American Foods That FREAK Japanese out

Summary

In this video, Mrs. Eats shares her unique experiences discovering American foods that surprised her. She recounts trying grits, a creamy dish she likens to Japanese food, and catfish, which initially seemed strange but turned out to be delicious. She also talks about other foods like honey buns, boudin, and pickle juice, comparing them to Japanese and Korean dishes. Throughout the video, she reflects on how these unfamiliar foods challenged her expectations and gave her new culinary experiences, expressing a mix of surprise, curiosity, and enjoyment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Many Japanese people find the idea of eating catfish scary, but the speaker enjoyed it.
• 🍣 The speaker introduced 'shirako,' which is fish sperm sack, and explained how it's eaten in Japan, usually with hot pot and ponzu sauce.
• 🍴 The speaker was surprised by many American foods and shared her first experience with them, including grits, which she described as creamy and delicious.
• 🍞 She tried catfish for the first time, found its texture light and tender, similar to cod, and enjoyed the experience.
• 🐟 Scientists study catfish for their ability to detect earthquakes, which is a fascinating fact shared by the speaker.
• 🍯 The speaker had a comical experience with 'honey buns,' initially fascinated by it in a music video but found the taste disappointing.
• 🌭 Boudin was another American food she discovered, comparing it to a spicy onigiri (Japanese rice ball) and noting how it reminded her of Korean sundae.
• 🥒 The speaker was intrigued by pickle juice in the U.S., initially skeptical but later enjoyed how it added flavor to chili.
• 🇯🇵 She noted that Japan has many kinds of pickles, but unlike Americans, they don't typically use the juice, sparking her curiosity about potential uses.
• 😊 Overall, the video shared the speaker's excitement in exploring unfamiliar foods and her humorous reactions to unique American flavors.

Q & A

What is 'shirako' as mentioned in the video?

'Shirako' is the sperm sac of fish, commonly consumed in Japan. It is often eaten during the winter and typically prepared in hot pot dishes. The texture is creamy, and it pops in the mouth when eaten.

What was the speaker's first reaction to grits in an American diner?

The speaker was initially confused by the white, gloopy texture of grits, which reminded her of a dish eaten by Japanese people when they are sick. However, after seasoning with salt and pepper, she fell in love with grits, describing them as creamy and rich.

How does the speaker imagine Japanese people might modify grits?

The speaker suggests that Japanese people might not enjoy grits as a breakfast dish but could appreciate it as a snack. She imagines they might top grits with soy sauce, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or sweet nuts instead of butter.

How do Japanese people generally perceive catfish ('namazu')?

Most Japanese people find eating catfish a scary experience, as it is not a common food in Japan. The appearance of catfish, with its slimy body and long whiskers, can be off-putting to them.

What was the speaker’s experience eating catfish for the first time?

Although initially apprehensive about the catfish's appearance, the speaker enjoyed the deep-fried catfish. She described the texture as similar to cod, light, tender, and delicious.

What was surprising about the speaker's discovery of honey buns?

The speaker first learned about honey buns from a music video featuring Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. When she finally tried one, she was disappointed by the taste, describing it as overly sweet and oily, with no hint of honey.

What American dish reminded the speaker of Japanese onigiri?

The speaker compared boudin, a sausage-like dish filled with rice and herbs, to a spicy onigiri (rice ball). She felt nostalgic for Japanese food when trying boudin for the first time.

How did the speaker relate boudin to a Korean dish?

The speaker compared boudin to the Korean dish 'sundae,' which is also a sausage-like food filled with sticky rice, herbs, and pork blood. Despite its unappealing appearance, the speaker finds both dishes delicious.

What was the speaker’s reaction to pickle juice in the U.S.?

The speaker was surprised to find pickle juice in the snack section of Walmart and couldn’t understand why people would drink or freeze it for sports. After trying it, she found the taste similar to Japanese fruit vinegar and enjoyed using it to enhance chili.

How does the speaker suggest Japanese people could use pickle juice?

The speaker noted that although Japan has many types of pickles, Japanese people do not utilize the juice. She suggested that they could start a trend of using Japanese pickle juice, perhaps even freezing it as a snack.