Thu, 1 July 2010
When you hear the words 'Japanese food', what comes to mind? For today's Japanofiles Podcast, I talk with seven friends, and together we explore the wonders of natto -- a popular Japanese food that is little known outside Japan. Comments[2]
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I was disappointed that the predominant reaction to natto, among the people you interviewed, was negative. I love natto, and my wife and two daughters like it a lot -- and we are Westerners who have never been to Japan.
I eat it straight or combine it with all sorts of things: rice, eggs (raw or cooked), negi, yamaimo, bread, matzah brei, vegetable stir-fry, couscous ... you name it. (I don\'t add the mustard and soy/bonito packets in many of these cases, though.) Natto ice cream sounds intriguing, but I haven\'t tried it.
I was introduced to natto in the early \'90s by a Manhattan sushi chef who said I didn\'t have to pay for the sample if I didn\'t like it. I think he fully expected me to run away screaming, but I thought the smell, while pungent, was very appealing, and the taste was great. I wish I could find that guy to thank him, because over the years, my love of natto has served as a kind of password at Japanese restaurants all over the US -- if you eat natto, people know you\'re serious about Japanese food. (Even those Japanese people who _don\'t_ like natto take you more seriously.)
I eat it straight or combine it with all sorts of things: rice, eggs (raw or cooked), negi, yamaimo, bread, matzah brei, vegetable stir-fry, couscous ... you name it. (I don\'t add the mustard and soy/bonito packets in many of these cases, though.) Natto ice cream sounds intriguing, but I haven\'t tried it.
I was introduced to natto in the early \'90s by a Manhattan sushi chef who said I didn\'t have to pay for the sample if I didn\'t like it. I think he fully expected me to run away screaming, but I thought the smell, while pungent, was very appealing, and the taste was great. I wish I could find that guy to thank him, because over the years, my love of natto has served as a kind of password at Japanese restaurants all over the US -- if you eat natto, people know you\'re serious about Japanese food. (Even those Japanese people who _don\'t_ like natto take you more seriously.)
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