It Is What It Is: sushi

So as I said, I just got back to Boulder, Colorado this past Saturday and of course the FIRST THING I did was... visit my second home, AKA: Whole Foods.

Whole Foods + Me = The love affair of the century, FOR SURE!

Every single person in the store (there are actually 4 of them in the Boulder area, so I am talking about the one located on Pearl Street... along with a Sprouts Market & a Sunflower Market) knows me by my first name or simply: FISH GIRL... Because you guessed it, I am obsessed with their fish; which brings me to today's POST!

After gathering my typical "goods" (Salmon Belly, Hamachi Collars, Eel Fillets and yes, some King Salmon because it looked, THAT GOOD) I ventured over to the frozen seafood section and to my surprise and HAPPINESS there were HUGE frozen loins of sushi grade Albacore Tuna.

I couldn't resist... and at $12.99 a pound, it was a steal.

I sliced is sashimi style that night and wrapped it in nori sheets... dipping it in soy sauce (reduced sodium, wheat free if you MUST know) with every bite.

Pure deliciousness.

The taste was buttery, melt in your mouth good and when I finished my serving I was almost depressed because I wanted more! ha ha.

Well... my depression didn't last long because... I have already bought a second fillet.

So is this going to be a new staple in my diet? YOU BET IT IS!

Oh and another WONDERFUL part about this tuna... IT'S SUSTAINABLE! SICK BUSINESS© (that's one of my phrases...), another fish I am obsessed with is actually sustainable! Go me! No ounce of guilt here about eating over fished or mercury laden tuna! Wooo!!

Now while I ate this succulent piece of fish raw, you can always sear it... Personally I think sesame seared tuna is magnificent... but each to their own!

So if you do happen to stumble upon this tuna, don't hesitate, and pick up a package today! And if you think $12.99 is too expensive, well, splurge a bit and only have a tiny bit at your meal (serving it with some less expensive fish) so you can at least get the taste sensation!

I must mention though... I have officially promised myself that I cannot VENTURE INTO WHOLE FOODS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK! OFF LIMITS, NO! ha ha!

(Well now that's a bit extreme... I will only "TRY" to boycott for a week! ha ha)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Whole Foods Salmon Sashimi Review

So I got a huge craving yesterday for sashimi... but the thought of going out to sushi didn't sound so hot so I decided, let's get some sashimi from Whole Foods!

And I mean look, it's way cheaper than what I probably would have gotten at a sushi restaurant anyways so I am being financially savvy too! Wow, Whole Foods and inexpensive in the same sentence? How in the WORLD is that possible!?!** [for answer - see bottom]

I settled on some salmon sashimi [that's what I was craving, hard core]... or SAKE if you really want me to get all Japanese technical! Typically this sashimi is... uh... carved[?] from Whole Food's farm raised Norwegian Salmon... Yes, I know what you're thinking: GAHH, you are eating FARM RAISED SALMON... but I have done EXTENSIVE research on Whole Food's farm raised salmon and have found that it comes from a legit source and the fish is not fed unhealthy and unnatural foods.

So anyways on to the good stuff....

Well what sashimi dinner is complete without Nori, Soy Sauce & Sesame Seed = NONE THAT'S WHAT! So of course I had to have them!

Then I sliced the sashimi [and to all you plate decorators and professional chefs out there... I am sorry for my UGLY plate presentation, but honestly, it ALL tastes the SAME! Whoops, I am sorry if I just broke the news to you!]... and placed it a top of a bed of spinach [because spinach tastes amazing with everything]. Of course I am not just going to eat this sashimi, ha, if you only knew me... I am known for eating a TON so of course I had my...

Spaghetti Squash sauteed with Broccoli in Olive Oil over another bed of Spinach...

And "FRIED" Green Beans [by far the BEST thing in the world, seriously: they taste JUST like French Fries... although maybe you should trust me on that because I haven't had a French Fry in oh about 10 years... or maybe even longer!]

Oh wait, isn't this suppose to be a review of the Whole Foods Sashimi Salmon? And here I am showing off my side dishes to the MAIN SUBJECT! [Oh wait, isn't the new thing... focusing in on vegetables are the MAIN part of a meal and simply using protein as a garnish? Well not in my life that's for sure!!!!!]

Well let me tell you... first bite to last... I was having a mouth-gasum... and if you have NO CLUE what that means... I was in serious HEAVEN the entire time I ate!!! The butteriness of the fish complimented the crunchiness of the nori perfectly [I wrap sheets around the fish - not rice, no nothing... the reason for this... is meant for another blog post!]. The fish also tasted incredibly fresh and melted in my mouth the instant it touched my tongue.

