the taste..

10/20/2010, 04:32 PM	#11
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	It looks like something from "Big Trouble in Little China"

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