NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok you Sushi aficionados, just what is Sushi? I’ve heard it is always raw fish of some type. I’ve also heard it means “with rice.” I have eaten it and it always contains rice but I’m not so sure it always contains raw fish, or even fish. So help me out her folks.

Ok you Sushi aficionados, just what is Sushi? I’ve heard it is always raw fish of some type. I’ve also heard it means “with rice.” I have eaten it and it always contains rice but I’m not so sure it always contains raw fish, or even fish. So help me out her folks.

I'm rather certain that the fish is generally steamed. Anyway, the only times I have eaten it it was wrapped in rice and seaweed...

Ok you Sushi aficionados, just what is Sushi? I’ve heard it is always raw fish of some type. I’ve also heard it means “with rice.” I have eaten it and it always contains rice but I’m not so sure it always contains raw fish, or even fish. So help me out her folks.

SWince you'll see a lot of bluffers posting here, first off, my creds: I live in Japan, and have lived here 17 years,

"Sushi" encompasses a number dishes, all of which have vinegered rice in common.

The roots of sushi are fermented rice and fish. Modern sushi includes a variety of non-fish igredients, including cucumber, avacado, eggs, natto, and more.

The wiki is accurate, if rather western oriented: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi

I'm rather certain that the fish is generally steamed. Anyway, the only times I have eaten it it was wrapped in rice and seaweed...

Nope. Most of the fish involved is raw.

All you need to know is that it’s freakin tasty, and that Daistallia, NERVUN and any other poster living in Japan can tell us what it’s like better than anybody else.

All you need to know is that it’s freakin tasty, and that Daistallia, NERVUN and any other poster living in Japan can tell us what it’s like better than anybody else.

Take my word for it - don't try "funazushi", "narezushi", or the sush at the Chinese buffet in downtown Des Moines Iowa (even when my SIL says it's OK...)

:p

SWince you'll see a lot of bluffers posting here, first off, my creds: I live in Japan, and have lived here 17 years,

"Sushi" encompasses a number dishes, all of which have vinegered rice in common.

The roots of sushi are fermented rice and fish. Modern sushi includes a variety of non-fish igredients, including cucumber, avacado, eggs, natto, and more.

The wiki is accurate, if rather western oriented: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi



Nope. Most of the fish involved is raw.

Ok, that's interesting. Now, what's sashimi and how does it differ from sushi?
When I lived in California, we went to this Beni Hana wannabe restaurant and they served an appetizer of raw sea bass, raw yellowtail and some other raw fish, all with wasabi and no rice or seaweed - is that sashimi? Once I convinced myself to try it, it wasn't bad.

Ok, that's interesting. Now, what's sashimi and how does it differ from sushi?
When I lived in California, we went to this Beni Hana wannabe restaurant and they served an appetizer of raw sea bass, raw yellowtail and some other raw fish, all with wasabi and no rice or seaweed - is that sashimi? Once I convinced myself to try it, it wasn't bad.

Yes, that's sashimi.

If it's got rice, it's sushi. Otherwise it's sashimi. Usually that's for raw fish, but not always. I've had, in addition to fish; venison, beef, chicken, horse, and vegetables served up sliced, raw, and with soy sauce and wasbi. All were understood to be sashimi (even if the menu didn't call it that, the staff agreed.)

...what is Sushi?

The best thing ever. :)

Fatty tuna, yellow tail, salmon, shrimp and seaweed... like those. Sashimi, not so much,... no rice.

Ok you Sushi aficionados, just what is Sushi? I’ve heard it is always raw fish of some type. I’ve also heard it means “with rice.” I have eaten it and it always contains rice but I’m not so sure it always contains raw fish, or even fish. So help me out her folks.

