Asuka dipped the sea bream in the ponzu and inserted it into her mouth, then let out a little gasp. Next, without a moment’s hesitation, she sprinkled some salt on the deep-fried matsutake, took a bite, and nodded vigorously. Nagare arrived with an earthenware pot, steam issuing from its lid, and set it down on the table. ‘Watch out, this is hot!’ ‘Smells wonderful!’ said Asuka, her nose twitching away. ‘Freshwater eel is tasty enough, but there’s something about the lightness of saltwater anago. The rice is topped with grilled anago from Akashi, with a garnish of green peppercorns.’ Nagare
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