Food on this vacation was so interesting! Most of you who follow this blog know about the sad snake sake!! Other unique items to this area include, pigs ears and purple sweet potato (Beni Imo). There is also a strong American influence in this area and interestingly one of our friends who is originally from Ishigaki assumed that tacos, etc were American food - NOT Mexican.
Ishigaki Beef is also a big deal and so is BBQ. At our resort, we had a BBQ set which was fabulous! The beef was incredible! Not something we have really experienced often since being in Japan.
I tried many things - not the Pig Ears - of course Mark did!! Apparently eating pig face or pig head is also a thing here… BUT - I did have the Beni Imo, Rafute - Juicy Pork Belly, Sata Andagi - Okinawan Doughnut and the famous Okinawa Blue Seal Ice Cream - tonight I had Brown Sugar - delicious!!
Goya (bitter melon) is a BIG deal in Okinawa as well! Mark had it a couple of times and I “tasted” it!!
I loved the BBQ, the Tacos, Nachos and especially the Taco Rice. I had Taco Rice three times and my fav was at the Banana Cafe in Ishigaki. I think bananas are also big here!
On NYE we had Soba noodles - this is often eaten on NYE - they are longer and help bridge from one year to the next! They are similar to ramen and delicious!!
Other than the BBQ at our resort, and the taco rice at the Banana Cafe, my absolute favourite meal was at Dave’s Burger!! The placemat at the restaurant explained all of “Dave’s” philosophy (he is a real guy) and had so much info on the beef and the origins of the place. Annie B - I think you could make some sweet coin off his business model!! The burgers were made with Wagyu Tamara beef from one of the southern islands and “Dave” now owns the trademark for said beef. AMAZING meal!!
ALSO - 2 things... YES - we ate at Red Lobster in American Village! And... we found a MALBEC at a wine bar across from our hotel in Naha!!! Yay!!!
It was an “oishii” trip indeed!!
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