Typically, sushi contains raw fish. But it also can have caviar, like Masago rolls
http://www.flavorj.com/~skysea/sushi/masago.jpg
or octopus, like Uni roll.
http://www.flavorj.com/~skysea/sushi/uni.jpg
There are veggie rolls that only have cucumber, carrots and shallots.
http://www.aisushi.us/images/HouseVeggie.jpg
And of course, there are these balls that just taste delicious, which are considered sushi, but it´s only rice and sea weed wrap. They´re called onigiri.
http://food.3yen.com/wp-content/images/onigiri.jpg
So, you´re not far from the truth, sushi doesn´t always contain raw fish, contrary to what many people believe.

or octopus, like Uni roll.
http://www.flavorj.com/~skysea/sushi/uni.jpg


Huh. The Octopus I've had still looked like tentacles and had suckers on it.

Huh. The Octopus I've had still looked like tentacles and had suckers on it.

Yeah, that´s because the uni roll you saw was made in the traditional Japanese way. It was completely raw. The uni on the photo has been cooked.

I find it hard to believe that some one doesnt know what sushi is. Order a taco roll and ikura. Trust me.

I find it hard to believe that some one doesnt know what sushi is. Order a taco roll and ikura. Trust me.

Taco roll?! Nan desu ka?:eek:

Taco roll?! Nan desu ka?:eek:

Actually I think its tako, sorry.

Typically, sushi contains raw fish. But it also can have caviar, like Masago rolls

Caviar is fucking nasty.

Caviar is fucking nasty.

I, personally, don´t like caviar, but my fiance does.

Er...

Typically, sushi contains raw fish. But it also can have caviar, like Masago rolls
http://www.flavorj.com/~skysea/sushi/masago.jpg
That's salmon roe, not caviar.

or octopus, like Uni roll.
http://www.flavorj.com/~skysea/sushi/uni.jpg
Uni is sea urchin, not octopus, and very tasty.

And of course, there are these balls that just taste delicious, which are considered sushi, but it´s only rice and sea weed wrap. They´re called onigiri.
http://food.3yen.com/wp-content/images/onigiri.jpg
Uh... I have NEVER hear of onigiri considered to be sushi as the rice hasn't been fermented by vinegar. Onigiri is the Japanese equivalent to a P&J sandwich, basic fare that most Japanese love, though, yes, it usually is wrapped in nori (Seaweed).

Ok you Sushi aficionados, just what is Sushi? I’ve heard it is always raw fish of some type. I’ve also heard it means “with rice.” I have eaten it and it always contains rice but I’m not so sure it always contains raw fish, or even fish. So help me out her folks.
Celt, I don't believe that you even have to ask... Sushi is bait.

Er...


That's salmon roe, not caviar.


Uni is sea urchin, not octopus, and very tasty.


Uh... I have NEVER hear of onigiri considered to be sushi as the rice hasn't been fermented by vinegar. Onigiri is the Japanese equivalent to a P&J sandwich, basic fare that most Japanese love, though, yes, it usually is wrapped in nori (Seaweed).

Well, here in Spain, onigiri is considered to be in the sushi variety. But since you´re from Japan, I think, I´ll to conceed to you.

That's salmon roe, not caviar.

I think that picture is actually smelt roe. Salmon roe is bigger (and is actually the only salmon-type sushi I've ever had that I didn't like).

I think that picture is actually smelt roe. Salmon roe is bigger (and is actually the only salmon-type sushi I've ever had that I didn't like).
You're right, that is masago, which is smelt roe. My bad.

All you need to know is that it’s freakin tasty, and that Daistallia, NERVUN and any other poster living in Japan can tell us what it’s like better than anybody else.

My recent decision to become a vegetarian hurts the most when I think of sushi. :( The unagi! The hamachi! THE CALIFORNIA CRUMBLE!

*runs off sobbing*

Actually I think its tako, sorry.

Oh man, I just got totally, unreasonably excited that somewhere out there a place combined the deliciousness of sushi AND tacos...

[QUOTE=NERVUN;13478744]Er...




Uni is sea urchin, not octopus, and very tasty.


QUOTE]

Ew. Looks like baby poop.

Ew. Looks like baby poop.
No... no... Having just changed my 5-month-old son's diaper, I can say for certain that it does not look like baby poop. :p

Onigiri make a great snack on the move, but I wouldn't have thought they were sushi.

