Freshwater Quotes

“People often avoided eel because it had the sharp fragrance common to river fish, and Masaru was usually one of them. Even when he enjoyed it, something about the aftertaste bothered him. When it was cooked kabayaki-style with sauce, he could just about bear it, but this was shirayaki, meaning there was no seasoning to mask the flavor. Masaru had always believed this to be a problem inherent in even the highest-quality eel—but he was astonished by how clean and light this one tasted.
In fact, Masaru had never tasted eel like it. It had all the delicacy of white fish like sea bream or flounder, combined with the rich savor of yellowtail at the peak of its season. He had thought lightness and richness of flavor were two ends of a spectrum, that they couldn't possibly coexist— but this shirayaki proved otherwise.”
― Jesse Kirkwood, A Serving of Hope