Born Out of Despiration.

Well folks it finally happened. I met the food that bested me. Tremble and cower in fear at the name of Natto.

Natto is a four step process: step 1. place rotten soybeans in a bowl, step 2. mix in the black mystery sauce (this should produce a grey white film on the beans and serves to get the fungal aroma started, step 3. mix in remaining two clear mystery sauces (this, once stirred well, will produce a thick stringy slimy texture), step 4. eat natto. Natto can be mixed into virtually any food, our host mother said to eat it on rice.

Natto has what can best be described as a virulent taste. Imagine if you will the smell of 6 day old coffee grounds left in the sun. Now taste that smell and mix it with the texture of something slug like and perhaps a little bitter lettuce or old lemon. That is what it is like to eat natto. If you should come across this food in any of your travels I recomend you try it and then make the decision for yourself. However, I`ve made my choice, and from now on I`m staying far . . . far away from natto.