The Morning Erection

The Japanese word, Getemono, literally translates to" bizarre or unusual" in English. Recently, on the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods", an American host recently ate at a restaurant called Asadachi. "Asa" means "morning" and "tachimasu" means to stand, therefore what could possibly be standing on a man in the morning after a good night's sleep?

In the Shinjuku District of Tokyo, there is a place called "Omoide Yokochou" translated to "Memory Alley" in English. This place has several "Getemono establishments" anchored by the jewel, "Asadachi". Also, there is the place called, "Tsurukame" known for down home Japanese cooking which is on the complete other side of the spectrum. My mother-in-law would frequent "Tsurukame" years ago when she lived in that area. To get to "Memory Alley", exit the mother of all stations in Tokyo, Shinjuku Station from it's West Exit "nishiguchi". Then go right and walk no more than five minutes. "Omoide Yokochou" will be on the right about one block over.

At "Asadachi" regulars have their favorites, however, the American host referred to the chef who served him pig testicles, in a bowl of raw egg, and what appeared to be a generous splash of soy sauce, and sliced green onions. Later, the chef skins a frog, cracks open his chest and removes his beating heart which was served to the American host. With the heart still moving as if was ready for a heart transplant, the American host tossed the organ into his mouth and commented that it had a neutral flavor. Then he moved on to the establishment's most requested dish, frog sashimi. This dish is recommended for those wanting to improve their stamina (sexually as well as physically) as well as good for one's skin. Sashimi, is chilled, sliced, raw fish or seafood item, or in this case, reptile is dipped in soy sauce. The leftovers of the frog that can not be served as sashimi, are consumed as a soup. For an after meal refreshment, the American host is given a tall glass of lizard sake. This is a glass of premium sake that has the garnish of a lizard in the glass. The American host commented how this is more authentic that the cheesy pink umbrella in most Western cocktails.

After eating at "Asadachi" the host had his next meal at the 51-year old king of "Getemono establishments" in Tokyo called "Yakihama" meaning "broiled clam". The signature dish of "Yakihama" is "fugu" which is the poisonous blowfish. The simile for blowfish is globefish. Inside "Yakihama" one sees an aquarium full of creatures. Once seated, one places their order and observes the chef retrieve their request from the aquarium. Then the dish is cooked at the table in front of you. The American host had a snail which is grilled at his table. Moments earlier, this snail was attached to the side of the aquarium's window. Other dishes that this place is known for is the deer penis and snake sake. Of course, most come to this place for fugu, the poisonous globefish. The American host broke down the dish as the owner brings it to him. He had the fillet portion of the globefish, the egg sack, the liver, and the fish's skin presented in a fancy bento box. To wash it down, he had sake with grilled fins from the globefish. The delicacy is then dipped in a red maple radish mixed with ponzu sauce. In the flesh of the fugu, there are natural toxins that numb out the mouth like Novocain when eaten. Bear in mind that the poisonous sack is removed and this dish will still numb out your mouth.

Later, the host visits Hibari revolving sushi bar in Tokyo, a sushi bar for the serious, with no frills, kind of like this blog. Here, the American host ate octopus sushi and other fresh out of the sea dishes of of color-coded dishes determining the price. Japanese, eats octopus raw whereas American sushi enthusiast cook this dish at sushi bars.

Did you know?

Lastly, did you know that 1/3 f all seafood in the world is consumed by the Japanese? Did you know that the Japanese drink soup whereas us Americans eat soup? Did you know that nearly 100 people die of fugu poisoning each year despite all chefs that prepare this delicacy being required to have special training and certification when handling this dish. Did you know that the Japanese word kaiten in English means "revolving" and a kaiten zushi bar will allow the customer to sit in one place and have the dishes brought to him on a conveyor?

Today's entry was sourced from the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Food" show hosted by Andrew Zimmer airing on March 16, 2009. Today's footage of a squid changing colors on the dinner table was filmed at a restaurant in Kyushu, Japan in January 2006.

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