Picture of the week

I ate octopus.

Well, my plate didn't look like that. I pulled that picture from the internet. Haha.

My plate looked like this...

Here's the story.

Last Sunday we went to Kelly's birthday party, she's one of the wives. It was at a beach, there was tons of food and I was very hungry. So I went to one of the tables and, without asking anyone what the heck I was picking up, proceeded to grab something big and fried. It looked sort of like a chicken strip but even in my state, near starvation, I knew better. So instead of biting directly into it I peeled back the fried batter and took a good look... all I saw was suction cups. I was immediately queasy!! But I also felt like I had to eat it. I mean I didn't want to be rude. You don't just go to someones party, grab the biggest Octopus tentacle on the platter and then throw it away. So I held it. I showed it to Marcus and asked him what I should do. Throw it away. I asked another guest and her husband what I should do. Throw it away. So... I threw it away. Sorry Kelly.

The next day I called Tim. Tim is one of my dearest friends, a teammate of mine from UofA Track&Field, who moved to Japan after college and lived there for a few years. I told him about my octopus fiasco and he immediately got on my case and told me that I had to try octopus at least once. He said it actually tastes really good and I would be doing myself a disservice if I lived in Japan and didn't venture out and experience any new things.

Fast forward to last night.

We were at a sushi restaurant where the chefs make tons of food, place it on this conveyor belt, and as it goes by you pick up what you want. So I'm getting typical stuff, salmon, spicy tuna, etc. Then I see it. Octopus. Coming right for me. At first I let it pass. Then I yell for Marcus to grab it before it goes by him. As I look at it all I can hear is Tim yelling at me for not being adventurous enough and before I know it I'm picking it up with my chopsticks, dipping it in soy sauce and eating it. The verdict... Not bad. Not great, but not bad. It was just like Tim described it actually- sort of like lobster, but rubbery... maybe it was more like calamari, but a little tougher. Either way I didn't enjoy it enough to try again, but at least I can say I've tried it.