What does gaijin-san like to eat?

[Hijinx]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin. She's very worried that normal J-fare won't gone down well with the heathen foreigners. She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate. Any advice. I told her I'd think about it and get back to her.

[kurogane]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin. She's very worried that normal J-fare won't gone down well with the heathen foreigners. She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate. Any advice. I told her I'd think about it and get back to her.

I understand that for you newbies, these questions can be difficult. After a year or so, you will get used to it.

So, anyways:

Tempura
Furai (just say it like it sounds)
Tonkatsu (again............)
Boiled Spinach
some sort of potato thing
Rice

If they're newbies like you must be, ask for Sushi. If you were American, and quick enough to figure it out, it would be like asking for Turkey.

[Hijinx]

Ummmmm, some sort of potato thing sounds yummy.

[Russell]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin. She's very worried that normal J-fare won't gone down well with the heathen foreigners. She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate. Any advice. I told her I'd think about it and get back to her.

Depends on the kind of foreigners she will get over the floor.

If she gets all Coligny types, she had better order some Big Macs...

[matsuki]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin. She's very worried that normal J-fare won't gone down well with the heathen foreigners. She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate. Any advice. I told her I'd think about it and get back to her.

Depends on the kind of foreigners she will get over the floor.

If she gets all Coligny types, she had better order some Big Macs...

I defended IPU's alcohol choices but gotta call him out when it comes to J-food

"Washoku? That's nasty!!"

[Hijinx]

Depends on the kind of foreigners she will get over the floor.

If she gets all Coligny types, she had better order some Big Macs...

That would be some kind of lowbrow host. Here you go folks, Big Macs and beer. Wait, that'd be a downright fine party.

[Taro Toporific]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin... She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate...

I used to do this all the time from my judo sensei who had to fet visiting gaijin all the time.
My catering obasan (30 years in the business of feeding gaijin tours) always said that all we needed to get for a gaijin party of 4-8 guys was:

--A couple of cheap platers of sushi (heavy on the maguro and irari sushi)
--One or two pizzas
--Two or three platers of yakitori (absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers or whole grilled sparrows)
--Fruit and or melon tray
--One plater (20 pcs) of gyoza
--One plater of "adventurous" seasonal Japanese food such as fugu in the winter or unagi (うなぎ) in the the summer
--plenty of beer, chu-hai, soft drinks and a big bottle of sake for the adventurous

[Hijinx]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin... She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate...

I used to do this all the time from my judo sensei who had to fet visiting gaijin all the time.
My catering obasan (30 years in the business of feeding gaijin tours) always said that all we needed to get was:

--A couple of cheap platers of sushi (heavy on the maguro and irari sushi)
--One or two pizzas
--Two or three platers of yakitori (absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers or whole grilled sparrows)
--Fruit and or melon tray
--One plater (20 pcs) of gyoza
--One plater of "adventurous" seasonal Japanese food such as fugu in the winter or unagi (うなぎ) in the the summer
--plenty of beer, chu-hai, soft drinks and a big bottle of sake for the adventurous

That'll do. What's irari sushi? Inari is what you meant?

[yanpa]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin... She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate...

I used to do this all the time from my judo sensei who had to fet visiting gaijin all the time.
My catering obasan (30 years in the business of feeding gaijin tours) always said that all we needed to get was:

--A couple of cheap platers of sushi (heavy on the maguro and irari sushi)
--One or two pizzas
--Two or three platers of yakitori (absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers or whole grilled sparrows)
--Fruit and or melon tray
--One plater (20 pcs) of gyoza
--One plater of "adventurous" seasonal Japanese food such as fugu in the winter or unagi (うなぎ) in the the summer
--plenty of beer, chu-hai, soft drinks and a big bottle of sake for the adventurous

Is this per person?

[Russell]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin... She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate...

I used to do this all the time from my judo sensei who had to fet visiting gaijin all the time.
My catering obasan (30 years in the business of feeding gaijin tours) always said that all we needed to get was:

--A couple of cheap platers of sushi (heavy on the maguro and irari sushi)
--One or two pizzas
--Two or three platers of yakitori (absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers or whole grilled sparrows)
--Fruit and or melon tray
--One plater (20 pcs) of gyoza
--One plater of "adventurous" seasonal Japanese food such as fugu in the winter or unagi (うなぎ) in the the summer
--plenty of beer, chu-hai, soft drinks and a big bottle of sake for the adventurous

Is this per person?

