Well, there have been no recent posts, because there has been no recent sushi.
I'm on a bit of a tighter budget for another week, but I will be back in full swing in no time.
Beside budget constraints, I've had much going on lately. My sister had a baby (yay!), and I've worked like a mad woman.
Also, I leave for a holiday in California next week, so trying to squeeze in one more sushi adventure before then could prove tough.
If anything, I may have a "guest" spot about Sushi on a different coast.
More later! Happy Sushi Eating to everyone!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
I can haz...
A brief moment of hilarity, otherwise known as an "lol," brought to you by our friends over at I can has cheezburger. Check them out, they are a favorite.
Coco's Yakitori, updates, etc
This St. Patricks day was quite the international adventure.
It began at McGonigal's Mucky Duck, with shepard's pie. Then we moved to traipsing around Westheimer, doing a demented pub crawl. I'd call it a full pub crawl, but we didn't drink at every establishment, merely popped in to whatever establishment seemed open, our quest for a bellini (this is the part where I mention that I was not the chooser of this quest, merely a party to it).
Along the way, I get to talking to the two friends, *P and *S, and the subject of OGTC (one girl, two chopsticks) comes up. *S immediately knows where to take us, Coco's Yakitori.
This is my favorite part about Sushi and those who love it. There is always "that one place" that someone simply *must* recommend. In a big sushi world in Houston, any jumping-off points can be helpful. Besides that, I love hearing what it is about a certain food, in this case Sushi, that someone loves. The way my friend, *R, can describe her favorite dish is breathtaking, the way an artist describes his method and work.
I digress. We walk the seven or so blocks to Coco's, and the whole time I'm thinking, "gah, where is this place!? I've never heard of it before..." However, I keep an open mind. I began 2010 with the mindset of doing, not hesitating. I want it to be the year of "Why Not?" instead of the year of "Because I'm a wuss."
When we approach the neon-lit sign I realize I've seen this place before. Formerly a cafe (which wasn't that great), and now a Yakitori/Sushi place, the atmosphere is neon, karaoke, and hipsters. It was late on a Tuesday night, so there were not as many hipsters as would normally be there (thank God), but enough to give the effect. You know to what I'm referring--ironic hat, long, scraggly hair and/or facial hair, stock tattoos, thrift-store found ironic t-shirt, expensive watch and shoes, and the "better than thou" attitude. Worse than hippies in the sense that they make more money and worry more about their clothing, and carry iPhones and talk about what each other tweets. Like roaches, you peel back some of the darker, quieter parts of Houston and you'll find a colony of them, hiding. Once found, they will scatter and hiss at you.
Okay, I made that last part up. This is the part in the blog where I chastise myself for being mean, and remind my readers that I'm very live-and-let-live and such. But hipsters. C'mon. You've been snubbed by one. They're easy targets.
Anyway, I don't have many pictures because I didn't have anything but a phone-camera handy at the time. And the pictures that were taken were not in the best lighting, so hopefully my words will provide visuals.
*WARNING: I AM NOT A FOOD CRITIC, NOR HAVE I EVER CLAIMED TO BE, NOR DO I PLAN ON DOING SO IN THE FUTURE. EAT, ENJOY, AND FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS*
We started off with a yellow tail, which was great. This place uses mayo in their rice, which I am not a fan of. I am not saying it wasn't tasty, but I'm just not a mayo fan in general. I loved the yellow tail despite this, but perhaps it's best to mention now.
Next came the rolls we ordered: New York Roll and Tiger's Eye Roll. I had recently purchased the Tiger's Eye Roll at Sushi Jin, and I wanted to compare. Coco's didn't disappoint, however, the mayo got in the way for me again. The jalapenos that Coco's used were sincere (aka spicy), much better than Sushi Jin's. The take away for their Tiger's Eye Roll was that it would be superior if it weren't for the mayo. Jus' Sayin.
Finally, we moved to the Ikura, which I have never tried before. If you've never had Ikura, let me explain:
Ikura is a small pad of rice, wrapped in nori (the black seaweed wrapper), with a heaping-helping of salmon roe on top. Coco's served ours with a raw quail egg on top (which is very common).
