Search Results for: tempura shrimp

Bacon Crunchy Shrimp Roll

Way back in 2006, a year after Son and I started dating, he had ?an idea ? “You should start a food blog,” he said, “we’ll make so much money!” This was way back before everybody and their mother were blogging, and food blogs were a new exciting thing nobody was doing yet. “And, because […]

Bacon Crunchy Shrimp Roll

Today we’re throwing it waaaaay back, and making my favorite sushi roll ever – the bacon crunchy shrimp roll, which debuted on SushiDay almost exactly 12 years ago, all the way back in 2007! This is my favorite roll, my entire extended family’s favorite roll, and a must at our New Year’s sushi feast every […]

Sassy Shrimp Roll

<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_186400_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3322125812_31efaf2634_b.jpg" alt=""/> </span> <p>I am a very shy girl. In social situations I'm awkward, quiet, and generally über polite to a fault. Because of this, I have very few people that I can consider really great, close friends. But every once in a blue moon, I meet someone with whom I just *click*. Whether it be online or off, once in a while I just know that I'm going to become very good friends with this person.</p> <p><a href="http://audeo.wordpress.com/">Nicole Brunet</a> is one such person. We had probably "seen" each other in passing on <a href="http://menwithpens.ca/">certain blogs</a> before then, but we really met almost a year ago when we both joined a new <a href="http://escapingreality.ca/boards/index.php">RPG</a>. (Incidentally, I've made quite a few great friends from there. Harry and James have gotten together a damned good group of players there. :D ) Since then we've not only become two of the biggest addicts on ER (I mean... addicts? Nah. We don't have a problem, really.) and fantastic friends. You could call us kindred spirits, even. (No pun intended. ;) )</p> <p>And... today's her birthday! Happy birthday, Nicole! So, me being me, of course I had to make her sushi. I chose the Sassy Shrimp Roll for her, because <strike>Lizzy</strike> Nicole is a bit of a sassy one at times (and we all love her for it!) ;) And because this roll was really freaking good. Only the best for my friends. :)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_186400_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3321296525_d8987961d7_b.jpg" alt=""/> </span>

Spicy Tempura Roll

[HDR-IMG] <p>I just love how the red pepper in the mayonnaise gives a little kick to the taste of the sushi. There really isn't anything to not like about this, if you like spicy tastes. If you don't, then just adjust the amount of red pepper powder to however you like it.</p>

Bacon Crunchy Shrimp Roll

[HDR-IMG] <p>This is very similar to the original <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2006/11/04/crunchy-shrimp-roll/">Crunchy Shrimp Roll</a>... but with bacon! Because bacon makes everything better. :P If you liked the original Crunchy Shrimp Roll and you like bacon, then you are gonna <em>love</em> this one!</p>

How to Make Tempura

[HDR-IMG]Several people have requested a tempura recipe, so here you go! This will work for most any type of tempura, from shrimp to vegetables, and even bananas!

Crunchy Shrimp Roll

I love, love, LOVE this roll! This is probably my favorite type of sushi ever. I came up with this when I was making tempura shrimp for a different roll. I had some extra avocado from making California Rolls, and we had some leftover green onions from something I had made a few days before […]

