by Andrew Bender
When it comes to food, one parental injunction has always stayed with me: “You don’t have to like it; you just have to try it.” I’ve tried reindeer meat in Norway and dog meat in Korea. The dog, stewed, was good–like brisket. But each mouthful brought back memories of favorite pets. Given the chance to try whale in Tokyo, I said okay, at the same time experiencing all the familiar feelings that go along with eating a forbidden thing: guilt, a little giddiness, a pinch of dread.