I tried ‘shirako‘ in Tokyo earlier this year before I actually knew what shirako was. In the spirit of trying not to vomit in the restaurant, I had to ask that its true identity be kept secret from me until I’d finished eating it. I’m not good with stuff like this – it’s much easier when you don’t have mental images taunting you as you chew.
As with all the food on this list, I can’t quite grasp why anyone would look at a the nether-regions of a Cod fish and think “Oooh, that sack of sperm looks mighty appetizing, I’m going to eat it”… seriously? For starters, it looks like brains. It’s squishy, it’s wobbly… it’s fish jizz for heaven’s sake! But, it’s a popular delicacy in Japan that is said to improve a man’s virility – you can find it on the menu at many an Izakaya. Honestly, it doesn’t taste quite as bad as it sounds… It’s a fishy, eggy, creamy mix with a texture that’s not unlike lumpy custard… ok, yes, it’s gross.