Japanese BBQ

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Anyone who has ever seen or read about the ninja adventures of Naruto Uzumaki has certainly seen an episode featuring Choji eating copious amounts of meat at the yaki niku restaurant. For the rest of us, 焼肉 (Yaki Niku) literally translates into “grilled meat” and it acts like an open fire version of fondue in the States. It’s rather expensive, and time consuming, so the restaurants are usually large with several compartments that can be open or shut off with sliding wood doors. The smells of seasoned charcoals and grilling meats greets you as you enter the door,

The restaurant we visited was set with large, traditionally styled rooms. You removed your shoes at the door, and then walked around barefoot on the cold wooden floors. Once we were called to eat, we were shown to a room lined with tatami mats (which are marginally warmer than the cold wood) and a few cushions for sitting. Usually women are expected to sit on their knees, where as men are allowed to sit on their knees or cross-legged. On my last visit to Japan, I suffered through the painful style of sitting on my knees so that my teacher wouldn't be embarrassed and my host family wouldn't be insulted. I’m a bit overweight, and I’ve had a knee injury since I was 11 from playing soccer. So sitting on my knees is incredibly uncomfortable for my entire lower body. But this trip I decided I couldn’t care less if it was considered “odd” that I was sitting cross-legged – I wanted to be comfortable and enjoy my meal.

It was obvious that this restaurant was for special occasions, and there was a family next door laughing and enjoying their meal. We were served some of the best meat around. Iga-gyu (literally iga-cow) is about as famous as its competitor, Kobe-gyu or "Kobe beef".

My friend and I sat around a fire with long metal chopsticks that you cooked and ate with. I had to be careful since the chopsticks got hot. You could also use tongs to cook the meat, but as my friend and I put it – this is the type of meat you could eat raw and not have to worry about. You know it’s been well cared for from birth, to death, carving, storing, and finally, catering. We also grilled delectable, Japanese sweet potato, onions, and cabbage. I had to be especially careful once the meal began since I had ordered a small hot sake, which ended up being very, very strong.

I'm not a big drinker, having never desired to harm my precious and irreplaceable brain cells on a high calorie drink that also comes with a walloping headache the next morning, but I was a veteran sake drinker. Or at least, I thought I was. On nearly every visit to my favorite Japanese restaraunt in Wilmington N.C., Genki Sushi, I ordered a small hot sake with the meal. I ordered two small sake's if I wasn't driving and I wanted to be extra relaxed. So needless to say, I didn't expect to really feel the sake. Sake is served in a small container with a small ceramic "shot glass" that you repeatedly fill. Hot sake is best drunk relatively fast, or else the rice wine in the container begins to get cold. After completing about half the small container (no more than 6 fluid ounces) I realized that I wasn't feeling the drink at all. I thought this was odd, since the sake had a spectacular flavor and I could tell it was stronger than what I usually drank. I finished the bottle and considered ordering a second, but then decided I should just wait and see - boy was that a good choice. Like sangria, which is deceptively refreshing and easy to consume, the sake hit me a few minutes later. Let's just say my friend had a fun time laughing at my random chatter for the next hour.

My friend and I have known each other for several years, 9 actually, and we were reminiscing about the days we spent chilling out in the heart of nowhere - Tuckaseegee, N.C. Back then we were two youngsters with dreams, but not much else. And it’s awesome to think that the two of us were destined for wild adventures abroad and learning a language neither of us had ever really thought about.

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Photos

Mmmm
Although this wasn't taken at the Yaki Niku restaraunt, it gives you a pretty good idea of Japanese eating style. Both hands are to remain on the table at all times.

Meal Offering
Also not taken at the Yaki Niku restaurant. However, it's a great example of the types of drinks usually served with meals. This is either water or sake, and tea. It was left as an offering to Buddha before the temple keepers began their meal.