That's possibly because it's only considered sushi outside of Japan :p

Onigiri make a great snack on the move, but I wouldn't have thought they were sushi.

Actually I think its tako, sorry.

Ooph! I was beginning to worry. Can you imagine if there was an actual sushi roll that tasted like taco?:confused:

My recent decision to become a vegetarian hurts the most when I think of sushi. :( The unagi! The hamachi! THE CALIFORNIA CRUMBLE!

*runs off sobbing*

You don't eat fish? I know of veggies that do, so why not? If I may ask.

Also, the fish has to be cut a certain way for it to be proper sushi/sashimi. I think. Or so I heard somewhere.

Yeah, that´s because the uni roll you saw was made in the traditional Japanese way. It was completely raw. The uni on the photo has been cooked.

Bonk on the head for passing bad info. ;)

Well, here in Spain, onigiri is considered to be in the sushi variety. But since you´re from Japan, I think, I´ll to conceed to you.

Onigiri, AKA musubi, are indeed a different... animal, kettle of fish, or something... ;)

as per the wiki:
O-musubi is not a form of sushi, despite common misconception. While o-musubi is made with plain rice (perhaps lightly salted), sushi is made of rice with vinegar added. O-musubi is merely a method of making rice portable and easy to eat, while sushi originated as a way of preserving freshwater fish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onigiri#History

Also, the fish has to be cut a certain way for it to be proper sushi/sashimi. I think. Or so I heard somewhere.

Mmmm... sort of... If I were to open a "sushi" shop here in Osaka where I simply hacked a steak sized hunk off a tuna and slopped it over some rice, it wouldn't really be considered "sushi". But I've had sushi fish cut in a variety of ways... (The wickedest was a doctor friend who whipped out a scalpel at the dinner table... :))

Bonk on the head for passing bad info. ;)

:(Gomen asai, Daistallia-senpai!! But either I heard this or read it somewhere, that octopus is served raw in Japan, but in other countries is cooked. My fiance likes octopus sushi and whenever we go to the sushi bar, the sushi chef cooks it before serving it. I wasn't trying to pass bad info., but this is what has been conveyed to me.:(

LOL The bad info was that the pic you posted was octopus. It wasn't octopus but sea urchin roe, as NERVUN said.

Octopus (tako) is generally boiled when served as sushi, even here. I've had raw octopus sashimi, and it's a very different texture (and vey delicious...).

Wakatta!:p

:(Gomen asai, Daistallia-senpai!! But either I heard this or read it somewhere, that octopus is served raw in Japan, but in other countries is cooked. My fiance likes octopus sushi and whenever we go to the sushi bar, the sushi chef cooks it before serving it. I wasn't trying to pass bad info., but this is what has been conveyed to me.:(

LOL The bad info was that the pic you posted was octopus. It wasn't octopus but sea urchin roe, as NERVUN said.

Octopus (tako) is generally boiled when served as sushi, even here. I've had raw octopus sashimi, and it's a very different texture (and vey delicious...).

You don't eat fish? I know of veggies that do, so why not? If I may ask.

In the Bay Area you'll get slapped if you call yourself a vegetarian and eat fish. Even if I'm still a monster to the vegans.

Honestly, I stopped eating meat not because I think it's wrong to eat animals (they are delicious), but because I think it's wrong to torture animals. This mostly applies to cows, pigs and chickens and the inhumane ways they're raised/slaughtered, and I did consider eating fish, but then I just felt like kind of a dick. Like, who am I to say "fish can't be petted, so their flopping around suffocating is okay"? I'm very conflicted. :(

Yeah, that´s because the uni roll you saw was made in the traditional Japanese way. It was completely raw. The uni on the photo has been cooked.

I only saw it for a few minutes, then I ate it. Why would someone ruin a perfictly good bit of sushi by cooking the fish/molusk?

In the Bay Area you'll get slapped if you call yourself a vegetarian and eat fish. Even if I'm still a monster to the vegans.

