22 September 2007

A Taste of the Ocean



"He was creating a little still life, his knife slashing through the long neck of a geoduck clam until he had created little stars snuggling next to the abalone."

This is how Ruth Reichl described an experience with a Mr. Uezu at Kurumazushi. I was already in love with the abalone at Century Tsukiji in Manila but I'd never tasted this curious creature of the sea so I hopped to the nearer Tsukiji, the one on Pasay Road, to try it. I overheard the waitress consult with another waitress to say, "Kahapon lang dumating, noh?" (Just arrived yesterday, right?), and I was extra excited.

It was almost a surreal experience. It greets you with a crunch then ushers you in with a softer texture. It was salty in a very muted way and you simply get lost in a trance as you chew it.

Then you wake up from the dream to cough up P880 for your momentary trip to the waters of Japan.

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