I've been told that one must eat this particular sushi right away, as soon as it comes to the table, as the nori will get soft and ruin the dish. Basically, one needs the differences in texture to fully realize the experience and taste.
A quick word. I grew up presyb-baptist, as I like to call it, which is just narrowing down my own brand of protestantism. I've been in a catholic church maybe once or twice, and know about one half or less of a hail Mary.
However. Before I popped the Ikura in my mouth, I crossed myself, and the sushi. Don't get me wrong, I love sushi. Okay, to be fair, I like sushi, because perhaps if you haven't tried all facets of it, how can you say you love it? Anyway, let's just keep in mind that I wanted to be adventurous.
But...it's bait. On my rice. About to go in my mouth. Yeah, I had to bless it, okay?
Ahem. Opening wide, I popped the whole thing in my mouth. And chewed. And chewed. And moved it around across my palate, too, to get the full taste. "Ohh...wow," I said through a mouth full of salmon eggs, and began the process of swallowing. It slid down my throat, and it felt like I was swallowing a mixture of chewed-up gummibears and raw eggs. And the flavor was a bit...fishy for my taste.
In fact, that was the first words out of my mouth as I came back up for air: "Is it supposed to taste this...fishy?"
*S erupted into laughter. *P handled my philistine comment well. Suffice to say I learned it was an acquired taste, and I would find that any other particular meeting with Ikura would yield better results.
This being the year of my can-do attitude, I welcome the challenge. In fact, I ask that you all try Ikura this year...why not with me?
A final note to the story: We did end up finding Bellini's. It took us seven bars, but we found a place that would make/sell it. My thought by the end of the night: Irish, Japanese, and Italian...only in Houston!
It began at McGonigal's Mucky Duck, with shepard's pie. Then we moved to traipsing around Westheimer, doing a demented pub crawl. I'd call it a full pub crawl, but we didn't drink at every establishment, merely popped in to whatever establishment seemed open, our quest for a bellini (this is the part where I mention that I was not the chooser of this quest, merely a party to it).
Along the way, I get to talking to the two friends, *P and *S, and the subject of OGTC (one girl, two chopsticks) comes up. *S immediately knows where to take us, Coco's Yakitori.
This is my favorite part about Sushi and those who love it. There is always "that one place" that someone simply *must* recommend. In a big sushi world in Houston, any jumping-off points can be helpful. Besides that, I love hearing what it is about a certain food, in this case Sushi, that someone loves. The way my friend, *R, can describe her favorite dish is breathtaking, the way an artist describes his method and work.
I digress. We walk the seven or so blocks to Coco's, and the whole time I'm thinking, "gah, where is this place!? I've never heard of it before..." However, I keep an open mind. I began 2010 with the mindset of doing, not hesitating. I want it to be the year of "Why Not?" instead of the year of "Because I'm a wuss."
When we approach the neon-lit sign I realize I've seen this place before. Formerly a cafe (which wasn't that great), and now a Yakitori/Sushi place, the atmosphere is neon, karaoke, and hipsters. It was late on a Tuesday night, so there were not as many hipsters as would normally be there (thank God), but enough to give the effect. You know to what I'm referring--ironic hat, long, scraggly hair and/or facial hair, stock tattoos, thrift-store found ironic t-shirt, expensive watch and shoes, and the "better than thou" attitude. Worse than hippies in the sense that they make more money and worry more about their clothing, and carry iPhones and talk about what each other tweets. Like roaches, you peel back some of the darker, quieter parts of Houston and you'll find a colony of them, hiding. Once found, they will scatter and hiss at you.
Okay, I made that last part up. This is the part in the blog where I chastise myself for being mean, and remind my readers that I'm very live-and-let-live and such. But hipsters. C'mon. You've been snubbed by one. They're easy targets.
Anyway, I don't have many pictures because I didn't have anything but a phone-camera handy at the time. And the pictures that were taken were not in the best lighting, so hopefully my words will provide visuals.