Japan Day 3: In which we eat the Tokyo Skytree

<p>A big part of why we went to Japan this summer was to be there the same time <a href="http://lafujimama.com">Rachael</a> was there. Since she's lived there before, speaks and reads Japanese fluently, and - oh, yeah - we have <a href="http://misofy.com">a podcast about Japanese food</a> that we do together, we decided that we should definitely, absolutely take a trip to Japan together.</p> <p>She goes to Japan every summer because her husband's company sends him to Tokyo every year, so Son and I planned our trip to coincide with theirs. Since they found out not long before we left that they'd be able to take their two girls along this year, their flight scheduling meant they arrived a couple of days after we did.</p> <p>So what did we do the first day we were all in Japan together? Well we visited the brand new Tokyo Skytree, of course!</p> <p>Before meeting them that morning, I popped by the Starbucks in their building, in desperate need of some coffee. (Apparently I don't do so well with jetlag. Heh.)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/7969764176_4030690056_z.jpg" alt="Allison with a Starbucks soy milk card"/> </span> <p>I got a soy latte (hi, I'm lactose intolerant), and discovered that unlike the Starbucks here in the US, the ones in Japan are super careful about making sure you don't actually get regular milk instead. (That card I'm holding says that my drink should be made with soymilk - you hand it back to the barista when they give you your drink.)</p> <p>At 430 yen (about $5.50) for a grandé, it's definitely more expensive in Japan. But holy cow, their soymilk is lightyears better than the soymilk you get in the US! Almost worth the ridiculous price.</p> <p>Once we found the Fujis, we all stopped by <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2012/09/24/japan-day-2-take-me-out-to-the-ball-game/">our newfound favorite onigiri place</a> to pick up some onigiri (we got a salmon with mayo onigiri, and a laver paste - aka seaweed paste - onigiri) to take with us, then it was off to the Skytree!</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7969769166_669d8a7c22_c.jpg" alt="Tokyo Skytree"/> </span> <p>The Skytree is very, very...</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/7969772170_0375f8bfc1_c.jpg" alt="Tokyo Skytree"/> </span> <p>... very tall.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8041424956_152fcdd153_o.jpg" alt="Tokyo Skytree"/> </span> <p>We were all hungry by the time we got there, so we found a curb to sit on while we snacked on the onigiri we bought.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8448/7969776930_3a02ea520b_z.jpg" alt="Sitting on a curb near the Skytree"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7969781780_77afba5666_z.jpg" alt="Sitting on a curb near the Skytree, eating onigiri"/> </span> <p>While we were sitting there, an older man who was walking past stopped to talk to Rachael and the girls. (Apparently this is common - people in Japan love to stop and fawn over children, especially Rachael's blue-eyed, blonde-haired, very obviously not Japanese girls.)</p> <p>He insisted upon giving the girls a couple of boxes of cookies he had just bought to the girls, and talking to Rachael and Mr. Fuji for a while.</p> <p>Then he turned his attention to Son and myself... and started speaking Japanese to Son, thoroughly convinced that Son could understand him, even when Rachael informed him that Son is Vietnamese, not Japanese. (And he was very amused by the fact that I'm Japanese but can't speak the language, while Rachael is not Japanese but is fluent in it!)</p> <p>He was quite a character.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7969787696_a16686472e_z.jpg" alt="The girls playing with a dog"/> </span> <p>Then a man on a bike passed by with his dog, and they stopped to let the girls play with the dog.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/7969793258_5aae12f171_z.jpg" alt="The dog sniffing at Squirrel"/> </span> <p>Both Rachael and I got dragged over there by her girls, so we could play with the dog too!</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/7969800848_967219927e_c.jpg" alt="Rachael saying hi to the dog"/> </span> <p>Because really, who can resist an adorable dancing dog like this one?