Author Topic: Have you ever had a sushi party? (Read 2042 times)

Sunbeam56 · « **on:** January 06, 2009, 04:32:39 PM »

Christmas Eve, my daughter and I abandoned the usual christmas goose and had a sushi party.
It was great fun, everyone wore a kimono and something in their hair.
We had four courses:
tea and soup
tea and edamame
tea and spring rolls
sake and sushi (tenderloin, salmon, scallops, shrimp)
sake and orange slices
But, I thought the rice was OVERcooked, and the dinner was bland over all.

It was a hoot. The rice wasn't what I wanted, but the tenderloin sushi was a hit!

So... more modern history - tonight I was practicing.
Roark and I made salmon (baked) cucumber and avocado rolls - the long rolls, not the hand rolls.
The rice was, to my taste UNDERcooked.
But Roark was ectactic.

Anyone have any hints? The rice seems to be a failure every time.

Round eyed appreciation is nice, but I wouldn't cook for any of my japanese friends. Its just not perfect.

Joyce · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2009, 04:47:16 PM »

Are you using a rice cooker?

Also, if it's bland, you're not using enough wasabi.

karen J · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:27:36 PM »

You might want to google that- there are magic recipes when it comes to rice. Just the right amount of water, not removing the cover while cooking, just the right amount of vinegar added to the cooked sushi rice, etc.

I learned to make rice from Martin Yan (Yan Can Cook), but since I quit eating it I've forgotten all the important stuff.

The tenderloin sushi sounds delicious!

Esther · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:43:48 PM »

Evidently there is something I'm missing about Sushi. The one time I had it I about gagged. There are not many foods I don't like and so far Sushi is one of them.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2009, 07:37:08 PM »

Absolutely love sushi! I've had sushi parties a few times in the past and had way too much fun sake tasting to tasting stronger stuff! But you're right about the rice. Never turns out the same.

I use a rice cooker and no matter how much uncooked rice I put into it I fill the water to about 3/4" about the leveled rice. Stir a couple times while it cooks. Cooked rice needs to be cooled before adding a bit of rice vinegar and then tossed to mix.

Have you ever made tempura sushi? It's da bomb! Absolutely my favorite in a sushi bar. You can dip the whole roll or each sliced piece (my fav) in tempura batter and deep fry until lightly golden. Delish!!

Roark · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2009, 02:21:01 PM »

I'm not sure what Savannah is "on" about here, as the stuff was positively *wonderful*. I made some noises generally reserved for another activity. (Get your minds outta the gutter. I was talking about monkey noises and... oh... oops... nevermind...)

Anyway, today again for our 3:00 PM "snack", she did a quickie-roll-thingie, which promptly disappeared too. Wonderful stuff! And I'm thinking hard about the suggestion for a tempura-roll-thang. That sounds too good to pass-up.

Roark

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2009, 04:22:33 PM »

My thinking is that "anything fried up right" is "a good thing"

Sunbeam56 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2009, 04:58:14 PM »

Esther - sushi is basically anything you like mushed into a roll with rice. Seaweed has very little additional flavor, slightly sweet, and just holds it all together.
Like a japanese enchilada.

What was the guts of the sushi you tried? If it was mackerel - god bless you for trying it, I wouldn't... smells like cat food to me.
But cooked shrimp is just as good on a pillow of rice, or in a roll with rice, as it is cooked with jambalaya...

The tenderloin sushi is not traditional. I serve it lightly barbq'd on a pillow of rice, with a garnish of finely sliced green onions. It is just as yummy as if you had it on a plate with a less elaborate setting.

And of course, the elaborate setting is all the fun!

Teresa · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2009, 05:20:06 PM »

my youngest made some for new years - we bought the special short grain sushi rice and made it with the salt, vinegar and sugar called for in the recipe on the instructions - it was sticky and perfect and the sushi were all delicious (she made about 8 kinds)

ladybug · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2009, 05:29:15 PM »

i love sashimi. nothing better than a beautiful piece of raw salmon or tuna. i don't like any of the sushi stuff at all. no rice, no seaweed wrap, no roll either, nothing but me and my raw fish and some wasibi sauce. tastes nothing like fish. if you get great grade sashimi, you need nothing else. it is almost like butter melting in your mouth. i was very scared to try it but since i love rare meat anyway, i know you get the best flavor when food like that is barely cooked or raw like the sashimi.
ladybug

Kittyzee · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2009, 06:51:16 PM »

I LOVE SUSHI, and like Joyce, the more the wasabi, the better. Wow Teresa, that is a buffet for sure!

Joyce · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2009, 07:53:38 AM »

Roark, I make those noises when eating something really delicious too.

Such as the time we (all girlfriends) were at the Greek Restaurant (BIG Greek population here, my best friends are all Greek)
and we had just sampled a little of everything on the menu for dinner, sharing several plates of different Greek foods.

We were stuffed, but we ordered dessert anyway...and I ordered Baklava.

I don't usually have sweets, but we were going out dancing afterwards, and I was gonna dance it off.

It was late, the restaurant was deserted except for our table, and I bit into my Baklava.

(everyone else was eating their own desserts, so it was quiet)
I was so thoroughly enjoying it that I didn't noticed anything else for the delicious moment, stopped for a sip of coffee to wash it down...
and heard a muffled giggle, felt a nudging kick under the table, and looked around to see who kicked me. My friend Lynn was silently in hysterics...
and pointed her chin at the table where the chef and kitchen help (all Greek men) were sitting having coffee,
waiting for us to leave, and watching, listening to me eat my Baklava.

They were all dropped jawed and staring, listening to my estatic yummy noises I was making while eating the Baklava.
So I held up a forkful of Baklava and said:
" Compliments To The Chef!" and within 10 seconds, I knew who the chef was by the color of his face.

Jerry · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2009, 09:09:49 AM »

Wow! Baklava is an aphrodisiac too?

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2009, 10:44:37 AM »

WOW! Teresa, that's quite the spread! Love making sushi but it is alot of work. Sashimi much easier to make (or cut in this case!) and if the meat is very fresh....YUMMMMMM!!!!

Love Baklava too....what was that post about gaining weight....?

Joyce · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2009, 10:59:23 AM »

Jerry, at least for me..and I guess those guys who were watching me too.

We danced our meal off that night. Sugar and caffeine...man, did I do the hustle.

Roark · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2009, 02:40:45 PM »

Joyce: I'll have whatever you're having.

Roark