Tomago – [Sushi|foodlore]

Description

Tomago. – 玉子, 卵 – (Omelette, Rolled Egg) 

• About this sushi: An egg which has been cooked and rolled like an Omelette; (Fancier restaurants tend to use quail eggs!) Traditionally; tomago is served last as a sort of dessert. – There’s a comedic rakugo folktale from Kita, Tokyo: related to the Ōji Inari Shrine & a restaurant which was once famous for serving tomago, called “Ōgiya.” – In which a man decides to out-fox a transformed kitsune. (Flipping the usual trope on its head.) – One day on their way home from visiting the Oji shrine. A patron spots a kitsune transforming into a beautiful woman, knowing that kitsune are tricksters; he realizes that she was probably up to no good; so, the man dashes over and invites the fox out for drinks; of course, the fox drinks heavily during the meal and passes out, The man leaves the Tipsy kitsune with three orders of tomago and the entire drink tab! billed for two!! When the Kitsune later wakes up to the disgruntled waiter who is asking for payment. The news causes the kitsune to reveal its disguise in shock! – Though the original restaurant is long gone, The place where it once stood is still a staple landmark in the annual Ōji Inari fox parade!

[Sticker art by @Samkalensky, Part of my Nigiri Sushi/Foodlore collections.]