The art of Japanese BBQ…
Perhaps it should be the art of Korean or Asian BBQ but we will stick with the original title for now.
I love the way Japanese and Korean people BBQ- everybody standing around the BBQ with paper plates and chopsticks, everybody cooking together and eating as they go along. Friday was Shun`s last day of school and since he had been there for 8 weeks he had made quite a few friends, most of which were Japanese or Korean and on most Friday afternoons they went to Roma Street Parklands for a BBQ and a couple of drinks.
For BBQs in Australia, one person cooks while a table is set with salads, potato dishes, bread etc while the meat cooks off to the side. Some will stand talking to the cook while others will sit at the table waiting for the eating time to begin.
Not Japanese people, or Korean people for that matter.
Everything is chucked on as we eat. If a Japanese person has done the shopping then usually you will have noodles to fry up also but if Korean people have done the shopping then you will most definitely have kimochi. Everyone stands around, nobody sits usually and the conversation goes back and forth as one uses their chopsticks to pop a peice of pork or some kimochi in their mouth.
It is the same in Japan when we had BBQs, everybody standing around, everybody cooking and everybody eating as they go along. I definitely miss it.
I should point out here though that if you are camping then you will probably have yakisoba or Japanese curry for dinner and not a typical BBQ. Where as, camping here, is usually always a BBQ.
When I was in Japan I missed Aussie BBQs but now that I am here I miss Japanese ones just as much! It was fun to go out Friday after work and have a BBQ with Shun & his friends. There were lots of language school students around in the park and at one stage I joined another Korean group of people and played some random Korean drinking game…was a little difficult since I speak no Korean (Except to be able to say “silly” and “how are you!” or “chopsticks”) but it was fun all the same and I may have picked up some new Korean words! Myself & Kousuke, a friend of Shun`s from school taught them to play a Japanese drinking game as well.
Now that Shun has finished school I am not sure how often he will see his school friends but I do hope he continues to go into town occasionly (Although a couple of others finished Friday also, and Kousuke flew home on Saturday morning) and catches up with them. Even though if he is hanging out with Japanese friends I know he isn`t speaking English but it is better for him to get out and make friends than stay home all day. Hopefully after we sort out a TFN for him then he will be able to get a part-time job maybe.
Last night we had a great end to the weekend with an Aussie style BBQ complete with steak, moroccan lamb shanks, salad & bread. The art of Aussie BBQ while not the same as as a Japanese BBQ, is just as good for different reasons.
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Wow, you’ve given me a renewed appreciation of BBQ here. I am always missing Aussie BBQ and dream of meat that you actually need to cut before you eat but reading this reminded me that with Japanese BBQ you are not segregated into cooks and eaters, you get to choose how cooked you want your meat and it’s still piping hot when you get it. Still reckon you could skip the yakisoba and have a couple of salads though!
I think BBQs literally mean sharing-happy foods like shabu shabu too..I once heard a better English word for it but you know what I mean. Regardless I love both Japanese and Aussie BBQs! Sounds like you had a great weekend!
I guess I’ve only been to American and American/German BBQs, and they were all pretty casual–everyone chatting and eating all along. I adore barbecued food, so I’m not super picky about the manner in which I acquire it.
Oh Lulu, what a fabulous post, now that fall is upon us here (Summer where you are is coming), the only BBQ I’ve had here in Japan was at a restaurant, but that doesn’t count!
I love Aussie BBQ’S, and I like Southern American too, but we frequent the beach often here but always hit up the cafes which are nestled along the resorts (I bet they are closing soon) and I almost always get Tako balls (Takoyaki) but I LOVE grilled ika. But I have fond memories of Wine Coolers a bottle of good wine, a beach fire and grilled meat. BBQ’s are fun, and I almost always have the best conversations, sitting with the gals, stuffing our faces over good eats and good conversation…. thanks for the wonderful reminder of this Lulu!
That looks great~ I always want to do BBQ but never has anyone who wants to do it with *bats lashs* I WILL come form Niigata if there is a good BBQ going on make sure and let me know in the future!!
I miss BBQs at home – but I never really had them with friends (which is what my BBQ experience here in Japan has mostly been) but I still remember my dad or stepdad or random male family member throwing meet on the grill and eating it up!
Ahh… now I feel so nostalgic. 4th of July (Independance BBQs were the best!)
Great post!
Reading your post has just made me feel like getting out our bbq set and having a BBQ – I love, love, love Japanese bbq’s!!! For me, they are WAY better than Aussie ones! I’m glad that Shunpei has found some friends, and like you, hope that he continues seeing them now that school is finished! Tell him I said congrats too!!
Hey hun! Dutch BBQs are quite similar to Japanese ones – the host buys all the food and salad (a massive meat tray from the slagrij or butcher) and then you go and choose what you want – marinated chicken, kebab sticks, burgers, bits of steak and then everyone just goes and cooks their own meat and stands around chatting. All the salads are soo good (in a creamy kind of sauce – not good for the hips!) And then you have satay sauce warming on the side which is SOOO GOOD! I miss it already!
In Aus, I find we have a real BYO ethos – everyone brings their own meat and alcohol while the host provides the BBQ, cooking expertise and salads. In the Netherlands, everyone seems to put into a pot and the host takes care of the rest! It’s really cool.
I haven’t had an English BBQ yet – because the weather has been horrid! Dad and Mum have arrived now and I know after a week, Dad will be itching for a “barbie” as they have at least two a week at home. Might have to get him a mini one for our balcony so he can stand in the lovely British drizzle!
xxxxx
Ohhh, I love BBQ’s! We have Japanese style ones with marinated meats and veggies here in our backyard in Japan and also have American style ones as well, with big slabs of baby back ribs and burgers. Yay for BBQ’s of any kind! : ) In the summer, we have at least 1 BBQ a week at our house. : )