Sushi and you

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Hey there Escapists, had a simple little thread come to me as I was fantasizing going out for sushi tonight but didn't when I realized I probably shouldn't while my room looks like it got hit by an F5 tornado.

So while I'm being responsible *grumble grumble* and making my place look less like a collection of boxes, I thought I'd pose you guys an easy question.

How did you get introduced to sushi?

Coming from Saskatchewan, far from any ocean body, seafood is an expensive luxury meal for those family restaurant nights. My parents however both despise sushi so it wasn't until I was 18 and about to move out West for school that my sister took me to an overpriced sushi joint and educated me. She told me that not only would it cost less, it would be a far more tasty alternative to burgers and pizza while I take my classes and neglect cooking.

Well, 4 years later and I have to admit she was right. I love sushi! It satisfies me more than even the nicest burger joint now and is cheaper as well if you know where to go.

Since my sister explained that sushi kind of exploded in the past 20 years amongst North American students, I was wondering if any of you were introduced to it in a similar way? Or perhaps you grew up with it and find staples of my continental diet like venison just as interesting to eat.

Life doesn't go on forever and I'm glad my sister took the time to show me how to expand my palate. Someday I hope to have tried food from everywhere in the world because sticking to your regional menu alone, while there is comfort in the routine, is not very adventurous.

Can you tell I'm hungry?

*sigh*

Where's that chili...

 

[Queen Michael]

My aunt and uncle took me to a sushi restaurant as a birthday suprise. I enjoyed it, and since then I've like sushi.

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

My first time was in 2004 or 2005. Some friends of mine took me to this really nice sushi place that was pretty expensive. Unfortunately, I got violently ill before we even left the restaurant.

Though I swore never to touch sushi again, I got invited to a party by some of my Vietnamese students in 2009. I was the only one there who wasn't born in Vietnam too. lol They really treated me to a blast, telling me I could eat all the sushi I wanted. That's exactly what I did and loved every bite. No getting sick either.

Of course, now I'm a vegetarian so I don't eat any of that stuff.

 

[DefunctTheory]

A friend made me eat it once. He said it was really good stuff (And I do believe he'd know).

Honestly thought it was pretty gross. Have not had any since.

EDIT: In was in South Korea, somewhere.

 

[EeveeElectro]

SUSHI? DO YOU HAVE SUSHI REDLIN? *grabs shirt and pulls close, crazy face*

I FUCKING LOVE SUSHI. THROW IT INTO MY MOUTH.

I first tried some while at sixth form after seeing my friend eat it and all I can say is don't give up on it. The first time I was unsure with the raw fish but I got a taste of it and love it now. If you really hate it, then yeah don't bother. MORE SUSHI FOR ME.

My friend took me to Yo! Sushi a few weeks ago and I was in my element. I wanted to put my mouth at the end of the conveyor belt and just let it all fall in.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

*grabs shirt and pulls close, crazy face*

I FUCKING LOVE SUSHI. THROW IT INTO MY MOUTH.

It's my sushi. Go get your own!

 

[Elfgore]

First time was at Epcot in Disney World. I think I was like ten at the time. I fucking hated it. Tried it again at fifteen and loved it. My Dad and I usually go to Sushi once a week now, which is awesome.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Mmmmmm..... sushi...

Oh sorry, what was the question?

Ah, yes. Well, I went with a few of my friends to this sushi place when I was 20, which was in 2006 so thanks for reminding me how old I am Red, and they swore up and down how awesome their food is and whatnot. It was a-fucking-mazing and the place had a dinner deal where it was all you can eat, but the catch was whatever you didn't eat you had to pay normal price for.

I had a ton of sushi and was totally miserable, but I regret nothing since it was delicious.

That was also around the time I had sake for the first time, which is also amaze-balls.

 

[krazykidd]

There was this cute sushi sampler who used to work at the grocery store i worked at. So i made nice and starting hitting on her. She gave me free sushi all the time. I say free because she's not suppose to give sushi to employees of the store AND she use to give me enough sushi to feed a family of 6.

 

[Ryotknife]

its...alright?

Raw fish (looks up wiki article on sushi) nigirizshusi doesnt taste like anything to me. Its like a tasteless paste. I mean, I love salmon. I grill it with lemon pepper seasoning, with a brown sugar rub, or even smoke it on cedar planks, but salmon sushi was disappointing.