</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8435/7969805550_82c18cc041_c.jpg" alt="Dog doing tricks"/> </span> <p>Once the man and his dog went on their merry way, we all took a stroll around the Skytree Town (the area beneath and around the Tokyo Skytree where there were a bunch of shops.)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/7969809428_36eff03392_c.jpg" alt="Tokyo Skytree"/> </span> <p>Have I mentioned yet that people in Japan really seem to like lining up for things? Such was the case with this statue - apparently if you stand in the middle of it, you can look up and it'll line up with the Skytree. There was a ginormous line of people waiting to take pictures of the Skytree through the statue.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/7969813656_62cd3d56c9_c.jpg" alt="People taking pictures of the Skytree through a statue"/> </span> <p>We found this place called the Tokyo Curry Lab.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/7969817214_044885f02f_z.jpg" alt="Tokyo Curry Lab"/> </span> <p>Both Rachael and I have a difficult time resisting curry-filled pastries, so of course we had to check it out.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7969820708_2f15142a99_z.jpg" alt="Tokyo Curry Lab"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8451/7969823800_c23e8311b4_z.jpg" alt="Tokyo Curry Lab"/> </span> <p>They sell these curry pies - 300 yen each. Rachael and I each got one.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/7969827770_dabb509fb0_z.jpg" alt="Curry pastries"/> </span> <p>Delicious! Though I'd still have to say <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2012/09/17/japan-day-1-we-came-for-the-ramen/">curry buns</a> are my favorite.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7969831338_4f2fe8f1df_c.jpg" alt="Curry pie"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8435/7969834828_9b5fece3c0_z.jpg" alt="Food court outside"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/7969837688_666dae8803_c.jpg" alt="Bug goofing off"/> </span> <p>Pretty soon Rachael and her family had to be on their way (they had something else scheduled for the rest of the day), so we all said our goodbyes, for now.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7969842020_b3730df72c_c.jpg" alt="Squirrel"/> </span> <p>After they left, Son and I wandered the area a bit more.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/7969938830_2d23448abf_z.jpg" alt="Shopping area inside"/> </span> <p>Let the pigging-out commence!</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/7969946592_5d247f7295_z.jpg" alt="Onigiri shop"/> </span> <p>I've spoken of our newfound obsession with <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2012/09/24/japan-day-2-take-me-out-to-the-ball-game/">onigiri</a>, which has resulted in us having a very difficult time resisting any onigiri specialty shops we come across.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7969949654_7c7a26e03e_z.jpg" alt="Onigiri display"/> </span> <p>Especially when there are so many different, interesting types to choose from!</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/7969952878_a92dbc4861_z.jpg" alt="Onigiri display"/> </span> <p>Since we... er... still can't read Japanese, we just picked two that looked interesting.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/7969956850_551d8295e2_z.jpg" alt="Allison buying onigiri"/> </span> <p>I just adore how the Japanese wrap things up for you, although it does result in <a href="http://www.eatrecyclerepeat.com/2012/09/21/snackpacksmackdown/">a whole lot of packaging</a> that just ends up being thrown away.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7969960558_103e1f5baf_z.jpg" alt="Onigiri packaging"/> </span> <p>So we ended up with an onigiri that was wrapped in something akin to mustard leaves (though I'm not entirely sure that's what it was).</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/7969964104_32155f758e_z.jpg" alt="Onigiri wrapped in mustard greens"/> </span> <p>It use a mixed rice, but didn't have any sort of fillings.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/7969966680_f0b96f271e_z.jpg" alt="Inside of onigiri wrapped in mustard greens"/> </span> <p>The other one had tempura shrimp and lettuce in it. Delicious! Both for only 400 yen.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/7969968766_256b546f3b_z.jpg" alt="Tempura shrimp onigiri"/> </span> <p>After we ate the onigiri, we headed back in, to a mochi shop we had passed.