Honestly, I stopped eating meat not because I think it's wrong to eat animals (they are delicious), but because I think it's wrong to torture animals. This mostly applies to cows, pigs and chickens and the inhumane ways they're raised/slaughtered, and I did consider eating fish, but then I just felt like kind of a dick. Like, who am I to say "fish can't be petted, so their flopping around suffocating is okay"? I'm very conflicted. :(There is a lot of good types of vegetarien sushi.
Kappa-cucumber
Tempura Yam-Battered and deepfried yam
Oshinko- Yellow pickled Radish
Avacado-duh
Vegetable-usually carrot, cucmber, red pepper, sprouts, lettuce
and a soy bean one which I believe is Inari

I only saw it for a few minutes, then I ate it. Why would someone ruin a perfictly good bit of sushi by cooking the fish/molusk?

Unagi (eel) is usually grilled, and ebi (shrimp), and tako (octopus) are usually boiled. Red meats are usually lightly grilled.

And your tako didn't look like his pic. because his pic. was uni (sea urchin gonad/roe).

BTW, raw octopus looks like this:
http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/raw-octopus-tetacles.JPG

There is a lot of good types of vegetarien sushi.
Kappa-cucumber
Tempura Yam-Battered and deepfried yam
Oshinko- Yellow pickled Radish
Avacado-duh
Vegetable-usually carrot, cucmber, red pepper, sprouts, lettuce
and a soy bean one which I believe is Inari

Yep, Inari is a pocket of deep fried tofu skin and then stuffed with sushi rice. (They're called inari after the fox god, as foxes supposedly love the deep fried tofu skin.)

Another type of soy sushi is natto maki - try at your own risk...

There is a lot of good types of vegetarien sushi.
Kappa-cucumber
Tempura Yam-Battered and deepfried yam
Oshinko- Yellow pickled Radish
Avacado-duh
Vegetable-usually carrot, cucmber, red pepper, sprouts, lettuce
and a soy bean one which I believe is Inari

I do adore cucumber and avocado. Not big on radishes, or inari... my roommate used to make it a lot and I got sick of it.

There is definitely good veggie sushi, just... I looooove me some unagi. :(

I only saw it for a few minutes, then I ate it. Why would someone ruin a perfictly good bit of sushi by cooking the fish/molusk?

I don't know. But your best bet is to ask a sushi chef.;)

There is a lot of good types of vegetarien sushi.
Kappa-cucumber
Tempura Yam-Battered and deepfried yam
Oshinko- Yellow pickled Radish
Avacado-duh
Vegetable-usually carrot, cucmber, red pepper, sprouts, lettuce
and a soy bean one which I believe is Inari

I absolutely love Avocado Roll. Ummmmm!!! *drools*
http://www.aisushi.us/images/Asparagus%20_%20Avocado1.jpg

I've only eaten vegetarian sushi, which was quite good but not that special, maybe I should eat it in japan or something.

In the Bay Area you'll get slapped if you call yourself a vegetarian and eat fish. Even if I'm still a monster to the vegans.

Honestly, I stopped eating meat not because I think it's wrong to eat animals (they are delicious), but because I think it's wrong to torture animals. This mostly applies to cows, pigs and chickens and the inhumane ways they're raised/slaughtered, and I did consider eating fish, but then I just felt like kind of a dick. Like, who am I to say "fish can't be petted, so their flopping around suffocating is okay"? I'm very conflicted. :(

The environmental effects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_fishing) of fishing would also be a reason not to eat fish.

Why would someone ruin a perfictly good bit of sushi by cooking the fish/molusk?


Because once upon a time, my ancestors invented fire and revolutionized the world. To honor their memory, the only way I will eat Sushi is Well Done. Medium-Well, sometimes.

Honestly, I stopped eating meat not because I think it's wrong to eat animals (they are delicious), but because I think it's wrong to torture animals. This mostly applies to cows, pigs and chickens and the inhumane ways they're raised/slaughtered, and I did consider eating fish, but then I just felt like kind of a dick. Like, who am I to say "fish can't be petted, so their flopping around suffocating is okay"? I'm very conflicted. :(

So if we raise the animals in very safe, well managed, comfortable environments and they kill themselves out of ennui (sort of like Swedes, I suppose) you would be a carnivore again?

