Do you eat shrimp tails?

[scrivener]

About two years ago, I had shrimp nigiri sushi while dining with Surfingfarmboy, 1stWahine, Madazza, pzarquon, and (when he eventually showed up) zztype. It was near the end of my "try all the foods I think I hate" year (that was my New Year's resolution) and I hadn't really hit seafood yet.

So, on Surfingfarmboy's nickel, I loaded up on sushi. I liked most of it (!), didn't like some of it, and reserved judgment on the rest. I still haven't decided whether or not I like unagi. *shiver*

One of the things I remember is a short instruction by someone at the table on how to eat the shrimp sushi. Some at the table ate the whole thing, tail and all, while others neatly broke the tails off before downing the delectable crustaceans. I confess that I count myself among the latter.

Since then, I've downed many shrimp with many varied dining companions, some of whom are tail-eaters and some of whom aren't. Which camp do you fall into? If you sometimes do and sometimes don't, what are the determining circumstances or dishes?

[1stwahine]

HAHAHAHAHA

I eat um all the time.

I even eat Kilawen Shrimp (Raw Shrimp) w/ lemon and shoyu.:p

Hmmmm...onolicious!

Lynn

[cezanne]

I eat em especially if deep-fried or tempura style. My wife puts them on my plate to dispose of. I always thought they were high in calcium or potassium of or something.

[lavagal]

I do know the value of cooking shrimp in shells, cooking down the shells for broth, and keeping shrimp in their shells for dishes like paella. It's not the worst thing to eat a shrimp tail, and Cezanne is right, shrimp is low in saturated fat. It is also a good source of niacin, iron, phosphorus and zinc, and a very good source of protein, vitamin B12 and selenium.


Having spent two years working at Oceanic Institute where shrimp is raised to be disease resistant, delicious and easy to grow, I have a renewed sense of awe for shrimp. When done right, we can feed the world WITHOUT stripping ocean floors and without resorting to infusing shrimp with antibiotics!

[cynsaligia]

i eat shrimp tails if they're crispy or if they're young (therefore soft, softer than the shell of softshell crab) and raw, like in kilawen, the same way auntie lynn does.

my mom and dad used to eat "jumping shrimp" in the philippines--a kilawen of shrimp that are young and still alive!

[1stwahine]

my mom and dad used to eat "jumping shrimp" in the philippines--a kilawen of shrimp that are young and still alive!

heheheh

Get in Chinatown but gotta look good. Good FuN eating it. Taste good too.:D

Auntie Lynn

[Honoruru]

I usually don't. But I can see myself eating them, since I've accidentally eaten them before, and they're pretty good, especially if deep fried.

Our long-ago family cat (may she rest in peace!) loved shrimp tails, so we always made a point of saving them for her. My sister, who was her official care-taker, used to always announce, after we've fully consumed our shrimp scampi or shrimp tempura: "Okay, divvy up those shrimp tails. Kitty Cat's waiting."

Kitty Cat died a happy cat.

Maybe that's why I don't eat shrimp tails. I always feel they're for her.

[cynsaligia]

I usually don't. But I can see myself eating them, since I've accidentally eaten them before, and they're pretty good, especially if deep fried.

Our long-ago family cat (may she rest in peace!) loved shrimp tails, so we always made a point of saving them for her. My sister, who was her official care-taker, used to always announce, after we've fully consumed our shrimp scampi or shrimp tempura: "Okay, divvy up those shrimp tails. Kitty Cat's waiting."

Kitty Cat died a happy cat.

Maybe that's why I don't eat shrimp tails. I always feel they're for her.


awww....that is a sweet story! :D

[infinitypro]

Just about always, and no particular reason why when I don't whether the shrimp is prepared tempura or nigiri style. If we've driven out to Giovanni's then it's the whole shrimp, legs shell and all!

Lilinoe will peel at all costs.

Our littlest soul, he begs to eat the tail :D, but we don't allow him too to prevent choking.

I've never tried, or don't think I have the Kilawen shrimp, but am now curiously interested.

Thanks for the interesting poll Scriv!

[Glen Miyashiro]

The real question is, do you eat shrimp heads? Like in those Chinese salt-and-pepper shrimp dishes? Crunchy and salty and yummy!

[infinitypro]

The real question is, do you eat shrimp heads? Like in those Chinese salt-and-pepper shrimp dishes? Crunchy and salty and yummy!

Oh Glen! I just remembered my Dad and I were doing a road trip from Houston to California, and he took me to a restaurant in Long Beach, can't recall the name of the spot or the dish. Anyone know of this delicacy and is there a place here in Hawaii?

[Pua'i Mana'o]

my favorite way to eat prawns is whole--head, feelers, tail, everything. Fry that bebe in butter, garlic (and a bit of ajinomoto) and get. out. of. my. way.
:D

[woodman]

I voted no, but you can save shrimp tail and shell, then use it to flavor broth.
Make your saimin broke yo' mouth.

[i-hungry]

The real question is, do you eat shrimp heads? Like in those Chinese salt-and-pepper shrimp dishes? Crunchy and salty and yummy!

Yeah but the cook has to leave it on. :)

[Kalei99]

I eat them sometimes. Deepfried is the best. If you go to a Tepanyaki restaurant -- like Benihana's, they will deep fry the tails for you upon request. Very good appetizer! :p

[nikki]

Only if deep fried and crispy... same goes for the head and shells.

[cynsaligia]

The real question is, do you eat shrimp heads? Like in those Chinese salt-and-pepper shrimp dishes? Crunchy and salty and yummy!

heck, yeah! then again, i'm the kinda girl who will eat suck on the eyeballs :eek: , crispy cheeks :eek: , and then go digging to suck the brains :eek: of a properly fried and seasoned akule.

i am just now reminded of this treat they sell at shirokiya. they're these little roasted baby crabs that are about an inch wide and have been candied. kinda disconcerting, but kinda tasty--crunchy, seafoody tasting (like shrimp chips), and a little sweet. if you eat shrimp heads or tails, you might like that delicacy.

ooh! i found a picture (http://www.nozomionline.com/entertainment/japanesesnacks2.html). i should warn you the text accompanying it descibes them as a horror, even using a really unforgiveably bad nazi-jew reference which the writer probably believes to be edgy humor.

[Adri]

I do not usually eat shrimp tails unless the shrimp are ebi or opae. I do not eat shrimp heads. However, I do have a friend who relishes eating all my shrimp heads and tails if we are eating together.

[Richfuel]

Most of us don't eat them, but my 12 year old son loves 'em. He'll eat all his tails AND everyone else's too! Ewwww.......