Sushi Money

   And now a timeout for Sushi!  I don’t talk much about sushi, but I do enjoy it.  There are only a few decent sushi restaurants in our area, so when we do visit it’s a real treat.  Today Yahoo! Beauty Eats blog wrote an overview about making healthy choices when eating sushi.  If you’re counting calories, there are some choices that are really full of ‘em!  I was surprised that they cited the noted Japanese cuisine expert Hiroko Shimbo stating that sushi restaurants do not use mayonnaise on sushi dishes?  I suspect that means in a strict and traditional sense for the art of sushi preparation, but otherwise that was not my experience after living in Japan for several years.  I found that the Japanese love mayonnaise.  You can find mayonnaise on many different foods, and especially mixed or chopped with sushi recipes that are used for rolls and other presentations.  It’s certainly not a staple or main ingredient, but more of an interesting choice on the menu.  Have you ever had pizza in Japan?  Many varieties are full of seafood and… yup, mayonnaise!

Hiroko Shimbo has written an amazing book on the subject of sushi:

The Sushi Experience

   But I think sushi is one of the healthiest food choices I have ever made.  Except that I can hardly keep myself from eating too much of it!  I love sashimi in all its forms, especially the beautiful Maguro, or tuna.  My favorite experiences were at the sushi restaurants with conveyor belts, and colorful dishes.  You chose what you wanted to eat as it passed by, and the staff would tally your bill by the color and designs on the plates.  I would usually have a stack of 15 to 20 plates by the time I was finished.  Yum!  And it’s just a pleasant experience… a little green tea, a little ginger between plates… and a relaxing dining experience.   Somehow I think sushi will only continue to grow in popularity over time.  Here’s to healthy eating!