Sushi Lover Fred of Phoenix, AZ

Today’s Sushi Lover-Boy is attorney Fred of Phoenix, AZ.

How long ago did you begin eating sushi?  Since 1987 

 How were you introduced to sushi? My cousin strong-armed me into a sushi restaurant when we were in Hong Kong.

 Did you like sushi the first time you tried it? What’s not to like?  I eat rice daily, and having protein and carbs all in one bite-sized morsel (usually) is an efficient way of consuming mass quantities of both..

How often do you eat sushi? Not often enough.  I could choose to eat it at home every day by making it myself, but somehow, I can’t find the time…            How often would you like to eat sushi?  Every day.  If I could just have my own personal itamae (sushi chef)

 What is your favorite (or favorites) sushi? Actually, I prefer sashimi (all kinds).  But, when there’s no sashimi around (meaning, the restaurant does not want to serve its main sushi ingredients as sashimi), I make do with nigirizushi, favorite toppings being hamachi (yellowtail), maguro (tuna), and sake (salmon).  And there’s always the delectable uni (sea urchin).

 What is your favorite sushi restaurant? My favorite sushi restaurant is Isshin, in Makati City, Philippines.  Why?  It’s a nice little restaurant that serves fresh sashimi and sushi, where you can enjoy a hot (or cold! great in the summers) cup of genmaicha satsuki (green tea with toasted rice), it’s open 24 hours (I believe, it’s been a while since I’ve been there) and it’s frequented by Japanese expats in Manila (when you enter the restaurant, you can peruse copies of the Mainichi Shimbun or Asahi Shimbun or Shonen Jump that have been left by expats after being read).  Besides, I have fond memories of hanging out there with my wife when we were just friends. (awwww….)

 What is your most memorable sushi experience?  Eating sushi for the first time in Hong Kong with my cousin and grandfather.  My grandfather just looked at me and my cousin like we were crazy.  He had the teriyaki chicken while my cousin and I had sushi.

 Where is the most unusual or exotic place/city you’ve eaten sushi?  I’ve eaten sushi all over the world.  Honestly, the most unusual place I’ve eaten sushi is Las Vegas.  Any place that has erected replicas of other places (New York, Paris, Venice, Egypt, etc.) without having an identity of its own is unusual.

Have you converted/introduced anyone to sushi?  Most people I know have already been introduced to sushi..

What was your score on the “Are you really a sushi lover” test? I got a 2.  I do love sushi, but I really couldn’t answer yes to more than 2.  For the record, I could only say yes to questions 1 and 8.

http://sushiloversunite.com/2008/11/13/are-you-really-a-sushi-lover/

Yes or No (comments welcome) – do you enjoy:               

Nigiri sushi (slice of fish over rice) – Yes; it’s my favorite after sashimi

Maki (roll) sushi – I do, but not overly.  This is something my kids like a lot.

Temaki (handroll) sushi – I do, but I don’t order it too often.

Chirashi (sashimi over a bowl of rice) – Not too much.  When I have a bowl of rice, I tend to enjoy something like katsudon (bowl of rice with a panko breaded pork cutlet on top with an egg) or gyudon (thinly sliced beef with onions often served with a raw egg cracked on top of the steaming pile of deliciousness.  You then mix the egg with the beef and onions immediately to cook the egg.  Freakin’ yummy.)

Sashimi (slices of fish – no rice) – my favorite

Cooked sushi only – nothing raw – neh.

            Miso soup – but of course

            Edamame – yes