Went to Midori zushi with William who's visiting Japan from Hawaii for lunch. Crowded as usual, but we could get to the counter in about 20 min. In front of us in line were two Italian guys, also took counter seats. They were somehow in my eye sights, so I could see them exam the English menu, and order something directly to the sushi chef behind the counter. We're busy eating our sushi, talking about who's doing what, and the next thing I saw was those guys got California Rolls and some other rolls type of, no Edo mae zushi. I thought, hey, don't waste it. Probably they came all the way to Tokyo and now they're having non-Japanese (I would call) sushi that probably they can get in Europe. Try what I'm having. Or look around and see what the other Japanese are having. Maybe those rolls type is what they recognize Sushi is. Maybe that's what Italian Wiki says Sushi.
I read somewhere that the sushi that I recognize, which is Edomae zushi, is a minor sushi in the global market, and the main stream is those rolls the Italian guys ordered. That style is widely accepted especially for those who's not used to eating fish, the row fish. You can find Sushi restaurants almost everywhere in the world, although it may not be the one I'm used to eat.
Then the Italian guys left, off course without trying some other traditional sushi, then the Chinese tourist couple took the seats. The guy showed his iPhone to the chef, then the chef nodded. They got a plate of typical Edomae sushi, and busy eating, examining what's what. Off course I couldn't understand what they're talking about, but looks like they were satisfied with what they ate. Then it got me thinking, they're maybe sophisticated than those Italian guys in terms of information. China is closer, and they have more information sources, which are accurate. Maybe the Europeans still have some old myth type of information that we still have Ninja and Samurai, and the new information is somehow translated into something slightly different from the truth. Or simply they weren't into the traditional sushi at all, and they wanted to have THAT sushi rolls.
So, we discussed the future of tuna and crabs, we promised to catch up again maybe in Hawaii next year.
I read somewhere that the sushi that I recognize, which is Edomae zushi, is a minor sushi in the global market, and the main stream is those rolls the Italian guys ordered. That style is widely accepted especially for those who's not used to eating fish, the row fish. You can find Sushi restaurants almost everywhere in the world, although it may not be the one I'm used to eat.
Then the Italian guys left, off course without trying some other traditional sushi, then the Chinese tourist couple took the seats. The guy showed his iPhone to the chef, then the chef nodded. They got a plate of typical Edomae sushi, and busy eating, examining what's what. Off course I couldn't understand what they're talking about, but looks like they were satisfied with what they ate. Then it got me thinking, they're maybe sophisticated than those Italian guys in terms of information. China is closer, and they have more information sources, which are accurate. Maybe the Europeans still have some old myth type of information that we still have Ninja and Samurai, and the new information is somehow translated into something slightly different from the truth. Or simply they weren't into the traditional sushi at all, and they wanted to have THAT sushi rolls.
So, we discussed the future of tuna and crabs, we promised to catch up again maybe in Hawaii next year.
Comments
I'd be surprised, though, if the large cities in Italy (Rome, Milan) didn't have Japanese-owned restaurants serving real sushi.
Love,
Papa