Kore Wa Nan Desuka?

This is Japanese Octopus, or at least this is what the lovely hostess of a Japanese picnic calls it. It was the highlight of the picnic.

 Octopus photography courtesy of artist Tomoyo Ihaya

Those were only one of many dishes  this picnic packed. Alongside were the dashimaki - grilled egg rolls.

The flavourful extravaganza included lotus roots kinpira (simmered in sesame oil and sake until crispy, sprinkled with sesame seeds). Addictive. Tsukune - ground chicken with green onions, ginger and seaweed (I ate half that platter).

According to our Japanese hostess, childhood Japanese picnic memories always had Japanese macaroni salad.

Similarities to North America macaroni salad include the macaronis and the cold cuts. But this salad was dressed with Japanese mayonnaise and Japanese marinated cucumbers - Much lighter and nicer tasting than typical macaroni salads.

Then the onigiri showed up. A set of salmon onigiri that will satisfy any rice craving one could have ever had.

More unique were the umeboshi onigiri - Japanese pickled plums hidden within the rice. Sweet, sour, and tasty - all at the same time.

And then came dessert!

Anita was given the theme of Japanese picnic and delivered a wonderful matcha cake.

According to the Japanese present, it looked like Japanese Christmas cakes. Other than delicious, it is difficult to describe the taste of the cake - some melange of red velvet cake turned green or spice cake with light tea flavour. 

Thank you T.I., you outdid yourself.