*WARNING: I AM NOT A FOOD CRITIC, NOR HAVE I EVER CLAIMED TO BE, NOR DO I PLAN ON DOING SO IN THE FUTURE. EAT, ENJOY, AND FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS*
We started off with a yellow tail, which was great. This place uses mayo in their rice, which I am not a fan of. I am not saying it wasn't tasty, but I'm just not a mayo fan in general. I loved the yellow tail despite this, but perhaps it's best to mention now.
Next came the rolls we ordered: New York Roll and Tiger's Eye Roll. I had recently purchased the Tiger's Eye Roll at Sushi Jin, and I wanted to compare. Coco's didn't disappoint, however, the mayo got in the way for me again. The jalapenos that Coco's used were sincere (aka spicy), much better than Sushi Jin's. The take away for their Tiger's Eye Roll was that it would be superior if it weren't for the mayo. Jus' Sayin.
Finally, we moved to the Ikura, which I have never tried before. If you've never had Ikura, let me explain:
Ikura is a small pad of rice, wrapped in nori (the black seaweed wrapper), with a heaping-helping of salmon roe on top. Coco's served ours with a raw quail egg on top (which is very common).
I've been told that one must eat this particular sushi right away, as soon as it comes to the table, as the nori will get soft and ruin the dish. Basically, one needs the differences in texture to fully realize the experience and taste.
A quick word. I grew up presyb-baptist, as I like to call it, which is just narrowing down my own brand of protestantism. I've been in a catholic church maybe once or twice, and know about one half or less of a hail Mary.
However. Before I popped the Ikura in my mouth, I crossed myself, and the sushi. Don't get me wrong, I love sushi. Okay, to be fair, I like sushi, because perhaps if you haven't tried all facets of it, how can you say you love it? Anyway, let's just keep in mind that I wanted to be adventurous.
But...it's bait. On my rice. About to go in my mouth. Yeah, I had to bless it, okay?
Ahem. Opening wide, I popped the whole thing in my mouth. And chewed. And chewed. And moved it around across my palate, too, to get the full taste. "Ohh...wow," I said through a mouth full of salmon eggs, and began the process of swallowing. It slid down my throat, and it felt like I was swallowing a mixture of chewed-up gummibears and raw eggs. And the flavor was a bit...fishy for my taste.
In fact, that was the first words out of my mouth as I came back up for air: "Is it supposed to taste this...fishy?"
*S erupted into laughter. *P handled my philistine comment well. Suffice to say I learned it was an acquired taste, and I would find that any other particular meeting with Ikura would yield better results.
This being the year of my can-do attitude, I welcome the challenge. In fact, I ask that you all try Ikura this year...why not with me?
A final note to the story: We did end up finding Bellini's. It took us seven bars, but we found a place that would make/sell it. My thought by the end of the night: Irish, Japanese, and Italian...only in Houston!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sushi Jin
For my very first plunge into the waters of Sushi culture in Houston, I chose Sushi Jin, touted as perhaps the freshest in the entire city. It is located at Dairy Ashford and Memorial. If you don't live in the area, it is a hike, but well worth it.
According to my incredibly knowledgeable waitress, N*, their fish is flown-in twice a week. How's that for freshness?
For my virgin run of this sushi-adventure, I decided to try a little of everything.
Here we have the Blue Fin Tuna, which I was told by my waitress to be the highest of quality when it comes to Tuna. It did not disappoint. Buttery and rich, it was a delight.
We decided to try a little of everything. Pictured is the smoked salmon, the tiger's eye roll, and the snapper. All three were delicious.
Next we moved on to the Volcano roll, that had cooked sea scallops adorning the top (a personal favorite), spider roll, unagi, pepper tuna, and yellowtail, which were all quite good as well. The pepper tuna had a slight vinegar taste, but it wasn't overpowering. If anything it added to it, I just wasn't expecting it. I've heard that my palate will change the more I do this, and I'm interested to see where that will lead me.
