Eating the Shrimp tails
 

In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
the tails on the shrimp.

Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I really
would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor of the
shrimp.

Questions wrote:
> In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
> the tails on the shrimp.
>
> Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I
> really
> would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor of
> the
> shrimp.


I think shrimp nigiri look better with the tails on but I think
whether or not to eat them is a matter of personal taste. I've tried
the tails and I prefer not to eat them myself even if I really like
shrimp (cooked) nigiri. I've never worried if "experts" feel I am
being gauche (g).


--
James V. Silverton
Potomac, Maryland, USA

Questions wrote:
> In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
> the tails on the shrimp.
>
> Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I really
> would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor of the
> shrimp.

If the tail has been fried I eat it. I love fried shrimp tails and heads.
Otherwise I leave it on a corner of the plate or geta.

--
Dan

In article >, Questions
> wrote:

> Is it customary to eat the tails or not?

If we're talking ama-ebi or cooked shrimp for use in sushi, It it
customary? No.

Of course you can eat anything you like, including the napkin and
chopsticks. But it's not "customary".

--
"A Dictionary of Japanese Food, Ingredients & Culture" by Richard Hosking
(Tuttle, '97). All the hints one might need for exploring Japanese food.

"The Sake Handbook" by John Gaunter (Tuttle, '02). An excellent intro and
reference to sake.

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 09:52:45 -0800, Gerry >
wrote:

>In article >, Questions
> wrote:
>
>> Is it customary to eat the tails or not?
>
>If we're talking ama-ebi or cooked shrimp for use in sushi, It it
>customary? No.
>
>Of course you can eat anything you like, including the napkin and
>chopsticks. But it's not "customary".

Oh no! I thought I was supposed to eat the chopsticks! They're pretty
good if you put enough wasabi on them. :)

"James Silverton" > wrote:
> Questions wrote:
> > In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
> > the tails on the shrimp.
> >
> > Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I
> > really would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor
> > of the shrimp.
>
> I think shrimp nigiri look better with the tails on but I think
> whether or not to eat them is a matter of personal taste. I've tried
> the tails and I prefer not to eat them myself even if I really like
> shrimp (cooked) nigiri. I've never worried if "experts" feel I am
> being gauche (g).

I find the tails really nice for holding the shrimp. If you have
diverticulitis, it's a good idea not to eat the tails.

--
Nick. To help with tsunami relief, go to: http://usafreedomcorps.gov/

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !

"Questions" > wrote in message
...
> In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
> the tails on the shrimp.
>
> Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I really
> would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor of the
> shrimp.
>

Nobody eats the shrimp tails that come on nigiri zushi whether the shrimp
is cooked or raw.
Shrimp tails, like the heads, are most edible when they have been exposed to
high heat. Probably the best shrimp tails to munch on if you like it, are
the tails
of shrimp tempura.

M

"Questions" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 09:52:45 -0800, Gerry >
> wrote:
>
> >In article >, Questions
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Is it customary to eat the tails or not?
> >
> >If we're talking ama-ebi or cooked shrimp for use in sushi, It it
> >customary? No.
> >
> >Of course you can eat anything you like, including the napkin and

> >chopsticks. But it's not "customary".
>
> Oh no! I thought I was supposed to eat the chopsticks! They're pretty
> good if you put enough wasabi on them. :)
>

You may eat the chopsticks, but it is considered very rude to pretend to
play drums.
Even ruder is imitating a walrus.

M

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:51:45 GMT, "Musashi" >
wrote:

>
>"Questions" > wrote in message
.. .
>> In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
>> the tails on the shrimp.
>>
>> Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I really
>> would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor of the
>> shrimp.
>>
>
>Nobody eats the shrimp tails that come on nigiri zushi whether the shrimp
>is cooked or raw.

