Comments on: Interesting Sushi Items http://sushifaq.com/sushiotaku/2006/06/05/interesting-sushi-items/ The musings of a sushi fanatic. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:27:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: war3rd http://sushifaq.com/sushiotaku/2006/06/05/interesting-sushi-items/#comment-93 war3rd Tue, 06 Jun 2006 10:22:00 +0000 http://sushifaq.com/sushiotaku/?p=36#comment-93 I've actually never had a problem with either, although octopus (tako) is definitely much more tough that squid (ika). Ika certainly should be tender enough to chew without a problem (at least when raw, if cooked improperly it can be tough as well) so I would ask the itamae about how it is prepared if it is particularly tough (perhaps he can score a piece much more finely to tenderize it a bit?). Tako is another issue. Many folks don't eat it because it is so much tougher than anything else, and again, improper cooking can make it like a tire (and tako is mostly served cooked). I'm sorry I couldn't suggest anything else, but you might want to try around and see if different places have different quality offering (better prepared ika and tako) and only order it there. There is a lot of variety in item quality in different <a HREF="http://www.sushifaq.com" rel="nofollow">sushi</A>-ya that I have found, so I would suggest doing the rounds locally and seeing if you can find one that suits you. Cheers, Warren The <a HREF="http://www.sushifaq.com" rel="nofollow">sushi</A> guy. I’ve actually never had a problem with either, although octopus (tako) is definitely much more tough that squid (ika). Ika certainly should be tender enough to chew without a problem (at least when raw, if cooked improperly it can be tough as well) so I would ask the itamae about how it is prepared if it is particularly tough (perhaps he can score a piece much more finely to tenderize it a bit?).
Tako is another issue. Many folks don’t eat it because it is so much tougher than anything else, and again, improper cooking can make it like a tire (and tako is mostly served cooked).
I’m sorry I couldn’t suggest anything else, but you might want to try around and see if different places have different quality offering (better prepared ika and tako) and only order it there. There is a lot of variety in item quality in different sushi-ya that I have found, so I would suggest doing the rounds locally and seeing if you can find one that suits you.

Cheers,
Warren
The sushi guy.

]]> By: sprak http://sushifaq.com/sushiotaku/2006/06/05/interesting-sushi-items/#comment-92 sprak Tue, 06 Jun 2006 10:12:00 +0000 http://sushifaq.com/sushiotaku/?p=36#comment-92 Question about eating ika/squid and tako/octopus. I have no issue with the taste of either, but I have difficulty finding a way to get it chewed down into pieces that can be swallowed. The more I chew, the larger it seems to get. Is there some sort of trick (e.g., use a lot of shoyu) to getting these items down? Great blog so far; keep it up. Question about eating ika/squid and tako/octopus. I have no issue with the taste of either, but I have difficulty finding a way to get it chewed down into pieces that can be swallowed. The more I chew, the larger it seems to get.

Is there some sort of trick (e.g., use a lot of shoyu) to getting these items down?

Great blog so far; keep it up.

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