April 12, 2017

Did you know there is a Rat Island? Actually there are two of them! One is located in Alaska and the other in New York. The island in Alaska was named Rat Island because it became infested with rats after a Japanese shipwreck in 1780. The invasive species caused a drop in native bird populations. In 2007, the US FWS launched a campaign to eradicate all the rats. Now that the island is rat-free, it is called Hawadax Island. As for the Rat Island in New York...we're not really sure how it got its name. Some say it was where escaping prisoners (who were called rats) from Hart Island fled to. Pelham Penthouse, a quarantine hospital for yellow fever patients, was built on island in the 1800s.

April 9, 2017

Did you know that there's sushi made of fish sperm? Although the entangled appearance of shirako (白子) makes it look like a brain, it's actually the sperm sac from fishes like the cod, salmon, anglerfish, and pufferfish. It has a salty creaminess that some enjoy. Japanese cuisine isn't the only one to use milt. Herring milt is served in a traditional Russian dish!