Oh sure, now you tell me. I already ate some.
(Chewy little devils)

>Shrimp tails, like the heads, are most edible when they have been exposed to
>high heat. Probably the best shrimp tails to munch on if you like it, are
>the tails
>of shrimp tempura.
>
>M
>

Hey, I suck out the heads of crawfish when I eat them, Cajun style.
It's really good. It looks gross as hell however.

Do crawfish ever get used for sushi?

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:53:17 GMT, "Musashi" >
wrote:

>> Oh no! I thought I was supposed to eat the chopsticks! They're pretty
>> good if you put enough wasabi on them. :)
>>
>
>You may eat the chopsticks, but it is considered very rude to pretend to
>play drums.
>Even ruder is imitating a walrus.
>
>M
>
I can't believe someone would do either...No, wait a sec, I've lived
in SanFran, where anything can happen. I saw a guy try to snort an
oyster there. It wasn't pretty. I gave up oysters for awhile...

Questions wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:51:45 GMT, "Musashi" >
> wrote:
>
>
>>"Questions" > wrote in message
. ..
>>
>>>In all of the Sushi recipes I've read, the instructions say to leave
>>>the tails on the shrimp.
>>>
>>>Is it customary to eat the tails or not? I've tried both, and I really
>>>would prefer to not eat them. They distract me from the flavor of the
>>>shrimp.
>>>
>>
>>Nobody eats the shrimp tails that come on nigiri zushi whether the shrimp
>>is cooked or raw.
>
>
> Oh sure, now you tell me. I already ate some.
> (Chewy little devils)
>
>
>>Shrimp tails, like the heads, are most edible when they have been exposed to
>>high heat. Probably the best shrimp tails to munch on if you like it, are
>>the tails
>>of shrimp tempura.
>>
>>M
>>
>
>
> Hey, I suck out the heads of crawfish when I eat them, Cajun style.
> It's really good. It looks gross as hell however.
>
> Do crawfish ever get used for sushi?

Apparently down South y`all. But I have never seen them used as sushi
up here in the Nahth.

--
Dan

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:10:04 -0500, Dan Logcher
> wrote:


>> Do crawfish ever get used for sushi?
>
>Apparently down South y`all. But I have never seen them used as sushi
>up here in the Nahth.

When I relax my enunciation, it's more like y'al, with a very soft
pronunciation of the "L".

Crawdad's are seriously good fare.

I've never done them raw however. If fresh, why not? Maybe freeze them
first like Salmon. Has anyone eaten them raw?

Questions wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:10:04 -0500, Dan Logcher
> > wrote:
>
>
>
>>>Do crawfish ever get used for sushi?
>>
>>Apparently down South y`all. But I have never seen them used as sushi
>>up here in the Nahth.
>
>
> When I relax my enunciation, it's more like y'al, with a very soft
> pronunciation of the "L".
>
> Crawdad's are seriously good fare.

Tell me about it! A few years back a neighbor up the street had a pig roast,
and one of he friends brought 25 pounds of steamers and 25 pounds of cajun
crawdads. Man, I gourged!

> I've never done them raw however. If fresh, why not? Maybe freeze them
> first like Salmon. Has anyone eaten them raw?

Nah, I wouldn't. They are a fresh water bug, and more prone to bad things.

--
Dan

Unless you live around Louisiana, you're probably getting frozen bugs.
More likely than not, they're coming from China. The Chinese farm them
in rice paddies just like shrimp. I can get peeled & parcooked tailmeat
at Wally world for about $8.00 a bag, frozen & cryovaced. I wouldn't
make nigiri out of them at any rate, the tails are rather small.
Probably the best way to handle these things is either in a handroll or
a maki. I chop up a bunch of tails, so they are in good sized chunks.
Then I add some mayo, mirin & hots, pretty much the same as for spicy
tuna. This goes into the maki with a generous helping of green onion
shreds, or shredded pea pods.

