Author Topic: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi  (Read 17891 times)

Offline Brown Eyes

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Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« on: February 14, 2008, 10:46:42 pm »

I'm just curious about this particular foodie preference.  I love sushi and sashimi and I eat them all the time.  My all-time favorite is always tuna (all varieties in both sushi and sashimi).  And, I love the way oyster look and taste, but I'm really afraid of getting food poisoning from oysters in particular.  So, I tend to avoid raw oysters most of the time (even though I like them).


<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3789043-3cc.jpg" border="0" /><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3789044-f43.png" border="0" /><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3789042-289.jpg" border="0" />




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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2008, 10:53:29 pm »
Hey Amanda!! :D

I picked "Other" because I don't like fish, but I have been curious about sushi for some reason. But sushi really isn't raw fish is it? Sushi is a rice, am I correct? Sashimi is the raw fish? Anyway, it's extremely popular in the Midwest. There are Sushi - Sashimi restaurants EVERYWHERE - especially in the larger cities.

So, I guess I'm curious but I haven't worked up the nerve to try it yet. What is the stuff they put on the top of the fish? Is that fish skin? Because you see, I could NEVER eat fish skin. The raw fish, MAAAAAAYBE, but not fish skin.

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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2008, 11:00:38 pm »
Hey Amanda!! :D

I picked "Other" because I don't like fish, but I have been curious about sushi for some reason. But sushi really isn't raw fish is it? Sushi is a rice, am I correct? Sashimi is the raw fish? Anyway, it's extremely popular in the Midwest. There are Sushi - Sashimi restaurants EVERYWHERE - especially in the larger cities.

So, I guess I'm curious but I haven't worked up the nerve to try it yet. What is the stuff they put on the top of the fish? Is that fish skin? Because you see, I could NEVER eat fish skin. The raw fish, MAAAAAAYBE, but not fish skin.



Hey Friend,

Sushi is many things.  It most commonly refers to raw fish combined with rice (as in the photo above to the right with the chopsticks... the three bits of sushi are shown with pieces of fish tied to beds of rice with seaweed).  Or, some sushi is raw fish (or cooked fish or veggies) rolled with rice in a seaweed wrapper.  Sushi can be completely vegetarian and it also can contain only cooked fish.  Some sushi is also made with cooked egg.  But, quite a lot of classic sushi dishes involve raw fish.  I think rice is the common denominator.

One thing I love about sushi is how beautiful it is.  I always feel like I'm eating little sculptures.

Sashimi is simple slices of raw fish.  As shown in the bottom photo in the first post.

The most surprising thing about (raw) sushi and sashimi is how mild tasting both are.  It's a huge surprise usually for folks to realize how non-fishy-tasting these things are, even if they love fish in general.  If you don't like fish at all, I would tend to avoid sushi as a general recommendation.  Raw oysters have a very strong seafood flavor (at least in my opinion).


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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2008, 11:05:51 pm »
Do they leave the skin on the fish sometimes? See, that's the part that bothers me. I seriously doubt I could swallow it. The raw fish I could (espeically if it doesn't have a strong fish flavor) but not the skin. Some of those pictures look like the sushi has skin on it. I think I even see a fish tail up there!!  :o
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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2008, 11:09:41 pm »
Do they leave the skin on the fish sometimes? See, that's the part that bothers me. I seriously doubt I could swallow it. The raw fish I could (espeically if it doesn't have a strong fish flavor) but not the skin. Some of those pictures look like the sushi has skin on it. I think I even see a fish tail up there!!  :o

There are lots of kinds where there is no skin.  If you try it... you might ask your waiter for suggestions about the kinds that don't have skin.   I just picked a pretty picture for the first post.  There are a million varieties of sushi.  And, yes, some have skin, etc.  I prefer the kinds without skin myself.  There's also one kind (sea urchin) that I think is absolutely repulsive... and that has all to do with it's texture.  Certain kinds of sushi... like tuna are awesome in terms of texture because they're entirely smooth.




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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2008, 11:15:05 pm »


<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3789145-2c1.jpg" border="0" />

Here's another pic of a fairly typical tray of sushi (this is a pretty small serving)... but these look like classic selections.

Usually, when you order sushi you pick each roll or type that you want individually (a la carte).  So, it would be easy to avoid the skin if you want.

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2008, 11:18:45 pm »

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3789145-2c1.jpg" border="0" />

Here's another pic of a fairly typical tray of sushi (this is a pretty small serving)... but these look like classic selections.

