Fugu!
 

Hey, guys!

My Mom and I were looking at this website when we came across this:

World's Scariest Foods in Food + Wine on Concierge.com

Has anybody ever eaten this? I know it says it's really expensive, but I was curious to know if anyone had slpurged on their adventerous side. ;)

I also wanted to know, it doesn't say in the article, but, does the fish become non-poisonous or something when you boil it, or when it's cooked?? Or does it stay that way?! DX

Lol, thanks, guys, and have a wonderful day~!

~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~

I've seen this on many cooking shows, and from what they say, the chefs remove the poison sack, rendering it non-poison.

Though they leave enough poison to numb your mouth when you eat it. I'm hoping to try it if I can find a local resturaunt that serves it ;)

I`ve had it raw, in soup, in alcohol, and dried. Also had the roe.

As far as taste, it`s pretty normal. I personally didn`t find it particularly amazing. Cooking it doesn`t remove the poison, so you have to be specially certified to prepare it.

The roe was quite good, and is something I`d like to have again. The sake was fairly nasty, in my opinion... But I was out with someone who loved it, so ended up having to drink WAY too much of it.

Ah, you're brave ones, PockyMePink, and Nyororin!!

Nyororin: Wow! They make sake out of that thing?! That's nuts!! So, it just tasted kinda fishy, that's all? No distinct flavour or anything?

PockyMePink: Lol, enough to numb your tongue, eh? ;) Quite gnarly...I wonder if I should try it...anyone recommend it?

~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~

I've had it raw and fried, both times without knowing what it was or I wouldn't have eaten it. Not tasty enough to die.:eek:

Hahaha...alright, thanks, man ;) Saved my life! I was actually thinking about trying it...Idk, seemed kinda interesting, but at the same time, I didn't want to risk my life over a piece-a over-priced fish...XD

Anyone else have any comments of suggestions? Does it taste similar to any other fish? Like tuna, salmon, or maybe even eel?

I have only had it deep fried, which for many people is about as tasty as you can make something, and I was not really impressed. I mean it tastes fine and all, actually it taste quite lean, but also very bland at the same time.

It was not all that expensive though.. so, maybe I was not eating the good stuff.

Fugu is the yummiest fish that exists, period. Otherwise, why would we spend a whole day's pay or more to eat it? However, if you are American and are used to eating robust-tasting food (such as sushi completely dipped in soy sauce, yuk), you might not be able to appreciate the subtle taste of fugu at all. If you are the kind of a fish lover who can tell blindfold over around ten kinds of fish apart, then you might actually enjoy fugu immensely.

BTW, in the course meal, what many fugu lovers (myself included) like the most is the rice porridge made from the left-over stock from the fugu pot that is served right before the porridge. Fugu meat and bones make excellent stock and rice cooked in it tastes just heavenly.

A typical fugu course looks like this:

Sashimi (called Fugusashi). Fresh fugu meat is nearly transparent.



Karaage (deep-fried). Fugu tastes sweetest when deep-fried.



Tecchiri (Fugu Pot). This is the main course though the pic is small.



Fugu-Zousui (Fugu Rice Porridge). This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. There's no fugu meat in it but just the superb stock from the Tecchiri and an egg.

Lol...Yeah, I hear that the most expensive is the best. ;) Hmm...a lean taste? Interesting...that sounds relative to what Sashimister was saying. Perhaps it's an aquired taste...? I like aquired tastes; I can usually aquire easily :mtongue: lol...but yeah. It sounds interesting. Maybe I should give it a try one of these days. :D I'll just have to make sure to save up! Lol! XD

Anybody else have their testimonies? XD

I am pretty sure I can tell 10+ types of fish apart blindfolded. :mtongue: Being connected to 水産業 does that to you... But I still didn`t think fugu was worth the cost.
There is tasting good, and tasting good enough to pay incredible amounts of money for. Fugu may be good, but it does not fall into the second category for me. Maybe I`ve just never had the really good stuff, but it has always been good - but normal.