Modern sushi includes a variety of non-fish igredients, including cucumber, avacado, eggs, natto, and more.
A word of warning to people who want to get creative.

Natto is nasty. Don't eat natto.

In the Bay Area you'll get slapped if you call yourself a vegetarian and eat fish. Even if I'm still a monster to the vegans.

Honestly, I stopped eating meat not because I think it's wrong to eat animals (they are delicious), but because I think it's wrong to torture animals. This mostly applies to cows, pigs and chickens and the inhumane ways they're raised/slaughtered, and I did consider eating fish, but then I just felt like kind of a dick. Like, who am I to say "fish can't be petted, so their flopping around suffocating is okay"? I'm very conflicted. :(

I was once offered a job in San Francisco, but I'm the sort of guy who will happily eat veal, so I didn't think living in SF was a great idea.

I took several years of Japanese with a native Japanese teacher, and she took us on several "field trips" to enjoy real Japanese sushi. It's quite different from Western "sushi," and I have to admit that my poor American tastebuds don't always get alone with real Japanese sushi, but a lot of it is very tasty.

Related to this:

Has anybody had real Cantonese food, as opposed to Americanized "Chinese food"? My coworkers (both Chinese) took me to a restaurant that served genuine Chinese dishes, and DAMN. That shit is good eating. In particular, we had some kind of lightly-sweetened pumpkin dumpling things that were absolutely the bomb, but I don't know what the hell they were called and I despair of being able to order them on my own.

Also, it turns out that duck feet can taste good. I would not have guessed that.

Natto is nasty. Don't eat natto.
Seconded.

I had for lunch today something called a Fullmoon bento box. It had 12 pieces, one tuna with avocado roll, one salmon and avocado roll and one shrimp roll with spicy mayo. Pretty good, really. Is this a common bento box in Japan?

Unagi (eel) is usually grilled, and ebi (shrimp), and tako (octopus) are usually boiled. Red meats are usually lightly grilled.

And your tako didn't look like his pic. because his pic. was uni (sea urchin gonad/roe).

BTW, raw octopus looks like this:
http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/raw-octopus-tetacles.JPG


Yep, it was smaller but that was it.

A word of warning to people who want to get creative.

Natto is nasty. Don't eat natto.Actually I think it was Natto I was thinking of. It's just soy beans and rice. Nasty? wtf

Actually I think it was Natto I was thinking of. It's just soy beans and rice. Nasty? wtf
Natto isn't just soybeans, it's fermented soy beans. Trust me, there's no thinking that you had natto. If you had been served it, you would KNOW!

I took several years of Japanese with a native Japanese teacher, and she took us on several "field trips" to enjoy real Japanese sushi. It's quite different from Western "sushi," and I have to admit that my poor American tastebuds don't always get alone with real Japanese sushi, but a lot of it is very tasty.

Related to this:

Has anybody had real Cantonese food, as opposed to Americanized "Chinese food"? My coworkers (both Chinese) took me to a restaurant that served genuine Chinese dishes, and DAMN. That shit is good eating. In particular, we had some kind of lightly-sweetened pumpkin dumpling things that were absolutely the bomb, but I don't know what the hell they were called and I despair of being able to order them on my own.

Also, it turns out that duck feet can taste good. I would not have guessed that.

When I was a kid my dentist, Dr. Tom (who was also a family friend) would take us to Chinese restaurants in Fresno and San Francisco. This usually involved going into a dark alley and finding a virtually invisible door. We would go upstairs, he would disappear into the kitchen for several minutes, then a parade of dishes would appear - lobster in oyster sauce, whole steamed fish, dumplings filled with meat - wonderful good food. It was probably festival food, but it was authentic.

Natto isn't just soybeans, it's fermented soy beans. Trust me, there's no thinking that you had natto. If you had been served it, you would KNOW!
The texture alone is enough to kill small animals. And then the taste... EEAAAEAWGHH!!

