Do you like sushi?

[Queso]

It is, mate. oh god I want some right now.

[Snocrash]

Mmmm... sushi is so good! My favorites are probably the rainbow and dragon roll and that one with quail egg (though it's usually hard to find).

 

I hear they have this amazing spam sushi in Hawaii

[DougF]

Mmmm... sushi is so good! My favorites are probably the rainbow and dragon roll and that one with quail egg (though it's usually hard to find).

 

I hear they have this amazing spam sushi in Hawaii :)

OK! I'm relay going to try some, there is an all-u-can eat place down the road from my office,

I don't want to look like a fool, (I know too late :smilingsun:) so I want to walk up to counter and get some, (is there anything I should stay away from ?)

or something I should try first? Thanks for your input.

[Buffy]

OK! I'm relay going to try some, there is an all-u-can eat place down the road from my office,

Oh gosh, whatever you do, do NOT order sushi at an "all-u-can-eat" place!!! It needs to be prepared fresh by a real sushi chef. All you are going to get at the "all-u-can-eat" place is old imitation crab rolls in the worst quality seaweed wrap...

 

Save your pennies and go to a real sushi place that does nothing but sushi (no "Japanese" restaurants that serve mostly tempura or teriyaki, or worse, Benihana).

 

You'll be glad you did!

I don't want to look like a fool, (I know too late :)) so I want to walk up to counter and get some, (is there anything I should stay away from ?) or something I should try first?

Eating at the bar in a sushi place is an excellent way to do it because you order one thing at a time, and keep going until you're full. One of our favorite places in the Bay Area is called Isobune, which has "sushi boats": there's a little river of water going along the bar with different sushi going by and you just pick up the plates that look good. There are other places like that around the world.

 

But note that you "are seated" at the bar, you don't "walk up." The little square plate is for putting a little dab of the wasabi (the green paste, its Japanese Horseradish and its seriously hot!) and filling the rest with soy sauce and then you dip your sushi in it on its way into your mouth. The pink leafy stuff is pickled ginger ("Gari") and you can eat that between bites if you like it (I never touch it). That's all you need to know not to look like a fool, since its a pretty safe bet that 90% of the people sitting next to you know no more about sushi than you do.

 

There are three basic "shapes" of sushi:

• nigiri: a lump of rice with a piece of fish or other stuff on top of it
  
• maki: a roll of rice with fish/stuff on the inside and seaweed (aka "nori") on the outside (although fancier rolls have the seaweed inside with rice and or fish/stuff on the outside).
  
• temaki (aka "handroll"): like a regular roll but its cone shaped, and "made by hand" rather than in a bamboo rolling tool.

There's also "sashimi" which is just the fish without rice or seaweed, and "inari" which is deep-fried tofu wrapped around rice (sometimes with fish inside but usually not, see below).

 

My recommendations for beginners:

• Maguro: the best quality tuna. Its what you get when you order Ahi
  
• Hamachi (Yellowtail): Tuna that's yellow. Very nummy but easy on the pallatte.
  
• Toro: fatty tuna, looks like a more-orangey version of Maguro, with white fat lines in it.
  
• Ebi: cooked shrimp, just like you get in a shrimp cocktail without the sauce. Safe choice for beginners.
  
• Saki (the fish! not the rice wine): Salmon, similar in flavor to tuna but stronger
  
• Tamago: a slice of omlette style eggs. Very mild.
  
• Unagi: freshwater smoked eel, if you're a little more adventurous, but its really good.
  

Avoid the octopus or squid: I think they're tastless and tough. Other kinds of fish (sea bass, red snapper, urchin) I suggest waiting until you've had some practice as they can be strong. And avoid the blowfish (fugu) unless you're at a $100 a plate place that has a seriously trained sushi chef: improperly prepared it can kill you!

 

Rolls usually have lots of other things mixed in, crab (make sure you get real, not imitation crab!), avocado, cucumber, etc. Or are in sauces: my favorite is "spicy scallops" which usually is a handroll.

 

Order the Miso soup as an appetizer (some places give you a spoon, but the proper technique is to drink it out of the bowl), and have a hot sake to go along with your meal.

 

Kids can have the Inari, with a Japanese Soda (the most over-sugared drink I've ever had), and maybe some shrimp tempura (which most sushi places have), so it really can be a family outing.