So if you ever get a craving for some sashimi [and you can use this sashimi to make roll if you so choose], then get your booty on down to Whole Foods [it's GiGi recommended!]! They also offer Hamachi/Yellowtail, Unagi/Eel, Maguro/Red Tuna, Octopus, Spicy Tuna [A delicious mixture sans MAYO]... and depending on where you live they may offer more or less!

Oh and if you live in the Boulder Area... go into the Pearl Street location - say the name GiGi to the fish counter, and they will know exactly who you're talking about! I swear I think I am going to ask them if they could make some sort of discount deal for the people who come in and mention my name... sort of like a coupon code! ha ha!

**Probably because it takes about 10 to 12 ounces of fish to fill me up... which would probably be the equivilent to about 2 platters of sashimi [which can JACK UP any bill]... While about 10 ounces from Whole Foods is... well you see how much it is above!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

"A state of total awareness" - PAH!

UNAGI!

And no I am not talking about the "concept"... mentioned by Ross on Friends (season 6, ep. 17) that Unagi is, "a state of total awareness... being prepared for any danger that may be-fall you."

No, I am siding with Rachel and Pheobe in that... Unagi is a type of sushi... and a DELICIOUS SUSHI at that!!!

Unfortunately Unagi is typically DOUSED in a sugary-sweet sauce that really ruins all nutritional benefits of the fish... but I have come up with a very good solution to this problem which has enabled me to SCARF this eel down without a guilt in the world... (although I have heard it's on the Do Not Eat list... but I am going to pretend as though I never heard/read that!)

(Stupid sweet-ass sauce ruining my delicious EEL)

When I buy it from the store in the pre-BBQed package... I open up the package and WASH the fillet off... then I take about 1/2 a roll of paper towel and remove all the rest of the disgustingly sweet sauce... and let me tell you, naked eel is definitely NOT naked in flavor!!!

When I go to sushi restaurants and order eel sashimi, I will ALWAYS ask/write down that there is to be no extra eel sauce slopped on top, that way I am not bombarded with sugar calories that are simply NOT NEEDED!

So you're either now thinking...

A. She is a complete nut job of caring about sugar

B. Ew, eel, that's disgusting, I hate raw fish...

C. Whoa, good idea, although I probably won't go nuts with the paper towels

D. Tell me about the damn nutritional benefits!

And let me just make it clear that...

A. Yes I am completely nuts about avoiding sugar

B. Eel is ABSOLUTELY delicious and should NOT be avoided (out of fear that it's slimy and "yucky") and it is a COOKED fish (if you'd call it a fish)

C. Yes yes, I know I am so smart... and in my mind, every little bit of sauce that comes off is a little less calories & sugar! (but I am aware I probably won't be able to get ALL of the sauce off)

D. I was just about to come to that!

So here you are all you letter D thinkers... EEL'S ROSTER OF HEALTH BENEFITS:

Full of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
High in Protein
Very High in Vitamin A & B1 & B2
High in Vitamin D & E
Rich in Phosphorus
And did I mention... SCRUMPTIOUS!

While eel is a bit on the caloric side, it's oh so worth it... So don't shy away from it! Go nuts and order a sushi roll or better yet eel sashimi the next time you visit your sushi restaurant... Or if you're lucky like me and you have a Whole Foods near by, go and pick up a package or two and simply toast it in the oven until perfection! Seriously, you will have a mouthgasum and then thank me when you're done! Ha Ha Ha!

PS: There is another kind of eel served at Sushi Restaurants called Anago which is SEA EEL and also very tasty... but it's not as popular as Unagi. If you do get the chance, sample both and let me know which one you think is better!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Restaurant Review: Ai Sushi

Restaurant: Ai Sushi (the full menu is not listed on the website)
Cuisine: Japanese/Asian
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Pricey?: ** of out *****

Review: There is nothing I like more than to sink my teeth into a meaty and delicious hunk of tuna neck and this is exactly the reason why I ADORE Ai Sushi! The restaurant has all the sushi you can imagine plus exotic dishes such as this tuna neck that I love, also known as Hamachi Kama.

Last night my parents came to Boulder for dinner and my mom said "how about we go to your sushi place"... so of course I couldn't say no to that, after all it's "my" sushi place! Walk ins are welcome and space is always available, no waiting EVER!

