omakase vs okonomi
Warren
(currently omakase is just a mention in one part and I wanted to write
an expanded treatise on it). While Omakase shouldn't be too hard, does
anyone have any insight into just what Okonomi is? From what I
understand, while omakase is basically the itamae's choice entirely,
okonomi is sort of a guided omakase, depending on the diner's
preferences. But my knowledge of okonomi ends there.
Is it even a *real* option? meaning do people really order okonomi? Is
it at all common? I'm really vague on the concept and the principle so
anything that anyone can help me with to flesh out a real treatise on
the subject would be of great help. Thanks!
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Lori Lee
<usenet1-s...@ransom.us> wrote:
>I wanted to add a section to the FAQ about Omakase and Okonomi
>(currently omakase is just a mention in one part and I wanted to write
>an expanded treatise on it). While Omakase shouldn't be too hard, does
>anyone have any insight into just what Okonomi is? From what I
>understand, while omakase is basically the itamae's choice entirely,
>okonomi is sort of a guided omakase, depending on the diner's
>preferences. But my knowledge of okonomi ends there.
>
>Is it even a *real* option? meaning do people really order okonomi? Is
>it at all common? I'm really vague on the concept and the principle so
>anything that anyone can help me with to flesh out a real treatise on
>the subject would be of great help. Thanks!
"Okonomi" means "as you like". Usually refers to okonomi-yaki, a
grilled pancake or pizza with a variety of ingredients.
Remove "No Spam" from e-mail address before replying
Dan Logcher
I've only head okonomi-yaki mentioned..
--
Dan
James Silverton
I'm no expert but that's my opinion too.
--
James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland
Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
Musashi
"Warren" <usenet1-s...@ransom.us> wrote in message
news:n_udneBFfYgdcuHV...@supernews.com...
>I wanted to add a section to the FAQ about Omakase and Okonomi (currently
>omakase is just a mention in one part and I wanted to write an expanded
>treatise on it). While Omakase shouldn't be too hard, does anyone have any
>insight into just what Okonomi is? From what I understand, while omakase is
>basically the itamae's choice entirely, okonomi is sort of a guided
>omakase, depending on the diner's preferences. But my knowledge of okonomi
>ends there.
>
> Is it even a *real* option? meaning do people really order okonomi? Is it
> at all common? I'm really vague on the concept and the principle so
> anything that anyone can help me with to flesh out a real treatise on the
> subject would be of great help. Thanks!
>
Hi Warren
Not only is it common, but Okonomi (nice way of saying "konomi" meaning
"preference") is actually the way most
sushi is ordered at the counter in Japan. When the customer sits down at the
counter, the itamae automatically
assumes that you are going "to go "okonomi" and tell him what you'd like or
a short list of items.
Sometimes the customer may order a "set" that is offered and on display in
the glass case outside.
Okonomi is not a guided omakase at all, it's the customers choice
completely. Of course the customer may
ask what the itamae recommends and add the items to his choices..
So as can see, there is nothing deep or mysterious about ordering Okonomi.
When the customer sits down at the counter, a commonly asked question is;
"Okonomi de ikimasu ka?" Would you like to go Okonomi
or
"Okonomi wa nandeshou ka?" What will be your preferences?
No Itamae would ask from the start if you'd like to go Omakase, as it would
be rude, since
that implies that the customer knows the Itamae or establishment well enough
to trust them
completely with the choices, and that is entirely up to the customer to
decide.
(Also, gramatically, since the choices are being left up to the itamae
it would be incorrect to put the "O" honorific in front of his own action.)
Naturally Okonomi requires more interaction with the itamae as you go along
ordering, and
often if I am at a business lunch and I'd rather focus entirely on my
conversation with my
guest/client, I will order Omakase. Of course only in a place that I know.
Musashi
Warren
Ah, that's what I thought it might be. So it's the standard, if i may,
ordering method when, for example, I sit at the sushi bar and order my
food from the itamae. I wasn't sure if it was that, or some sort of
guided ordering, but thanks very much for clearing it up. It's funny, I
have asked about the word/concept at a few sushi bars in my general
area, even Japanese run, and got shrugs when I mentioned the word.
Perhaps I was mis-pronouncing it, so I thought I might be crazy. I keep
finding references to okonomi-yaki, as the other posters mentioned, but
never as a way of ordering sushi. But I understand your answer very
well, thank you very much, I was hoping you would chime in to be honest ;)
Musashi
You're very welcome as always.
On a different note, being born in Osaka (home of the Okonomiyaki) I wish
that there were
places in the US that specialized in this relatively inexpensive tasty dish.
Okonomiyaki speacialty
places in Japan all have tables with a grill plate in the center, and you
choose the kind you want
from the menu, and the waiter/waitress brings out metal mixing bowls with
what you ordered.
Then you and the other diners cook it yourself and eat it piping hot.
I am condemed to what Okonomiyaki my wife makes at home, which isn't bad
fortunately,
because she's a great cook. I am rather surprised that so many people in
the US seem to be aware
of this dish, often described as a "Japanese pizza" due to it' shape.
Musashi
Gerry
> On a different note, being born in Osaka (home of the Okonomiyaki) I
> wish that there were places in the US that specialized in this
> relatively inexpensive tasty dish. Okonomiyaki speacialty places in
> Japan all have tables with a grill plate in the center, and you choose
> the kind you want from the menu, and the waiter/waitress brings out
> metal mixing bowls with what you ordered. Then you and the other diners
> cook it yourself and eat it piping hot. I am condemed to what
> Okonomiyaki my wife makes at home, which isn't bad fortunately, because
> she's a great cook. I am rather surprised that so many people in the US
> seem to be aware of this dish, often described as a "Japanese pizza"
> due to it' shape.
I'm not sure when but believe it was initially in Osaka that we became
fans of Okonomiyaki. Since then my wife has become very good at making
it at home. But I have begun finding it more and more in my area in
Southern California. There use to be a few stalls at such as Mitsuwa.
But now it's popping up in other places. A recently-opened place in
Huntington Beach has been getting good reviews. They are called
"Izakaya Zero" and the place was opened by the Abe crew, they of Sushi
Abe in Newport Beach and the highly successful and relatively expensive
Blue Fin also in Newport.
I read that Izakaya Zero is offering, among many other items, an
okonomiyaki. There is a new place in Garden Grove, generally a Korean
enclave, named Genki Living. The entire place, though run by Vietnamese
I believe, has a Japanese bent and their main dinner item is
okonomiyaki. They also have those fruit/ice-cream loaded
crepes-in-a-cone that I find in so many shopping areas in Japan. There
is also a place in Huntington called "Ebisu Noodle" that has one of
almost everything not to include sushi/sashimi, and they have
okonomiyaki there.
None do it at the table the way we've enjoyed it in Japan.
In 20 years, I assume, they will eventually have reached the midwest.
Who the hell doesn't like a pancake!?!
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