Book Read Free

The Story of Sushi

Page 35

by Trevor Corson


  ascending fish, 198

  atama (fish heads), 190, 192, 193

  ATP (adenosine triphosphate), 21–22, 117

  avocados, 82, 88

  B

  bacteria, 29, 116, 226

  fishy aromas and, 145

  inhibiting growth of, 31, 40, 78, 79, 144, 146, 150, 151, 161, 248, 264

  in miso production, 14, 16

  Baggett, Marisa, 57

  bamboo leaves, nigiri separated by, 78–79

  bamboo rolling mats, 85, 86

  beef:

  aging, 250

  Kobe-style, 122

  raw, 149–50

  Belushi, John, 46

  beriberi, 35

  bloodline, 115, 190, 254, 256

  blowfish, 86

  bluefin tuna, 28, 245, 246–53, 320.

  See also tuna

  bone pulling, 155, 184

  bonito, 28, 187

  bonito flakes, 21–22, 23

  botan-ebi (sweet shrimp), 136–37

  boxes of nigiri, for takeout or gifts, 65, 78–79

  box sushi (hako-zushi), 156

  bromophenols, 87, 144

  brown rice, 34, 35

  Buddhism, 16, 23, 36

  buri, 197, 198. See also yellowtail

  C

  California Rice Center, 27, 31, 33

  California Rice Commission, 294

  California rolls, 85–86, 95

  invention of, 81–82

  California Sushi Academy (CSA), 50–51, 315

  classes at. See Lekic, Zoran; specific topics

  first day of session at, 3–9

  first women at, 55–58

  founding of, 4, 55

  graduation formalities at, 302–3

  California Sushi Academy (CSA),

  graduation requirements at, 6–7

  lunch counter worked by students at, 123–24, 131, 139–41, 175–77, 231, 287–88

  student body at, 4–6

  tests at, 124, 125–27, 164, 166–68, 171, 240, 259–63, 292, 301, 302

  carp, 30

  Carver, Roy, 162–63

  Catalina Offshore Products, 281

  cephalopods, 232–38, 242

  Chicago, sushi restaurants in, 46, 133, 134

  China, 83, 241

  original form of sushi in, 29–30

  sashimi in, 149

  chopsticks, 26, 77, 152, 272, 321, 322

  chutoro (medium fatty tuna), 246, 248, 256

  clams, 28, 67, 319

  giant or horse (mirugai), 240–44

  collagen, 116–17, 225, 233

  column peel (katsura-muki), 8, 150–51, 259–60

  comb style, 93

  conveyor-belt sushi (kaiten-zushi), 54, 57, 58, 63, 79

  cooking, 146

  collagen and, 116–17

  eel, 229–31

  flavor development and, 117–18

  grilling mackerel, 113, 116, 118–19

  kaiseki-style appetizers, 75–76, 77, 79–81

  searing, 148

  simmering in broth, 98

  tamago yaki (sweet egg omelet), 124–25

  crunchy rolls, 88

  crustaceans. See also shrimp

  flavor development in, 138

  as prey for other sea creatures, 143, 182, 187, 236

  cucumber rolls (kappa-maki), 86–87, 95, 304

  cucumbers, cutting, 8, 17

  customers. See also ordering

  educating about sushi, 99–101, 134–35, 193

  at sushi bars, etiquette guide for, 317–22

  sushi chefs’ interactions with, 12, 27, 48–50, 54, 70, 71, 102–3, 123, 124, 139, 169–71, 312, 313, 322

  cytochromes, 194

  D

  dashi, 21, 22–23, 84, 280

  Dean, Howard, 132

  Do, Memphis, Tenn., 57

  Drew-Baker, Kathleen, 83

  E

  ebi or kuruma-ebi (cooked shrimp), 136–39

  Edo, 161. See also Tokyo

  sushi in, 64–66, 77–78

  Edomae-sushi, 65–67

  eels, 66, 188, 202, 225–31

  cooking, 229–31

  freshwater (unagi), 225, 227–28

  mating of, 226, 227

  migrations of, 226–27, 228

  saltwater (anago), 225, 228–31

  eel sauce, 230–31

  egg omelet, sweet (tamago yaki), 124–25

  Eigiku, Los Angeles, 46

  engawa (adductor muscle of flatfish), 209, 210

  enzymes:

