Not only is there sushi that has cooked seafood, there’s sushi that doesn’t have any seafood in it at all. What makes sushi…sushi…to the Japanese is the vinegared rice. I was confused by this at first, then realized it was sort of like what makes a sandwich a sandwich – you can have cheese sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches, etc., and the common factor is the bread.
Anyway, you can get sushi rolls that are made with egg, cucumber, pickled plums, daikon root, or other vegetables. There’s also inarizushi, which is a little pouch of fried tofu stuffed with rice.
Another thing about Japanese food that I was confused about for a while was that I thought sashimi was the name for sushi made with raw fish. Sashimi is actually just sliced up raw fish (or sometimes other raw meat).
Nigiri Sushi- refers to a piece of fish or other topping (eel or crab) across an ovoid of vinigered rice.
Maki sushi- sushi rolls, like a California roll
Sashimi- sliced fish (raw or cooked, such as octopus) with no rice
As a kid, I didn’t like to eat. I thought it one of the “gotchas” of life, that, along with sleeping, robbed people of adding actual value to their lives.
So I tried everything I had heard of in order to get out of it. Chewing gum stays in your stomach forever? Great! Watermelon seeds grow a watermelon? Fantastic! I once read a story about “goldfish bread” - eat a bite, then drink a glass of water, and it would expand in your stomach and carry you through the whole day (never found it in real life).
Another food misconception I can credit to my grandmother, on my father’s side. My mother’s side is Mexican, but my father’s side is white as white can be. So when she offered to make tacos, I was surprised and delighted - only she made nachos, instead. I didn’t have the heart to correct her for years. Still yummy, though!