I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
(yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...

What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first? I was
thinking something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out
because that's just silly, put the nori on the outside where it belongs.
Or something like that spicy tuna hand roll, but made with canned
kippers instead of raw tuna -- not so much because the tuna is raw, but
this is 1000 miles from the ocean so fish that fresh seems like an
extravagance for no good reason except to be extravagant.

I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori, and those
little bamboo mats. I already have some short grain rice...

Bob

zxcvbob wrote:
> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
> (yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
> episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
> the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...
>
> What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first?

Oh, it's so easy. There are good videos online showing the techniques,
but it's easy easy easy. I make it once every couple of weeks.

>
> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori, and those
> little bamboo mats. I already have some short grain rice...

I don't bother with the mats, but I know people who swear they're necessary.

Serene

zxcvbob wrote:
>
> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
> (yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
> episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
> the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...

Those are raw nori sheets. You also need a nori pounder
tool to soften it up, after you steam it.

> What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first? I was
> thinking something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out
> because that's just silly, put the nori on the outside where it belongs.
> Or something like that spicy tuna hand roll, but made with canned
> kippers instead of raw tuna -- not so much because the tuna is raw, but
> this is 1000 miles from the ocean so fish that fresh seems like an
> extravagance for no good reason except to be extravagant.

If you add a high-quality Japanese tamari shoyu
to canned kippers, it reverses the curing process.
After 17 hours, it will be exactly the same as
fresh.

> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori, and those
> little bamboo mats. I already have some short grain rice...

Or something like that. :-)

Mark Thorson wrote:
> zxcvbob wrote:
>> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
>> (yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
>> episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
>> the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...
>
> Those are raw nori sheets. You also need a nori pounder
> tool to soften it up, after you steam it.

?

My nori sheets soften just from coming into contact with the sushi rice.
Sometimes I "toast" them first, but most of the time, I don't bother.
I certainly don't steam or pound it.

Serene


--
42 Magazine, celebrating life with meaning. Inaugural issue is here!
http://42magazine.com

"But here's a handy hint: if your fabulous theory for ending war and
all other human conflict will not survive an online argument with
humourless feminists who are not afraid to throw rape around as an
example, your theory needs work." -- Aqua, alt.polyamory

In article >,
zxcvbob > wrote:

> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
> (yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
> episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
> the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...
>
> What do you order in a sushi restaurant?

Either sashimi or salmon rolls. I know what I like.

> And is sushi something I could
> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first?

You could, but it might help to know what you're aiming for.

> I was
> thinking something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out
> because that's just silly, put the nori on the outside where it belongs.

Then it's not a California roll.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

"Miche" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> zxcvbob > wrote:
>
>> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
>> (yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
>> episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
>> the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...
>>
>> What do you order in a sushi restaurant?
>
> Either sashimi or salmon rolls. I know what I like.
>
>> And is sushi something I could
>> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first?
>
> You could, but it might help to know what you're aiming for.
>
>> I was
>> thinking something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out
>> because that's just silly, put the nori on the outside where it belongs.
>
> Then it's not a California roll.
>

Eel roll is really good. I love smoked eel.

Paul

On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:53:22 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:

> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
> (yet) but they piqued my interest.
....
> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori...

You already found them.
You just said so.
You should just buy them.

They're only $3.69 for 12-18 sheets.

You're already fretting about them needlessly and if you don't do it
now you'll regret not doing it for the rest of your
nori-insignificant life.

930 million people see and eat "nori" in various forms every day.

Do not be left out, xvBob!

Stop procrastinating and wasting time posting here and just buy
those tempting nori sheets.

Then you can talk about using them after the fact rather than
dreaming and posting about what you'd do with them in the future.

Baby Steps, Bob.

Baby Steps.

Captain Obvious wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:53:22 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:
>
>> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
>> (yet) but they piqued my interest.
> ...
>> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori...
>
> You already found them.
> You just said so.
> You should just buy them.
>
> They're only $3.69 for 12-18 sheets.

Here, a dozen sheets cost $1.29.

Serene
--
42 Magazine, celebrating life with meaning. Inaugural issue is here!
http://42magazine.com

"But here's a handy hint: if your fabulous theory for ending war and
all other human conflict will not survive an online argument with
humourless feminists who are not afraid to throw rape around as an
example, your theory needs work." -- Aqua, alt.polyamory

zxcvbob wrote:

> What do you order in a sushi restaurant?

Here's what the four of us got last night for my birthday-sushi dinner:

Among the things we had, only one was less than great (the Sushi Ko
special roll, which was a roll with warm smoked salmon and a garlic
sauce over it. Just weird, though if you like that sort of thing, I'm
sure you'd like it. We didn't finish it.). Everything else ranged from
really good (the shrimp and asparagus roll) to marvelous (the
hotategai). I won't remember everything we had, but among the dishes we

[Note: if you're not sure what the items are, a good glossary page is at
http://sushiref.com/glossary/ )

Edamame
Miso soup
Fried oysters
Wakame salad
Unagi donburi
Mixed tempura
Nigiri: unagi, hotategai, tobiko, saba, hamachi, maguro, sake
Inari
The two rolls I mentioned above

We all had dessert. James had tempura green-tea ice cream. Carin had
green tea ice cream. The kid had fried bananas with green tea ice cream
and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. I had a scoop of red bean ice cream.