Usually, when you order sushi you pick each roll or type that you want individually (a la carte).  So, it would be easy to avoid the skin if you want.



Okay! Amanda PLEASE don't log off yet! Because I am VERY curious about something. See that picture? What is that on the top of the fish and what does it taste like? I've seen it over and over again in pictures and I can't figure out what it is! And I can't imagine what it would taste like.

I watched a very funny episode of Two and a Half Men where Jake is visiting his grandmother. She serves him sushi (just like in that picture) and he takes a bite. The top part pulled away and he quickly spit it out. Then he said he wanted to get the taste out and he accidently swallowed some wasabi. It was a very funny episode.

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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2008, 11:30:19 pm »
Okay! Amanda PLEASE don't log off yet! Because I am VERY curious about something. See that picture? What is that on the top of the fish and what does it taste like? I've seen it over and over again in pictures and I can't figure out what it is! And I can't imagine what it would taste like.

I watched a very funny episode of Two and a Half Men where Jake is visiting his grandmother. She serves him sushi (just like in that picture) and he takes a bite. The top part pulled away and he quickly spit it out. Then he said he wanted to get the taste out and he accidently swallowed some wasabi. It was a very funny episode.



Me log off?  Never.  :-*




Well, in this most recent photo... The three flat pieces towards the top of the pic are (left to right) shrimp, tuna and salmon.  Usually, flat pieces like that are adhered to the bottom bed of rice with a bit of wasabi (not too much... it's usually not very spicy at all)... and the rice itself is special sticky sushi rice.  But, yeah, getting a full mouthful of wasabi would be painful... eating too much wasabi actually makes my sinuses hurt.

Then, the four rolled pieces to the bottom right of this pic... well... I can't really tell what's inside, but they're probably a combo of fish (maybe cooked or maybe raw) and veggies.  The black wrapper holding the roll together is seaweed. 






And, in this pic...



The black stripe is seaweed.  Which I think is extremely delicious.  Seaweed has a very distinctive flavor... it really tastes just like the ocean.  I don't know how else to describe it.  In some ways the seaweed part tastes more "seafoody" than the fish itself (which again, sushi fish is often surprisingly mild).

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2008, 11:36:19 pm »
Thanks Amanda! You answered my question. For some reason I always thought the white part was the fish, and I wondered what the top part was. But the TOP part is the fish (or shrimp, etc) and the bottom part is RICE!

Mystery solved! :)

Thanks sweetie! :-*

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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2008, 11:47:55 pm »
I only eat vegetable or cooked sushi.

After taking Invertebrate Zoology and Entomolgy in college, I haven't had the urge to eat meat raw- neither would you.  :P

The only meat I eat somewhat rare are steaks.

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2008, 12:01:50 am »
Lee managed to finally talk me into trying fish tacos a couple of years ago. Remember the infamous "Fish Taco" thread? The idea repulsed me, but I did it anyway. I forget what kind of fish we used, maybe catfish. I piled a bunch of lettuce and tomatoes in the taco shell, and then placed a few small pieces of fish in there. It was pretty good.

I once ate raw herring in Holland but that was terrible. It was served with onion. I was just a kid then but I'll never forget it!  :laugh:

Soooo, maybe Amanda I might just give sushi a try someday soon. I'll never know if I'd like it or not if I don't try it. :)

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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2008, 12:04:03 am »
Lee managed to finally talk me into trying fish tacos a couple of years ago. Remember the infamous "Fish Taco" thread? The idea repulsed me, but I did it anyway. I forget what kind of fish we used, maybe catfish. I piled a bunch of lettuce and tomatoes in the taco shell, and then placed a few small pieces of fish in there. It was pretty good.


I totally remember the Fish Taco thread!  There's a pub quite near my work that serves them and they're really good.  The pub uses fried fish... so it's really good and greasy.

:)

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Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #12 on: February 15, 2008, 04:47:54 pm »
I love sashimi, it's my favorite. Sushi is good but I like sashimi better.

You know what you forgot on your list Amanda? Clams on the half shell (I picked other). Yum. Oysters are good, clams are better.

David, when you do get up the nerve to try some sushi and/or sashimi, you should go to the restaurant with someone who knows how to order. As a newbie, it's fun to be with someone who knows the ropes.

L
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Offline southendmd

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #13 on: February 15, 2008, 05:17:11 pm »
I love it all!

