Pay thanks to the blessings of the sea—Kelp!
The shopping street in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is lined with old-fashioned stores. In this article, we will introduce products from Shirai, an excellent kelp and marine product shop with a charming appearance.
【Kelp roll set–”Kombu (kelp) A) ¥3,050 (tax included)】
This is a set of popular products such as kelp rolls, furikake, and soy sauce perserves.
Kelp rolls are a Japanese dish with fish and other ingredients are wrapped in kelp. They have been consumed eaten as way to gain luck since ancient times. Thick kelp is simmered for five to seven hours, and then sweetened. It is eaten sliced.
【Cold yellowtail kelp rolls ¥690 (tax included)】
Kelp rolls containing yellowtail caught in the winter.
They are slowly simmered to allow the flavor to penetrate the ingredients. Each bite packs a mouthful of fish and kelp flavor.
【Cod roe kelp rolls ¥690 (tax included)】
These kelp rolls are made with roe (fish eggs) from Japanese cod.
The roe is chewy, and the kelp delicious.
This is a popular, small product that is both approachable and rich in variation. We will introduce them starting from the left.
【Flavored kelp ¥250 (tax included)】
Furikake made with kelp and dried young sardines.
Sardines, sesame, and krill are blended together to create a variety of flavors. The finely sliced kelp brings it all together.
【White grated kelp ¥325 (tax included)】
Soft, thread-like kelp that uses only the inside kelp.
It is soft, and almost unbelievably similar to cotton. It has a lot of umami, and is great for soups.
【Ginger Shigure ¥430 (tax included)】
Shigure is tsukudani (food boiled down in soy sauce and sugar) made from kelp and ginger simmered in sweet and spicy sauce.
It has a rich flavor, and the freshness of the ginger provides a nice accents.
【Sardines & kelp ¥325 (tax included)】
Tsukudani made with kelp, dried sardines, and sesame seeds.
This is a standard tsukudani that has been eaten for centuries. The more you chew, the more the flavorful it becomes.
Furikake and tsukudani, are staples in Japan, and are always on hand in every household to be eaten with with rice. Dried kelp and fish have concentrated flavor and high nutritional value. By carefully simmering them, you can also bring out their “umami”, a flavor that is highly valued in Japan. It goes great with hot, freshly cooked rice!
We highly recommend them.
A supermarket for products from the sea
The store is lined with products made using natural kelp from Hokkaido and seafoods from Noto.
The interior has a nostalgic Japanese feel.
Shirai—Kelp and Marine Products
100 Ipponsugi-cho, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00～18:00
Scheduled holidays: Tuesdays
Tel: 0767-53-0589