Jim

"Questions" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:53:17 GMT, "Musashi" >
> wrote:
>
> >> Oh no! I thought I was supposed to eat the chopsticks! They're pretty
> >> good if you put enough wasabi on them. :)
> >>
> >
> >You may eat the chopsticks, but it is considered very rude to pretend to
> >play drums.
> >Even ruder is imitating a walrus.
> >
> >M
> >
> I can't believe someone would do either...No, wait a sec, I've lived
> in SanFran, where anything can happen. I saw a guy try to snort an
> oyster there. It wasn't pretty. I gave up oysters for awhile...

....eeeeewwwww

"parrotheada1a" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Unless you live around Louisiana, you're probably getting frozen bugs.
> More likely than not, they're coming from China. The Chinese farm them
> in rice paddies just like shrimp. I can get peeled & parcooked tailmeat
> at Wally world for about $8.00 a bag, frozen & cryovaced. I wouldn't
> make nigiri out of them at any rate, the tails are rather small.
> Probably the best way to handle these things is either in a handroll or
> a maki. I chop up a bunch of tails, so they are in good sized chunks.
> Then I add some mayo, mirin & hots, pretty much the same as for spicy
> tuna. This goes into the maki with a generous helping of green onion
> shreds, or shredded pea pods.
>
> Jim
>

In Japan, crayfish have been around for about 100 years or so, having been
accidentally introduced from the US. They are considered as pests by rice
farmers
as they cause damage to the rice in the paddies. Oddly, although Japanese
people will eat
just about anything that lives in water, nobody ever acquired a taste for
the
freshwater crayfish. In fact some of Japanese friends are rather surprised
when I tell
them that those crayfish are prized as food in both US south and in Sweden
as well.
As Dan pointed out, I doubt they'd be safe in raw form, but don't see why
they can't
be used in cooked form, perhaps chopped.
I'm not surprised frozen crayfish tails are imported from China.
Nearly all the frozen Edamame and Unagi sold in Japan is imported from China
too.

M

"shawn" > wrote in message
...
> "Musashi" > wrote:
>
> >
> >"parrotheada1a" > wrote in message
> roups.com...
> >> Unless you live around Louisiana, you're probably getting frozen bugs.
> >> More likely than not, they're coming from China. The Chinese farm them
> >> in rice paddies just like shrimp. I can get peeled & parcooked tailmeat
> >> at Wally world for about $8.00 a bag, frozen & cryovaced. I wouldn't
> >> make nigiri out of them at any rate, the tails are rather small.
> >> Probably the best way to handle these things is either in a handroll or
> >> a maki. I chop up a bunch of tails, so they are in good sized chunks.
> >> Then I add some mayo, mirin & hots, pretty much the same as for spicy
> >> tuna. This goes into the maki with a generous helping of green onion
> >> shreds, or shredded pea pods.
> >>
> >> Jim
> >>
> >
> >In Japan, crayfish have been around for about 100 years or so, having
been
> >accidentally introduced from the US. They are considered as pests by rice
> >farmers as they cause damage to the rice in the paddies. Oddly, although
Japanese
> >people will eat just about anything that lives in water, nobody ever
acquired a taste for
> >the freshwater crayfish.
>
> Sounds like there is an opportunity there. A chance to introduce the
> crawfish boil to the Japanese people. LOL. It does seem a bit off
> that they haven't picked up on that as a food source, but I guess
> people can stick to their first impressions.
>

You are right. If you opened a Cajun restaurant in Tokyo people would
probably
line up to eat those crawfish.
First impressions do count. Another foreign fish that has become
overpopulated in Japan
is the Large Mouth Black Bass. Despite a boom in Bass fishing a la US style,
bass boats
and all, nobody seems to think they are any good eating. OK, they may not be
the best but
I don't think they're any worse than Tilapia.
In some lakes in Japan it is illegal to throw back a Black Bass, you are
forced to keep it.