Something that does amaze me and seem very much worth the incredible cost - crab sashimi from a crab that has just been removed from the water. That has to be one of the most delicate and sublime flavors out there.

Fried had too many bones too. It also made my lips numb.

Just stick with catfish. You have too many complaints about your better half's culture. ;)

Wow...that actually looked really good from the pics! Thank you, Sashimister! I appreciate it!

Hmm...lots of mixed reviews. I do enjoy the subtle taste of fish, but I'm wondering about the price...is there any Fugu that's less expensive, but still good quality? I know there are certain things that you can find that way, but is Fugu one of them, or is that just one of things where you just kinda have-ta splurge on? ;)

~Honorary~

P.S. Also, if I just want to buy the porridge, how much do you think that would range, or can I not buy it alone?

Thanks, guys!!

Posting those pics made me hungry, too. But the summer is the worst season for fugu so I'll have to wait at least until October or November when the sea water starts getting cold and the fugu getting fatter and sweeter. January and Fevruary are the best, actually.

For less expensive fugu, I generally recommend going to Osaka where a course meal can often cost less than 5,000 yen. In Tokyo, you must usually expect to pay twice as much for the same quality.

Regarding your last question, I personally never have come across a place that serves the porridge without ordering the pot. However, I did once buy at a souvenir shop in Fukuoka fugu stock that came in a pouch that I took home and made the porridge by adding rice and an egg. It wasn't bad at all, either.

Thanks! That's really helpful, Sashimister! I'll have to check it out sometime when I'm in Japan. I plan to go there soon, but not exactly sure when. I'll definately keep your post in mind, though! XD

~Honorary~

That pic of the Fugusashi is one I have seen before and continues to be very appetizing. I don't think I would want someone with less artistry preparing mine, so the expense would be expected.

More interesting to me though is that there is now research underway using the toxin to treat severe cases of chronic pain that have been unresponsive to current pharmaceuticals. It had to be a brave and desperate person to be one of the first volunteers to test it.

Wow, it's really interesting that you say that, TalnSG, because my Mom and I both have a chronic pain disease that's unresponsive to medication. I'll have to do some research on that, because in my spare time I become an herbalist. ;) I'm always on the hunt for new remedies, and old. Thank you for posting this, TalnSG, this is really helpful.

I have heard of a similar situation, where the toxin in a fish, or some other creature was used to treat some kind of medical issue. I just can't remember right now. :p Lol...But I do appreciate this, thank you.

~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~

You might be interested to know then there's some poison frogs they're looking at as they produce a substance up to 100 times more powerful than morphine. It was in National Geographic.

Like the studies you and Columbine refer to, these are all ongoing research and as far as I know not in general use. The story I came across about the fugu is still testing dosage levels, but seems to have very few side effects - so far.

They found with one of the frog chemicals it had less side effects; it wasn't addictive at any rate. But yes, certainly not available for common use!

Hahaha...thanks, guys!! I really must look into this...This could be phenomenal combined with what I've come up with. (I've outsmarted some scientists with what I've got brewin'!) This information is so helpful. I will be sure to post a thread about the disease my Mother and I have. It's very serious, has no cure, and could be potentially fatal. So, this is all great.

I wouldn't expect such a thing to be of common use, though, with how they sell Fugu at resturants, it might just become that way some day!! Lol...:D

Pray for a cure!!

~Honorary~

I've never tried Fugu, but I don't think it tastes like Rubber. Or what do I know? xDDD, but I'd love to try it out one day!

Hahaha, me, too, due!! XD Just be sure to save up!! Lol!

At Nyororin:Best wishes you get to eat that kind of crab again! :D



This fugu seems very contriversal! Awsome!

in Ishikawa
 

Some people eat Pickle of Fugu.
Surprisingly, it stay in little poison(about 10MU TTX).
But it's very deliciaous!:mtongue: