Unagi(Eel Kabayaki)

Eel kabayaki is one of the favorite foods of Japanese people, and it is roasted eel with a sweet sauce using soy sauce. When roasted, it has a fragrant aroma. According to one theory, eel kabayaki has been made since the 15th century. It is a dish that has appeared in history for a long time and has been loved by Japanese people for a long time.

Eel and eel kabayaki also appeared in rakugo during the Edo period. In one story, a poor man eats only the smell of eel kabayaki, and in another, an eel restaurant owner catches an eel that has escaped from a restaurant and walks around. When he is asked where to go, he says, “Ask the eel.” In this way, eel kabayaki has always been highly regarded as a Japanese treat.

Most of the eels currently consumed in Japan are either cultivated in Japan or imported from China, but there are also natural Japanese eels. It’s said that the taste is different, but honestly I’m not sure. Instead, it seems to be greatly influenced by how it is baked, how it is steamed, and the quality of the sauce. In other words, the taste is determined by the skill of the cook.

In Minato-ku, Tokyo, there was a popular small eel shop that was always crowded with customers. It took a long time to grill eel kabayaki. There was a paper on the door saying, “Don’t ask me to serve food soon.” One day, a customer who seemed to have never seen the paper asked the waitress to eat early and was dissatisfied with the lack of food. Other restaurant customers there thought that an angry big cook would kick them. However, a few minutes later, a young man with a gentle face came out with a smile and Kabayaki. He politely apologized to the customer for the delay. The Japanese patiently wait for delicious food.

Oh, I want to eat eel kabayaki! (Soliloquy)