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Event Details

Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 6 PM
Location: Echo Sushi (near Yonge & Eglinton)
Closest Station: Eglinton
Parking: Green P @ Yonge/Eglinton, or on the streets or side roads if you want to walk.

Map:

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For the benefit of the 6 people in Toronto who have never had sushi and/or don't know what it is, allow me to point out that sushi can be "raw fish/seafood" and often is, but there are dozens of other common preparations, including cooked meat or seafood or just vegetables. So if you are not really into seafood, do not let that deter you!

Honestly, if you live in Toronto and haven't had sushi, or have it maybe once a year or less, then you're missing out on one of the best ethnic foods Toronto has to offer. Unless you live in New York or Vancouver, we have some of the best outside of Japan. So have a look at what you'll be eating, then stop being an indecisive nerb and vote "yes". And for those who eat it every week, like me, consider this a teaser.


Maki


This is the "classic" sushi. The main ingredients (could be seafood, meat, vegetables, whatever) are rolled in sushi rice and then pressed seaweed (nori). This is usually what everybody here thinks of when somebody says "let's go for some sushi." Usually the nori is on the outside, which is futomaki or hosomaki (the main difference IIRC being the size and the number of ingredients).


Uramaki


This is actually just a type of maki, but notable for having the rice on the outside. Everybody knows the California Roll, right? That's what this is. You'll often get some sesame seeds coated on the outside too, which is a nice touch. People who like to slather their sushi in soy sauce tend to like this one most (just be careful not to drop it on the way into your mouth).


Nigiri


I think of this as the freaky sushi, although it's equally tasty. It's a rectangular "brick" of rice with the main item on top, "sealed" with a thin nori (but get used to them falling apart when you try to eat them). The one on the left there is actually egg, so it's not always fish. If you aren't a huge rice fan, then this is the best dish to get that's actually sushi.


Tempura


Pure gastronomic bliss. This is usually vegetables like sweet potatoes or cucumbers, but might also be shrimp, battered and fried and served with a sweet tempura sauce. Even the most squeamish and boring diners should have no problem with this!


Miso


It's gotten to the point where I actually have a hard time stuffing myself with sushi until I've had this appetizer. It's made using stock from miso (surprise) which is mostly soy, as well as dried seafood and/or shitake mushrooms. Generally served with sliced scallions and tofu. I'm simplifying as there are many different varieties of miso, and every restaurant prepares the soup a little differently.

Even in the summertime this is great to get you going. I'm not sure what would even be comparable in terms of taste - you have to try it for yourself.


Udon


I'd call this the Japanese equivalent of Chow Mein. Thick, tasty fried wheat noodles served up with beef or chicken usually (you can get vegetarian). Has nothing to do with sushi, but most sushi restaurants serve it and once again it's a great starter for you nervous pervises.


RJ has requested (nay, insisted) that I include sashimi in this list because it is what real men eat, like steak tartare, without any of that sissy rice nonsense. So...

Sashimi


This is just the raw fish. No rice. No vegetables. Just fish. For all the purists out there as well as global conservationists concerned about the recent decline in rice production.


And of course you can usually get some other basic stuff like chicken teriyaki or fried dumplings. I'm not going to get into any detail about those because they're boring.

Oh, and one additional note for anybody who believes that it's actually dangerous to eat "raw fish": sashimi grade seafood is not what you buy in the supermarket, it undergoes a specific freezing process to kill any parasites. I've eaten A LOT of sushi at A LOT of different restaurants and I've never had a problem, nor have any of my friends. Please check your paranoia at the door!


ROLL CALL:

In (Date Confirmed):

barbina
DigiNut
Intangible
Kamka
matty
Porky
SasH21
Search&Rescue
smuncky

In (Unconfirmed):

Cuzo
Dave Akermanis
Invasionmix
italarmo
StereoPrincess
TO Guy
Yohan
Zentac_75

Maybes:

ChemEnhanced
Cribby
DaRoZa
devnull
zokissima

___________________
My party schedule:
2009-02-21 - DJ Attention @ I'm So Popular
2009-06-18 - DJ Annoying @ People Need To Know Where I'll Be
2012-11-32 - DJ Insufferable ɸ Or At Least the Stalkers I Complain About
2048-06-66 - Spastic & Whocares ¶ Although I'm Actually Flattered
9999-45-81 - Tweaker Gimp ☼ I Probably Won't Even Go To This But I Have To Make Sure I Fill Up All The Available Space Here

Last edited by DigiNut on Jun-20-2008 at 19:01