What Exactly is “Okouzai”?
On my way back from a business trip to Fukui, I was in a hurry, but I really wanted to grab a Fukui-style dinner near the station if possible, and that’s how I found Fukufuku Chaya. But then I thought, what exactly is “Fukui-style”? The locals I chatted with during my trip did mention that the fish is delicious, which is totally true, but…
Looking at the menu, I was drawn to something called “Okouzai Gozen.” It explained that “Okouzai” is said to be the source of longevity in Fukui, a general term for regional side dishes rich in local flavors. It also mentioned that it was named after Fukui being “No. 1 in Happiness,” so I decided to go for it!
A Hearty Fukui-Style Meal
Even though I’d seen it in the menu photos, I was still surprised by how much more voluminous it was in person! From the front left in the picture, there was Heshiko (salted mackerel), sashimi, Oroshi Soba, Takeda no Atsuage (deep-fried tofu), Maitake mushroom tempura, Sauce Katsu (hidden a bit by the maitake), simmered daikon (looked like takuan, but wasn’t), simmered zenmai (flowering fern), green beans with sesame dressing, and something that looked like yuba (tofu skin) but wasn’t tofu and probably not yuba either, plus a cucumber dish with a wasabi flavor.
The salty heshiko made me crave a beer or some sake, but I held back, not wanting to spoil the other flavors. The Oroshi Soba and Takeda no Atsuage were nostalgic and delicious, both absolutely wonderful. What I found particularly interesting were the various side dishes on the top part of the photo. Several of them had flavors I’d never experienced before. When you’re in a local region, local food is definitely the way to go!
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