M

>
>> OK, they may not be the best but I don't think they're any worse
>> than Tilapia. In some lakes in Japan it is illegal to throw back a
>> Black Bass, you are forced to keep it.
>
> Now that's a first! I guess that is one way to get rid of the fish,
> but how do you enforce that kind of rule. It's hard to check on what
> type of fish someone tossed back in to the water after the fact.

Most, not all, fishernen will follow the rules, even if there is only a slim
chance of being caught. I would suspect that Japanese anglers are about the
most honest out there. Around here, we give all non-trout (introduced fish)
a good bonk on the head before throwing it back.

parrotheada1a wrote:
> Unless you live around Louisiana, you're probably getting frozen bugs.
> More likely than not, they're coming from China. The Chinese farm
> them in rice paddies just like shrimp. I can get peeled & parcooked
> tailmeat at Wally world for about $8.00 a bag, frozen & cryovaced. I
> wouldn't make nigiri out of them at any rate, the tails are rather
> small. Probably the best way to handle these things is either in a
> handroll or a maki. I chop up a bunch of tails, so they are in good
> sized chunks. Then I add some mayo, mirin & hots, pretty much the
> same as for spicy tuna. This goes into the maki with a generous
> helping of green onion shreds, or shredded pea pods.
>
> Jim

I've set many crayfish traps in local rivers up here in the British Columbia
with great sucess. Would these be the same as down your way? They sure look
the same to me.

F t B wrote:

>>>OK, they may not be the best but I don't think they're any worse
>>>than Tilapia. In some lakes in Japan it is illegal to throw back a
>>>Black Bass, you are forced to keep it.
>>
>>Now that's a first! I guess that is one way to get rid of the fish,
>>but how do you enforce that kind of rule. It's hard to check on what
>>type of fish someone tossed back in to the water after the fact.
>
>
> Most, not all, fishernen will follow the rules, even if there is only a slim
> chance of being caught. I would suspect that Japanese anglers are about the
> most honest out there. Around here, we give all non-trout (introduced fish)
> a good bonk on the head before throwing it back.

In the US (I think only East Coast), anglers are being asked to kill any
snakeheads they catch. I don't think these are good eating though..

--
Dan

"shawn" > wrote in message
...
> "Musashi" > wrote:
>
> >
> >"shawn" > wrote in message
> .. .
> >> "Musashi" > wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >"parrotheada1a" > wrote in message
> >> roups.com...
> >> >> Unless you live around Louisiana, you're probably getting frozen
bugs.
> >> >> More likely than not, they're coming from China. The Chinese farm
them
> >> >> in rice paddies just like shrimp. I can get peeled & parcooked
tailmeat
> >> >> at Wally world for about $8.00 a bag, frozen & cryovaced. I
wouldn't
> >> >> make nigiri out of them at any rate, the tails are rather small.
> >> >> Probably the best way to handle these things is either in a handroll
or
> >> >> a maki. I chop up a bunch of tails, so they are in good sized
chunks.
> >> >> Then I add some mayo, mirin & hots, pretty much the same as for
spicy
> >> >> tuna. This goes into the maki with a generous helping of green onion
> >> >> shreds, or shredded pea pods.
> >> >>
> >> >> Jim
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >In Japan, crayfish have been around for about 100 years or so, having
> >been
> >> >accidentally introduced from the US. They are considered as pests by
rice
> >> >farmers as they cause damage to the rice in the paddies. Oddly,
although
> >Japanese
> >> >people will eat just about anything that lives in water, nobody ever
> >acquired a taste for
> >> >the freshwater crayfish.
> >>
> >> Sounds like there is an opportunity there. A chance to introduce the
> >> crawfish boil to the Japanese people. LOL. It does seem a bit off
> >> that they haven't picked up on that as a food source, but I guess
> >> people can stick to their first impressions.
> >>
> >
> >You are right. If you opened a Cajun restaurant in Tokyo people would
> >probably line up to eat those crawfish.
>
> I'm surprised that hasn't happen. Do they have many western style
> restaurants in Japan? I would think they would have picked up on it
> since they seem to pick up on so many western habits (dress and
> language).
>

It probably HAS happened. Legal Seafoods has a restaurant in Tokyo.
Wolfgang Puck has his California Grill in Tokyo. Not to mention Macdonalds,
KFC, etc.