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7969973782_8a84e39a84_z.jpg" alt="Mochi shop"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/7969976838_31b177c794_z.jpg" alt="Display at mochi shop"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7969981040_1abd634ede_z.jpg" alt="Display at mochi shop"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/7969988622_51dd946fb3_z.jpg" alt="Mochi shop"/> </span> <p>We decided to get two of the mochi skewers (dango?) that they were selling.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8169/7969992324_5d3ef4de8a_z.jpg" alt="Mochi packaging"/> </span> <p>The first was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warabimochi">warabimochi</a>, an almost jelly-like confection covered in kinako (soybean flour). <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/7969997140_a3dffe85de_z.jpg" alt="Kinako mochi"/> </span> <p>It came with a packet of mitsu (a dark, sweet syrup) to drizzle over it. After eating this, Son has gained a newfound obsession with warabimochi (he really wants me to figure out how to make it, and we got it at least two more times while we were in Japan.)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/7969999882_dc57161ca9_z.jpg" alt="Kinako mochi with kuromitsu"/> </span> <p>The second kind that we got was a sort of yaki dango (grilled mochi) with a sweet shoyu sauce. Both were delicious, and came out to a total of 310 yen.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/7970003346_e2428faf9f_z.jpg" alt="Dango"/> </span> <p>After pig-out part one, we walked around a bit, going upstairs where there was a Ghibli store. Son bought "The Art of Spirited Away", because he's been interested in doing a bit of drawing lately.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/8042519726_678d989005_c.jpg" alt="The Art of Spirited Away"/> </span> <p>After that, we wandered around the upper level of Skytree Town, over to where the base of the Skytree is.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/7970006528_3d10ba079f_z.jpg" alt="Black and white Tokyo Skytree"/> </span> <p>We considered going to the Sumida Aquarium, which is right next to the Skytree, but decided there were better ways to spend our time there.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/7970009136_17f766f983_z.jpg" alt="Sumida Aquarium entrance"/> </span> <p>Such a strawberry milk soft cream, for example.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7534735570_92efcf1aca_c.jpg" alt="Son with our strawberry milk soft cream"/> </span> <p>There was a nice breeze, so we sat out on the plaza at the base of the Skytree to eat our soft cream (Japanese soft cream is like a mix between ice cream and soft serve).</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7970014594_d17e049e08_z.jpg" alt="View of plaza from second level"/> </span> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7534736256_0c1af02258_z.jpg" alt="Tokyo Skytree"/> </span> <p>Then it was back downstairs, where we just had to check out KFC.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7999127009_cca3ea8a9a_z.jpg" alt="KFC"/> </span> <p>We'd heard that it's better than KFC in the US, so of course we had to sacrifice some precious stomach space in the name of research.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/7999128783_940d214f24_z.jpg" alt="Allison with the Colonel"/> </span> <p>Very important research.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/7999129965_022dd243f1_z.jpg" alt="Inside KFC"/> </span> <p>We did this for you, dear readers.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/7999131857_f32c2e6ba4_z.jpg" alt="Ordering at KFC"/> </span> <p>Apparently, in Japan, it is extremely common for families to eat KFC for their Christmas dinners.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/7999134724_fc8e77e64b_z.jpg" alt="Chicken strip"/> </span> <p>And, well, after eating Japan's KFC, I can see why.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7999135377_a120e8eea4_z.jpg" alt="Putting honey lemon sauce on chicken strip"/> </span> <p>Those "11 herbs and spices and finger-lickin' flavor" they go on about here in the US is a load of bull. To heck with that. I want what KFC makes in Japan!