Sushi anyone?

[steely]

I promised Mrs. Steely I'd take her to a nice restaurant of her choice.
Today she told me she picked a japanese restaurant - :shrug:

Can anyone recommend a something I can eat? - I'm not a sushi guy - just meat and potatoes, but I'd like to try to pull this off like I have a clue- can anyone give some (ideas)? I don't even know the diff between appetizers and main course.

I peeked at the menu online - fagettabowdit.

[mondo joe]

1. Some sushi, or you can likely get Yakisoba, or maybe a Donburi

Yakisoba is stir fried noodles - not bad.

Donburi is some cooked meat with egg (cooked!) on rice. Also not bad.

If you want to try sushi consider the Maguro (tuna) which is pretty inoffensive. You might like Unagi, which is broiled eel.

[steely]

4. Sounds good

and tame - my speed.

[KeepItReal]

2. Here's a hint...try the Teriyaki

If raw fish ain't your style, that's the way to go.

Also there's a curry rice dish that comes with beef that's really good. (if they have it)

If you wanna try the raw fish, I like the salmon (Maki).

;Luck!

[steely]

5. Tuna sounds good. (Maki)

not a curry fan tho'

[mike_c]

3. explain your inexperience to the waiter or waitress....

They get it all the time. Ask for their recommendations, but lemme suggest you do NOT rule out sashimi-- raw fish-- on your sushi. Seriously-- tell the waiter you want to learn to like sushi and they'll send you a few pieces of this and that to give you a good introduction. You'll be glad you did.

I'm assuming you're going to a sushi restaurant, or at least a Japanese restaurant where sushi will be a big part of the meal. Your post talks about sushi but not all Japanese restaurants sell sushi, and some sell it only during limited times.

on edit: saw reply #1 and wanted to second-- DEFINITELY try the unagi. Everyone likes unagi. You might also ask if they have ponzu sauce-- ponzu shoyu-- instead of regular soy sauce for dipping your sushi. Ponzu shoyu has a nice citrusy taste along with the fermented soy.

[steely]

6. Excuse my ignorance ( I excell at that)

I assume it's sushi - they have a sushi bar, but we'll be at a table.

It's a little upscale (my luck), and frankly I get very self conscious in those places. If it were a regular family place, I'd ask. guess I should get over it.

Raw fish doesn't scare me tho'

Thanks!!

on edit: the ponzu sauce sounds good

[koneko]

7. Meat & potatoes, all in one

All I can say is relax & have fun. If it's a good restaurant, they will be able to help you select good food. I lived in Japan for 6 years, and I never have problems finding food in restaurants that my less adventurous friends end up liking. They have many delicious options, and very little of it is actually raw.

Here are a few of my recommendations. . .

if they have it, "jagaimo" is good. It's boiled skinned potato w/ beef in a clear broth. VERY good, and easy on the less adventurous palate.

of course, teriyaki anything is always easy - it's always cooked, and done w/ teriyaki sauce

if you like asparagus, "negima" is very good - it's usually served on skewers, but it's asparagus wrapped w/ thinly sliced beef, grilled w/ teriyaki sauce

most Japanese restaurants serve "yakitori" - skewered grilled chicken. that is VERY good.

[steely]

8. Boy will my wife be impressed.

I feel more confident already - the negima and yakitori sounds good.

The Chef was on the Iron Chef series (Matimoro) - so the food will almost certainly be good.

Thanks koneko.

[koneko]

11. You will do fine!

If the Iron Chef is the cook, you are sure to find more than sushi on the menu. Have fun. I promise you'll enjoy it!!! Have fun!

[steely]

16. I will now - Thanks!!!

[mondo joe]

14. Oh if it's Morimoto-San you should get sushi!!

The noodle and rice dishes and cooked meats are generally done in the kitchen. The Sushi chef usually does the sushi only.

I suggested some non-sushi items earlier which you might get so you have a safety net. But you might as well give the sushi a shot!

[steely]

15. Sushi it is then.

They offer something of a combination - Omakase, but the menu didn't say anything about what it was other than "multi-course" or if sushi came with it. I'll find out though.

[TahitiNut]

18. I love negima yaki ... but it's more like a large scallion, I think.

I think of it as a large, mild scallion. (It sure looks like a giant scallion at Yao-Han in San Jose.) Even when cooked and wrapped with the thin slices of teriyaki beef, the negima should have slight crunch to it. Yum!!!

[RagingInMiami]

9. Now you need to learn how to eat with chopsticks

[steely]

12. I'll try it, but....

groan.

I'll have to play that one by ear - I might starve or be a source of entertainment for others. (on second thought, I could practice)

[Fleshdancer]

10. Tonkatsu if they offer it

some Japanese restaraunts have it, others don't. Anyway, it's a breaded pork dish with this particular sauce that is to die for. Yummmm.

[steely]

13. sounds good to me

<prints page> ;-)

[TahitiNut]

17. Well, there're three major kinds of "Japanese restaurant" ...

... only one of which is a sushi bar. (Teppan and Tempura are the other major categories.) While a sushi bar is often found as a part of an American Japanese restaurant, I tend to prefer the sushi bar that's only a sushi bar. I love the tuna (Toro and Maguro) and the sole (Hirame) and the Futo Maki (a tuna roll). The safest bet for any American is the California Roll. My absolute favorite is Hotate-gai (scallop) when it's absolutely fresh. A skilled sushi chef knows how to slice the scallop or fish, slightly across the grain, so when you eat it it easily chews and dissolves with a very fresh taste.

One rule: If you smell fish, don't eat there! Fish only has an odor when it spoils and rots. Be damned sure you don't eat the raw fish (sashimi) any place where you can smell fish.

Hints: (1) Always start with some hot miso soup. It's yummy. (2) While it's not "high class," I mix my wasabi with soy sauce in a little dish until it's a light greenish-brown (not too much soy sauce). That's what I use for dipping. (3) I occasionally clear my taste buds with a thin slice of ginger and wash it down with green tea. Green tea. Chai. That's the only thing I drink with sushi.

Here's what Maguro (tuna) looks like...

[diatribal]

19. Bagel Roll!

It has cream cheese and smoked salmon on it. It's yummy, and doesnt have all those worms and stuff like the other things.