> >First impressions do count. Another foreign fish that has become
> >overpopulated in Japan is the Large Mouth Black Bass. Despite a boom in
> >Bass fishing a la US style, bass boats and all, nobody seems to think
they
> >are any good eating.
>
> That seems to be a common theme. I've heard that there are fish in the
> USA that are thought of in the same manner. I know that catfish and
> mullet are big in the southeastern US, but I believe they aren't liked
> up in the northern US.
>

That's very true.

> >OK, they may not be the best but I don't think they're any worse than
Tilapia.
> >In some lakes in Japan it is illegal to throw back a Black Bass, you are
> >forced to keep it.
>
> Now that's a first! I guess that is one way to get rid of the fish,
> but how do you enforce that kind of rule. It's hard to check on what
> type of fish someone tossed back in to the water after the fact.
>

Yes it's hard to check and enforce.
But alot people I know don't throw carp back.
Catch & Release, along with forced removal is just another
management tool in maintaining the proper population balances
of various sport species.

"Dan Logcher" > wrote in message
...
> F t B wrote:
>
> >>>OK, they may not be the best but I don't think they're any worse
> >>>than Tilapia. In some lakes in Japan it is illegal to throw back a
> >>>Black Bass, you are forced to keep it.
> >>
> >>Now that's a first! I guess that is one way to get rid of the fish,
> >>but how do you enforce that kind of rule. It's hard to check on what
> >>type of fish someone tossed back in to the water after the fact.
> >
> >
> > Most, not all, fishernen will follow the rules, even if there is only a
slim
> > chance of being caught. I would suspect that Japanese anglers are about
the
> > most honest out there. Around here, we give all non-trout (introduced
fish)
> > a good bonk on the head before throwing it back.
>
> In the US (I think only East Coast), anglers are being asked to kill any
> snakeheads they catch. I don't think these are good eating though..
>
> Dan

Yes, Maryland and maybe some others have passed game laws making it
illegal to return any snakehead caught.
Snakeheads were introduced to Japan from Korea and Taiwan prior to WWII
and are generally considered unimportant pests. Although they can be eaten
as they
are on the Asian mainland, my search for a Japanese recipe on google Japan
resulted in zero recipes. Basically they are not eaten, at least not to any
significant extent, in Japan.
Also in Japan tourists are warned against eating freshwater fish in raw
form, particularly
the snakeheads when visiting Southeast Asian countries because of several
cases of
parasites which became evident weeks after the tourists returned from their
trips.


M

Musashi wrote:

> Yes, Maryland and maybe some others have passed game laws making it
> illegal to return any snakehead caught.
> Snakeheads were introduced to Japan from Korea and Taiwan prior to WWII
> and are generally considered unimportant pests. Although they can be eaten
> as they
> are on the Asian mainland, my search for a Japanese recipe on google Japan
> resulted in zero recipes. Basically they are not eaten, at least not to any
> significant extent, in Japan.


They say the ones in Maryland came from Mainland China.

> Also in Japan tourists are warned against eating freshwater fish in raw
> form, particularly
> the snakeheads when visiting Southeast Asian countries because of several
> cases of
> parasites which became evident weeks after the tourists returned from their
> trips.

I wouldn't want to eat any freshwater fish raw.. more chance of parasites and
bacteria. I have seen a snakehead here in Boston. One of the sushi bars near
my office has one in a tank. I missed the feeding, apparently right before I
arrived the chef threw in a chunk of tuna which is devoured.

