New Experiences
My host mum one morning asked me if I would like to try sashimi. I didn’t have much experience with sashimi, but had loved everything she had made until then so agreed without hesitation. She brought home some fish and served it up: Katsuo. I had to research the word, but found it translated to Bonito. This didn’t help. Still had no idea. But it looked appetising, and was presented so nicely I went in head first. I loved it! It was so different to anything I had ever tried, and so light on the palate – refreshing almost.
There were of course many other first-timers. I remember being a bit taken aback when I first tried Japanese curry (what on earth is this sweet sauce?!) and natto was the bane of my existence. There are very few things I cannot eat with Japanese food, one being natto. To be fair, I gave the sticky, snot-like substance several tries – each time I just couldn’t stomach it.
Otherwise I was loving the cuisine, and belt size reflecting this fact: I put on a bit of weight and remember vividly the day my host mother’s friend told me my face had become round like the moon.
Couldn’t Live Without You
These days Japanese food is an established part of my diet. At home I make things like kara-age, katsu curry and of course the staple miso soup. I often go out to Japanese restaurants too for things I can’t make easily at home – sashimi definitely being on that list.
I recognise the nutritional benefits Japanese food and diet has and after over more than a decade of being ‘together’, simply couldn’t imagine life without it.
WashokuLovers