I'm not sure what bad could be said about Sushi Jin, to be quite honest, except that they didn't do well with amateurs such as myself. I walked in not really knowing what it was I wanted, which didn't help matters when I asked for suggestions. A virgin palate, when given too many options, is apparently not good for a place such as Sushi Jin. Luckily, N* was patient, and took the time to explain and walk me through a little bit more once she understood my newbie status.
In fact, she taught me my first lesson in Sushi--aesthetics are almost as important as the actual quality of the food. She stated a few times that the way the sushi was placed on the table in front of us, how it was lined up on the plate, and how we were to eat it were all thought about by the chef.
This is not a new concept. I've heard the term "poorly executed" thrown around enough by food critics to know that the look of the food must also be as pleasing as the taste. However, the idea that she described seemed more poetic; where the little rolls were placed on the plate, and in what order they were eaten mattered. It wasn't simply about taste, it was about food as an experience. Not something to be scooped up and shoved into the mouth, and not something that is for mere nutrition. No, this was about food as something one participates in, something you are a part of and feel. You must be present, aware, tuned-in, and focused on not only yourself but what you are eating.
I don't know about you, but some days I don't even think about the food I put in my mouth, let alone the taste. The times when it is thought about, I would say that it's short lived on my tastebuds and ultimately, my mind. When was the last time you thought about the presentation of your steak as having anything to do with how it might affect the taste?
To me, it was a radical idea, and the take-home message for me from Sushi Jin was refreshing: Sushi, and food in general one might say, is about engaging all of your senses to culminate in a transcendent experience.
According to my incredibly knowledgeable waitress, N*, their fish is flown-in twice a week. How's that for freshness?
For my virgin run of this sushi-adventure, I decided to try a little of everything.
Here we have the Blue Fin Tuna, which I was told by my waitress to be the highest of quality when it comes to Tuna. It did not disappoint. Buttery and rich, it was a delight.
We decided to try a little of everything. Pictured is the smoked salmon, the tiger's eye roll, and the snapper. All three were delicious.
Next we moved on to the Volcano roll, that had cooked sea scallops adorning the top (a personal favorite), spider roll, unagi, pepper tuna, and yellowtail, which were all quite good as well. The pepper tuna had a slight vinegar taste, but it wasn't overpowering. If anything it added to it, I just wasn't expecting it. I've heard that my palate will change the more I do this, and I'm interested to see where that will lead me.
I'm not sure what bad could be said about Sushi Jin, to be quite honest, except that they didn't do well with amateurs such as myself. I walked in not really knowing what it was I wanted, which didn't help matters when I asked for suggestions. A virgin palate, when given too many options, is apparently not good for a place such as Sushi Jin. Luckily, N* was patient, and took the time to explain and walk me through a little bit more once she understood my newbie status.
In fact, she taught me my first lesson in Sushi--aesthetics are almost as important as the actual quality of the food. She stated a few times that the way the sushi was placed on the table in front of us, how it was lined up on the plate, and how we were to eat it were all thought about by the chef.
This is not a new concept. I've heard the term "poorly executed" thrown around enough by food critics to know that the look of the food must also be as pleasing as the taste. However, the idea that she described seemed more poetic; where the little rolls were placed on the plate, and in what order they were eaten mattered. It wasn't simply about taste, it was about food as an experience. Not something to be scooped up and shoved into the mouth, and not something that is for mere nutrition. No, this was about food as something one participates in, something you are a part of and feel. You must be present, aware, tuned-in, and focused on not only yourself but what you are eating.
I don't know about you, but some days I don't even think about the food I put in my mouth, let alone the taste. The times when it is thought about, I would say that it's short lived on my tastebuds and ultimately, my mind. When was the last time you thought about the presentation of your steak as having anything to do with how it might affect the taste?
To me, it was a radical idea, and the take-home message for me from Sushi Jin was refreshing: Sushi, and food in general one might say, is about engaging all of your senses to culminate in a transcendent experience.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Rules
After a few days of musing over my first post, I thought I'd set out a few rules so this sushi thing doesn't get out of hand.
Over a relatively bland conversation with my mother about this blog, she warned me to be choosy about my picks. I told her I was going to try as many places as I could, so the choice idea didn't really factor in.