Serene
--
42 Magazine, celebrating life with meaning. Inaugural issue is here!
http://42magazine.com

"But here's a handy hint: if your fabulous theory for ending war and
all other human conflict will not survive an online argument with
humourless feminists who are not afraid to throw rape around as an
example, your theory needs work." -- Aqua, alt.polyamory

"zxcvbob" > wrote in message
...
>I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
>(yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the episode
>where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than the one
>before) and they looked kind of tasty...
>
> What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first? I was thinking
> something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out because
> that's just silly, put the nori on the outside where it belongs. Or
> something like that spicy tuna hand roll, but made with canned kippers
> instead of raw tuna -- not so much because the tuna is raw, but this is
> 1000 miles from the ocean so fish that fresh seems like an extravagance
> for no good reason except to be extravagant.
>
> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori, and those
> little bamboo mats. I already have some short grain rice...

What's wrong with California roll? It looks lovely when it is rolled in
herring roe. Very colorful. It's easy to make as well. I am not a big fan
of raw fish so CR is my usual order.

Paul

zxcvbob wrote:
> I saw some nori sheets (seaweed) in the store recently; didn't buy them
> (yet) but they piqued my interest. Also I saw on "Man v. Food" the
> episode where he ate all those spicy tuna rolls (each one hotter than
> the one before) and they looked kind of tasty...
>
> What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first? I was
> thinking something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out
> because that's just silly, put the nori on the outside where it belongs.
> Or something like that spicy tuna hand roll, but made with canned
> kippers instead of raw tuna -- not so much because the tuna is raw, but
> this is 1000 miles from the ocean so fish that fresh seems like an
> extravagance for no good reason except to be extravagant.
>
> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori, and those
> little bamboo mats. I already have some short grain rice...
>
> Bob

Sushi is a wonderful way to use up bits of this and that in the
refridge. Think of nori as a Japanese tortila; give it a thin coat of
rice sprinkled with tsu (sweetened vinegar) then just put on what ever
you wish. Strips of left over steak sliced thinly. Strips of scrambled
egg. Strips of tuna salad. Even strips of tandori chicken! Then just
roll up the nori and enjoy a nice meal. For the average adult male, 3-4
nori-maki or temaki-zushi will be a good dinner.

In the average kaiten-zushi in Japan you will find slice duck, corn
salad, crab salad, smoked salmon with capers, sticks of surimi, fried
egg, bacon, roast beef, and even weiners topping sushi rice or rolled
inside nori, besides the usual tai, hamachi, maguro, akagai, aji, tako,
unagi, hotategai, awabi, etc., etc., etc. There is NO FIXED RULE!

Try some fusion nori-maki with left-over Indian or Thai curries, Mexican
dishes, etc. Anything that is pre-cut and small enough to be laid down
on the rice and rolled up. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that
nori goes with many cuisines and is a lot less fattening than using
tortilas, pita, or even Kavli as your wrapper.

There is a very different taste between Japanese nori and Korean toasted
nori. The Korean toasted nori makes for a wonderful crispy snack by
itself. The Japanese nori works better for rolling as it softens as soon
as warm rice touches it.

On 2009-09-24, zxcvbob > wrote:

> What do you order in a sushi restaurant?

Sushi!

> And is sushi something I could make at home without experiencing it
> at a sushi bar first?

You could, but you'd be better off trying some before attempting it on
your own. Better yet, go somewhere you can see it being made.

> thinking something like a California roll -- but not rolled inside out
> because that's just silly.....

Not silly. It's no biggie to roll rice on the outside. What's really
more silly is California rolls use fake crab. Now, that's silly.

> Or something like that spicy tuna hand roll, but made with canned
> kippers instead of raw tuna

Anything is good on sushi, even all vegetbable indgredients.

> I may stop by the Asian market tomorrow and look for nori, and those
> little bamboo mats. I already have some short grain rice...

Make sure you have the correct short grain rice. Sushi rice is not
just short-grained, it's glutinous sticky short-grain rice. Calrose and
Nishiki are good brands.

Here, make good use of this, too:

http://tinyurl.com/yemgb3t

<sushirant>
The one thing you have to remember is, sushi is all about the rice,
not the other ingredients. Making good sushi rice is paramount.
Heck, you can make sushi in a bowl and top it with scallions and
avocado, if you like, but the rice is key. I've tasted excellent
sushi. When made properly, sushi, the rice, stands on it's own and
can be enjoyed as just plain sushi rice. If you can make sushi that
good, you can put road kill on it and it'll taste good.
</sushirant>

nb

zxcvbob;3023920 Wrote:
> What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
> make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first?
Before trying to reproduce good tasting sushi, I would try a popular
local Japanese restaurant to experience what good-tasting sushi actually
tastes like. That also gives you the largest selection of fish (or
non-fish if you are a vegetarian) types from which to choose. You can
always start with cooked shrimp if you like shrimp as most people do.

Yes, sushi is easy to make but the -preparations- are quite time
consuming. Good sushi consists of using quality materials, the right
balance of ingredients, and some artistry.

Discover what you like first at a Japanese restaurant and then try to
reproduce it with help from books or videos if you aren't lucky enough
to have a Japanese wife (as I do) .

-- Rik


--
Rik Brown

Share your experiences in the forums, blogs, videos, and online
community at 'TRAVEL.com' (http://forums.TRAVEL.com).
Message origin: www.TRAVEL.com

zxcvbob > wrote:

>What do you order in a sushi restaurant? And is sushi something I could
>make at home without experiencing it at a sushi bar first?

I usually order sashimi, along with some vegetarian sushi
and several of the side dishes such as agadashi tofu,
seaweed, cucumber.

I have not tried making sushi (i.e. sushi rice in any
combination) at home. But sashimi is dead simple if you
obtain the right fish. I'm in the middle of a brief
visit to Hawaii, where sushi grade ahi and ono is available
for $10/lb. I especially like the ono as it is difficult
to find in California. (Impossible to find with this
level of freshness.)

For safety, stick with tuna or mackerel fished from
mid-ocean waters if you want to eat it raw and fresh.
One can of course buy freeze-processed sushi grade
fish nearly anywhere but it is not the same quality.

Steve