Nope, per bite...

[Hijinx]

One thing I hate is when I'm served kobini sandos and onigiris--I told her not to do that.

[Taro Toporific]

One thing I hate is when I'm served kobini sandos and onigiris--I told her not to do that.

Gaijin visitors never know as long as they are out of the wrappers. Prepared platers from a decent sushi-san and/or an upscale supermarket is 10 times better than standard Anglo fare.
(The big problem is serving 2-hour old, stone-cold, Mac burgers and fries like Japanese eat at hanami and hanabi parties.)

[Hijinx]

At 10 times the price. But then at that price, Anglo fare is 10 times better.

[Russell]

Just ask her to make 家庭料理.

[legion]

Had a J-baba ask me for advice for a party she's having for a bunch of gaijin... She wants to serve something more to the liking of the gaijin palate...

I used to do this all the time from my judo sensei who had to fet visiting gaijin all the time.
My catering obasan (30 years in the business of feeding gaijin tours) always said that all we needed to get for a gaijin party of 4-8 guys was:

--A couple of cheap platers of sushi (heavy on the maguro and irari sushi)
--One or two pizzas
--Two or three platers of yakitori (absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers or whole grilled sparrows)
--Fruit and or melon tray
--One plater (20 pcs) of gyoza
--One plater of "adventurous" seasonal Japanese food such as fugu in the winter or unagi (うなぎ) in the the summer
--plenty of beer, chu-hai, soft drinks and a big bottle of sake for the adventurous

sounds like a winner to me

[Hijinx]

Just ask her to make 家庭料理.

Rice, miso and fucking salty salmon?

[Russell]

Just ask her to make 家庭料理.

Rice, miso and fucking salty salmon?

Good 家庭料理 is much richer than that.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I usually want to tell these people to just give them regular Japanese food because they'll appreciate the authentic Japanese experience. But then I remember what it's like going to an izakaya with a bunch of newbies (or guys who work at investment banks and live in Japan for more than a decade without ever actually living in Japan) who won't eat anything but kara-age, fried potato, and negi toro maki and I realize the hosts are right to be concerned.

I made my first trip to Japan when I was in college. One of my buddies from school was a Japanese international student and I stayed at his house in Kobe for a week. The first thing I was served when I arrived from the airport was homemade roast beef. Then we went out for dinner and had yakiniku. The next night it was shabu-shabu. The night after was Kobe beef. I think also had Mos Burger and McDonald's for lunch. I appreciated all the great food but I was looking forward to having sushi, tempura, udon, etc. before I arrived. I started getting sick of beef for every meal and told my friend I was surprised by how much red meant his family eats. He told me it was because his parents are stupid and think that as an American I eat beef everyday. I appreciated the effort but asked him if we could eat something else the next day. Instead of just suggesting that we go get seafood or something like that he berated his parents in front of my for being so ignorant. I knew just enough Japanese to know what he was talking about. They looked really embarrassed and I felt like an asshole for saying anything.

[Coligny]

I started getting sick of beef for every meal and told my friend I was surprised by how much red meant his family eats. He told me it was because his parents are stupid and think that as an American I eat beef everyday.

FG... Were you have to be in japan to learn sumthing aboot amurikun diet...

But you eat corn all the time as side dish ? Right ?

And PBJ sandwiches... Even if the only time I bought peanut butter and opened the jar it went straight to the trash the second the smell reached my nose...

[matsuki]

I usually want to tell these people to just give them regular Japanese food because they'll appreciate the authentic Japanese experience. But then I remember what it's like going to an izakaya with a bunch of newbies (or guys who work at investment banks and live in Japan for more than a decade without ever actually living in Japan) who won't eat anything but kara-age, fried potato, and negi toro maki and I realize the hosts are right to be concerned.

I made my first trip to Japan when I was in college. One of my buddies from school was a Japanese international student and I stayed at his house in Kobe for a week. The first thing I was served when I arrived from the airport was homemade roast beef. Then we went out for dinner and had yakiniku. The next night it was shabu-shabu. The night after was Kobe beef. I think also had Mos Burger and McDonald's for lunch. I appreciated all the great food but I was looking forward to having sushi, tempura, udon, etc. before I arrived. I started getting sick of beef for every meal and told my friend I was surprised by how much red meant his family eats. He told me it was because his parents are stupid and think that as an American I eat beef everyday. I appreciated the effort but asked him if we could eat something else the next day. Instead of just suggesting that we go get seafood or something like that he berated his parents in front of my for being so ignorant. I knew just enough Japanese to know what he was talking about. They looked really embarrassed and I felt like an asshole for saying anything.