The ambiance of the restaurant is spacious and boasts 10 hibachi grills along with a separate dining room so the loud noises from the hibachi grillers do not distract those who want to have a peaceful conversation with their dinner mates. As my parents and I headed into the dining room, we walked by a chalk board that had specials listed, and one of them was a special of SASHIMI for 2 @ $35 for 35 pieces - WHAT A STEAL!!!

So what did we order? TWO Sashimi Platters... so 70 pieces of sashimi! Plus TWO hamachi kamas (one for me, and one for my dad!)

We all received complementary miso soups & salads and the Hamachi Kamas came out first, VERY quickly.... and then... OUR SASHIMI platters! (The server knows me so he added eel sashimi onto the platters - lets just say he got a MIGHTY FINE TIP!) The fish ranged from multiple types of Tuna, Salmon, Mackerel, Crab, Tilipia, Shrimp, Egg & Eel! (I am sure I am forgetting something but there was just so much deliciousness I was so distracted by my ridiculously HAPPY taste buds!)

Everything was absolutely delicious... and when I was mid way through devouring my hamachi kama and realized it wasn't cooked all the way, I told my server and he simply took it back to the grill so they could finish off what was left and he did not charge us for it!

Don't think that sashimi and Habachi is the only thing Ai Sushi serves though, they have "millions" of rolls to choose from ranging from: the 007 Roll to the Heart Attack Roll to the Playboy Roll.... If you want to know what's in these interestingly titles rolls... check out the menu!

So how much was our bill! This is the BEST PART!!!!! For three people (yep, that's right, we finished ALL of that food... let's just say I would MOST DEFINITELY win ANY Japanese Food Eating Contest...) our bill came out to be: $115 (before tip that is)... and that includes the 2 beers my father ordered as well...

Well maybe I am a tad bit bias considering I have been going to this restaurant for three and a half years now... BUT every single time I have gone (which is a heck of a lot) it NEVER disappoints! The best part is pretty much all the waitstaff know me by first name and... when they see me outside about to enter the restaurant, they already get my order started! (ha ha, not seriously, but they definitely could... this also means I am a HUGE creature of habit)... But you know what, when I know something is out of this world delicious, why would I try something different that I am unsure of?!?!

My Rating: 9.99999 out of 10 (not a straight ten because my hamachi kama wasn't cooked all the way through this go round, but typically it ALWAYS it! Oh and they don't have ESCOLAR which is one of my favorite types of sashimi... but eh, you can't win em all right?)

(My favorite fish looks ANGRY, no?)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

HAMACHI KAMA Review

(Sashimi Platter)

DROOLING YET?

Oh how I adore Japanese Food! I eat it weekly and could certainly eat it daily if my wallet and bank account permitted me! But no no. I must restrain myself... Weekly is enough! Whenever I go, I order so much it's crazy, and I am known for eating such large quantities. I don't order rolls because I don't eat rice, but I do order the exotic menu items like eel sashimi, escolar sashimi, uni, etc...

(Eel Sashimi)

One menu item that I order every single time I go out to sushi (and buy at Whole Foods too when they have it) is Hamachi Kama!

(Oh the most delicious food: hamachi kama)

What is Hamachi Kama exactly? Well it's the neck of Hamachi or Young Yellow tail Tuna. It is the most fatty and delicious part of the fish. When prepared it's grill to perfection and served piping hot with soy sauce & some shaved cabbage and or diakon (depending on restaurants). They range in size from small to large and boast roughly 4 to 6 ounces of meat!! For once ounce of yellow tail tuna... you get 31 CALORIES!!!! 31! That's NOTHING! Which is why I... uh... order 2 or 3 of them depending on how hungry I am and what other things are on the menu! Wait, why did I sound embarrassed... I CERTAINLY AM NOT!! The smooth and buttery taste is sensational and the omega-3 fatty acids are abundant! Oh and get this... all that hype about Vitamin D being absolutely amazing for your health... well hamachi Kama (and hamachi in general along with other fatty fish) have LOADS OF IT packed RIGHT IN!

(Hamachi Sashimi)

SO.... what are you going to do the next time you go out to sushi? That's right, order hamachi Kama... and if they don't have it on the menu ask their server if the sushi chef has any whole hamachi in the back that he can cut and grill! The chef will be impressed with your fish knowledge and your taste buds will be impressed with how delicious this piece of fish really is!! ENJOY!

(yummy yummy - a food you don't have to be afraid to eat with your HANDS!)

*Salmon Collars are also avaliable but not nearly as scrumptious! (oh but still very yummy!)

*Next up in the sushi review: Escolar

(Escolar Sashimi)