Eel is Japan's Food of the Year for 2024, along with craft gin and ramen

On December 30, Gurunavi Inc. - the company that operates Japan's leading restaurant search website - announced eel as the "Dish of the Year 2024".

Unagi Japanese eel rice

This choice reflects the growing popularity of the Japanese delicacy eel among international tourists as well as advances in research to ensure the sustainability of the species.

Eel has long been considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine , often enjoyed during festivals or special occasions.

However, thanks to improvements in processing technology, eel can now be consumed daily in many new ways, such as rice balls (onigiri) filled with eel.

Japan is currently working on a closed-loop eel farming process, from hatching eggs, raising them to breeding the next generation through artificial insemination. This is to reduce pressure on wild eel stocks, which are severely depleted due to overfishing.

"We want people to enjoy eel in their daily meals and also be aware of the importance of protecting this natural resource," said a Gurunavi representative.

Ramen noodles

In addition to eel, two other dishes that received special attention in 2024 were Japanese craft gin and premium ramen, ranking second and third respectively.

Japan's domestic gins are slowly gaining international recognition.

Many regions in Japan have begun to create unique gins with distinct flavors, attracting interest from both domestic and international consumers.

Meanwhile, high-end ramen is also becoming more widely known to the international tourist community.

The recent depreciation of the yen has made ramen increasingly affordable and high-quality.

Many ramen shops have differentiated themselves by innovating their ingredients, noodles, broths, and even adopting reservations or priority ordering.

The "Dish of the Year" award is given by Gurunavi based on website search history and results from customer surveys.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/luon-la-mon-an-cua-nam-2024-tai-nhat-ban-cung-ruou-gin-thu-cong-va-mi-ramen-20241230132106332.htm