I feel like eating sushi....

[alison]

I'm craving it. I don't like sashimi, but I want some spider rolls and some California rolls. Immediately.

Is it safe to eat sushi in Chicago? I'm a bit wary about whether it'll be fresh.

Do any of you have recommendations for a good place to get sushi in Chicago?

[Auspicious]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

I think it's safe, but I haven't had any that was so great I'd recommend it. Usually it's expensive and a bit wussy, but just decent enough to satisfy the craving (if we were willing to spend more, maybe we'd find some of the good stuff :huh: ). I generally love living here, but sushi is definitely something I miss.

[madeintaiwan]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

I can't make any recs for you, but if you're not eating sashimi, you should be ok. I have been dying out here in the landlocked midwest for some sashimi. Finally found a place in KC and it is pretty good. Just ask them when they get their supply in. I always ask, I'm not ashamed.

[alison]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

I spoke to a friend this evening and told her I would kill for some decent sushi. She suggested Sushi Wabi as well, Annie! I'm going to take dh there sometime this week.

When I was growing up, my grandmother would make tons. As a family, we'd eat 50 rolls! I'd get to eat all the end pieces that she didn't want to serve (they're ugly, apparently). So, as a kid, I was able to eat a good 100 end pieces. And then some of the "presentable" pieces. I basically need to go to an all you can eat, because I can eat a good 5 rolls in one sitting. You're supposed to stick the entire piece in your mouth and not break it up on your plate. Dh hates that I stuff my face at sushi restaurants.

[Vishenka69]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

Don't remind me, I haven't had decent sushi in months. Japanese places here are ok but nothing that will really satisfy a craving and more expenisve. We might be going to NY for Valentine's Day, hopefully I'll be able to talk DH into some sushi when we're there.

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

You would think it would be easier to find good sushi here. There is a place in Denver that I love and so far it is un-matched. I have two more places to visit.

Alison, if someone in your family wants to pass along that sushi rolling skill, I'm there!

[alison]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

You know whose fault this is? It's yours, Nellie! You said you were going for sushi the other day, and I just wanted to crawl into the back seat of your van and go with you.

My grandmother taught my dad, and he's pretty good. It's got to be the perfect thing for architects. You can really harness the AR.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

alison, when you say you eat a roll, what does that mean? Isn't it just a piece of sushi? (Like-- one face-ful for you!)

Thanks for the sushi etiquette... Not that I can eat it right now, but good to know. You stuff it all in your face at once... Any other tips? Do you mix the wasabi with the soy sauce? And do you just put the ginger on top, or are you supposed to eat it separately? And how many pieces of sushi are typical for a meal? There is a really neat Japanese steakhouse/sushi place here. I don't know how fresh it is, but my parents say it's very good and they eat Seattle sushi often... I would like to go there when I can... but I think I need some sushi pointers!

[alison]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

alison, when you say you eat a roll, what does that mean? Isn't it just a piece of sushi? (Like-- one face-ful for you!)

Thanks for the sushi etiquette... Not that I can eat it right now, but good to know. You stuff it all in your face at once... Any other tips? Do you mix the wasabi with the soy sauce? And do you just put the ginger on top, or are you supposed to eat it separately? And how many pieces of sushi are typical for a meal? There is a really neat Japanese steakhouse/sushi place here. I don't know how fresh it is, but my parents say it's very good and they eat Seattle sushi often... I would like to go there when I can... but I think I need some sushi pointers!

A roll gets cut into about 7 or 8 pieces. There are also ones where you pack the rice tightly and then rest sashimi on top. Or shrimp.

Are you good with chopsticks?
Mix the wasabi into the soy sauce, at the beginning of your meal. That's fine.

*Don't sharpen/smoothen/rub your chopsticks. That's a big no-no.*

Don't stick them in your bowl of rice either (that's how you serve dead people). Rest them across the bowl.

Also, don't pass food to someone else's chopsticks using your chopsticks. Either put it on their plate (or feed the person)

Most etiquette has to do with treating chopsticks with respect. That gets lost when I see parents making antennae out of them to show their kids.

Now that I've freaked you out, by all means, do whatever you want with the ginger.

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

So you're saying no on hanging them from the nostrils as tusks? Or is that ok?

[alison]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

So you're saying no on hanging them from the nostrils as tusks? Or is that ok?

I see where Anna gets it from!

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

I should add that I would never do that in a restaurant.

[alison]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

I should add that I would never do that in a restaurant.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

You guys crack me up!

Alison- can you explain this chopstick rice thing? Do you use chopsticks to eat rice? We had some Japanese exchange students (loved them!) and they said they used a spoon type of thing...

But, if you do use the chopsticks for the rice, then what you're saying is when you aren't eating the rice, to just put the chopsticks over the top of the rice bowl instead of sticking them into the rice... Which I wouldn't do anyway, but I think I have set the chopsticks down to the side of the bowl. :huh:

Anyway, I know chopsticks are important and exciting , but you didn't answer my question about a serving of sushi, for lunch or dinner for instance. Is it usually about 7 pieces or so? The sushi bar menus intimidate me a little- a lot-- so I usually just skip it... But I'd like to venture forth, since I do like sushi. So, some tips on ordering, please!

Re: I feel like eating sushi....

I know you asked Alison but I'll post hear what we had Saturday night. I'm not the most fearless sushi eater and stay on the tame side. The rolls we had were...I don't know...6-8 pieces per roll?

We had green tea, miso soup, hot sake (um, I was freezing my baguettes off that night), spicy tuna roll, spider roll (tempura softshell crab), tuna, yellowfin tuna, shrimp, smoked salmon (good but I prefer fresh).

I'm picky about the spicy tuna rolls and theirs was just so-so.

If you prefer to have cooked things, you could have cooked shrimp or a california roll (usually crab, avocado and other stuff).

Here are some tips:
http://www.sushiden.net/sushi101.php?table=history