The Chronicle

JAPANESE-Y DOES IT

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PAUL HOLLYWOOD seeking out the most weird and wonderful food of Japan has been a hilarious idiot’s guide. He might be a profession­al baker, but faced with everything from fish-shaped pancakes stuffed with custard cream to orange bread-in-a-can and a nation obsessed with pot noodles, not everything is easy for him to stomach.

“That’s horrible,” he says, eating a wasabi flavoured KitKat.

The Japanese view KitKats as lucky charms – thanks to some clever Nestle marketing – so they eat five million every day.

Other flavours to horrify Paul include chestnut, cherry blossom and green tea.

“How dare they do that to a KitKat?!” he says.

It’s hugely refreshing for a celeb on a culinary tour not to wax lyrical about everything he tastes.

In better news for Paul, he heads into the countrysid­e to visit an extraordin­ary strawberry farm where just one of the star variety costs a whopping £350.

At least the solitary fruit comes in a gift box. And tasting it sends Paul into ecstasies.

Later, he makes a packed lunch to look like some people who might be a bit familiar.

Then Paul competes in the interestin­gly-named Wanko Soba noodle eating challenge, going head-to-head with a pair of female YouTubers who are famous for eating enormous plates of food despite their slim physique.

He also visits a leading sumo stable where he cooks flatbread for the fighters.

His bizarre trip comes to an end in Osaka as he undertakes the ‘eat-till-you-drop’ food tour, and home to what he becomes convinced is the very best street food on Earth.

 ??  ?? Paul Hollywood with the Harapeko twins after the Wanko Soba noodle challenge
Paul discusses street food with Ayako Kiyono and Saku Yanagawa at the Osaka food market
Paul gets a closer look at the £350 Bijin Hime strawberry with Mr Okuda
Paul Hollywood with the Harapeko twins after the Wanko Soba noodle challenge Paul discusses street food with Ayako Kiyono and Saku Yanagawa at the Osaka food market Paul gets a closer look at the £350 Bijin Hime strawberry with Mr Okuda
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