I remember once going to a pub with a Japanese friend and sitting with some British friends, who knew little or nothing about Japan. With worrying enthusiasm, they interrogated him about the mysteries of his exotic homeland, when the conversation turned to food. "You eat dogs, don't you?" one of them put accusingly to him. My friend was quick to put them straight, suggesting they might be thinking of some other Asian country, although I'm not sure they were entirely convinced.
So how come there is a Japanese video series called "Cooking with Dog"? Fear not, canine lovers, we're talking about Japan here. Of course the dog in question is not an ingredient: no, he's the host of the show and the narrator.
The woman who does the cooking, working through a range of classic Japanese recipes, is known simply as Chef and her dialogue rarely extends beyond the occasional "美味しいです" (it's delicious). It's the dog, a poodle called Francis, who tries to position himself as the star of the show.
Here are a couple of examples: watch Chef conjuring up the wonderful Japanese dishes of Oden and Shabu-shabu, while Francis explains what's happening.
So how come there is a Japanese video series called "Cooking with Dog"? Fear not, canine lovers, we're talking about Japan here. Of course the dog in question is not an ingredient: no, he's the host of the show and the narrator.
The woman who does the cooking, working through a range of classic Japanese recipes, is known simply as Chef and her dialogue rarely extends beyond the occasional "美味しいです" (it's delicious). It's the dog, a poodle called Francis, who tries to position himself as the star of the show.
Here are a couple of examples: watch Chef conjuring up the wonderful Japanese dishes of Oden and Shabu-shabu, while Francis explains what's happening.