spiny shrimp??
 

here's a question to get some non-spam action going!

I went out for tempura yesterday, and the pair seated next to me had
some kind of spiny tempura. It looked a little like
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_spe...ri=1&inhab=192
this spiny crab, but not quite. Actually, it reminded me of a spider
with an exoskeleton. When the chef explained what it was, I thought
he used the word "ebi" in its name, and "ebi" usually means shrimp,
but sometimes can refer to small lobster-like crustaceans (like Ise-
ebi).

Any idea what they were eating? I think they were eating the most
expensive meal (more than $100 for lunch!), so it must have been
expensive, which also makes me think it must not have been something
terribly common. It looked so good and crispy, I might have to order
it a la carte next time!

spiny shrimp??
 

Rona Y > wrote:
> here's a question to get some non-spam action going!
>
> I went out for tempura yesterday, and the pair seated next to me had
> some kind of spiny tempura. It looked a little like
> http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_spe...ri=1&inhab=192
> this spiny crab, but not quite. Actually, it reminded me of a spider
> with an exoskeleton. When the chef explained what it was, I thought
> he used the word "ebi" in its name, and "ebi" usually means shrimp,
> but sometimes can refer to small lobster-like crustaceans (like Ise-
> ebi).
>
> Any idea what they were eating? I think they were eating the most
> expensive meal (more than $100 for lunch!), so it must have been
> expensive, which also makes me think it must not have been something
> terribly common. It looked so good and crispy, I might have to order
> it a la carte next time!

Hi Rona! I have no idea what it was, but it's great to hear from you! ;-)

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
~Semper Fi~

spiny shrimp??
 

On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:41:09 -0700, Rona Y >
wrote:

>here's a question to get some non-spam action going!
>
>I went out for tempura yesterday, and the pair seated next to me had
>some kind of spiny tempura. It looked a little like
>http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_spe...ri=1&inhab=192
>this spiny crab, but not quite. Actually, it reminded me of a spider
>with an exoskeleton. When the chef explained what it was, I thought
>he used the word "ebi" in its name, and "ebi" usually means shrimp,
>but sometimes can refer to small lobster-like crustaceans (like Ise-
>ebi).
>
>Any idea what they were eating? I think they were eating the most
>expensive meal (more than $100 for lunch!), so it must have been
>expensive, which also makes me think it must not have been something
>terribly common. It looked so good and crispy, I might have to order
>it a la carte next time!

from the picture, it doesn't look terribly edible. what's next,
cactus tempura?

your pal,
blake

spiny shrimp??
 

blake murphy > wrote:
> On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:41:09 -0700, Rona Y >
> [ . . . ]
> from the picture, it doesn't look terribly edible. what's next,
> cactus tempura?

Cactus Tempura

Dip Yucca flowers, peeled and sliced Echinopsis or Opuntia stems, in egg
batter, deep fry. Eat immediately.

From "Cactus Cook Book", CSSA, POBox 35034, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA

Oishi desu!

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
~Semper Fi~

spiny shrimp??
 

On 01 Jul 2007 21:50:55 GMT, Nick Cramer >
wrote:

>blake murphy > wrote:
>> On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:41:09 -0700, Rona Y >
>> [ . . . ]
>> from the picture, it doesn't look terribly edible. what's next,
>> cactus tempura?
>
>Cactus Tempura
>
>Dip Yucca flowers, peeled and sliced Echinopsis or Opuntia stems, in egg
>batter, deep fry. Eat immediately.
>
>From "Cactus Cook Book", CSSA, POBox 35034, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA
>
>Oishi desu!

jeez, these wily orientals and their occidental fellow-travelers will
eat anything!

your pal,
blake

spiny shrimp??
 

"Rona Y" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> here's a question to get some non-spam action going!
>
> I went out for tempura yesterday, and the pair seated next to me had
> some kind of spiny tempura. It looked a little like
> http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_spe...ri=1&inhab=192
> this spiny crab, but not quite. Actually, it reminded me of a spider
> with an exoskeleton. When the chef explained what it was, I thought
> he used the word "ebi" in its name, and "ebi" usually means shrimp,
> but sometimes can refer to small lobster-like crustaceans (like Ise-
> ebi).
>
> Any idea what they were eating? I think they were eating the most
> expensive meal (more than $100 for lunch!), so it must have been
> expensive, which also makes me think it must not have been something
> terribly common. It looked so good and crispy, I might have to order
> it a la carte next time!
>

The only crabs used for tempura are softshell crabs. And that's only in the
United States.
http://www.izmisushi.com/softshellcrab.JPG
http://www.aaa-calif.com/westways/1104/pg_68b.jpg
Perhaps you saw one of these with the crust gone wild.
Musashi

spiny shrimp??
 

