Sushi Anyone?

This post was prompted by watching a special on sushi on the food network, compiled with tons of people I have encountered who have had bad experiences or no interest in trying it.

Of course, I think people should eat what they want. So no one will ever see me trying to entice a grown adult to try something they really don't want to eat. Just as I would not appreciate someone trying to force me to put ketchup on my eggs (or on anything else for that matter, I hate ketchup).

Okay, so the first thing I think people should know is that "sushi" does not mean raw fish. It actually doesn't always have to do with fish at all. Sushi has to do with rice - actually sticky rice. I believe chefs would speak more to rice and vinegar. I have never tried to make sushi. I'm actually kind of scared to, it looks really hard.

So sushi is not just ANY fish. The fish has to be "sushi grade." Chefs are trained to know good from bad, good to eat and not good to eat. I liken it to knowing when chicken is done. People that know how to cook, know how to cook chicken and know when it's safe to eat. Likewise, it's the same as knowing how to make a steak rare to well done. Basically, the idea you could get sick from eating sushi at a restaurant is just as risky as getting food poisoning from other meat at a restaurant.

Personally, I am more concerned with eating lettuce at restaurants because of where the lettuce comes from, how it travels, the sketchy washing process and how easy cross contamination happens. When it comes to skirting around food poisoning, I'll eat sushi every day for lunch and someone else can take the salad. I bet $100 you get food poisoning before I do. LOL

Not only that, most food poisoning occurs at home. Most restaurants put good food handling practices in place - sushi restaurants are no different. If a person wanted to argue there is more risk because of the lack of cooking with heat, well then we can also argue they are even more diligent because they don't have heat to "kill" bacteria. If the food is questionable, you can't fix it!

There are many kinds of sushi - here are some examples (at least the ones I am familiar with) - oh, these will have to come with links, I am still incapable of posting photos to my blog, or facebook for that matter. I am still working on the issue.

Nigiri - Nigiri is just fish on rice. It could be cooked or raw. Going clockwise from 12:00, we have Sake (Salmon), Maguro (Tuna), the next one could be Hirame (Halibut), Suzuki (Sea Bass) or something else I can't guess, and the last one is Ebi (Shrimp), and guess what the shrimp is cooked!

Sashimi - Sashimi is just fish, no rice. In this photo, I am pretty sure the top left is tuna and the bottom right is yellowtail. Of course the other two are shrimp and salmon.

Maki - Maki are rolls. The roll is made like a cigar, usually using Nori (I'll get to what Nori is later) and rice and then cut into pieces. Maki is where things really start to get interesting. I don't know how many different ways a chef can make Maki - perhaps it's infinite. This is where the cook is separated from the chef, in my opinion. My favorites are: the Spider Roll (softshell crab), Dragon Roll (eel), Spicy Tuna, Philly Roll (cream cheese, cucumber, tuna) and the Dynamite Roll (yellow tail with spicy mayo, etc...in this photo the orange is Roe aka Caviar).

Temaki - Temaki are handrolls, wrapped in Nori. I don't order these very often. They are pretty big and can fill a person up quickly. If I were doing a quick lunch, I would consider two Temaki and that would probably be enough food. Temaki are the same as Maki in that they can be made in numerous ways.

Nori - Essentially, Nori is seaweed. It is seaweed that has been turned into edible paper. This of course is used for Maki and Temaki and probably other things I don't know about. I think some people have a bad impression of "eating seaweed." Breaking it down, it's underwater plants. If I compare this to eating mushrooms (fungi grown in manure) or potatoes (grown in dirt) it doesn't seem all that bad. It doesn't taste bad and reminds me of mixed greens. It is not at all slimy and truly an edible wrapper like a tortilla.

Wasabi - Wasabi is basically Japanese horseradish. It is a plant and then turned into a condiment. How a person chooses to use their wasabi is up to them. Most people (myself included) flavor soy sauce with it and use the soy sauce for dipping. However, I have seen people put a dab on their rolls before eating. Wasabi is very very strong and can burn so it's best to start light. The best way to describe the heat is a cool heat. It's not spicy but it will clear your sinuses.

Pickled Pink Ginger - This comes as a conidment as well, however it is meant as a palate cleanser. Basically to clear your tastebuds from one piece to the next. I love the stuff!

Onto the business of actually eating sushi. First, I will say again it is acceptable for a person to choose to not eat it for the simple reason they are not interested in trying. It doesn't really matter the reason. For example, I don't eat baby animals. I know, I know, it can be argued I am missing great taste experiences in lamb chops and veal, but I don't want to so I don't. I don't care if other people do though.

I think a person should be pretty comfortable eating classically cooked fish, crab, shrimp, lobster and scallops before they head into sushi. Bascially, taking a person who doesn't like these things to begin with, to a strictly sushi restaurant and expecting them to find something they like is wishful thinking.

Also, starting into sushi, a person should consider California Rolls (crab, cucumber) and Ebi (shrimp). This can get a new comer or child used to the flavors without taking the plunge eating raw fish. There are also vegetable rolls. It's hard to try a new food if you already have a hang up over what it is, so taking away the hang up is a great way to start.

Furthermore, just because one or two people in a party do not eat sushi, does not mean they won't find something on the menu they like at a Japanese restaurant! Japanese food is not all about sushi! People can order steak, a bento box (another thing that can come in a hundred or more different ways), can order from the hibachi grill, tempura (lightly fried veggies or shrimp) and let's not forget teriyaki chicken!

I think the bad experiences with sushi come from ordering something way too exotic for the diner and I was even at a table once where a supervisor goaded a guy into eating raw salmon. Poor guy was sick for the rest of the day. He didn't actually get physically ill, there was nothing wrong with what he ate. He was just so disgusted by it, it made him feel ill. I can understand that, I'd be pretty sick if I ate horse or dog or something else repulsive to me.

The great thing about going out for sushi is that it is a sharing dinner and a very social event. Typically rolls are ordered for the table and people take pieces from the plates. I went out last week and between my brother, his girlfriend and myself, we ordered 2 appetizers and 6 rolls. Sushi is great, especially in the summer, because it leaves you full but not rediculously full. It is also acceptable to order half the rolls and order more during dinner. Usually you are left with a menu at the table.

Anyway, have you patronized your local Japanese restaurant lately? If not, give it a try!