  in fish, 28, 29, 145–46, 194, 249–50

  in Miora, 39

  in mold, 14–15, 22

  Europe, sushi restaurants in, 57–58, 63

  F

  fermented fish paste, 28–29

  fillet techniques, 146–48, 203–4, 210–11, 252

  fingers, eating sushi with, 26, 65, 321

  fish:

  circulatory systems of, 114–15, 246

  decline in numbers of, 237, 251

  evolution of, 114, 116, 180, 201–2, 207–8, 233

  filleting, 146–48, 203–4, 210–11, 252

  flavor elements in, 117–18

  freezing, 179–80, 248–49

  gills of, 190, 191, 246, 247

  gutting and cleaning, 113–15, 119, 142, 190

  Japanese names for parts of, 142

  migrations of, 145, 180–81, 182, 194, 226–27, 228

  muscles of, 145–46, 193–94, 204, 209, 210, 233, 247, 249–50

  neta as term for, 89–90

  preserving, 28–30, 149

  purchasing, 107–12

  scales of, 154–55, 189, 191, 200–202, 210, 226

  three basic categories of, 154

  fishy aromas, 144–45

  five-piece breakdown (go-mai oroshi), 147, 210, 252

  flatfish (hirame and karei), 206–12

  adductor muscle of (engawa), 209, 210

  evolution of, 207–8

  filleting, 210–12

  Japanese love of, 208–9

  flavors, fundamental, 23. See also umami

  Fleischman, Mark, 56–57

  flounder, 154, 183, 194, 197, 206. See also flatfish

  starry, 207, 208

  food poisoning, 153, 161

  franchise operations, 133

  freezing fish, 179–80, 248–49

  “fresh kill” sushi, 250

  Freud, Sigmund, 226

  funa-zushi (old style of sushi with carp), 30

  futo-maki (big rolls), 27, 95, 159

  G

  garum, 29

  geishas, 154

  Genghis Khan, 30

  geoducks (mirugai), 240–44

  geta (rectangular stand), 320

  Gilbert, Nikki, 57

  gills, 190, 191, 246, 247

  ginger, pickled, 26, 277, 320, 321

  gizzard shad (kohada), 66, 154

  glass eels, 226, 227

  glutamate, 15, 16, 21, 22–23, 84, 117, 118, 242, 250

  glycine, 117, 118, 138, 195

  glycinin, 15

  glycogen, 249–50

  go-mai oroshi (five-piece breakdown), 147, 210, 252

  gourd shavings, 67

  Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), 66

  Greece, ancient, 82, 225

  green tea, 53

  Griffith, Tracy, 55–57

  grilling, 113, 116, 118–19

  grocery stores, sushi in, 133, 134

  gunkan (“battleship” sushi), 281

  gutting fish, 113–15, 119, 142, 190

  H

  hako-zushi (box sushi), 156

  halfbeak, 154

  halibut. See flatfish

  hamachi, 198. See also yellowtail

  Hama Hermosa, Hermosa Beach, 4, 6, 22, 58, 96, 102–7, 120–22, 169–71, 214–15, 221, 264–74, 294

