American Foods That FREAK Japanese out

Mrs Eats

11 Jun 202110:34

Summary

TLDRIn 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.

Outlines

00:00

😮 First Experience with American Breakfast and Grits

The speaker shares her first time eating an American breakfast at a diner with Mr. Eats. Initially confused by the 'white gloopy stuff' on her plate, which turned out to be grits, she eventually grows fond of it after adding salt and pepper. She compares grits to Japanese food and imagines how it might be adapted to suit Japanese palates, with soy sauce or caramel as toppings.

05:00

🐟 Trying Catfish for the First Time

The speaker recounts her initial hesitation about trying catfish due to its odd appearance, but her apprehension fades after tasting deep-fried catfish. She finds the texture similar to cod and enjoys it. She also mentions how catfish are less commonly eaten in Japan, though some regions do consume it. The conversation shifts to a unique Japanese delicacy called 'shirako,' a fish sperm sack, which surprises her American companion, Mr. Eats.

10:02

🍯 The Hunt for Honey Bun

Inspired by a Beyoncé and Lady Gaga music video, the speaker embarks on a quest to try a honey bun. After much searching, she finally finds it at a gas station. Despite her excitement, the honey bun disappoints her with its overly sweet taste and lack of actual honey flavor. She humorously mimics Beyoncé’s actions from the video by squishing and throwing it away after tasting it.

🌭 Discovering Boudin and Its Korean Connection

The speaker is introduced to boudin, a sausage-like dish filled with rice and herbs. She compares it to a spicy Japanese rice ball and reflects on its similarity to the Korean dish 'sundae,' which also has rice and herbs but includes pork blood. She encourages boudin lovers to try sundae if they visit Korea, highlighting the unexpected cultural connection.

🥒 The Surprising Appeal of Pickle Juice

While shopping at Walmart, the speaker is intrigued by pickle juice sold as a snack. After learning from Mr. Eats that pickle juice is sometimes drunk or frozen and taken to soccer games, she decides to try it. Surprisingly, she finds that it tastes similar to Japanese fruit vinegar and later experiments by adding it to chili, enhancing its flavor. She contemplates whether Japanese people could make use of pickle juice, suggesting it could be frozen like a snack.

🎬 Conclusion and Farewell

The speaker wraps up her video by thanking viewers for watching and hopes they enjoyed her experiences with various American foods. She hints at more content to come in future videos, ending on a positive note.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Shirako

Shirako is a Japanese delicacy made from the sperm sacs of fish, typically cod. It is considered a delicacy due to its rich and creamy texture. In the script, the speaker contrasts the Japanese perception of catfish with their own enjoyment of shirako, highlighting the cultural differences in food preferences. The mention of shirako serves to emphasize the adventurous spirit of trying new foods.

💡American Diner

An American diner is a type of restaurant that is typically characterized by its casual atmosphere and serves a variety of classic American dishes. The script describes the visit to a diner as an opportunity to experience authentic American breakfast, which is a central theme of the video as it explores the diversity of American cuisine.

💡Grits

Grits are a type of food made from ground corn, and they are a staple in Southern American cuisine. The script describes the initial confusion and eventual enjoyment of grits, which were new to the speaker. Grits are used in the video to illustrate the unexpected pleasures of trying unfamiliar foods.

💡Catfish

Catfish is a type of fish that is popular in certain regions of the United States and is often prepared by deep-frying. The script uses catfish as an example of a food that might seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with it but can be quite enjoyable. The mention of catfish also touches on the broader theme of overcoming food prejudices.

💡Honey Bun

A Honey Bun is a type of sweet bread product that is often sold in convenience stores and gas stations in the United States. The script describes the speaker's quest to find and try a Honey Bun, which is depicted as a humorous and somewhat elusive snack. The Honey Bun serves as a symbol of the iconic, yet sometimes misunderstood, aspects of American food culture.

💡Boudin

Boudin is a type of sausage that is particularly popular in Louisiana and other parts of the Southern United States. It contains rice and is often seasoned with a variety of spices. The script describes the speaker's positive experience with boudin, which is used to illustrate the regional diversity of American food.

💡Pickles Juice

Pickles juice is the liquid that results from pickling cucumbers or other vegetables. In the script, the speaker explores the unusual practice of drinking pickles juice, which is often used for its salty and sour flavor. The video uses pickles juice as an example of unconventional food practices that can be both surprising and enjoyable.

💡Food Body Entity

The term 'Food Body Entity' is used in the script as a playful way to introduce the topic of the video, which is about discovering new and unusual foods. It suggests a focus on the physical and sensory aspects of food, which is a central theme of the video as the speaker describes the textures and tastes of various dishes.

💡Sundae

Sundae, also spelled soondae, is a Korean dish made from a mixture of blood sausage and rice. The script mentions sundae in comparison to boudin, highlighting the global similarities and differences in food. Sundae is used in the video to emphasize the theme of exploring and appreciating diverse culinary traditions.

💡Umeboshi

Umeboshi are Japanese pickled plums that are very sour and salty. The script mentions umeboshi as an example of the many types of pickles in Japanese cuisine. This keyword is used to draw a comparison between the use of pickle juice in American cuisine and the variety of pickled foods in Japan.

💡Ponzu Sauce

Ponzu sauce is a type of Japanese citrus soy sauce often used as a dipping sauce. The script refers to ponzu sauce as a condiment that could potentially accompany shirako, illustrating the video's theme of combining traditional flavors with new food experiences.

Highlights

Japanese people generally find eating catfish to be a scary experience, but they enjoy shirako (fish sperm sack).

The speaker discovered grits during her first experience with an American breakfast and found them unexpectedly delicious despite initial confusion.

Shirako is described as a delicacy eaten in Japan during winter, typically served in hot pot and dipped in ponzu sauce.

The speaker compares grits to Japanese porridge and muses that it could be adapted in Japan with different toppings, like soy sauce or caramel.

The speaker's initial reaction to the appearance of catfish was discomfort due to its slimy look and long whiskers.

Despite reservations, the speaker found fried catfish to be delicious, with a texture similar to cod.

The speaker learned that scientists are researching how catfish can detect small and large earthquakes.

Boudin (a Cajun sausage stuffed with rice, herbs, and pork) was described as a nostalgic and flavorful dish, reminding the speaker of Japanese food.

The speaker compared boudin to Korean sundae, a sausage filled with sticky rice, herbs, and pork blood.

The speaker was surprised to see pickle juice sold as a snack in the U.S. and found that it tasted similar to Japanese fruit vinegar.

The speaker tried pickle juice in chili and found that it significantly enhanced the flavor of the dish.

While Japan has a variety of pickles, Japanese people typically do not use pickle juice, unlike in the U.S.

The speaker suggests that Japan could adopt the idea of freezing pickle juice and using it in new ways, such as snacks.

The speaker reflects on her disappointment with honey buns, which she had eagerly anticipated after seeing them in pop culture.

The speaker humorously reenacted a scene from Beyoncé's music video involving a honey bun, but found the actual taste to be underwhelming.