Most reputable sushi places use very fresh ingredients, and the chefs are well-trained in the preparation.  I've had plenty and never got sick.  I like salmon, tuna and yellowtail.  Of the cooked stuff, I especially like eel (I know, sounds gross, but it's good) and soft shell crab.

I love most oysters too.  It's the same issue:  you have to have a reputable source and know it's fresh.  I've eaten tons of raw oysters and I've never been sick from them.  Ever. 

Oysters are very varied in size, texture, and flavor.  It depends where they come from.  I'm lucky in that I can get really good Wellfleet oysters all year-round.  Also, there are a few places that fly in oysters from the west coast.  I love the kumamotos; they're so different from New England.  Whereas Wellfleets taste sweet and a little like the sea, kumamotos are small and creamy and not at all briney.

Great thread, Amanda.  YUM!

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2008, 05:19:32 pm »
I love it all!

Most reputable sushi places use very fresh ingredients, and the chefs are well-trained in the preparation.  I've had plenty and never got sick.  I like salmon, tuna and yellowtail.  Of the cooked stuff, I especially like eel (I know, sounds gross, but it's good) and soft shell crab.

I love most oysters too.  It's the same issue:  you have to have a reputable source and know it's fresh.  I've eaten tons of raw oysters and I've never been sick from them.  Ever. 

Oysters are very varied in size, texture, and flavor.  It depends where they come from.  I'm lucky in that I can get really good Wellfleet oysters all year-round.  Also, there are a few places that fly in oysters from the west coast.  I love the kumamotos; they're so different from New England.  Whereas Wellfleets taste sweet and a little like the sea, kumamotos are small and creamy and not at all briney.

Great thread, Amanda.  YUM!

Remember our yummy lunch at that oyster place, the day we saw "Candy"? Oooohhh, now I'm getting hungry!

L
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Offline Shakesthecoffecan

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #15 on: February 15, 2008, 05:21:46 pm »
I had some yellow tail tuna recently and really enjoyed it, but it was enough for two people. Prior to that my experence with sushi was primarily California rolls and the like.
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Offline southendmd

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #16 on: February 15, 2008, 05:50:28 pm »
Remember our yummy lunch at that oyster place, the day we saw "Candy"? Oooohhh, now I'm getting hungry!

L

OOh, yeah, B&G Oysters!!  Good stuff!  Let's go again soon.

Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #17 on: February 15, 2008, 05:56:32 pm »
I love it all!

Most reputable sushi places use very fresh ingredients, and the chefs are well-trained in the preparation.  I've had plenty and never got sick.  I like salmon, tuna and yellowtail.  Of the cooked stuff, I especially like eel (I know, sounds gross, but it's good) and soft shell crab.

I love most oysters too.  It's the same issue:  you have to have a reputable source and know it's fresh.  I've eaten tons of raw oysters and I've never been sick from them.  Ever. 

Oysters are very varied in size, texture, and flavor.  It depends where they come from.  I'm lucky in that I can get really good Wellfleet oysters all year-round.  Also, there are a few places that fly in oysters from the west coast.  I love the kumamotos; they're so different from New England.  Whereas Wellfleets taste sweet and a little like the sea, kumamotos are small and creamy and not at all briney.

Great thread, Amanda.  YUM!

Thanks!  I love the eel too!

My Mom used to love, love, love raw oysters but she did get sick... and I think she's managed to instill a wariness about raw oysters in me.  I like cooked oysters (especially fried oysters).  Yum.  I've never been nervous abous sushi/sashimi in the same way.


Leslie, I've never tried clams on the half-shell.  I'm not a huge fan of clam sushi... so I wonder if I'd like clams on the half shell.

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Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2008, 06:06:01 pm »
Thanks!  I love the eel too!

My Mom used to love, love, love raw oysters but she did get sick... and I think she's managed to instill a wariness about raw oysters in me.  I like cooked oysters (especially fried oysters).  Yum.  I've never been nervous abous sushi/sashimi in the same way.


Leslie, I've never tried clams on the half-shell.  I'm not a huge fan of clam sushi... so I wonder if I'd like clams on the half shell.



Like Paul, I've eaten a mountain of raw fish, oysters, and clams in my life and never been bothered. But then again, I do have a cast iron stomach. LOL.

I've never had clam sushi...it doesn't even appeal to me!

