| The sushi craze is bigger than ever in America | | | | Japan may beat us in the horse races (pun |
| right now, with new sushi joints popping up all | | | | entirely intended). |
| over the place. Yes, sushi is quite "in." Of course I | | | | Yes, you guessed it! Horse meat is Japan's backup |
| realize this isn't news to anyone, as at this point it | | | | plan! |
| might even be on the verge of "out." But, | | | | To keep the sushi economy alive, some Japanese |
| irregardless of your opinion of sushi, it may not be | | | | chefs have decided to use raw horse meat or |
| around for too much longer. Or, at least, sushi as | | | | deer to make their sushi. Forgive me if I'm wrong, |
| we know it. | | | | but the thought of this in America would likely |
| You see, America's growing interest (along with | | | | turn stomachs away from sushi for good (and |
| China's and Russia's) in the artful Japanese | | | | maybe that is their intention!) But in Japan, both |
| creation has led to a shortage of the most | | | | raw horse meat and deer are considered |
| common ingredient used in sushi: bluefin tuna. Not | | | | delicacies for natives. They just haven't been |
| only are bluefin tuna fisheries already being | | | | placed inside a jacket of seaweed and rice before |
| depleted by their original and most frequent | | | | (not that maki is the only way to enjoy sushi.) |
| consumer (Japan, of course) but global demand | | | | So, a thought on globalization, if you're still reading: |
| for the raw fish is adding quite the insult to injury. | | | | Do we want to continue spreading our culinary |
| What's ironic about the situation is that the | | | | traditions? Often food, no matter where you |
| spreading of culinary traditions across the globe is | | | | come from, is based on local resources, which |
| usually seen as a form of flattery and an | | | | means that sharing the traditions with the rest of |
| extension of cultural influence, but for Japan and | | | | the world seems to mean sharing the resources |
| its economy, the global sushi "trend" has been | | | | too. At some point, you'd think, a country would |
| nothing short of a detriment. The NYTimes article | | | | have to be selfish, because people in other parts |
| that reports on Japan's crisis analogizes that tuna | | | | of the world may not appreciate or need a food |
| in Japan is as important as steak in America. | | | | the way that country does. In fact, one person's |
| Imagine America without steak! Even if you don't | | | | food adventure is another person's staple, so |
| like red meat, there is no doubt that steak is a | | | | where does the boundary lie? |
| sun around which the American economy's | | | | I'm not naive as I realize that my comments and |
| planets revolve (but of course, we have multiple | | | | thoughts are entirely based on my being |
| "suns.") I mean really, what would America do? | | | | American. I know I come from the melting pot |
| Well, actually, chef Gordon Ramsay has | | | | world where I'm fortunate enough to have food |
| recommended horse meat as a healthier and | | | | influences from all around the world readily |
| better tasting steak substitute. America is | | | | available to me. And further, I know that this isn't |
| fortunate enough to not have to resort to any | | | | the case in the rest of the world. |
| backups (yet), but even if that weren't the case, | | | | Run for the hills horses! You're next! |