Where can I get a fugu?

Japanese cuisine is much different from the usual European, and due to its unusualness is popular all over the world. Even in our country in many cities appeared Japanese restaurants offering to taste exotic sushi and sashimi, and drink them sake. However, there is one Japanese delicacy, which can be tasted almost exclusively in real Japanese restaurants, that is, restaurants that are located in Japan. These are fugu fish dishes.

Everyone knows that Japan is a very unusual country, but it is surprising that the Japanese are at risk of eating fish, the poison of which is several hundred times more poisonous than potassium cyanide. And indeed, every year the press reports several cases of fatal poisoning by this fish. But if you go to many Japanese restaurants, you will find that their visitors are not afraid to order fugu dishes. To understand such carelessness, you need to take into account that only certified chefs who passed a special exam are allowed to cook this fish. Training of the cook, who will be allowed to cook fugu fish, is conducted for about 10 years. During this training, the cook undergoes many tests to test his ability to remove poison from various parts of the body of several varieties of fugu. As a result of the work of such a cook, the fish is completely safe for humans. And all cases of poisoning without exception are associated with attempts to independently prepare fugu.

Fugu is a delicacy fish and is expensive outside of Japan. However, the Japanese are reluctant to export this fish. They find it difficult for a non-Japanese to appreciate its rather specific taste. And while almost all Japanese cities boast a restaurant serving fugu, it is almost impossible to find it in foreign Japanese restaurants. It is worth noting that in America, fugu is valued not for its taste, which is really quite specific, but only as an exotic dish. As in Japan, only certified chefs are allowed to cook fugu dishes. However, this precaution is actually superfluous, since fugu comes from Japan in the already cut form, without poisonous parts. Double control completely eliminates the possibility of poisoning, and in order to be fully confident in their safety, you need to order fugue only in those restaurants that have the appropriate licenses. However, even in America, such restaurants are few. So, if you want to eat fugu, you probably have to go to Japan.