On Jul 1, 5:54 pm, Nick Cramer > wrote:

>
> Hi Rona! I have no idea what it was, but it's great to hear from you! ;-)
>
> --
> Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
>
> Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
> ~Semper Fi~- Hide quoted text -
>

Thanks, Nick! I'm always around, just don't have much to say! :-)

rona

spiny shrimp??
 

On Jul 4, 12:50 am, "Musashi" > wrote:
>
> The only crabs used for tempura are softshell crabs. And that's only in the
> United States.http://www.izmisushi.com/softshellcr...104/pg_68b.jpg
> Perhaps you saw one of these with the crust gone wild.
> Musashi

Actually, I've had tempura in Japan made with little tiny crabs, too.
They weren't softshell crabs, as far as I know (like I'd know the
difference), and they were quite small--the body portion was maybe
only 1" or 1 1/2" across. I was supposed to eat the whole thing in
one or two bites.

The thing I saw wasn't a crab, I think. The picture of the prickly
crab just reminded me of it. I think it may have been shrimp that
still had its legs attached. I'll probably be back there in
September, so if I can, I'll take a picture of it then.

rona

spiny shrimp??
 

"Rona Y" > wrote in message
ps.com...
> On Jul 4, 12:50 am, "Musashi" > wrote:
>>
>> The only crabs used for tempura are softshell crabs. And that's only in
>> the
>> United
>> States.http://www.izmisushi.com/softshellcr...104/pg_68b.jpg
>> Perhaps you saw one of these with the crust gone wild.
>> Musashi
>
> Actually, I've had tempura in Japan made with little tiny crabs, too.
> They weren't softshell crabs, as far as I know (like I'd know the
> difference), and they were quite small--the body portion was maybe
> only 1" or 1 1/2" across. I was supposed to eat the whole thing in
> one or two bites.
>

I suspect those are Sawa-gani. Freshwater crabs. Also could be the several
very small
sea crabs sometimes fried. But in my experience none of those were Tempura,
they were
Kara-Age, also deep fried but not the tenpura batter.

> The thing I saw wasn't a crab, I think. The picture of the prickly
> crab just reminded me of it. I think it may have been shrimp that
> still had its legs attached. I'll probably be back there in
> September, so if I can, I'll take a picture of it then.
> rona

Regardless. I now suspect you may have seen some sort of Kaki-Age, a tempura
item usually containing several items and lots of batter. When that batter
is all "blown up"
I can see that it would look like some spiny thing.
Just my speculation.
M

spiny shrimp??
 

On Jul 5, 11:53 pm, "Musashi" > wrote:

> Regardless. I now suspect you may have seen some sort of Kaki-Age, a tempura
> item usually containing several items and lots of batter. When that batter
> is all "blown up"
> I can see that it would look like some spiny thing.
> Just my speculation.
> M

It was definitely not kaki-age. I've had kakiage enough times to know
the difference, and I had kakiage at the restaurant that day (it's
always served at the end of the meal at this particular restaurant).
This was the first course served to the couple. It was quite small,
unlike kakiage, and they were each given two pieces.

When I go back in September, I'll try to order it and take a picture.

rona

spiny shrimp??
 

On Jul 1, 1:41 am, Rona Y > wrote:
> here's a question to get some non-spam action going!
>
> I went out for tempura yesterday, and the pair seated next to me had
> some kind of spiny tempura. It looked a little likehttp://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/default.asp?hOri=1&inhab=192
> this spiny crab, but not quite. Actually, it reminded me of a spider
> with an exoskeleton. When the chef explained what it was, I thought
> he used the word "ebi" in its name, and "ebi" usually means shrimp,
> but sometimes can refer to small lobster-like crustaceans (like Ise-
> ebi).
>
> Any idea what they were eating? I think they were eating the most
> expensive meal (more than $100 for lunch!), so it must have been
> expensive, which also makes me think it must not have been something
> terribly common. It looked so good and crispy, I might have to order
> it a la carte next time!

I think I've eaten, in Japanese restaurants, what you're describing --
but I don't think it's the crab in the picture. It's a kind of
shrimp, a bit bigger and more "ornate" than what we in the US usually
eat. The unusualness of its appearance is exaggerated by the
tempura. It's perfectly edible and delicious. You eat the whole
thing, IIRC.

spiny shrimp??
 

On Jul 15, 8:39 pm, Steve Wertz > wrote:

>
> Sure it wasn't just shrimp tempura? Some of the tempura batters
> can be pretty "spiny".
>
> For example:http://www.benihana.com/images/menus_lunch4.jpg
>
> -sw

very very sure. I've had the type of shrimp tempura of which you
speak, and this was nothing like that. I could see it's legs.
Actually, even though this place was a nationally famous tempura
restaurant (and in Japan, that means something), the batter was much
more eggy than I like, resulting in soggy-ish tempura. I thought
their tempura wasn't that great, and didn't think I'd ever go back.
But now I will, just to get that weird little shrimp. I think it
might have been shrimp with its legs left on, but we shall see when I
return.