  daily staff meeting at, 42–43

  decline and closing of, 43, 50, 101, 121, 239, 281, 294

  last night at, 288–91

  Monday student lunch counter at, 123–24, 131, 139�
�41, 175–77, 231, 287–88

  rice preparation at, 33, 36–40, 41–42

  Hama Venice, Venice Beach, 4, 43, 48–50, 99, 121

  Hanaya, Yohei, 65, 77–78

  handedness, sashimi arrangements and, 152

  hand rolls (te-maki), 24

  haya-zushi (“quick sushi”), 31, 64–65

  heads of fish (atama), 190, 192, 193

  health concerns, 26–27, 47

  herring, 155

  hikari mono (“shiny things”), 154–55

  hirame. See flatfish

  horse mackerel, 154

  hoso-maki (thin rolls), 86–87, 95

  hydrolyzed vegetable protein, 23, 24

  I

  ika (squid), 233, 235–38, 290

  Ikeda, Kikunae, 22–23

  ikura (salmon eggs), 278–79, 281

  Imaizumi, Teruo, 295

  IMP (inosine monophosphate), 22, 23, 84, 117–18, 228, 280

  Indica rices, 37

  inside-out rolls (ura-maki), 81–82, 85–86, 88, 95, 97, 158, 159

  International Marine Products, Los

  Angeles, 109–11

  J

  jabara (“snake’s stomach;” cut of tuna), 247

  Jackson, Phil, 4

  Japanese culture, preservation of, 100, 134–35, 295

  Japanese immigrants, in Los Angeles, 44–46

  Japanese Restaurant News, 134

  Japanese tourists, 88

  Japonica rices, 37, 294

  Johnson, Tim, 295

  K

  kaiseki (courtly Japanese cuisine), 76, 77, 79–81

  kaiten-zushi (conveyor-belt sushi), 54, 57, 58, 63, 79

  Kamehachi, Chicago, 46

  Kanai, Noritoshi, 45, 47, 295

  kanpachi, 200. See also yellowtail

  Kapika, 34

  kappa-maki (cucumber rolls), 86–87, 95, 304

  karei. See flatfish

  katsura-muki (column peel), 8, 150–51, 259–60

  Kawafuku, Los Angeles, 45, 46

  kelp, 21, 23, 38, 204, 280

  “kelp flavor,” 39

  Kenefick, Jack and Arbie, 312–14

  knives, 7–9, 36, 166

  cutting sushi rolls with, 85–86

  sharpening, 7, 8–9, 94, 171, 176, 177, 184, 196, 197, 205, 206

  kohada (gizzard shad), 66, 154

  konbu (kelp), 21, 23

  Korea, 83, 149

  kori-kori (texture), 208–9

  kosher dietary rules, 202, 226

  Koshihikari, 38

  krill, 143, 182, 183, 189

  Kruse, Fie, 42, 57–58, 102, 104, 120–22, 169–70, 214, 315

  kuruma-ebi (cooked shrimp), 136–39

  Kyoto, 146, 198

  sushi in, 40, 41, 64, 142

  L

  lactic acid, 15, 29, 31, 264

  Lake Biwa, 30

  Lancet, 53

  laver, 83–84, 87

  Lekic, Zoran, 6–9, 13, 21, 36, 40, 41–42, 59, 75–77, 123, 213, 259, 260, 264, 292, 293, 302, 309, 315