Clams on the half shell, someplace where the clams are cold and the sun is hot. A nice cold bottle of beer, a little cocktail sauce on the clam with a squeeze of lemon and touch of horseradish. Slurp 'em down...heaven!

I like the little ones and I get them mixed up which ones are little...Littlenecks? Cherrystones? Anyone?

L
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Offline southendmd

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2008, 06:11:43 pm »
Hmm, I think the littlenecks are littler than the cherrystones.  I don't like them raw; rather, I like them barely cooked.  I put them on the grill, put the top down, sixty seconds later, they pop open.  Dip them in melted butter with finely chopped garlic and parsley.  Yum.

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2008, 06:31:07 pm »
Hmm, I think the littlenecks are littler than the cherrystones.  I don't like them raw; rather, I like them barely cooked.  I put them on the grill, put the top down, sixty seconds later, they pop open.  Dip them in melted butter with finely chopped garlic and parsley.  Yum.

That sounds like a recipe worth trying. They are a pain to open when raw, I will admit!

L
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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #21 on: February 16, 2008, 02:30:15 am »
I'm getting more and more curious and curiouser as we speak. Intrigued actually.

Maybe once we can get past the idea of actually eating raw fish, it might be pretty good. :)

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #22 on: February 16, 2008, 02:31:37 am »
Oh, I LOVE raw oysters! They're yummy. I have them every time I go down to New Orleans to visit relatives. If you dabble a little hot sauce on them they are quite tasty.

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Offline Shasta542

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #23 on: February 16, 2008, 03:08:36 am »
Oh, I LOVE raw oysters! They're yummy. I have them every time I go down to New Orleans to visit relatives. If you dabble a little hot sauce on them they are quite tasty.



I've had those. In a restaurant sitting beside the Mississippi River. They're pretty good.
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Offline LauraGigs

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #24 on: February 16, 2008, 03:14:32 am »
David if you love raw oysters, you'll have NO problem with sushi!  In my experience it's much milder and less "slithery" than raw oysters.   ;D

What's always mystified me is how much to order.  You get a little check-off list for a la carte individual pieces, and I'm like, how many should one person get:  3?  20?  100?

I'm so glad you started this thread Amanda.  I'm still relatively new at sushi and a bit mystified . . .

But I love how it makes me feel.  A nice protein fix, but light and very healthy feeling!

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #25 on: February 16, 2008, 09:46:28 am »
David if you love raw oysters, you'll have NO problem with sushi!  In my experience it's much milder and less "slithery" than raw oysters.   ;D

I agree!
Quote
What's always mystified me is how much to order.  You get a little check-off list for a la carte individual pieces, and I'm like, how many should one person get:  3?  20?  100?

For me, I find that 6 is the perfect number. If you are at a restaurant with different varieties (like Paul said) you can get 2, 2, and 2 for a nice taste comparison.

Quote
I'm so glad you started this thread Amanda.  I'm still relatively new at sushi and a bit mystified . . .

As I said to David, if you go with an experienced sushi-eater, you can learn alot over one meal! Another option is to go to a restaurant with a sushi bar and deliver yourself into the hands of the chef. I did that once (at a restaurant in Denver, actually) and had a great experience. I had only had a few pieces and a group of Japanese businessmen came and sat down next to me. Between them and the chef, I had a fabulous dinner and didn't feel like I was eating alone at all.

Quote
But I love how it makes me feel.  A nice protein fix, but light and very healthy feeling!

The miso soup is great, too. Health in a bowl, I call it.

L
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Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #26 on: February 16, 2008, 09:50:51 am »
I'm getting more and more curious and curiouser as we speak. Intrigued actually.

Maybe once we can get past the idea of actually eating raw fish, it might be pretty good. :)

Don't think of it as fish, think of it as pure protein.

Start off with milder varieties of fish: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp (which you can get cooked on sushi rice). They also make an egg sushi which is good. I stay away from the eel--I think it is strong. I also don't like any smoked fish for sushi.

Most restaurants have a sushi combo plate which has a nice mix of the stuff on rice (negiri?) and the rolls (like the picture Amanda posted). They tend to include the most popular varieties so it is a pretty safe way to start venturing into the world of sushi.

That said, I still like sashimi better! LOL

L
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Offline serious crayons

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #27 on: February 16, 2008, 11:02:31 am »
Hey everybody, get this -- I have actually eaten sushi WITH AMANDA! Yup, when we met the first time, in Pittsburgh, she took me to a shushi place. I joked that we ate elk sushi, but of course it was just regular sushi.