Pretty much this and what Taro suggested in definitely a good balance of everything.

[yanpa]

Before I came to Japan for the first time at the tender age of 20 I was a fairly conservative eater and disliked fish unless it had been liberally treated with batter. Some things I still don't eat, but only 'cos I plain don't like them (mentaiko, blergh).. OTOH, when I read "absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers" first reaction was "why the hell not?".

Marginally OT, but here's a review of British supermarket sushi. Weep as every other commenter fails to grok the relationship between sushi and raw fish.

[matsuki]

I started getting sick of beef for every meal and told my friend I was surprised by how much red meant his family eats. He told me it was because his parents are stupid and think that as an American I eat beef everyday.

FG... Were you have to be in japan to learn sumthing aboot amurikun diet...

But you eat corn all the time as side dish ? Right ?

And PBJ sandwiches... Even if the only time I bought peanut butter and opened the jar it went straight to the trash the second the smell reached my nose...

LOL, I thought it was everything with bread? "Gaijin don't eat lice sirry, Gaijin eat pan!!"

Dude, chunky peanut butter with some good jelly...ahhh heaven!

[yanpa]

LOL, I thought it was everything with bread? "Gaijin don't eat lice sirry, Gaijin eat pan!!"

Lice sound nutritiously full of protein.

[BigInJapan]

I would say Taro's menu would be fairly acceptable to discerning FG tastebuds.
If the oba-san is going to roll up her sleeves and actually cook, I would also suggest a bit of niku-jaga as that is usually popular with the non Japanese types.
And, in light of Kurogane's "some sort of potato thing" comment, maybe some コロッケ (korokke, from the French croquette) as they are another item that FG's find to be tasty.

[J.A.F.O]

LOL, I thought it was everything with bread? "Gaijin don't eat lice sirry, Gaijin eat pan!!"

Lice sound nutritiously full of protein.

to small to eat, would never feel full.

On a side I don't eat rice or pork and I end up on the island of rice and pork. It's like people here get offended when I tell them this.

[Coligny]

And I don't eat water based food... (Fish/shrimp/oyster/seafood/algae)

Lucky I can double down on pork...

//infidel ftw...

[dimwit]

Naked Sushi

[Samurai_Jerk]

OTOH, when I read "absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers" first reaction was "why the hell not?"

It's weird how besides offal when it comes to yakitori chicken skin seems to be the one that grosses so many FG out. Especially considering that most of them wouldn't think twice about eating the skin if it were still attached to the meet and might even peel the crispy skin of a baked chicken that just came out of the oven.

[matsuki]

OTOH, when I read "absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers" first reaction was "why the hell not?"

It's weird how besides offal when it comes to yakitori chicken skin seems to be the one that grosses so many FG out. Especially considering that most of them wouldn't think twice about eating the skin if it were still attached to the meet and might even peel the crispy skin of a baked chicken that just came out of the oven.

I think it's like beef fat...most have no probably eating marbled meat but wouldn't go out of their way to eat a skewer of nothing but the fat. I got no problems with the skin though I do prefer it on the meat.

[kurogane]

OTOH, when I read "absolutely no chicken-skin-only skewers" first reaction was "why the hell not?"

It's weird how besides offal when it comes to yakitori chicken skin seems to be the one that grosses so many FG out. Especially considering that most of them wouldn't think twice about eating the skin if it were still attached to the meet and might even peel the crispy skin of a baked chicken that just came out of the oven.

I am pretty sure that my objection is the cooking method, not the item. I love properly roasted skin, though a touch of meat does give it balance. What I cannot stand is that rubbery grease texture they so adore, and I have only met one Yakitori owner that would grill the skin to my liking, which is to say just this side of charcoal. FTR, it's the old dude at Kaga Daiko behind the Katamachi scramble in Kanazawa. Yummy bird to be had there. If you take an obviously much younger girl he goes the extra mile for you too, which I always found gracious.

PS offal is not a food product. It's Danish for garbage.