Sydney, Australia-based Matt Granger believes he has eaten the most bizarre seafood – and the best sushi – in the world. And he should know. As a professional photographer and photography instructor, he has traveled the globe for several years, eating his favorite seafood along the way.
Now, he is documenting his strange and wonderful seafood experiences around the globe on the YouTube channel, “World’s Best Seafood.” SeafoodSource caught up with Granger to find out about his best and worst experiences in Japan, Hong Kong and other countries.
Blank: Your profession is photographer. Why did you want to document your seafood culinary experiences?
Granger: I’m a seafood lover. The earliest memories I have are going fishing with my grandfather, and eating fish and chips by the shore. As I travel the world teaching and shooting, I am able to eat at so many restaurants. Then, when I went to Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi in Tokyo, I found that the video was getting more hits on my YouTube photography channel than photography videos. Obviously, people are interested in seafood and fine dining.
Blank: What was the Seoul Fish Market like?
Granger: Well, I haven’t been to the Tokyo Fish Market, and no one gets close to that one in terms of volume. At the Seoul Fish Market, you buy whatever you like and then the restaurants in the market will cook it for you – or you can eat it right away as sashimi. They have a rockfish there, which has a poisonous spine. I learned that Koreans tend to like a tougher, firm fish for sashimi, whereas Japanese consumers like the softer fish for sashimi.
Blank: What are some of the most unusual seafood species you have come across?
Granger: In Japan and Hong Kong, the most unusual fish is puffer fish. If you don’t fillet it correctly, you could die. For such a scary sounding fish, though, it is so mild and barely even has a flavor. There is one chain in Japan that is certified to sell puffer fish and serves it seven different ways.
Then, I had octopus in Korea with the tentacles still moving. It is done humanely – they kill the octopus – but they bring out the tentacles so fast, they are still moving. I had it raw as sashimi. You have to be careful so you don’t choke as it goes down. Also, Hong Kong will often have stone fish. It has the most deadly venom in the ocean; if you step on it, it shoots poison through its fin. It is absolutely delicious - probably the most delicious fish I have had. It has a wonderful texture of lobster like monkfish.
Blank: Where have you eaten the best seafood in the world?
Granger: Sukiyabashi Jiro is famed as the best sushi in the world and has two Michelin stars. By far, it is the best sushi I have ever had. They don’t want publicity for it. Jiro Ono is in his 80s now and has been doing nothing but sushi all his life.
Blank: What is the worst seafood you have eaten?
Granger: At a local sushi bar in Tokyo, I tried intestines of sea cucumber. It was not good at all and I instantly regretted it. It is the only regret I have had when trying seafood.