So anyway, I love all the things above. With sushi, I like pretty much every kind -- the easy ones like salmon and tuna as well as the more challenging ones like eel. I love ones with roe (fish eggs).

And I also love oysters. When I lived in New Orleans I had them as often as possible. The saying with oysters is, only eat them in months with R in the name. In other words, don't eat them in May, June, July or August -- i.e., summer. I think they're more likely to make you sick in hot weather.

Here's a good oyster story. New Orleanians love shabby little hole-in-the-wall neighborhood restaurants, and most of them have really good food. There was this one place, Frankie & Johnny's, that was really popular. So one night my husband and I went there, and he ordered a dozen fried oysters. Usually we would eat them raw, but this time he got them fried. So the oysters came and when he started eating them, and at first they were good, but then he discovered that many of them were "bad." Like, too old or whatever. He took a bite of a bad one, and it was gross, and he could smell the other bad ones. Out of the 12 oysters, six were bad. So you'd think the restaurant might not charge him for his dinner, right, since they were serving poisoned food that could have easily made him sick? Nope. They gave him half off, because only half of the oysters were bad. Luckily, he didn't get sick and we never returned to Frankie & Johnny's.

However, that was the only time we ever had a problem.

For those who aren't familiar with sushi and/or oysters, a large part of the appeal of both is the sauce you dip them in. With sushi, you dip it in a mixture of soy sauce and wasabi, and top it with a little sliver of ginger. And with oysters, you dip them in a mixture of ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and maybe a little Tabasco. So in both cases, you probably taste the sauce more than you do the fish.


Offline delalluvia

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #28 on: February 16, 2008, 12:19:36 pm »
And I also love oysters. When I lived in New Orleans I had them as often as possible. The saying with oysters is, only eat them in months with R in the name. In other words, don't eat them in May, June, July or August -- i.e., summer. I think they're more likely to make you sick in hot weather.

Here's a good oyster story. New Orleanians love shabby little hole-in-the-wall neighborhood restaurants, and most of them have really good food. There was this one place, Frankie & Johnny's, that was really popular. So one night my husband and I went there, and he ordered a dozen fried oysters. Usually we would eat them raw, but this time he got them fried. So the oysters came and when he started eating them, and at first they were good, but then he discovered that many of them were "bad." Like, too old or whatever. He took a bite of a bad one, and it was gross, and he could smell the other bad ones. Out of the 12 oysters, six were bad. So you'd think the restaurant might not charge him for his dinner, right, since they were serving poisoned food that could have easily made him sick? Nope. They gave him half off, because only half of the oysters were bad. Luckily, he didn't get sick and we never returned to Frankie & Johnny's.

Can't believe they're trying to pass off bad oysters.  At least they were cooked.  Fresh bad oysters - even though that look and taste fresh - can kill you if they have a certain organism in them. 

Quote
For those who aren't familiar with sushi and/or oysters, a large part of the appeal of both is the sauce you dip them in. With sushi, you dip it in a mixture of soy sauce and wasabi, and top it with a little sliver of ginger. And with oysters, you dip them in a mixture of ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and maybe a little Tabasco. So in both cases, you probably taste the sauce more than you do the fish.

 ;D  So basically, like the comedian said, people don't really like the taste of the oyster, they really just like the taste of the sauces.

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #29 on: February 16, 2008, 02:02:11 pm »
For those who can't get enuff of fish polls, here's the original "Who Loves Fish?"

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,2598.0/all.html

Amanda, I think it's great that you took your new friend to a fish taco place, and you took Katherine to a sushi place!! Makes me want to hop on a plane to Pittsburgh this instant!!
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Offline serious crayons

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #30 on: February 16, 2008, 02:06:38 pm »
;D  So basically, like the comedian said, people don't really like the taste of the oyster, they really just like the taste of the sauces.

It's not that the oyster tastes bad (except, I mean, when it's "bad"). A good oyster tastes briney and fresh, with an interesting slippery texture. But yeah, mainly it's a vehicle for sauce.


Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #31 on: February 16, 2008, 02:40:03 pm »
But yeah, mainly it's a vehicle for sauce.


Not in my world. I can eat any of the things we talked about plain, without sauce. I have. Heck, I grew on on the Great South Bay of New York and dug clams with my toes. Brought them home, pried them open, ate them. No sauce at all...just pure clam.

