So you have a friend, who has never tried sushi, and doesn’t want to. Eating sushi to them is like asking them to club a baby seal; bloody, messy and just not right. So you have to ease them in. Give a guiding hand, start simple. The last thing you want to do is try to make your friend eat sea urchin roe as an introduction to sushi. Unless you want to watch them choke and gag on it.
First thing to consider are allergies. This is important. Quite a few people out there have shellfish allergies. So know ahead of time what your friend is allergic to. Their first experience with sushi should not be a fatal one. It would be tragic and you would have a lot of explaining to do.
Second, start off with an appetizer or something to set the mood. If you can get a person to buy in on an aspect of ethnic cuisine, you’ll have a better chance of getting him or her to try something truly different. Miso soup, dumplings, salad with ponzu dressing, things that at least look familiar. Ok, onto the sushi menu.
Start off simple. Do the California roll, everyone’s heard of it and you can assure the person that the crab is actually a crab stik. Explain the aspects of the roll they are about to eat. Have them lightly dip in soy sauce. Next, offer a cucumber roll…and if they like that, then spice it up a little with an oshinko roll, normally pickled radish; very crunchy.
If they like that and are willing to go a step further, offer a final roll. Again, keep it simple, offer a tuna or salmon roll. They’ll probably go with the salmon roll because salmon always looks like salmon…tuna, in this case, is red and not the bland color when it comes from a can. Until your friend gets comfortable with more complex types of sushi, avoid introducing sashimi. Unagi (freshwater eel) is one of the best things out there, but it looks like you shouldn’t even pick it up, much less eat it.
And there you have it, a hopeful plan to get more of your friends on the sushi kick!
SIDE NOTES:
Ok, the anime bender didn’t happen, but perhaps this week. Next time, I want to revisit an older topic…fanfiction!
Ok, please give my vlogs some love…and leave me a comment while you’re at it!
http://www.youtube.com/user/SixtySecondsSteveSixtySecondsSteve is simply sixty seconds or so of my life filmed per day and then displayed for all to see! The project runs through the end of the year! It could be something, or it could be nothing!
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheUnagiObserverThis week’s Observer is actually about voter fraud. If that isn’t your cup of tea, be sure to click on “A Guide to Sushi, Part Two”, already at my YouTube channel!
TONIGHT’S PLAYLIST:
Go here and then go to the music section to hear the music!
http://bigstevegearhart.multiply.com/Ok, because of data transfer issues between my pc to laptop to online, no music today, but feel free to listen to what’s up now!
