I don’t like fish or seafood. No, really, I don’t. Please don’t try to tell me “It doesn’t taste fishy at all”. It does. It takes like fish. Salmon does. Tuna does. Yes, even the lobster and crab do. Even if you drown it in garlic butter. I have sensitive taste buds. I can taste it. It tastes like fish. I don’t like it.
This eliminates traditional sushi as a pleasant food item for me. I enjoy going to Japanese restaurants for dinner with friends and my husband, as I can order the vegetarian options, but it usually means a tofu dish, or avocado rolls or cucumber rolls. And let’s face it – both of those rolls are boring.
When we are in Cranbrook, we always go for sushi. We always talk about trying one of the 3 other places in town, but always end up at Sakura. My brother – who also has the sophisticated anti-fish taste buds I do – always orders the beef and chicken teriyaki rolls. Emile always orders at least one salmon roll, and I always get the edamame and tempura veggies as starters. For a main, I skip around the menu ordering the vegetarian dishes or sometimes order a meat noodle dish. But I am usually disappointed in my choice of rolls – I can’t ever order from the “Special Roll” section because of the fish problem. You know – the rolls that come on a sleek long dish and you say “Oh, how beautiful” when it arrives at your table. Sauces artfully placed, and garnished carefully positioned. Sigh.
On the special menu this evening a “special veggie roll” was offered. It featured asparagus, avocado, spinach, mango, and sweet potato with a cream sauce and a blueberry sauce. I shared it with my mom, and it is the first time that I got to truly appreciate “roll art” arriving at the table. The dish was the perfect line between savory and sweet, and utterly delicious.
July 21st, 2012 Extra-Ordinary: Edamame, tempura vegetables, teriyaki tofu, “special veggie roll” and deep-fried mango ice cream. So Good.
The Daily EO 