Sauce sauce and wasabi enhances sushi, sure...a little lemon and horseradish on a clam, great. But to call them a vehicle for the sauce....that's a sacrilege in my world. LOL

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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #32 on: February 16, 2008, 04:34:57 pm »
Hey everybody, get this -- I have actually eaten sushi WITH AMANDA! Yup, when we met the first time, in Pittsburgh, she took me to a shushi place. I joked that we ate elk sushi, but of course it was just regular sushi.


That sure was fun Bud!  ;D



For those who can't get enuff of fish polls, here's the original "Who Loves Fish?"

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,2598.0/all.html

Amanda, I think it's great that you took your new friend to a fish taco place, and you took Katherine to a sushi place!! Makes me want to hop on a plane to Pittsburgh this instant!!


Please do hop on a plane!  It would be fun.  I now know several other good places to get sushi in addition to the place where I went with K.  And, actually, the pub where I had fish tacos was on my list of places to maybe take K back when she came to visit... but the place where she was staying was pretty far away from the fish-taco-pub... so sushi it was! 

I'm glad folks are enjoying this poll.  I'm becoming encouraged about trying raw oysters one of these days.

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #33 on: February 16, 2008, 05:47:46 pm »
That sure was fun Bud!  ;D



Please do hop on a plane!  It would be fun.  I now know several other good places to get sushi in addition to the place where I went with K.  And, actually, the pub where I had fish tacos was on my list of places to maybe take K back when she came to visit... but the place where she was staying was pretty far away from the fish-taco-pub... so sushi it was! 

I'm glad folks are enjoying this poll.  I'm becoming encouraged about trying raw oysters one of these days.



Raw oysters are good Amanda. I'm not a big fan of chewing them though. I put some hot sauce on them and let them slide down my throat. :)

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Offline serious crayons

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #34 on: February 16, 2008, 06:19:45 pm »
Sauce sauce and wasabi enhances sushi, sure...a little lemon and horseradish on a clam, great. But to call them a vehicle for the sauce....that's a sacrilege in my world. LOL

I've never had a raw clam one way or another. But oysters and sushi ... well, I've eaten them sauceless, but to me that's kind of like eating popcorn without salt or a baked potato without butter and/or sour cream.

I guess "vehicle for the sauce" is a tiny bit of an exaggeration, though. When the oysters are gone (always too soon), I might have a little sauce on a Saltine, and when the sushi is gone (again too soon) I consume any stray rice with the sauce. But neither is a decent substitute.



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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #35 on: February 16, 2008, 06:44:08 pm »
Raw oysters are good Amanda. I'm not a big fan of chewing them though. I put some hot sauce on them and let them slide down my throat. :)



I think chewing them is against the rules. Sliding is the operative word and preferred technique... ;)
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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #36 on: February 16, 2008, 06:51:34 pm »
I've never had a raw clam one way or another. But oysters and sushi ... well, I've eaten them sauceless, but to me that's kind of like eating popcorn without salt or a baked potato without butter and/or sour cream.

Yes. Exactly...


All this clam talk has made me think of FRIED CLAMS and I am reminded that someday summer will be here and it will be fried clam season. Here in New England there are huge debates about fried clams in batter vs. crumbs. I am a crumb girl, 100%. With homemade tartar sauce. Lots and lots of it. Now there is a situation where I won't eat the food without the sauce. I also think it is easier to get a "bad" fried clam than it is a raw one (or oyster). If they haven't been cleaned properly they can be all gritty and sandy. Yuck. I am very picky about where I will eat fried clams and really only have 2 places here in Maine that I trust.

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Offline southendmd

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #37 on: February 16, 2008, 10:34:07 pm »
OK, raw oysters are NOT vehicles for sauce.  Sacrilege in my book. 

I think all that tabasco, horseradish etc. nonsense was to "hide" the taste of poorly refrigerated oysters in the old days.  "Months with Rs" is also a throwback to the days before good refrigeration.  Up here in Cape Cod, summer oysters are just fine.  They actually taste better in the winter, though.

I had several TONIGHT, Wellfleets at their best, sweet, a little briney, and all I use is one little drop of lemon juice.  None of that sauce nonsense.  I want to taste the poor little mollusk that gave its life!

Plus, with the right tool and a little experience, it's real easy to open an oyster. 


Offline delalluvia

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #38 on: February 16, 2008, 11:28:08 pm »
Raw oysters are good Amanda. I'm not a big fan of chewing them though. I put some hot sauce on them and let them slide down my throat.

