Going to California Grill, never had sushi

[QTPie7375]

We went to California Grill during our honeymoon and my hubby (who is a very picky eater) wanted to be daring and try sushi. He got some sort of sample platter and absolutely LOVED it. Talked about it for days! Go for it!

 

[SweetMommy]

Loving fish and loving sushi can be completely two different things unless you normally eat your fish raw . Yes, there is cooked sushi but, from what I can tell, a lot of the sushi at CG is raw or has raw and cooked ingredients. A safe bet for your first time is probably the California Roll. Now I do like the California Roll, but don't think I'd ever get it at California Grill because it's too plain, IMO. I plan on trying the Spicy Kazan roll that has cooked and raw ingredients and the Shrimp Tempura roll. I normally eat cooked sushi but I have had raw and am open to the Spicy Kazan. I try my best to use chopsticks but sometimes I struggle and just use my fingers...lol.

I don't eat very much "raw" sushi and had the Spicy Kazan for the first time in August.............it is delicious! My problem w/ the raw is the texture. With the Spicy Kazan you can't even tell. If you are uncomfortable w/ the chopsticks, see if they can give you one of the "helpers" they give the kids. It connects both of the sticks so you only have to get the food between them and squeeze to pick it up. I have no idea what it is called though lol

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

. . .and I want to try it. I love fish, so that is not a problem. But for a first timer, what should I order? I really can't eat things that are way too spicy because of acid reflux problems, but anything else is wide open.

So, what do ya'll reccommend?

Also, I don't even know how to eat sushi and I don't want to look stupid. What is the proper way?

Hi!

As other posters gave pointed out, loving fish and loving sushi are VERY different things.

Myself, I really only eat salmon or fish and chips. I'll venture into cooked white fish from time to time, but not a huge fan.

Sushi on the other hand, I could eat EVERY day! When you eat raw fish it is very different than cooked fish.

Sushi Basics

Sashimi = slices of raw fish
Nigiri Sushi = an oval shapped ball of rice, topped with a slice of raw fish
Maki Sushi = a roll consisting of rice and nori (seaweed) or soy/rice paper, in the middle of the roll you will find fish, vegetables sauces etc. These are what most people associate with "sushi"

How to Eat Sushi

Each piece of sushi is meant to be one bite, so traditionally, you eat an entire piece all at once.

Traditional garnishes are wasabi (a very hot japanese horseradish) and pickled ginger slices, along with soy sauce.

At the California Grill, Yoshie is the sushi chef. She is one of the most critically acclaimed female sushi chefs in the world and makes some of the best sushi I have ever tasted!

She also makes her own special dipping sauces for many of the rolls.

Suggestions

I would start out with "cooked" sushi. Two of the best examples at the California Grill are the Shrimp Tempura Roll and the California Roll.

The Shrimp Tempura Roll is NOT listed on the menu, but please please request it! It is a maki roll, made with rice paper, rice, shrimp tempura, mango and watermelon and it is served with an orange ginger dipping sauce. Not spicy in the slightest. It is sweet and crunchy and just....bliss

The California Roll is cooked king crab meat, mixed with a bit of mayo, and rolled in rice and nori with avocado and cucumber. It is creamy and mild and wonderful!

Don't worry about looking silly. The California Grill is one of the best places in the world to try sushi for the first time Enjoy!

 

[havoc315]

If you really want to try Sushi, don't bother with the California Roll. Yes, the California roll is a very very safe starter, but it really doesn't introduce you to true sushi at all. It introduces you to the general concept of Maki, of seaweed wrapping paper, etc, but it does not introduce you to the flavor and texture of raw fish -- actual sushi. Usually, I'd recommend the California roll for people who have no interest in real sushi (there is no actual fish at all in most California rolls -- usually it's fake crab meat)

Not sure if you can do it at California Grill, but at most sushi restaurants, you can also order individual pieces. So if you don't want a big plate of something you may end up disliking, you can just order a piece of tuna or salmon. (the safest fish for intro to sushi). If you want to start with maki, go with a tuna roll, very safe.

In terms of the right way to eat it -- There has been much discussion about wasabi. Most people will take a bit of wasabi on their chopstick, and mix it into the soy sauce. Mix the right amount to suit your spice tolerance.
The ginger on the plate is meant as a palate cleanser, I don't usually use it.

If you are getting sushi pieces, most people dip the bottom (the rice) into the soy/wasabi mix. But supposedly the "correct" way to do it, is to dip the sushi upside down -- dipping the fish part into the soy sauce.

 

[DW2010]

I don't eat very much "raw" sushi and had the Spicy Kazan for the first time in August.............it is delicious! My problem w/ the raw is the texture. With the Spicy Kazan you can't even tell. If you are uncomfortable w/ the chopsticks, see if they can give you one of the "helpers" they give the kids. It connects both of the sticks so you only have to get the food between them and squeeze to pick it up. I have no idea what it is called though lol

Thank you. Now I'm even more excited to try the Spicy Kazan . I will definitely ask for the helper chop sticks .

 

[creativeamanda]

Thank you, all of you, for your advice!