I've only eaten vegetarian sushi, which was quite good but not that special, maybe I should eat it in japan or something.

Oddly enough, considering I'm a bit of a foodie and I live here, sushi's not da bomb for me. I have it only a few times a year.

The environmental effects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_fishing) of fishing would also be a reason not to eat fish.

Not to mention the increasing levels of environmental toxins...


I took several years of Japanese with a native Japanese teacher, and she took us on several "field trips" to enjoy real Japanese sushi. It's quite different from Western "sushi," and I have to admit that my poor American tastebuds don't always get alone with real Japanese sushi, but a lot of it is very tasty.

Related to this:

Has anybody had real Cantonese food, as opposed to Americanized "Chinese food"? My coworkers (both Chinese) took me to a restaurant that served genuine Chinese dishes, and DAMN. That shit is good eating. In particular, we had some kind of lightly-sweetened pumpkin dumpling things that were absolutely the bomb, but I don't know what the hell they were called and I despair of being able to order them on my own.

Also, it turns out that duck feet can taste good. I would not have guessed that.

There's a place here in Osaka that serves pretty good Shanghai food. An old friend who was from Shanghai first turned me onb to it, and she vouched for it. Darn good food it is.

I had for lunch today something called a Fullmoon bento box. It had 12 pieces, one tuna with avocado roll, one salmon and avocado roll and one shrimp roll with spicy mayo. Pretty good, really. Is this a common bento box in Japan?

Nope. Avacado roll's and spicy mayo are pretty uncommon over here.

Yep, it was smaller but that was it.

Hmmm... was it more like this (http://pulp.orangephotography.com/robin/archives/upload/2006/10/tako.-m.jpg)?

If it was more like the first pic, consider yourself lucky to have had the much less common actually raw octopus. :)

Actually I think it was Natto I was thinking of. It's just soy beans and rice. Nasty? wtf

These are good soybeans, AKA edamame:
http://www.kyagr.com/kyproud/images/edamame.jpg

This is what happens when good soybeans go bad, AKA natto happens:
http://www.mikesblender.com/natto%20in%20package.jpg

Oddly enough, considering I'm a bit of a foodie and I live here, sushi's not da bomb for me. I have it only a few times a year.



Not to mention the increasing levels of environmental toxins...




There's a place here in Osaka that serves pretty good Shanghai food. An old friend who was from Shanghai first turned me onb to it, and she vouched for it. Darn good food it is.



Nope. Avacado roll's and spicy mayo are pretty uncommon over here.



Hmmm... was it more like this (http://pulp.orangephotography.com/robin/archives/upload/2006/10/tako.-m.jpg)?

If it was more like the first pic, consider yourself lucky to have had the much less common actually raw octopus. :)



These are good soybeans, AKA edamame:
http://www.kyagr.com/kyproud/images/edamame.jpg

This is what happens when good soybeans go bad, AKA natto happens:
http://www.mikesblender.com/natto%20in%20package.jpg

I see. And yes, edamame is good. I had it for the first time like, 3 months ago and everytime I go to a sushi bar, it´s standard that I order it with miso soup and or gyoza.:D

The texture alone is enough to kill small animals. And then the taste... EEAAAEAWGHH!!
For me it's not the taste (Which I think is actually good, it's woody, kind of like walnuts), nor the texture which gets me, but the smell. That smell of somebody's used gym socks that they shoved into the back of their gym locker and forgot about for three weeks after the flooding of the locker room.

Of course my students know this and gleefully chase me around the school with it when it's natto day for lunch.

For me it's not the taste (Which I think is actually good, it's woody, kind of like walnuts), nor the texture which gets me, but the smell. That smell of somebody's used gym socks that they shoved into the back of their gym locker and forgot about for three weeks after the flooding of the locker room.

Of course my students know this and gleefully chase me around the school with it when it's natto day for lunch.

For me, it's a combo of the texture, smell, and apperance. Fortunately, us eikaiwa guys don't have to do lunch. :)