A great many people do this.  Another piece of evidence that people don't actually like the taste.  I swallow pills so I don't have to taste them.

Since some people on this board may be immuno-suppressed for whatever reason, just a reminder of why they put warnings on the bottom of seafood restaurant menus that warn against raw seafood and shellfish:

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3663.htm


Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #39 on: February 17, 2008, 12:28:37 am »
A great many people do this.  Another piece of evidence that people don't actually like the taste.  I swallow pills so I don't have to taste them.

Since some people on this board may be immuno-suppressed for whatever reason, just a reminder of why they put warnings on the bottom of seafood restaurant menus that warn against raw seafood and shellfish:

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3663.htm



I remember watching my parents eating raw oysters when I was a kid. My maternal grandfather (is that the right way to say it? My mom's dad) was from Louisiana and I have many relatives down there. We'd travel to the New Orleans area a couple of times each year when I was a child. And all that time, I never thought to equate raw oysters with sushi! I guess it is, sort of. Oysters are a water animal, but they really aren't fish. They are a shell animal. But if they serve them in sushi restaurants, I guess maybe they are.

Del, I think it would very difficult to chew a raw oyster. I've never tried to do it, but they are very slippery and squishy. It would be like trying to chew a semi firm egg yolk. Or something like that. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've never tried to do it. Around the teeth and past the gums, look out stomach here it comes! :D

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #40 on: February 17, 2008, 01:10:12 am »
I am also a sushi and sashimi lover, Amanda.

Tuna, yellowtail, and salmon are my favorites. The only variety I have encountered that I do not like is mackerel - somehow the fish flavor there is too strong for me.  I like some wasabi in my soy sauce too.

Regarding shellfish, I love fried clams but I guess I don't appreciate oysters the way Paul does!   ;)

I always used the 'add condiments and swallow' approach, myself...didn't see the big deal.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2008, 09:30:27 pm by Lynne »
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Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #41 on: February 17, 2008, 02:17:01 am »
I don't recall what mackerel sushi tastes like.  The only kind that I can't handle eating... even a little bit... is sea urchin.   :-X :P  The texture just creeps me out.  But, I've heard that sea urchin is considered are real delicacy by major sushi aficionados.  One kind of sushi that I love, love, love... besides tuna (my favorite)... is caviar (the kind with the big orange caviar) in a roll.  Awesome.


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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #42 on: February 17, 2008, 02:25:40 am »
I don't recall what mackerel sushi tastes like.  The only kind that I can't handle eating... even a little bit... is sea urchin.   :-X :P  The texture just creeps me out.  But, I've heard that sea urchin is considered are real delicacy by major sushi aficionados.  One kind of sushi that I love, love, love... besides tuna (my favorite)... is caviar (the kind with the big orange caviar) in a roll.  Awesome.




I've had canned mackerel before and it's terrible. It's really really terrible tasting. I can't imagine how awful it would taste raw! YUCK!!

So.... I do believe I'm going to do it. Kroger's has a sushi shop and I'm thinking about stopping there tomorrow and purchasing a few of them. What should I get? Any suggestions? :)

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #43 on: February 17, 2008, 02:28:25 am »
David if you love raw oysters, you'll have NO problem with sushi!  In my experience it's much milder and less "slithery" than raw oysters.   ;D

What's always mystified me is how much to order.  You get a little check-off list for a la carte individual pieces, and I'm like, how many should one person get:  3?  20?  100?

I'm so glad you started this thread Amanda.  I'm still relatively new at sushi and a bit mystified . . .

But I love how it makes me feel.  A nice protein fix, but light and very healthy feeling!

What do you suggest I try Laura? Do you have any suggestions for me? :D

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #44 on: February 17, 2008, 02:37:15 am »
Sorry, this is a bit OT from sushi:

But also, have any of you ever tried Fish Head Soup? It's extremely popular in the Orient, and I've noticed many Oriental restaurants here in Indianapolis adding it to their menus. It's very expensive, and apparently the meat inside the cheeks is very tender and sweet.

God, I can't even believe I'm asking ya'll about it, because I'm not a fan of fish at all. But since I may try sushi tomorrow, I guess I'm curious about fish head soup too.



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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #45 on: February 17, 2008, 03:28:00 am »
I have to say it's a strange looking fish head soup, especially to see eggplant being used as one of the ingredients, perhaps it's used by some remote provinces.

But it's true that the meat inside the cheeks is very good.



