Monday, July 10, 2017

kame no te

Have you ever had these?

In Japanese they are called "kame no te" (kah-meh-no-tay literally turtle hands)...in English they are percebes.

Thank goodness for the internet as everyone on Instagram told me about these so I knew what to look up.

Apparently they are a delicacy in Spain...they look pretty creepy to me.

Wednesday night, Satoshi brought these home...of course, he didn't have them refrigerated...do you remember his fish story?!

Anyway, I was leery that they weren't edible because they weren't refrigerated, but Satoshi insisted that he wanted to try them.

So, Thursday, I prepped them, you need to remove the "sucker" the part that attaches itself to rocks and other sealife like mussles...

My pinkies were up and gingerly touching them, there were occasional squeals as the buggers would squirt seawater at me when I cut open the pouch like thingy near the "sucker"...

Also, a website I read said to be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp parts...eep!

Here is what is to be eaten when you remove the sucker.

From another angle.

Then I boiled them in some salted water for about 5 minutes (as the website said).

The mussels that were attached went for another 3 minutes, but didn't open, so I threw those out.

Then, I get a text from Satoshi saying he met up with a friend and would be eating out...grr!

So he ate them on Friday.

I waited a whole hour before posting this pic on Instagram, you know, just in case we had to run to the hospital for food poisoning or something...I didn't try them for fear of food poisoning, but he said they taste like clams.

At least "we" experienced a new food thingy, but I don't think I would want to again.

10 comments:

Kalin's Mommy said...

LOL, glad Satoshi got to try them...especially after all your hard work!

Rowena said...

that pic of Satoshi is priceless....he is such a fearless gastronome!

Anonymous said...

Very interesting post, they really do look like the fingers(?) of turtles. But again, so amazed you could even touch them.
Ewww, ewwwwww and EEEWWWWWWWW!!! (I don't even like to walk around places like Tsukiji because of all the strange looking creatures they sell there)
v

KirkK said...

We've had percebes (aka Goose Barnacles) in Porto Kat. I thought they were pretty good; but the Missus didn't care for the rather strong briney flavor.

Anonymous said...

When I saw the first posts about it, I was totally grossed out by how they look like. Literally like some prehistoric shells. Shudder. You are a good wife to even touch them. I'd be like you want to eat them, you prep them. -N

jalna said...

I'm with V and N!

Tamakikat said...

Interesting post.

I didn't know they were a delicacy in Spain.

I like eating 'kamel no te' but I'll pass on prepping them. I often eat them when in Kagoshima, Japan.

Funny but not funny that you waited to see whether there would be food poisoning or not.

TK

K and S said...

Thanks Mich :)

I agree Rowena, he is fearless :)

aw I like walking around Tsukiji V!

cool Kirk, next time you and Satoshi can eat these then :)

N, If he made comments on how I was preparing it, then he would have to do it himself:)

lol Jalna :)

Thanks TK!

Take care everyone.
Kat

Anonymous said...

Whoa! Those look like dragon claws. Pretty neat that you can eat and enjoy something that looks so exotic and alien (though not in a bad way at all).

K and S said...

Thanks Anon!

Take care.
Kat