| The first time I tried sushi I thought it was | | | | feel like you're in Japan even if you're in Skokie. |
| strange. I remember trying to focus on the rice | | | | - It is texturally rich. You get the crispiness of the |
| and just forget about the fish, seaweed and | | | | dried seaweed and vegetables, the grainy rice, the |
| other strange stuff. To tell you the truth, I only | | | | mushy, chewy texture of the fish. It's everything |
| ate it because I wanted to impress a girl. This girl | | | | you could ever want to put in your mouth. |
| was worldly and sophisticated and loved sushi. | | | | - It is full of flavor, and you can dress it up as |
| We were young and I suppose it could have been | | | | you please. If you like it salty, use more soy |
| an act on her part, but now I understand why | | | | sauce. If you want it hot, dip it in some wasabi. If |
| people love raw fish. It is definitely an acquired | | | | you like it sweet, adorn it with a pickled radish and |
| taste for a non-Asian person, but once you | | | | a little ginger. Sushi can be made to taste -- right |
| acquire the taste, you can never go back to days | | | | at the table. |
| of innocence when you just thought it was weird. | | | | - It fills you up without making you feel bloated. |
| The reason for this is that there is no substitute | | | | This is one of the things I like best. When you |
| for raw fish. If somebody told you you could | | | | finish a meal of raw fish, you are totally satisfied |
| never get another hamburger, you would find | | | | for many hours. At the same time, it doesn't give |
| ways to indulge that craving; you could eat steak | | | | you that gassy, bloated feeling you get after a |
| sandwiches or patty melts. If someone told you | | | | big steak dinner. |
| you could never eat raw fish again, how would | | | | - It is worldly and sophisticated. If you are on a |
| you find a substitute? There is no other food like | | | | date with a worldly and sophisticated person like |
| it. | | | | the girl I referenced in the beginning of this article, |
| Without further ado, here are the reasons I love | | | | you can't go wrong with sushi, especially if you |
| sushi and sashimi: | | | | know what to order. |
| - It is visually artful. No other food is quite so | | | | That is basically why I like sushi. Oh, and it may |
| decorative. The presentation of raw fish is quite a | | | | have something to do with sentimentality: I ended |
| show. They put it on beautiful little platters | | | | up marrying the girl who introduced me to it. |
| adorned with ginger, herbs, sliced vegetables. You | | | | |