Long Leg Royalty

a mouthful of...

It’s one of these chilly days when Hokkaido King Crabs are in season, and being all the more celebrative together with the Lunar New Year holidays, which also coincided with the Valentine’s Day this year. All are worth the wait!

As far as I know, the period of abundance for King Crabs typically spans somewhere around October to February when these oceanic royalties are shipped from the cold waters of Hokkaido with preserved freshness and succulence. Supply is scarce and crabs are savory, every time of the year they become such celebrities in the food scene.

As one of the “Big 4” Japanese crab species, the King Crab is notably huge and chubby, with spiny shell in festive orange color when served. Its population is said to be in about the same region as that of the cod fish, and the flesh tend to be sweet, plump and chunky. My personal favourite is definitely those distinctive, fiery- looking gorgeous long legs. Not only do they look like funny coral stones with unrefined natural beauty, the taste is also heavenly with delicate texture and oceanic fragrance.

And yes, I hope it’s true that “you are what you eat”!