On our second night at Takefue Ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto (熊本県黒川温泉), we were treated to a full course of Suppon (すっぽん – Soft-shelled Turtle), which is a major delicacy in Japan. The explanation of each dish was in Japanese, but I’ve done my best to translate it below:
SHOKUZENSHU (食前酒 – APERTIF)
* Suppon Ikichi (スッポン生き血 – Blood of a live Soft-shelled Turtle spiked with Japanese Sake)
DISH 1 – Suppon Otsukuri (すっぽん御造り – Suppon Sashimi):
* Suppon Mae-Ashi (すっぽんの前足)
* Suppon Kimo (すっぽんの肝)
DISH 2 – Suppon Sunomono (すっぽん酢の物)
* Kimo (肝 – Viscera)
* Tamago (卵 – Eggs)
* Ranso (卵巣 – Ovaries)
* Cho (腸 – Intestines)
* Kanzo (肝臓 – Liver)
* Shinzo (心臓 – Heart)
DISH 3
* Suppon Nikogori (すっぽん煮こごり – Jellied Soft-shelled Turtle) with lots of Collagen
DISH 4
* Suppon Tamago Saikyo-zuke (すっぽん卵西京漬け – Sweet Miso-marinated Soft-shelled Turtle Egg)
* Negi with Sumiso (ネギ酢味噌 – Green Onions with Miso & Vinegar dressing)
DISH 5 – Nabe (鍋物 – Hot Pot)
* Suppon Nabe (すっぽん鍋 – Suppon Hot Pot)
DISH 6
* Suppon No Gunkan-maki (すっぽんの軍艦巻き – Soft-shelled Turtle Nigiri Sushi)
DISH 7
* Suppon Nimono (すっぽん煮物 – Simmered Soft-shelled Turtle)
* Nanohana (菜の花 – Young Fern of a Rapeseed Plant)
* Takenoko (竹の子 – Bamboo Shoots)
* Nasu (茄子 – Japanese Eggplant)
DISH 8 – Agemono (揚物 – Fried Dish)
* Suppon (Soft-shelled Turtle)
* Amanaga Togarashi (甘長唐辛子 – Non-hot Green Pepper)
* Mochi (餅 – Japanese Rice Cake)
DISH 9
* Suppon Chawanmushi (すっぽん茶碗蒸し – Savory Suppon Egg Custard)
DISH 10
* Suppon Zosui (すっぽん雑炊 – Soft-shelled Turtle Rice Porridge)
* Tsukemono (漬物 – Pickled vegetables)
DISH 11 – Mizumono (水物 – Dessert)
* Ichigo Tart (苺タルト – Strawberry Tart)
* Chocolate Brownie (チョコレートブラウニー)
* Vanilla Mousse with Rasberry Sauce (バニラムースとラズベリーソース)
* Fruits – Ringo, Budo, Pineapple (フルーツ: 林檎, 葡萄, パイナップル – Fruits: Apple, Grape & Pineapple)
* Yokan (羊羹 – Sweet bean paste with Agar)
* Karukan (軽羹 – Steamed sweet bread that includes rice flour and grated “Yamaimo” Japanese Yam)
* Dorayaki (ドラ焼き – A confection consisting of small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet azuki bean paste)
AloJapan.com