🍚 Tai meshi (Rice with sea bream)

The "Naruto Tai" (=Naruto sea bream) caught in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, is one of the top-class premium fish in the country. Raised in the whirlpools of the Naruto Strait, its flesh tightens, resulting in a sea bream with umami and a delightful texture. It is delicious to enjoy it as sashimi while it's fresh, but a dish particularly beloved in Tokushima Prefecture is "Tai meshi". This dish involves cooking the Naruto Tai, either whole or in chunks, together with rice. The firm texture of the Naruto Tai's flesh and rice absorbing its umami create an excellent match. It is highly popular not only among the locals but also with tourists who come from outside the prefecture.