A YouTube video showing a partly pan-fried fish still breathing and moving on a plate has gained a great amount of attention recently, including the attention of animal rights group, PETA, who quoted the video as being “disgusting.” Being the ultimate foodie I am, I do admit I have a taste for the unique and “unconventional” foods that are usually considered delicacies in other countries. My motto is always to “try everything once.” However after watching this video, I do admit my stomach sank a bit after seeing the chopsticks pick apart the fish’s body while it was still alive. The technique in creating this dish involves the chef cooking the fish’s body while wrapping its head in a wet cloth to keep it breathing.
I love sashimi and I love my fried fish and chips, but I’ve never really considered eating a half fried, alive fish. I probably will have to pass on that.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
PETA always over-react on everything that involves animals, so i guess you’ve never eaten lobster sashimi with the its antenna still moving?
Yeah PETA does overreact. Like that time Obama killed a fly during his interview.
Dude, this is so gross! Even as a liberal-minded foodie, I have to admit this is kind of wrong. And go figure that it’s Cantonese peeps eating it–pretty sure it doesn’t add to the taste of the food… HK people just love the shock value. I love seafood, but my marine-loving scuba diver side of me can’t get over the fact that this is just torturing the poor fishie!
Suzanne, thanks for sharing. As a chef (and an avid eater), I find this deeply, deeply upsetting … and unsettling. Every plate represents an ethical choice — for the cook and for the diner. Like you, I’ll try everything once, but not this one, I am afraid . . . .
I agree. There is really no point in having the fish still breathing. I’d rather see them kill the fish before I eat it than eat it while it’s still alive.
As a Chinaman, I would eat almost anything, but this especially strikes me as inhumane.
When you do things like this I can’t help but think that the torture is part of the enjoyment. And who enjoys torture? Eat the fish, but for goodness sake kill it first!