Okinawa Fish Market, 2005A few weeks ago I was treated to dinner by my friend and her husband. I ordered sushi, but in typical Japanese fashion (or more like Yamagata-ken fashion), they thought that it wasn't enough food for me. So my friend ordered some additional dishes for me to eat.
The first of which was Fugu. I saw it written on the menu, but it didn't have a picture - that scared me. Then I scanned down to the price and it was a bit over $40! I quickly refused the offer because that was just way too expensive, but of course, she never listens to my refusals.
The plate, which was about 5 inches in diameter, had very, very thin slices of Fugu sashimi on it. The slices were so thin that you could see the plate's pattern underneath. I was a little taken back by how puny the serving was. I thought that maybe this is was just the "teaser" and the main plate has yet to arrive. But a new plate never came and I suddenly realized that I was about to eat some very expensive fish.
Fugu is white and tasteless. They provide you with a couple dipping sauces which give it some flavor. It's great but I would never have guessed that it was a delicacy. Even though I wasn't really sure what it was, I ate most of it.
There was also another dish that she wanted me to try. I would describe it as a Fish Guts Creme Puff. The outside looked like a creme puff - golden and deep fried. But the moment you bite into it - a burst of veryyy creamy guts explodes in your mouth! Sound tasty?
Actually... it wasn't that bad! The texture gave me the shivers at first, but it wasn't disgusting.
After dinner I went home and researched what Fugu was. I had heard the name before, but I just couldn't remember. Why, it's the puffer fish of course! How could I forget? And then my immediate second thought was...
wait a minute isn't that fish poisonous!?!?
It's the fish that requires chefs to go through a few years of training in order to just master the preparation. One wrong cut or slip up and you have a dead customer on your hands. Lethal. Man! She didn't mention any of that - lol. You would think that would be a really important warning to tell a first-timer.
I was given the chance to try a delicacy that most Japanese people have only tried once (if ever) in their lifetime. I'm still alive... thank goodness!
Hiroshige, 1832 It looks so friendly here.
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2 comments:
Awesome! You are now a member of the "Haves" and most importantly, you survived! Your other parental unit got her underwear in a sumo configuration but heck, you're the dung! Though you'll keep the one upmanship on me cuz I'll never try it.
Also, after our recent discussion concerning the bullet train, you'll have to do that too! Something I want to do before I turn into dust.
Can't wait to see your next blog.
Possible journal entry:
"It's been about 4 hours now since i've eaten the deadly Fugu. And it looks like things are alright, but man wouldn't that be something to pick the day the Fugu chef was asdknraoeihneoihfasaodnf......
[Fired]
LOL! well hawt dawg my lil ditter is certainly a daring individual. remind me not to order 40 dollar fish when i get there :B.
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