Just for the record, I'm in almost complete agreement with everything SDAI and Tom say here about sashimi, rare streaks, and kitchen hygiene.

During my lengthy stay in Japan - two tours with the AF - I ate more sashimi than I care to remember.

A memorable moment was the our first dinner together at her place with my new Japanese girlfriend, and as I scanned the various delicacies arrayed on the table, I noticed a bowl-full of tiny eyes peering back at me.

In more recent years, I've read too much about parasites to ever again eat anything which hasn't been fully cooked, and in the case of poultry and fish - thoroughly rinsed.

As for hot sauce, I don't touch the stuff - don't want it, don't need it, don't like it. It ruins your taste buds and is probably bad for the plumbing too, or so I've read somewhere.

It's said there are two types: those who live to eat and those who eat to live. I'm definitely in that second category. Most of the data I've seen seems to support the idea that the less you eat (and weigh), the longer you live.

The Japanese have proverbs which reflects this wisdom, here in English:

If you only eat three-quarters full,
you won't need a doctor



Set aside
next day's lunch
while you're at supper



And finally this, which has nothing to do with food, but I can't resist, just to make it an odd three:

Strange dogs don't enter
If the gate is really shut.


sp