Live Sashimi

Nagasaki highlight - food!!  Let others take care of the menu. Due to our limited ability in command of the Japanese language we found very rewarding cuisine through entrusting the decision to our server. Night one we followed the local guide book to a sushi restaurant. Once inside we found a short menu in Japanese language only. We asked our server to assist and  once he determined our hunger level he had a plan in mind. First course sashimi, raw fish, something we had all experienced in Vancouver and looked forward to the culinary opportunity in Japan. Excellent, but how about some rice to compliment this. As a second order I asked for rice  and the server agreed, how about rice pilaf. Next to arrive, to our surprise, was the most succulent lamb chop you could imagine, in a nice merlot sauce. The server definitely had it right! And we had no real idea of what the bill was to be. But in the end one of the tastiest meals of the trip. The second nights meal will go down as one of the most memorable meals of my lifetime. Somewhat like finding alligator in Fort McMurray, Alberta. But this culinary delight was rock fish. Not an uncommon meal in the Asain-Pacific. During this meal the entire fish was to be consumed in various dishes. The first being boiled skin and intestine, with a side of liver. The highlight sashimi to follow, explained later. Then fried bone pieces with salt to flavor, topped off by miso rock fish soup and tea and persimmon for desert. Now I barely touched on the highlighted sashimi rock fish, again raw fish as we all enjoy. I think we actually saw this little guy swimming in the front tank on the way in. And this was quite a high end joint as we shared a $60 dinner. On arrival of each dish our server was keen to explain the portion of the fish we were about to enjoy. And as the sashimi was beautifully laid out with the head arranged for show at the top of the plate, a smug face with his back to the plate looking our way. Our server explained this was rock fish sashimi, and reminded us this was raw fish. Jokingly we asked about eating the head as it was on the plate. To a respond that no this was for the soup. About the same time Erin noticed the fish to be still moving. And to all of our surprise yes it was, hence the most authentic fresh sashimi I have ever eaten. The little guy continued on in spurts and spats as we enjoyed his raw hind side. In the end to be returned and boiled for the final course.

Picture and video to be found later.