Mid-conversation with her, however, all I could think about was the idea of me on some sort of wild sushi-bender. My hair crazed, clothes disheveled, and eyes wild as I begged the HEB sushi girl for "just one more california role" and screaming "I'll tell you when I've had enough!"
Mothers. Don't you love them? They always have that way of seeping into your brain and re-thinking your choices (I guess that can be a good thing). So, in effort to not be some sort of after-school-special cautionary tale, I thought I'd write out a few rules/guidelines.
1. The plan is to hit up as many Sushi restaurants in the city of Houston. This can include restaurants that have sushi bars attached but are not specifically Japanese, but does not include grocery stores (HEB, etc), or obvious places like chinese buffets or--and I say "God forbid" like I mean it--God forbid an "american" themed food establishment (I'm looking your way, Chili's).
2. There is a time limit. I don't want this thing getting out of hand as I had said before. I will give myself a year. If I happen to visit every place in town before then, that's okay. But after that year, well, that's all she wrote. Literally.
3. Friends and Family are encouraged. I like doing this alone, but I also like people to hang with and talk to while I guzzle my raw fish. Furthermore, if you read this blog and don't know me, contact me. Let's email back and forth and see if we can do a sushi meet-up of some kind. If you don't mind having your picture taken, either, I can feature you on the blog.
4. I am not a food critic. I make no serious claims to be a foodie, either. I enjoy food, and it gives me great pleasure most of the time. If you don't like something I write about, tough. Go read the Houston Press or b-4-ueat to get the real shake-down. This is meant to be fun and lighthearted. I screen the blog comments so nastiness will not be allowed...except if it happens to be a piece of sushi I just put in my mouth.
5. No visiting of chains. If I happen to visit a sushi chain in the city, I will visit one of these establishments, and only one. I think it's a little futile to go hiking all over the fourth largest city in the country to see which "Kobe" has the best, well, Kobe.
6. I will take suggestions. If you know of a great, little-known place just off of some crazy part of the *insert highway in Houston here*, I will go! Give me a name and Googlemaps will do the rest.
Okay, I think that about wraps up this post. I did actually visit a sushi place tonight with my mother, Sushi Jin, which will be the subject of my next post. There will be photos and a small write-up. Suffice to say for now that it was delicious and a second trip might be worthwile. The waitress had a few off-menu items to entice me to go back. Visit #2 won't be "official" with the blog, but perhaps a few interesting photos might make it on here.
Happy dining!
Over a relatively bland conversation with my mother about this blog, she warned me to be choosy about my picks. I told her I was going to try as many places as I could, so the choice idea didn't really factor in.
Mid-conversation with her, however, all I could think about was the idea of me on some sort of wild sushi-bender. My hair crazed, clothes disheveled, and eyes wild as I begged the HEB sushi girl for "just one more california role" and screaming "I'll tell you when I've had enough!"
Mothers. Don't you love them? They always have that way of seeping into your brain and re-thinking your choices (I guess that can be a good thing). So, in effort to not be some sort of after-school-special cautionary tale, I thought I'd write out a few rules/guidelines.
1. The plan is to hit up as many Sushi restaurants in the city of Houston. This can include restaurants that have sushi bars attached but are not specifically Japanese, but does not include grocery stores (HEB, etc), or obvious places like chinese buffets or--and I say "God forbid" like I mean it--God forbid an "american" themed food establishment (I'm looking your way, Chili's).
2. There is a time limit. I don't want this thing getting out of hand as I had said before. I will give myself a year. If I happen to visit every place in town before then, that's okay. But after that year, well, that's all she wrote. Literally.
3. Friends and Family are encouraged. I like doing this alone, but I also like people to hang with and talk to while I guzzle my raw fish. Furthermore, if you read this blog and don't know me, contact me. Let's email back and forth and see if we can do a sushi meet-up of some kind. If you don't mind having your picture taken, either, I can feature you on the blog.
