Japan

Shiokara: Japan’s Fermented Seafood Guide (Ika no Shiokara)

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Shiokara (fermented squid) — Japan’s potent umami-rich seafood delicacy. Japanese food has a wide range of flavors. Among them is a category called shoukouhin (珍味), which means “strange tastes.” One of the most challenging is Shiokara (塩辛). This is a strong, pungent dish made from fermented seafood. It delivers a huge umami explosion. This is … Read more

Fugu Japan: The Deadly Pufferfish Delicacy

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Fugu sashimi arranged in an intricate chrysanthemum pattern — a true test of the chef’s knife skills. In the refined world of Japanese cuisine, there exists a dish that carries the ultimate stakes: fugu, the pufferfish that contains a toxin 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide. A single mistake in preparation means almost certain death. … Read more