My GF went to and came back from LA. Her father is a sushi chef (few things in life are better than free sushi!), and he tried to make a California-style thing after hearing about it from the GF’s journey. Don’t know what it’s called in the US, but in the place of nori, shake (salmon) encircles the rice, which in turn surrounds ikura. He doesn’t like it very much, and doesn’t have the gaul to make it for any customers. Personally I think it’s pretty freaky too. Don’t care for ikura too much anyway.
Sashimi follows the same arguments. I’ve been told that only here in Hokkaido do people still eat sashimi with their hands, myself included, and sure enough, I don’t see people in Tokyo fingering sashimi.
Kyomara , come up to Sapporo and visit the Furyo Gaijin no Su, where the best medium-rarre burgers in the land can be had (Aussie chef)
There is a decent Japan doper contingent here. We should do a Japan Dopefest, but I’m guessing the majority of yous guys is in Tokyo.
[hijack]You live in Sapporo?!? That’s awesome. One of the best times of my life was in 1989 when I spent a week in Tohoku doing the matsuri circuit (Hirosaki’s neputa, Aomori’s nebuta, and another one where I can’t remember the name), then on to Hokkaido. About 10 days trekking every inch of the Daitsetsu-san National Park and Asahikawa was the big city out there. Couple days bumming around Sapporo. Sushi was the best I have ever had. Heck, even the tachi soba tempura ebi were giant suckers and really tasty. It was fantastic although the winters might get kinda loooooong. A Sapporo dopefest would be awesome but alas i doubt if I would be able to make it.
Alright, I was exaggerating a bit. I guess “Outback Steakhouse in Shinagawa” doesn’t really mean “all of Japan.” Sorry…:o
Yeah, but I work for an airline. I can make it up to Sapporo for free any time. And it’s an absolute crime that I haven’t yet. Name your date. First we probably ought to put out the call to all the other Japan Dopers, though.
IIRC, most people most of the time eat maki in one swallow. You tend to court disaster if you try to take just a bite, especially for the chewier shellfish and the like.