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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #46 on: February 17, 2008, 03:37:40 am »
What do you suggest I try Laura? Do you have any suggestions for me? :D

Hi sweetie,

You might start with vegetable roll for a warm-up!  Then, the 3 basics that a few have mentioned — salmon, tuna and yellowtail — are excellent for sushi-beginners.  They're mild, even faintly sweet.  The California roll is also popular & easy to eat but I don't quite remember the ingredients . . . like a vegetable roll with a little tuna or something . . . maybe someone more expert here can help on that?

I have a question:  what's good to move up to from there?  I've had the aforementioned foods but am curious about what else there is.  What else in the sushi universe is good for folks who are relatively new to it?

(don't know about the fish head soup . . . "ain't never ordered soup" as the Basque would say . . )

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #47 on: February 17, 2008, 03:40:55 am »
Hi sweetie,

You might start with vegetable roll for a warm-up!  Then, the 3 basics that a few have mentioned — salmon, tuna and yellowtail — are excellent for sushi-beginners.  They're mild, even faintly sweet.  The California roll is also popular & easy to eat but I don't quite remember the ingredients . . . like a vegetable roll with a little tuna or something . . . maybe someone more expert here can help on that?


Thanks Laura!! :D

I will try your suggestions. Probably tomorrow! :-*

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #48 on: February 17, 2008, 04:15:48 am »
I have to say it's a strange looking fish head soup, especially to see eggplant being used as one of the ingredients, perhaps it's used by some remote provinces.

But it's true that the meat inside the cheeks is very good.




It does look strange to you? I didn't know what was in the soup. This was the first picture I found of it.

It might be better if maybe they pulled the fish cheeks out first and then placed it in the soup and left the head out of it? I have problems looking at animals staring at me as I eat them. Ugh.

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #49 on: February 17, 2008, 06:59:16 am »
It does look strange to you? I didn't know what was in the soup. This was the first picture I found of it.

It might be better if maybe they pulled the fish cheeks out first and then placed it in the soup and left the head out of it? I have problems looking at animals staring at me as I eat them. Ugh.



I have no idea whether it is legitimate Chinese cuisine or not, but it may also be one of the dishes from the remote provinces.  It looks spicy, though, and I'm not fond of it.  From my limited knowledge of cooking, I don't think pulling out the cheeks first is an option, the head has to be cooked in one piece if it is soup.

Back on topic, yeah, I like sashimi and sushi.

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #50 on: February 17, 2008, 09:16:18 am »
Hi sweetie,

You might start with vegetable roll for a warm-up!  Then, the 3 basics that a few have mentioned — salmon, tuna and yellowtail — are excellent for sushi-beginners.  They're mild, even faintly sweet.  The California roll is also popular & easy to eat but I don't quite remember the ingredients . . . like a vegetable roll with a little tuna or something . . . maybe someone more expert here can help on that?


A California roll has crab, avocado, and cucumber.

L
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Offline serious crayons

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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #51 on: February 17, 2008, 11:56:59 am »
A California roll has crab, avocado, and cucumber.

And the problem is that sometimes, instead of crab, it's surimi. Y'all know what that is, right? Pureed whitefish molded into pencil-shapes and flavored like crab, complete with pink stripes painted along the side? Yuck.

I have a question:  what's good to move up to from there?  I've had the aforementioned foods but am curious about what else there is.  What else in the sushi universe is good for folks who are relatively new to it?

Just about any kind of regular old fish is good, in my experience. The next step, I guess, would be things like eel and sea urchin. Also roe: I would suggest the first step would be something with the little tiny red roe (I think it's salmon?) before trying the bigger bead-sized roe.

Do you go to one of those sushi places where you can just check off on the menu what you want? I'd suggest doing that and just experimenting. Get some basics, and add in some untried things. You can't go too wrong.


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Re: Oysters, Sushi and Sashimi
« Reply #52 on: February 17, 2008, 09:35:33 pm »
I haven't tried sea urchin yet - so I guess I need to add that to the list.  I like the caviar too, especially the little red ones, salmon roe, I think, also.

Some other suggestions for people who don't want to try the raw items the first time out, in addition to California rolls, are eel, tempura rolls, and softshell crab rolls.  The eel is a bit exotic, but comes with a sweet tamarind(?) sauce.  The tempura is basically fried shrimp (beware tails) and vegetables in a light batter.  And softshell crabs are yummy most any way you get them.
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