If You Knew Sushi Like I Know Sushi

Then you’d have probably eaten a whole lot less sushi in your lifetime

An historic event took place last night. For the first time since the first failed Bush presidency, I ate Sushi. So why is this such a big deal? Well, because back in 1989 and the years prior, sushi made me gag. I’ve often referred to it as my culinary kryptonite, but I’m now adult enough to understand two things.

First; tastes change. Just because something made me cringe nearly two decades years ago, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like it now. My fascination with blood sausage is testament to that. Second; it’s only dinner. What’s the worst that would happen if I didn’t like it? I’d order something else and laugh about the situation. Luckily my friend Adriane offered to hold my hand thru my rediscovery process.

Joining us at Sushi House (155 First St, Hoboken) was my friend Mary. Between the two of them I was able to order just the right combination of mild and (not too) risky sushi. We started out with two appetizers, both new to me. The Edamame (Japanese soy beans, steamed and lightly salted) required a lesson in eating for me. How was I to know you just suck out the beans and leave the skin?

The other was Seaweed Salad (mixed greens with special Japanese seaweed). This wasn’t a winner for me. It kinda reminded me of the beach. Well, more accurately the time I got knocked over by a wave on the Jersey Shore and ended up with a mouthful of sea water. Not a memory you want dinner to trigger. So I went back to sucking on the addictive salty Edamame and helping to polish off our first bottle of wine. By the way, Sushi House is BYOB.

My first steps back into the world of Sushi were cautious. Adriane navigated the menu for me since I was completely clueless. Two of the choices were safe, secure. The third was a bit more daring for me. After struggling to operate my chopsticks, I dipped my Flamingo (crab, avocado, cucumber wrapped in spicy tuna and tempura flakes) into a little wasabi laced soy sauce. Since you can’t take a little taste of sushi, in went the whole deal.

I sat back and chewed slowly, wanting to savor every flavor. A quick chomp and swallow just would not due on this mission. Mary and Adriane teased me saying it looked like I was ready to gag. In reality I was surprised at just how much I was enjoying this. I’m not sure I can even describe the off-putting and unfamiliar sense of satisfaction that had taken over my mouth. Now I was eager to try another.

The Spicy Scallop (scallop, tobiko, scallion, tempura flakes with spicy sauce) was equally as surprising and tasty to me. Admittedly these two choices were very safe indeed. They’re the kind of thing that people say you should order if you don’t like sushi. As was something I grabbed of of Mary’s plate called a Sweet Potato Roll. It wasn’t on the menu, but it was quite good. The flavor of the sweet potato was unexpected for me, mainly because I always thought all Sushi was fishy.

This next one was the most daring of the choices for me tonight. I know that in the grand scheme of gastronomy, this is nothing. But for me, you have to remember that what has kept me away from this food for so many years was not anything exotic or weird. Rather it was simply the fish taste. So you can probably guess what I thought of the Fantasy (tuna, salmon, yellowtail and mango). You’d think the mango would help, but how could it compete against such a power trio?

I went back to my safety net of spicy tuna and scallops, drank more wine and some piping hot green tea. When all was said and done, I was happy to feel so contented by the tastes. Not to mention how full I felt. I mean, to my eyes, this was all a big snack. To my stomach, it was truly a hearty meal which threw me for a loop.

So my foray back into the world of raw fish, rice and so on was a success. Will I be more daring (or as some would say daring at all) the next time I go? I’m not sure but it’s a big enough deal for me to even say I’d go again. Thanks to Adriane and Mary for helping me to at least dip my toes into the deep end (foodwise).

We did have one bone to pick with Sushi House. The food was very good, but we could have done without them using pungent cleansers on the tables next to us while we ate and the constant brightening of the lights to cue us it was time to leave. Especially since they seem to close fifteen minutes earlier than their advertised time of 11:00 on weeknights.