</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7534737364_87b7b59db4_c.jpg" alt="Chicken strip and drumstick from KFC"/> </span> <p>We got a drumstick, and a spicy chicken strip with honey lemon sauce.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7999137485_af1010416b_c.jpg" alt="Allison with the KFC chicken"/> </span> <p>Both were much more flavorful than anything we get here in the US. And that honey lemon sauce! Seriously. Why can't we have this deliciousness here?</p> <p>(Though at a total of 480 yen - about $6 - it wasn't exactly cheap.)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8041417277_534dcd4853_o.jpg" alt="KFC chicken strip"/> </span> <p>You'd think after all we'd eaten so far, we'd be done, right?</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8301/7999139497_3248b06851_z.jpg" alt="Crepe shop"/> </span> <p>Er... nope.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/7999145706_0df08fcdb8_c.jpg" alt="Wall of crepes"/> </span> <p>Like I said, pigging out.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7534736762_f0f63cc097_c.jpg" alt="Crepe"/> </span> <p>Next we got a crepe with banana slices, cheesecake pieces, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7999146747_284677c81b_c.jpg" alt="Allison with the crepe"/> </span> <p>Because, well... why not?</p> <p>(At 550 yen it made the chicken look inexpensive, but it was totally worth it.)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8451/7999149376_41e920fb38_z.jpg" alt="Crepe with banana, cheesecake, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream"/> </span> <p>Okay, now we're done eating.</p> <p>Sort of.</p> <p>For now.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/7999150079_a350197af7_z.jpg" alt="Akihabara at night"/> </span> <p>After a nap back at the hotel, we headed out to Akihabara because Son wanted to look for something.</p> <p>Akihabara stresses me out. All that noise and light and chaos...</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/7999153774_373da2ffd1_z.jpg" alt="Mister donut"/> </span> <p>So obviously, I needed doughnuts to soothe my nerves.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7999157355_7db3640a54_z.jpg" alt="Mister donut"/> </span> <p>(Kidding. We would have ended up at Mister Donut even if I were completely zen... that was half the reason for going to Akihabara!)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7999156518_7eff29c2a7_z.jpg" alt="Pon donut and whipped cream-filled donut"/> </span> <p>We got a glazed pon de ring donut (the one that looks like a string of fat beads) and a whipped cream-filled donut.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7999159153_2d8120eb2b_z.jpg" alt="Mister donut outside"/> </span> <p>For 252 yen (about $3.25) it was totally worth it.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8301/7999162472_179165fe7b_z.jpg" alt="Akihabara"/> </span> <p>After a bit more walking around, Son decided he was hungry (if you think you're noticing a trend here, you're totally right). When he saw this tempura place, he insisted we try it.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7999162887_1690873ecf_z.jpg" alt="Allison at the tempura place"/> </span> <p>This was pretty much the best tempura we've ever had. You know how I know that? Because even now, nearly four months later, Son still cannot stop talking about it.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7999165557_b4ed7252dd_z.jpg" alt="Tempura bowl"/> </span> <p>"This is pretty good, but not as good as that tempura place in Japan." "Man, we should have gone back to that tempura place while we were in Japan." "Why isn't there any tempura place here that's as good as the one in Japan?"</p> <p>(There is never any doubt that when he refers to "that tempura place in Japan," he's referring to this one.)</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7999167397_816522c8e2_z.jpg" alt="Outside of the tempura place"/> </span> <p>And then, because Son was <em>still</em> hungry (and had developed a fondness for the <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2012/09/24/japan-day-2-take-me-out-to-the-ball-game/">bento boxes from Ueno station</a> the previous night), we headed to Ueno station.</p> <p>For a bento box, of course.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540w_18640000_75___farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7534739320_45852ab8c9_c.jpg" alt="Bento box"/> </span>

