Ep 6. Kanazawa

In season 9 episode 6 of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations, host Andrew Zimmern takes viewers on a culinary journey to Kanazawa, one of Japan's most historic cities. Located on the west coast of Honshu island, Kanazawa is renowned for its traditional crafts and local cuisine.

Zimmern begins his exploration of Kanazawa with a visit to the Omicho Market, a bustling seafood market that has been a fixture in the city for over 300 years. Here, he samples some of the freshest seafood Japan has to offer, including uni (sea urchin), oysters, and squid. He also tries a local dish called kaisen-don, which is a bowl of sushi rice topped with a variety of raw seafood.

Next, Zimmern visits a traditional Japanese sweet shop to try some wagashi, or Japanese confections. Made from ingredients such as rice flour and sweetened bean paste, wagashi come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are often served with tea. Zimmern tries several kinds of wagashi, including one that is shaped like a persimmon fruit.

Moving on to savory dishes, Zimmern visits a Yakitori restaurant where he tries all kinds of grilled chicken skewers. Yakitori is a popular dish in Japan, and the restaurant Zimmern visits specializes in using every part of the chicken, from the meat to the organs to the skin.

Zimmern also visits a soba noodle restaurant to try some handmade soba noodles. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and are traditionally served cold with a dipping sauce. The restaurant Zimmern visits is located in an area of Kanazawa that is known for its pure, clean water, which is essential for making good soba noodles.

Finally, Zimmern visits a local sake brewery to learn about the sake-making process and to sample some of the brewery's best sakes. Sake is a rice wine that is often served with Japanese dishes, and Zimmern tries several kinds of sake, ranging from sweet to dry.

Throughout the episode, Zimmern highlights the unique ingredients and culinary traditions of Kanazawa. From the fresh seafood of the Omicho Market to the handmade soba noodles of a local restaurant, Kanazawa is a city that takes pride in its food and its culinary heritage.