  catered events and, 24, 68, 69, 71, 75

  cooking techniques and, 75–76, 77, 79–80, 81, 98, 113, 116, 118–19, 124–25

  cucumber and radish cutting and, 8, 17, 150–51

  departure of, 175, 186, 218, 231, 240, 268, 277, 278, 288

  eels and, 228–31

  fillet techniques and, 146–48, 203–4, 210–11

  fish purchasing and, 107–12

  flatfish and, 206–12

  gutting, cleaning, and grilling mackerel and, 113–16, 118–19

  knife care and, 7–9, 166, 205, 206

  mackerel sushi and sashimi and, 142, 144, 153–57

  mirugai (giant clams or geoducks) and, 240–44

  nigiri making and, 24, 89–91, 195

  octopus and, 232–35

  salmon sushi and sashimi and, 178, 181–85

  sashimi presentation and, 151–52

  sea bream and, 186–96

  shrimp preparation and, 136–39

  special rolls and, 157, 158–59, 163

  squid and, 235–38

  student lunch counter and, 123, 131, 176

  sushi rolls and, 81, 85–88, 94–96, 97, 125–27

  tuna and, 245–46, 248–49, 252–57

  working at sushi bar, 102–4, 106–7, 169–71, 216–17, 265, 267–69

  yellowtail and, 197–205

  lingo of sushi chefs, 277

  liver, 211

  lobsters, 136

  Los Angeles, Japanese restaurants in. See also specific restaurants

  history of, 44–47, 99–101

  M

  MacArthur, Douglas, 66

  mackerel (saba), 113–19, 153–57, 187, 188, 194, 200, 237, 251

  cutting for sushi and sashimi, 153–57

  filleting, 146–48

  grilling, 113, 116, 118–19

  gutting and cleaning, 113–15, 119

  marinating, 142–46, 183

  parasites in, 143–44, 179

  scombroid poisoning and, 153

  skin and scales of, 154–56

  maguro. See tuna

  marinating, 142–46, 183

  Mashita, Ichiro, 82

  Matsuhisa, Nobu, 99

  meat. See beef

  Mekong River, 28, 29

  menus, 319

  mercury contamination, 252–53

  Michite, Katsu, 48, 49, 294

  Midwest, sushi restaurants in, 131–34

  migrations, 145, 194

  of eels, 226–27, 228

  of salmon, 180–81, 182

  Miora, 39, 41–42

  mirugai (giant clam, geoduck, or horse clam), 240–44

  miso, production of, 13–16

  miso soup, 21, 76

  Miyako Oriental Foods, 13–17

  mold, 29

  bonito infected with, 22

  in miso and soy sauce production, 13–15, 17

  MSG (monosodium glutamate), 23, 39

  mullet, 67

  Murray, Kate, 3–13, 17, 21, 23–24, 51, 59, 80, 87, 91, 93, 95–98, 164, 165, 178, 183, 185, 186, 190–93, 201, 202, 210–13, 229, 230, 232, 235, 237–38, 243, 244, 256–57, 265–68, 277, 278, 289–90, 292–93

  background of, 10–12

  catered events and, 62, 63, 69–71, 75, 86

  creative roll devised by, 157, 159, 163, 164, 167, 171

  first day of, at CSA, 3–9

  knives of, 8–9, 171, 176, 177, 184, 196, 197, 201, 205, 206, 212, 240

  last day of, at CSA, 301–5

  mackerel classes and, 113–14, 115, 119, 146–48, 153–57, 164

  student lunch counter and, 123–24, 140, 141, 175–76, 177, 231, 287–88

  tests and, 125–27, 258–63

  working as sushi chef, 309–15

  working at Hama Hermosa during regular hours, 216–17, 221

  muscles, 145–46

  adductor, of flatfish (engawa), 209, 210

  after death, 249–50

  fast-twitch and slow-twitch fibers in, 193–94, 204, 247

  of octopus and squid, 233

  mushrooms, 67

  mussels, 30

  Mutual Trading Company, 45, 47, 295

  myoglobin, 194, 251, 254

  N

  Nakano, Sekio, 77–78

  namagiri (wave cut), 233, 235

  nama-nari or nama-nare (fermented mixture of fish and rice), 30

  namasu (raw meat), 149–50

  nama tako (raw octopus), 234

  nare-zushi (original form of sushi), 30, 264

  NBC, 49

  neta (toppings for nigiri or fillings for sushi rolls), 89–91

  origin and uses of term, 89–90

  slicing, 90–91

  wrapping, 204

  neta tray, as size unit, 90, 253

  New York, sushi restaurants in, 46, 101

  nigiri, 24, 26, 83, 85, 89–93, 95, 136, 317. See also specific toppings

  adjusting to customer’s needs, 272–73

  cutting fish for, 90–91


  eating in one bite, 26, 322

  eating with fingers, 26, 65, 272, 321

  history of, 65–67, 77–79

  in Japan vs. America, 96–97

  neta as term for toppings for, 89–90

  robot-pressed rice in, 63–64, 67–68, 70, 92

  shapes of, 93

  squeezing techniques for, 91–93, 195, 261–63, 266, 270–74, 278

  in takeout boxes, 65, 78–79

  Niiyama, Katsuo, 36

  nikiri (chef’s “house” soy sauce), 22, 23, 320

  Nippon, New York, 46

  Nishimura, Tomomi (known as Tororin), 105

  Nishio, Takumi, 60–61, 94, 102–7, 126, 127, 139, 152, 186, 201, 211, 231, 302, 303, 315

  background of, 105–6

  catered events and, 63, 68, 69, 71, 217–20, 282–83

  creative roll devised by, 158–60, 163, 164–65, 167, 168

  fish head soup made by, 190, 192, 193

  Italian cuisine and, 104, 105–7, 140, 301

  nigiri-squeezing practiced by, 270–74, 278

 

‹ Prev