Sushi, Sushi, Sushi

<span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/south-wedge-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3321325531_222891983f_b.jpg" alt="South Wedge Roll"/></a> <small>South Wedge Roll - smoked salmon, cucumber, bacon, wasabi mayonnaise</small> </span> <p>Uninspired. That's how I've felt lately, when it comes to sushi. Or, more specifically, when it comes to writing about sushi. My love of sushi is no less, nor has my desire to share this love with all of you diminished any. But it's been months since I've brought you a recipe here on Sushi Day, and even then posting has been sporadic for nearly a year now.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/emerils-spicy-tuna-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3322167212_a79813d647_b.jpg" alt="Spicy Tuna Roll"/></a> <small>Spicy Tuna Roll - mayonnaise, hot chile paste, hot chile oil, toasted sesame oil, tuna, wasabi paste, green onion, toasted black sesame seeds, in rice paper wrappers</small> </span> <p>It's not for lack of material - I have pictures of sushi that I made all the way back in March that I never wrote about. Nor is it for lack of time - though I'm incredibly busy with work and play, I could have easily made time to put up a short post. And it certainly isn't a loss of interest in my blog or my readers - there has been an immense amount of guilt as days turned into weeks without a post, which turned into months of near silence here on Sushi Day.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/pacific-ocean-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3321324405_cea94e18b0_b.jpg" alt="Pacific Ocean Roll"/></a> <small>Pacific Ocean Roll- smoked salmon, avocado, bacon</small> </span> <p>What it all comes down to is that the sushi I had made just didn't excite me. Oh yay, another spicy tuna roll. Whoopidee do dah, more shrimp tempura. Everything felt like something I'd done before - after nearly three years of sushi recipes, another California roll spin-off starts to get pretty damn boring.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/pink-panther-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3322145670_f89a72669d_b.jpg" alt="Pink Panther Roll"/></a> <small>Pink Panther Roll - salmon, avocado, tamago, wrapped in rice paper</small> </span> <p>So I would procrastinate. I don't want to put you asleep while reading my posts, I want you to hang onto my every word like I do with <a href="http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/">Shauna's posts</a>, or <a href="http://www.anticiplate.com/">Keri's</a>, or <a href="http://www.mytartelette.com/">Helen's</a>. I know, I know, I have a long way to go. But I can't stand blogs that only give you a recipe without any interesting descriptions or anecdotes... and since I couldn't come up with any for sushi that bored me half to death, I just kept putting it off.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/too-crazy-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_186400_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3321292571_f2c88df6dd_b.jpg" alt="Too Crazy Roll"/></a> <small>Too Crazy Roll - tuna, <a href="http://fridgg.com/blog/basil-pesto-295.html">pesto</a></small> </span> <p>Then I was invited up to Seattle to go to the Sustainable Sushi Dinner at <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/08/24/sustainable-sushi-at-mashiko-seattle-wa/">Mashiko</a>. Oh, <a href="http://www.sushiwhore.com/">Mashiko</a>. Did I mention that Hajime and I exchanged shirts (no, not like that!)? I sent him a <a href="http://sushiday.com/store/">Sushi Day</a> shirt, and he sent me a <a href="http://www.sushiwhore.com/">sushiwhore.com</a> (Mashiko's website) shirt. <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/4033813213_38c77933a3.jpg">Fits perfectly.</a> Anyways. Son and I got to go to this dinner, where we got to meet the very awesome Hajime Sato and the very cool <a href="http://www.sustainablesushi.net/">Casson Trenor</a>, and learn all sorts of things that I never knew at all about sushi and sustainability and seafood. Obviously, I loved the trip.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/unicorn-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3322134246_5bfbd2e23a_b.jpg" alt="Unicorn Roll"/></a> <small>Unicorn Roll - tempura shrimp, cucumber, imitation crab, topped with spicy tuna</small> </span> <p>But then I come back home, all excited about sustainability and trying all these new types of seafood, and look at the pictures of sushi that I have yet to post. Tuna - not bluefin, of course, but still. Imitation crab - once a great choice, <a href="http://www.sustainablesushi.net/">now not so much</a>. *sigh* I just couldn't, in my good conscience, continue a series of posts that used some ingredients that, in terms of sustainability, aren't things I should promote.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/bam-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3322132794_6deb6f971a_b.jpg" alt="Bam Roll"/></a> <small>Bam Roll - tempura shrimp, mayonnaise, green onions, tomato, hot chile oil topped with spicy tuna, eel sauce, sesame seeds.</small> </span> <p>But... I feel terrible depriving you all of the remaining sushi that I've made. Which is why I've posted all the pictures in this post, along with the ingredients that go into each roll. <strike>I've told you hundreds of times how to put together a roll of sushi... I'm sure you can figure it out from ingredient lists by now.</strike> I've also put up a separate post for each of these rolls with just the recipes (click the pictures to get to the posts), because Son insisted so you could see all the extra beautiful photographs he put so much work into for each roll.</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/tnt-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3321285599_9579284ca3_b.jpg" alt="TNT Roll"/></a> <small>TNT Roll - tuna, tomato, Tabasco sauce</small> </span> <p>So. What do I intend to do now, since I no longer have a queue of rolls lined up for me to post about? Make more sushi, of course. This time trying to be more sustainable, more inventive, more fun. Will the occasional tuna roll sneak in? My apologies in advance, I'm not (quite!) perfect. Might you see a California roll knock off or two? Perhaps, but they'll have to be really freaking amazing California rolls. But most importantly, what you'll see is me. Having fun. Doing what I do best as a food blogger... bringing you tons of sushi.</p> <p>So hopefully you haven't gone too far away, because... the sushi girl is back, and ready to roll!</p> <span class="bigPic"> <a href="http://sushiday.com/archives/2009/10/21/bling-bling-roll/"><img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3322138962_945c6118a9_b.jpg" alt="Bling-Bling Roll"/></a> <small>Bling-Bling Roll - imitation crab, mayonnaise, spicy tuna, avocado, drizzled with eel sauce.</small> </span>