Basashi, Raw Horse Meat, & Family Reunions - New Year's Japan Travel Day 8

Monday, September 24, 2018

Basashi, Raw Horse Meat, & Family Reunions - New Year's Japan Travel Day 8

My husband and I traveled Japan during New Year's holidays. As I mentioned in my previous entry, we purchased some tofu which was made by Otokomae Tofuten (男前豆腐店) at a supermarket nearby his parents' home. We had Otokomae tofu, and my mother-in-law served basashi (馬刺し), raw horse meat, for us.

I think eating raw horse meat is not acceptable for some other countries, but I do like basashi.:) My hometown is Kyushu, where is very famous for basashi in Japan. When my husband and I visit his parents' home, my mother-in-law always serves fresh basashi for us. I didn't use to eat basashi before because it's pretty expensive, but I really love basashi because it's so delicious! You can put soy sauce and grated ginger (or grated garlic) on it. I think you will be surprised at how delicious it is.You can check out my previous entry, Raw Horse Meat, Basashi, in Japan, which I wrote about that she took me to the famous horse butcher shop in my hometown for my first time.

Basashi (馬刺し), Raw Horse Meat

It was so delicious! :) It was a special treat for us.

　

Basashi (馬刺し), Raw Horse Meat

Then, we went to my parents' home and brought sashimi, fresh raw fish, which we purchased at a supermarket, and my brother told me, "We have a special dish for you guys." I was surprised that he also served basashi for us! (Compared to my husband's family, my family usually don't eat basashi because it's pretty expensive and our family prefer sashimi rather than basashi for a special occasion.)

Hachimori (鉢盛)

My mother also served hachimori for us. My family have hachimori (鉢盛) for a special occasion. Hachi (鉢) means a large bowl. Mori (盛) means to serve in dish. In Fukuoka, a large bowl or plate with many kinds of dishes is called hachimori.

Soba Noodles

Then, my brother also served this soba noodles for us. He told me that he failed to make nitamago (煮たまご), but it was incredibly delicious. It was the best soba noodles I've ever had seriously! It was more delicious than one I had at a restaurant. I asked him how he cooked it so delicious, and he told me, "Nothing special. I just used shirodashi (白だし). That's all." I've never used shirodashi, shiradashi, before. I should have asked him the name of shirodashi he used for it. By the way, he loves traveling to enjoy the best foods all over Japan and cooks at home sometimes.

My sister gave me these beauty products, a reusable bag and snacks. She didn't know that the cleanser, Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap, was imported from the U.S., where I live in right now. (However, before I moved to the U.S. from Japan, I also didn't know this one is a US product, and I only knew it's a foreign brand.)