--
Dan

"Dan Logcher" > wrote in message
...
> Musashi wrote:
>
> > Yes, Maryland and maybe some others have passed game laws making it
> > illegal to return any snakehead caught.
> > Snakeheads were introduced to Japan from Korea and Taiwan prior to WWII
> > and are generally considered unimportant pests. Although they can be
eaten
> > as they
> > are on the Asian mainland, my search for a Japanese recipe on google
Japan
> > resulted in zero recipes. Basically they are not eaten, at least not to
any
> > significant extent, in Japan.
>
>
> They say the ones in Maryland came from Mainland China.
>
> > Also in Japan tourists are warned against eating freshwater fish in raw
> > form, particularly
> > the snakeheads when visiting Southeast Asian countries because of
several
> > cases of
> > parasites which became evident weeks after the tourists returned from
their
> > trips.
>
> I wouldn't want to eat any freshwater fish raw.. more chance of parasites
and
> bacteria. I have seen a snakehead here in Boston. One of the sushi bars
near
> my office has one in a tank. I missed the feeding, apparently right
before I
> arrived the chef threw in a chunk of tuna which is devoured.
>
> --
> Dan

Feeding Tuna to a snakehead? LOL
That's like feeding filet mignon to a rat.
As a kid in Japan I remember seeing a snakehead take out a frog
on the surface of a nearby pond.

Musashi wrote:

> "Dan Logcher" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Musashi wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Yes, Maryland and maybe some others have passed game laws making it
>>>illegal to return any snakehead caught.
>>>Snakeheads were introduced to Japan from Korea and Taiwan prior to WWII
>>>and are generally considered unimportant pests. Although they can be
>>>
> eaten
>
>>>as they
>>>are on the Asian mainland, my search for a Japanese recipe on google
>>>
> Japan
>
>>>resulted in zero recipes. Basically they are not eaten, at least not to
>>>
> any
>
>>>significant extent, in Japan.
>>>
>>
>>They say the ones in Maryland came from Mainland China.
>>
>>
>>>Also in Japan tourists are warned against eating freshwater fish in raw
>>>form, particularly
>>>the snakeheads when visiting Southeast Asian countries because of
>>>
> several
>
>>>cases of
>>>parasites which became evident weeks after the tourists returned from
>>>
> their
>
>>>trips.
>>>
>>I wouldn't want to eat any freshwater fish raw.. more chance of parasites
>>
> and
>
>>bacteria. I have seen a snakehead here in Boston. One of the sushi bars
>>
> near
>
>>my office has one in a tank. I missed the feeding, apparently right
>>
> before I
>
>>arrived the chef threw in a chunk of tuna which is devoured.
>>
>
> Feeding Tuna to a snakehead? LOL
> That's like feeding filet mignon to a rat.
> As a kid in Japan I remember seeing a snakehead take out a frog
> on the surface of a nearby pond.

I think it was the trimmed scraps that the chef would toss out.
I wish I had seen this.. mean looking fish though. I'd go back
to watch again, but the sushi was so-so. Well, maybe it was an
off day, so I should give them another try. Yeah, that's it.

--
Dan

They would probably be far better tasting than what I could get if the
river is clean. I've had cooked local crawfish... not bad, but not
great. I think water quality has a great deal to do with it.

parrotheada1a wrote:

> They would probably be far better tasting than what I could get if the
> river is clean. I've had cooked local crawfish... not bad, but not
> great. I think water quality has a great deal to do with it.

Local? From the Merrimack River?

--
Dan

Androscoggin in Maine, Dan. Hardly qualifies as 'local' given that I
live in Mass, but they are sure closer to home compared with Louisiana
or China. They were live when I got 'em though, and cheap enough to
try 'em out without draining my wallet.

parrotheada1a wrote:
> Androscoggin in Maine, Dan. Hardly qualifies as 'local' given that I
> live in Mass, but they are sure closer to home compared with Louisiana
> or China. They were live when I got 'em though, and cheap enough to
> try 'em out without draining my wallet.

Oh ok, I don'gt recall you saying Maine before. What was the difference
from the ones from Louisiana?

--
Dan