Sushi. There are two items people primarily think of when they think of sushi, and that is maki (rolls) and nigiri (small mounds of rice with a topping, usually fish).
Which do you prefer?
Quick lunch or snack - maki
Dinner - Nigiri
Maki, generally. Been a long time since I’ve had sushi, actually… I think I’m overdue!
In general terms I prefer nigiri, as I really appreciate the simplicity and beauty of it (not to mention it’s fucking delicious ;)). Seriously, look at this; that is practically art.
That said, my single favorite sushi item is the salmon skin roll. It’s intensely fishy and texturally interesting.
Chirashizushi is easy to make at home without rolling anything up.
I like some types of maki and most types of nigiri and most types of sashimi. I voted for nigiri in the poll.
Indeed, but it is a little more difficult when it comes to the eating.
My vote was that I like them equally. Nigiri is both beautiful and tasty, but I can’t pick it over a good unagi roll or unagi don.
Maki - just simple tuna or salmon hosomaki are my absolute favourite. Maybe with some ikura roe on top if we’re being luxe.
^ this.
With a side of that seaweed salad - I think it’s called goma wakami? My workplace’s sushi stand either just labels it “seaweed salad” or maybe some other word.
I think it shows a significant cultural shift here in white-bread-and-pork-product Midwest America that they can label something “seaweed salad” and it sells well enough some days they can’t keep it in stock).
Sushi Boat for two, please. I like an assortment.
Unless it’s gas station sushi, OK grocery store, I like an assortment.
Usually start with one of my places rolls, maybe spider roll. Then a baby scallop hand roll, and finish with some Nigiri.
I usually get a mixed box if I’m having sushi for lunch. They do a salmon lover’s set, and I love the texture and taste of slices of raw salmon on the nigiri.
However, if I have to have just one or the other, I’ll pick some form of rolls. A box of nigiri alone means a whole lot of white rice lumps with just the fish and without anything else–no cucumber, seaweed, avocado, little veggie sticks, whatever.
The rolls, mostly because they hold together better when you pick them up with chopsticks.
You’re supposed to eat them with your hand, though.
I voted for nigiri, because it’s simpler and purer. Rolls I get at low-quality places because the fish needs help from all of the other added ingredients.
I tend to prefer nigiri, but I’ve had some wonderful maki rolls, too. I voted “nigiri,” but it’s a mix these days. When I make my own, it’s for the fun of doing maki rolls and playing around with ingredients and flavors. I don’t have sushi all that often these days, but when I go out for it, I get a mix, with an emphasis on nigiri.
You can’t beat a nice Toro Nigiri, that melt in your mouth chunk of protein is pure culinary orgasm in my books! So I of course had to vote for Nigiri!
I live in a smallish city (~80,000) but luckily we have 2-3 really good sushi places. I did however on my last trip to Vancouver try “pressed sushi” for the first time.
That was really enjoyable as well, super artistic and the chef “torched” one of the edges slightly and the extra depth of flavour was fantastic!
One of my favorite rolls I order in my town is call the “Lansdowne” roll (named after the street the restaurant is located on). It’s pretty simple, a traditional dynamite roll but has a pile of shredded imitation crab, mixed with Japanese mayo and spice sauce on top of the rolls. I get some tobiko added on top of the shredded mix and am in heaven!
BTW, if you like sushi and card games, I recommend “Sushi Go!” (https://www.amazon.ca/Gamewright-chen-t-044-Sushi-Go-Tin/dp/B00J57VU44). Quick fun card game and has the pleasant side affect of almost forcing you to go out for sushi afterwards!
MtM
It’s all good. I’ve also recently become an addict of Unadon. Yum!
I used to be a bit of nigiri purist and would rarely order maki, but my partner can’t stand nigiri and only eats maki, so I’ve been corrupted. I now find I generally want mostly maki with maybe a few pieces of nigiri if the quality of the restaurant is high enough.
This is my favorite out, and I had the best ever in New York on our trip.
We make maki at home, but I prefer nigiri out.
Nigiri. Maki is fine (at least if you’re not talking about “special” rolls with five ingredients slathered in sauce.), but if I went to a sushi buffet that had everything and everything was top quality, I would skip the maki and just have nigiri.
Some things to remember when ordering maki at a sushi restaurant:
-making maki is where sushi places start their noobs
-sushi places save their best cuts of fish for nigiri
-sushi places love it when customers order things like spicy tuna or salmon rolls because it helps their food costs. Just scrape the tuna or salmon scraps off the skin or membrane, chop it up, mix with spicy sauce, and roll it up as maki.