Hello everyone

[michaelb]

Well guess you really are a geek then. Coincidentally, I heard a radio program a week or two ago about some guy who was traveling in Japan and they really did serve him a fish that was still alive. He didn't realize it until he noticed that every time he tried to take a piece out of it, it moved. If I remember correctly, he was in some small place far off the tourist trail and they liked him because he was passable in their language and was trying his best to appreciate the culture. That made him more or less the honored guest and they served it to him as a great delicacy, along the line of "Because we like you so much, this is the best we have to offer".   

[Jeff S]

It's not unusual at all. There are sushi bars all over Japan and Korea that specialize in live fish. I've been eating it there since the 70s. You don't need to go off the beaten path - they're in the best parts of town. They cut it in front of you and serve it still moving. In fact, I've had it in California, sushi chefs that have gotten to know us cut live fish for us. There was a woman sitting next to me once who was completely freaked out when the sushi chef cut a live okoze (sculpin) and put the center of the fillet on the plate and the sliced meat atop, while the fish's eyes and mouth were still moving. Like this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M90BO-KFyQk

[robert angel]

It's not unusual at all. There are sushi bars all over Japan and Korea that specialize in live fish. I've been eating it there since the 70s. You don't need to go off the beaten path - they're in the best parts of town. They cut it in front of you and serve it still moving. In fact, I've had it in California, sushi chefs that have gotten to know us cut live fish for us. There was a woman sitting next to me once who was completely freaked out when the sushi chef cut a live okoze (sculpin) and put the center of the fillet on the plate and the sliced meat atop, while the fish's eyes and mouth were still moving. Like this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M90BO-KFyQk

Do they have places that make chicken and beef dishes in the same fashion? 

[Jeff S]

I've had chicken sashimi - but not slaughtered in-house. Beef, of course, is best served aged.

[thekfc]

I showed the video to my wife & she said "sarap" - she ate live fish in the province many time before. She also said that she used to eat "jumping shrimp" - she would mix them with veggies, vinegar & calamansi.