Deadly Food For Fools

***

During the 90's I would go to a local coffee shop every morning before work. I would sit at the counter. Over time i became good friends with a man who was married to a Japanese wife.

Steve wanted to take his wife to Japan for their 40th wedding anniversary. He had told me that he wanted to treat himself to a rare food that if not prepared properly it could kill you. We talked about it a time or two.

It was one of his bucket list items.

Steve did go to Japan with his bride for their fortieth . We got a "community" letter at the coffee shop one day from Steve's wife. It told us that Steve came back from dinner while in Japan and complained of major stomach pain. He went and laid down on the bed with abdominal pains that doubled him over. Steve soon died.

His wife immediately had Steve cremated.

Steve was a very healthy man who had exercised and kept himself in good shape. The only reason I could come up with his sudden death is that he most likely consumed the killer food that he had told me he wanted to try.

I imagine/speculate Steve's wife couldn't tell us because of life insurance reasons.

 Blowfish, puffer fish, fugu fish: Whatever you call it, there’s no more fascinating and dangerous delicacy in the world. Although it’s bursting with tetrodotoxin—a poison said to be hundreds of times more deadly than cyanide—the fish is hotly searched out by foodies. Here’s how chefs go further and turn the deadly fish into an incredible dish.