I do like the sushi rolls, typically california or even just avocado. However, sushi is basically an expensive healthy snack. It is not very filling.

EDIT: oh, for mother's day i did bring over a sampler (cost $15) that had 1 tuna, eel, salmon, and....something else nigiri, 4 avacado rolls, and 4 spring rolls. They had fun eating it, but didnt really enjoy it.

 

[Zhukov]

My dad brought some home once when I was a kid.

Haven't eaten the stuff since.

It was okay, I didn't dislike it, but it wasn't tasty enough to compel me to go looking for more.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I grew up with it. My father lived in Japan for a few years, so when he got back, he eventually introduced his future wife and even more future son to it. Been eating Japanese food since I was one, since he managed to find a small, really nice, and quite authentic restaurant, that's been in business over 30 years. Not to mention he himself makes a mean inarizushi.

All that's really changed for me is that I've become more adventurous over the years. Started with small tuna or cucumber maki rolls and inari as a child, eventually incorporated nigiri and inverted maki rolls, plus a few local specialties (avocado and tempura rolls especially), acquired tastes for albacore, salmon, egg, and (most recently) mackerel, and worked up the courage to try octopus (meh), freshwater eel (ew), saltwater eel (a little better), and I think urchin roe (it was spicy, that surprised me).

Even managed to eat toro (fatty tuna) at one point. I'd always thought its reputation for deliciousness was exaggerated...but turns out, nope. Heavenly.

 

[BeeGeenie]

Meh, sushi's okay, I guess. Like OP, I live in the mountains, far inland, and therefore, sushi is expensive.

Even when I visited Japan, there were plenty of things I'd rather eat than Sushi. It's the seaweed that doesn't do it for me, I think. Nigiri is okay and inarizushi is good. Octopus, calamari, and anything tempura is awesome.

 

[prpshrt]

Absolutely hated it the first time I tried it. It was in a mall and to be honest, I go back to that place cause the sushi is actually pretty decent. I loved it the second time I had it for some reason and this was when I went to an international boarding school. One of my japanese friends made me some. Not entirely sure why I reacted so differently that time around.

 

[lacktheknack]

I had a California roll when I was ten by stealing one of Mom's.

About three years ago, though, I went to Vancouver (which is on the sea) and ended up at a genuine sushi restaurant. I ordered tempura, but someone gave me a piece of sushi as well.

SO. WONDERFUL.

 

[seventy two]

Lived in Washington since I was young, and sushi is decently prevalent there. My dad liked sushi and we started going as a family when I was ~12 or so for special occasions. These days I probably eat sushi once every couple of months because it still is a bit pricey.

As to my preference when it come to sushi? I prefer sashimi, but eat more nigiri because it is more common(And no place willing to do all you can eat would ever not force you to fill up with rice). Rolls are decent but as someone who does not like avacado and the like it limits what rolls I am willing to eat. If I do get a roll it is usually something simple like crab filled topped by salmon or tuna.

Bonus comment, when I lived in Washington tuna was always my favorite, having moved to Idaho I suddenly started liking salmon more.

 

[Raggedstar]

Story isn't particularly exotic. First time I ate sushi was at an Asian buffet. Started with California rolls, but eventually I became tired of them. Then I eventually moved to simple crab and salmon sushi and I loved it. At first I was concerned about how the seaweed would taste, but I can't say I mind it at all.

I eat these simple rolls on a regular basis now. I'm a picky eater, so I don't know how far I'll expand my sushi tasting. I live in a part of Ontario that is roughly 30% Asian (combining Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and various countries from South-East Asia. About 20% of the population is Chinese alone, and nope, this isn't a "ChinaTown" district either), so we have quite a few supermarkets that cater to those cultures. There's one nearby that does ready-made fresh sushi boxes for super cheap, yet are super good. Had a box today, actually. Yum :3

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

I... Don't know.

Probably before the turn of the millennium, I definitely remember making it for a class in 2001 and showing off my chopstick moves in primary school.

It's an ok food source, the sushi place at my work does a sell off of its stock at the end of the day, 6 random pieces for $6NZD. Isn't large enough for a decent meal though.

 

[mysecondlife]

I grew up in Southern California, one of the most diverse place in the world. I can find sushi just about everywhere: sushi restaurant, grocery store, etc. Where I live have pretty sizable Japanese Community as well.