Never say never.

Many years ago, I wrote a post about not eating Fugu the potentially deadly pufferfish, a delicacy in parts of the world. In the last 12 months I've eaten it twice. The first time was in the restaurant in Hoshina Tokyo. It was cooked 3 ways however, all were a sort of French fusion, so covered in cheese or cream or baked into a ball, so could have been any fish really.

Our final night in Kyoto was in the luxury ryokan Sowaka, and as a final hurrah we had dinner at La Bombance - overseen by the Michelin rated chef with restaurants in Tokyo and Hong Kong. They asked upon booking if there were allergies, and I said Fois Gras as I have intellectual issues with that. Then they asked if I was happy to eat puffer fish, and as I'd already said no to fois gras, I didn't want to say no again. I decided I would go with the flow on that one. 

The dinner was sensational but the sashimi did include the aforementioned pufferfish. We moved on through the courses.

Later that night I felt my lips a little tingly. I had, being a little too enthusiastic, burnt my mouth on the duck soup, so I was unsure if I was slowly succumbing to poison or just normal wear and tear due to my clumsiness and gluttony.

I googled instances of deaths from fugu and how the poisoning unfolded. I read cases where unqualified chefs had decided to serve it. I read of people accidently buying one at a market. The numbness in my lips and tongue continued to grow. I was aware it was quite possibly all in my head. And of course, it was.*

While it was fine, I would rate kingfish higher for taste & enjoyment and pretty much every other fish too. I feel now that I've eaten it as sashimi with no overpowering accompaniments, that I have given it a proper go. It is not for me. Not as a meat (fish) for taste and texture, and not psychologically. It can go into the same mental bin as Fois Gras. I can honestly say I don't intend to eat it ever again...but I guess we shall see as I have said that before.

And you can never really say never... 

*The giveaway was I never felt shortness in breath, though I did keep rubbing my fingers to see if the tips were tingling.... 

I also need to say it was a sensational dinner, and for a degustation menu, it was lovely and light. Often I feel quite sick after a degustation menu from eating too many rich and heavy dishes. There's always one too many courses. However this was perfectly planned. Everything tasted fresh and was not smothered in sauces. You really enjoyed the flavours of the food. It was a great way to celebrate our final night in Japan.

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