 

Mugen no kanata made,

Buffy

[InfiniteNow]

is there anything I should stay away from?

Quite possibly, the all you can eat place. :)

 

or something I should try first?

It's up to you. Most people are more accepting of something like a California roll on the first bite. It's just immitation crab and avacodo, dried seaweed and rice. Be sure to try different things. Not all fish tastes the same, nor do different combinations of the same type of fish.

 

Overall, just remember, the freshest is the bestest.

[freeztar]

OK! I'm relay going to try some, there is an all-u-can eat place down the road from my office,

I don't want to look like a fool, (I know too late :lol:) so I want to walk up to counter and get some, (is there anything I should stay away from ?)

or something I should try first? Thanks for your input.

 

In general, I'd recommend staying away from "buffet style" sushi. Try to find a reputable establishment in your area. Sushi that is prepared well will be very fresh and artfully presented.

For your first time, I would recommend trying some Maki (rolls). The California roll is very popular among neophytes as it contains imitation crab, avocado, and cucumber. This is not really considered "true" sushi amongst afficionados though. The next step up, that I would recommend for a newbie, would be sashimi. If you like seafood in general, then you will probably be alright with most sushi. I'm not an oyster fan, nor do I like roe, so I stay away from those selections, but YMMV. My favorite is salmon sashimi. It has a buttery texture that is very complimentary to the flavor it imparts. Unagi, eel, is also a favorite of those uninitiated as it is, 99% of the time, smothered with a glaze sauce.

 

I highly recommend trying some. :)

I didn't like the idea for a long time, but when I finally tried some I realized a VERY noticable change in my energy level and well being within about an hour. Others I have spoken with report similar results. If I'm ever feeling like a cold is coming on, I'll get some sushi and miso soup and all is good with my body usually.

 

It is this "energy effect" that causes me to want sushi, and not so much the taste. (although the soy/wasabi mixture followed by a pickled ginger sliver is enjoyable enough for any palette to be amused)

[DougF]

OK!

I'm staying away from "buffet style" sushi. and I'll find a reputable establishment.

man you jump on that didn't you,:lol:

But really thanks for the info. :lol:

and Buffy thanks for the menu. :)

[minna]

Love sushi! And anyone who loves sushi has to try onigiri. It's equally good!

[Star30]

Is the pickled ginger to clean your pallet? Is it wrong to eat the pickled ginger with the sushi?

[jungjedi]

it is mighty tastey

[Snocrash]

Is the pickled ginger to clean your pallet? Is it wrong to eat the pickled ginger with the sushi?

 

From what I've heard it's to kill any harmful bacteria that may be on the fish... not sure how true that is though.

[Buffy]

From what I've heard it's to kill any harmful bacteria that may be on the fish... not sure how true that is though.

I doubt that ginger would kill much, no matter how spicy it tasted...heck, the wasabi would probably be more leathal. The ginger is normally consumed between morsels, so I think its best to think of it as a Japanese sorbet...

 

Sushi so fresh it wiggles,

Buffy

[Star30]

Japanese Sorbet, Right. Thanks for the input.

Sushi so fresh it wiggles? Really Buffy? I don't know if I have the stomach. I tried tuna in a hawaiian grocery store and it was difficult to swallow.

As far as microbes go, Ginger would not be the way to go - Bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide maybe.

[InfiniteNow]

Ginger is purely for palette cleanse/personal enjoyment.

Microbes no more of an issue than when eating a burger at the Mickie Dees.

Texture is the issue most people have. Like rice pudding, or jello, or crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy... people struggle with the texture.

 

It's mental though. :cup::clock:

[Star30]

Texture - I agree, Mental - probably more

Growing up I was tought to cook food completely. Although I ate a live Beta once on a dare (many moons ago). Not sure I would do it again.

[freeztar]

From what I've heard it's to kill any harmful bacteria that may be on the fish... not sure how true that is though.

 

No need to worry about the microbes in fresh fish, it's the rotting fish you worry about.

I love and advocate ginger in all respects.

Check out this quote:

The characteristic odor and flavor of ginger root is caused by a mixture of zingerone' date=' shoagoles and gingerols, volatile oils that compose about 1%–3% by weight of fresh ginger. The gingerols have analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, antibacterial, and GI tract motility effects.[/quote']

Ginger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Perhaps there is some truth to ginger combating microbes...

[bongo]

I've never tried sushi but i really want to try one day.