4. I am not a food critic. I make no serious claims to be a foodie, either. I enjoy food, and it gives me great pleasure most of the time. If you don't like something I write about, tough. Go read the Houston Press or b-4-ueat to get the real shake-down. This is meant to be fun and lighthearted. I screen the blog comments so nastiness will not be allowed...except if it happens to be a piece of sushi I just put in my mouth.
5. No visiting of chains. If I happen to visit a sushi chain in the city, I will visit one of these establishments, and only one. I think it's a little futile to go hiking all over the fourth largest city in the country to see which "Kobe" has the best, well, Kobe.
6. I will take suggestions. If you know of a great, little-known place just off of some crazy part of the *insert highway in Houston here*, I will go! Give me a name and Googlemaps will do the rest.
Okay, I think that about wraps up this post. I did actually visit a sushi place tonight with my mother, Sushi Jin, which will be the subject of my next post. There will be photos and a small write-up. Suffice to say for now that it was delicious and a second trip might be worthwile. The waitress had a few off-menu items to entice me to go back. Visit #2 won't be "official" with the blog, but perhaps a few interesting photos might make it on here.
Happy dining!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
"Take me back to the start"
Welcome all ye who enter this blog.
Chances are, you were roped into this blog based on your curiosity of the title. And hopefully I will not disappoint. I am attempting to visit each sushi bar in Houston, Texas, at least once, and write about each visit.
First, a little background: I am a 26 year old gal living and working in Houston. A long time blog reader, personal blog writer (lj, etc), and am now venturing into the fold of the world wide web to do a blog about something near to my heart:
Sushi.
I know. "Sushi is so overdone these days" is probably the next few words out of your mouth. And, you wouldn't be wrong. It seems as though every Buffet, chop-shop and Kwik-E mart is selling their own version of fish and rice, and new sushi bars are popping up seemingly all over the place.
And, the fourth largest city in the world is no exception. The sushi of my youth (read: the 90's) was only to be had in one or two places across town. I've recently moved back near my parents and found a variety of places with their own sashimi plate ready for the taking.
However, where does one begin? At first glance I am a little hesitent of the new, especially when it comes to sushi. Who knows what wonders lie in the nearby knooks, if one does not sample?
Inspired by the blog, Every Bar In San Francisco: 1 Drink at Every SF Watering Hole, I decided a few weeks ago to bite the proverbial sushi bullet and try and visit every bar, buffet claiming to have sushi, or pretty much every restaurant that touts it's own sushi...in the city of Houston.
I don't know how long it will take me, and I'm not sure if I can do it all. However, I'm up for the challenge. There will be photos, amateur reviews, and friends along the way.
I'm going to try every sushi bar in town, join me, won't you?
Chances are, you were roped into this blog based on your curiosity of the title. And hopefully I will not disappoint. I am attempting to visit each sushi bar in Houston, Texas, at least once, and write about each visit.
First, a little background: I am a 26 year old gal living and working in Houston. A long time blog reader, personal blog writer (lj, etc), and am now venturing into the fold of the world wide web to do a blog about something near to my heart:
Sushi.
I know. "Sushi is so overdone these days" is probably the next few words out of your mouth. And, you wouldn't be wrong. It seems as though every Buffet, chop-shop and Kwik-E mart is selling their own version of fish and rice, and new sushi bars are popping up seemingly all over the place.
And, the fourth largest city in the world is no exception. The sushi of my youth (read: the 90's) was only to be had in one or two places across town. I've recently moved back near my parents and found a variety of places with their own sashimi plate ready for the taking.
However, where does one begin? At first glance I am a little hesitent of the new, especially when it comes to sushi. Who knows what wonders lie in the nearby knooks, if one does not sample?
Inspired by the blog, Every Bar In San Francisco: 1 Drink at Every SF Watering Hole, I decided a few weeks ago to bite the proverbial sushi bullet and try and visit every bar, buffet claiming to have sushi, or pretty much every restaurant that touts it's own sushi...in the city of Houston.
I don't know how long it will take me, and I'm not sure if I can do it all. However, I'm up for the challenge. There will be photos, amateur reviews, and friends along the way.
I'm going to try every sushi bar in town, join me, won't you?
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