Tsukiji: It's not just about the fish, says Michelin chef

"I quickly had to get used to the idea that I knew nothing about fish," said Beccat, even though he comes from the French fishing port of Marseille.

Yes, we all know that one gains knowledge of something simply by growing up in an area that deals with that thing. It's like English being hereditary.

I don’t think you understood what the quoted passage meant...

yildi - I don't think you understood what chip meant.

Knowledge is not necessarily automatically bestowed based on ones birthplace.

Esquisse is a great dining experience.  But the article is a bit silly.  Tells us nothing new really.

Knowledge is not necessarily automatically bestowed based on ones birthplace.

He was a chef with Troisgros before coming to Japan so will have had extensive experience working with the fishing industry. "Fish" in that sentence doesn't mean the literal fish from the sea, but rather the entire industry. If it were not already clear enough, the sentences before and after should make that easy to understand.

Tsukiji is all right but a little over-rated (and these days overcrowded).

Maybe new restaurants/eateries will open up in Toyosu but I'm not counting on it.

yiildi - thanks for the reply.

I understand very clearly what was meant.

My point (and chip's I guess) was that coming from Marseilles doesn't mean you understand the fish, the fishing industry or anything connected more so than coming from elsewhere.

Being born in Bordeaux doesn't make one a wine (industry) expert, and in fact many things can be learnt about wine from other regions of the world.

Many people in Japan, a rice-centric country, are surprised that they know only a little about the world of rice.

Fishing world is no different.

wish i went thru the same experience as chef beccat, quite interesting to learn different things and built up friendly relationship.

My point (and chip's I guess) was that coming from Marseilles doesn't mean you understand the fish, the fishing industry or anything connected more so than coming from elsewhere. 

Being born in Bordeaux doesn't make one a wine (industry) expert, and in fact many things can be learnt about wine from other regions of the world.

This part of the article is explaining the Chef’s “humbling experience” working with the people at Tsukiji Market. That he didn’t know as much about fish as he thought he did.

You would be right to say “coming from Marseilles doesn’t mean you understand the fish”, if he were just a resident/random person from Marseilles.

The fact that he is a CHEF that worked in Marseilles implies that he had extensive knowledge about fish, since it is also a top tier fish market where no doubt he would have also had to communicate and talked with the fisherman.

Mic drop

Peri -Maiku - thanks.

Yes , I get it. I really do. From my first read of the article.

My original comment was re yildi's comment that chip didn't understand. Maybe he did, or maybe he didn't.

But I would favour the side that suggests he did understand and was merley making a commment re no matter where you hail from and whatever world you are immersed in and to whatever level, your experience is yours alone and millions have their own too.

I have a close friend - a lobster(crayfish to ozzies) catcher in southern Australia - I'd guess he'd know more about lobsters than perhaps any retailer in Tsukiji - but I bet he doesn't know it all.

But I would favour the side that suggests he did understand and was merley making a commment re no matter where you hail from and whatever world you are immersed in and to whatever level, your experience is yours alone and millions have their own too.

Perry, Yiildi, Browny: I appreciate the replies because they were cordially and critical. I was saying that we are all individuals no matter where we are born, and that trying to make assumption based on birthplace is fraught with hazards. My apologies for not being clearer.