〆たか〆
Sometimes I suddenly crave mentaiko (spicy cod roe). At those times, I go to Yamaya for lunch and eat plenty of white rice with mentaiko. However, recently, due to the influence of COVID-19, the style has changed. On this day, I went to this restaurant without worrying about that style, and had mentaiko and motsunabe (offal hot pot). First, I tried the freshly made mentaiko delivered directly from the factory. It had a slight chewiness and was light and delicious, better than the ones usually bought as souvenirs. I personally would be even happier if it had a bit more punchy spiciness. It's perfect for sipping on some alcohol. Then, I tried various Fukuoka specialties. First, the iron pot gyoza. Each small and thin-skinned gyoza in the iron pot is perfect with beer. It has a strong garlic flavor, which might be the complete opposite of the large Utsunomiya gyoza, but a taste that everyone loves. Next was iwashimentai, where mentaiko is spread on the internal organs. It has a great taste, but dealing with small bones can be a hassle. I actually prefer sanma mentai. Next was not a Hakata specialty, but a specialty from Yobuko, Saga Prefecture, ika shumai. It's really delicious, but when compared to a truly delicious ika shumai, it seems to be a lower rank. I wish the coating was a bit more fluffy. While snacking on karashi takana (spicy pickled mustard greens) and yamaimo yaki (grilled mountain yam), the main dish was motsunabe. Among them, I had heard about a spicy motsunabe called mala motsunabe and went there to try it, but it turns out it was a limited menu from last year and they're not serving it this year. What a shame... So, I was considering having a regular motsunabe when I heard about a menu like motsu yakinabe for this summer, so I chose that. It was incredibly delicious. I like regular motsunabe, but this was also very tasty. The slight charring of the motsu added a good flavor, enhancing the richness of the taste. I would love to eat this exceptional dish again. The service was great, and it was a very nice restaurant experience!