Yakiniku (焼き肉) – pronounced YUCKY-nick-koo, is the art of barbequeing at its most refined.
At these B-B-Qs, greasy mitts and saucy mishaps are simply a thing of the past.
A shiny exhaust-fan painted sports car red, hung directly over our barbeque.
A chin-to-knee apron was worn over our clothes.
We left with bulging bellies and pants-loosened, but as pristine and as sweet smelling as when we first arrived.
And don’t worry – it was only occasionally yucky.
This Korean-influenced style of cooking has become an absolute institution here in Japan.
A powerhouse of Japanese cuisine, The All Japan Yakiniku Association celebrates national Yakiniku Day later this month.
Earlier this year Japanese satirists took Yakiniku-Lovin’ to the next level, creating Air Yakiniku, a virtual yakiniku restaurant catering to those who want to eat yakiniku – but can’t afford to. A witty offering in these lean economic times.
“Air Yakiniku proposes a more reasonable life for those living without yakiniku.”
When you arrive at the website you are given a paper apron which you can print-out and place over your computer. This is to prevent the brown yakiniku dipping sauce from splattering all over your pristine white MAC.
Dulcet tones of sexy sizzling and gentle crackling echo through your laptop speaker, as chicken, beef or pork “cooks” on your wide-screen BBQ grill.
When it’s time to eat a bell softly chimes.
Juicy and slightly charred – the meat is cooked!
***
Thankfully at lunch today H, N, Ma, Little E and I shared something a little more satisfying than virtual-yakiniku.
At an outrageously popular yakiniku restaurant deep in the Japanese ‘burbs we feasted on marbled beef, smokey bacon and marinated chicken. For the brave (that’s H) or the naive (that’s me) there was also cow’s large intestine and ox tongue.
Cooked to perfection and dipped in your own personally blended sauce, resolutions of sensible eating quickly become a pipe dream when the silky pieces of meat glide into your mouth.
If Air Yakiniku has whet your appetite for the REAL thing, then you will find some of the best yakiniku Melbourne has to offer here:
32 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 – (03) 9650 7020
Here:
165 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 – (03) 9663 8118
And here:
25 Market Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000 – (03) 9650 0848
Til next time – Sayonara!
Too Yum
I forgot to add, here are the details for the yakiniku restaurant we went to in the Tokai region:
炭火焼肉屋(すみびやきにくや)さかい杁中店(えぶりなかみせ)
愛知県名古屋市昭和区隼人町(あいちけんなごやししょうわくはやとちょう)５−５
To get directions from your sat nav:
052-861-8229
Excellent prices, our 4 person set was a grand total of 7,000Yen – about $90 for all four of us, including rice, soup and dessert.
Hi Too Yum!
Thanks for the beautiful comment on my blog. It’s funny, last night I was reading your blog and thoughts of you probably remained in my subconscious because I ended up dreaming about you coming over to my house to cook something and then JJ came too. I rarely dream about you guys so it was lovely! I even asked you something I had thought about when I was awake – whether or not you took the photos in this post because they’re gorgeous.
Anyway I am loving reading this blog, especially the fact that the style makes it very evident that it is yours.
Hi LJ!!
That is so funny cos I wrote that comment on your blog really late at night! Perhaps you were dreaming as I was writing?
Stranger things have happened!
Thank you so much for regularly checking my blog, it means so much to have your support.
Particularly for this post, considering you’re a bloomin’ VEGETARIAN!
Thank you, yes I did take the photos for this post, I’m a complete novice with this camera, but I’m particularly proud of the first shot. It was a total fluke! The sunlight was coming through at the exact perfect angle as the smoke began to stream out.
Mind you I took over 30 shots that day and only a handful were deemed worthy. I got PLENTY of work to do in the photography department, but it’s so much fun!
x
What camera do you have?
Maybe when we go to Japan, Z can teach us both some photography stuff. Shocking that I have been with him for over 2 years and still haven’t learnt any photography stuff or how to drive manual! Your photos are much better than what I would produce!
(Yes, I am determined to go to Japan!)
much love xo
OhMGee, I would love Z to show us some photography tricks, I bet he has quite a few up his sleeve!
I shoot on a Sony Alpha 100 digital SLR.
It has all sorts of cool fangle-ness, none of which I understand. I just put it on “AUTO” no-flash and try to shoot in natural light.
(And I am determined to have you here!)
x