In search of the perfect sushi....
Don't go by the title alone....it might seem like I am a hard core sushi afficonado for years and have been on a quest for the elusive perfect sushi. But, reality could'nt be further from that. By the way, I haven't been updating my blog for quite some time...hope you guyz ( all you imaginary people...coz i know no one really reads all the crap i write down). Well, spring semester is finally over...this was by far the coolest and nicest semester I had in grad school. The grades reflect that too....
anyway...my folks have come to US too...that has made the past few days more enjoyable than ever. Now, they are on a short trip to California after which they'd be back again. My summer classes have begun again...if only they had'nt i would have been able to accompany them. Anyway...on their next trip maybe.
Okay...now lemme write about my sushi experience. Therez this place called "Yu Ka", a japanese restaurant on 81st Street and 2nd Ave. in the Upper East Side. A small cozy place...its very popular with New Yorkers...and today being Friday night I found quite a long queue and a waiting time of about 30 min to go in. Anyway, my friends Prashant, Massoud and Dmitry were already seated and were already nearing finish when i arrived. yeah...yeah...as usual I am always "punctual" in keeping my appointments. Actually, I can keep appointments when it really matters and its important. Somehow, when I go out for leisure I tend to make a relaxation when it comes to punctuality. Anyway, Dmitry, as usual made a smart alec comment on my late arrival. Well, I really could'nt come up with a convincing reply...I was a little red faced anyway. Whenever I see Dima I am reminded of this character called Quagmire from the TV sitcom "Family Guy". Dima is so much like him, I am sure Massoud would agree,always running after women and trying to woo them. He goes absolutely bonkers when it comes to Asian women...even today he had a Japanese girl with him. Anyway...I opted for the "all you can eat" menu for $18. I think that's the most value for money you can get at that place.
Now I really don't know much about japanese food...leave alone sushi. I was open to suggestions and everyone pounced on me with their views and opinions. I was like a bleating lamb surrounded by hungry lions. The way it works at Yu Ka, you have to mark the type of sushi roll or hand roll you want and also specify the number of them you want. A waitress ( all of them Japanese and wearing kimonos....well to be frank I would'nt know the difference if some of them were korean/ chinese...so I guess oriental is a better word to use) will take the card and get back with a tray of rolls. I ordered Tataki and Salmon sushi rolls in my first order along with salmon and eel handrolls.
To be frank I really loved the rolls. The fish is slightly cooked...in fact it appears raw to the untrained eye. I think that's where lies the art of cooking sushi...to cook the fish to perfection. Cook it as much so that its not raw....but not so much so that its completely boiled. The strip of salmon had a a round ball of rice stuck beneath it and basically we can dip the roll in soy sauce and gulp it down. I must have had around 20 rolls today...wud have had more....but my tummy was already full from a late lunch. Darn....the next time I go there...I'll fast from the morning and then go for dinner there. The only difference between sushi rolls and handrolls is the the hand roll has a covering of seaweed over it. It also has fish and rice inside it. I didnt like the handrolls so much...partly because the seaweed was tough and I had to struggle to bite into it.
Surprisingly, only the seaweed had a strong smell of fish...in fact it even tasted like the all familiar rohu skin, only it was rubbery as hell. In contrast, the sushi rolls, even though the fish in them is done rare...it hardly has any smell of fish. I found that quite remarkable.
In my second round I had more of salmon and tataki sushi rolls and kept away from handrolls. Dima challenged me to add 6 salmon rolls over my order...which I finished with panache'....that's teach him not to underestimate me!! But, I am thoroughly impressed with Dima....this guy has had 70 rolls!!!!! Can you beat that??!!....This guy is crazy when it comes to sushi...hez a regular at Yu Ka...apparently everyone knows him there.
Out from Yu Ka, I had a mocha frappuccino coffee at starbucks....an apt finale' to a fabulous dinner. Another thing which I liked about sushi is I think its quite healthy to have...unlike the greasy cheeseburgers at McDondalds or the monsterous slices of pizza from Koronet. Ya...I think I am another victim to the lure of sushi...I can already feel myself yearning for more....hmmm....sure am looking forward to my next visit to Yu Ka...
anyway...my folks have come to US too...that has made the past few days more enjoyable than ever. Now, they are on a short trip to California after which they'd be back again. My summer classes have begun again...if only they had'nt i would have been able to accompany them. Anyway...on their next trip maybe.
Okay...now lemme write about my sushi experience. Therez this place called "Yu Ka", a japanese restaurant on 81st Street and 2nd Ave. in the Upper East Side. A small cozy place...its very popular with New Yorkers...and today being Friday night I found quite a long queue and a waiting time of about 30 min to go in. Anyway, my friends Prashant, Massoud and Dmitry were already seated and were already nearing finish when i arrived. yeah...yeah...as usual I am always "punctual" in keeping my appointments. Actually, I can keep appointments when it really matters and its important. Somehow, when I go out for leisure I tend to make a relaxation when it comes to punctuality. Anyway, Dmitry, as usual made a smart alec comment on my late arrival. Well, I really could'nt come up with a convincing reply...I was a little red faced anyway. Whenever I see Dima I am reminded of this character called Quagmire from the TV sitcom "Family Guy". Dima is so much like him, I am sure Massoud would agree,always running after women and trying to woo them. He goes absolutely bonkers when it comes to Asian women...even today he had a Japanese girl with him. Anyway...I opted for the "all you can eat" menu for $18. I think that's the most value for money you can get at that place.
Now I really don't know much about japanese food...leave alone sushi. I was open to suggestions and everyone pounced on me with their views and opinions. I was like a bleating lamb surrounded by hungry lions. The way it works at Yu Ka, you have to mark the type of sushi roll or hand roll you want and also specify the number of them you want. A waitress ( all of them Japanese and wearing kimonos....well to be frank I would'nt know the difference if some of them were korean/ chinese...so I guess oriental is a better word to use) will take the card and get back with a tray of rolls. I ordered Tataki and Salmon sushi rolls in my first order along with salmon and eel handrolls.
To be frank I really loved the rolls. The fish is slightly cooked...in fact it appears raw to the untrained eye. I think that's where lies the art of cooking sushi...to cook the fish to perfection. Cook it as much so that its not raw....but not so much so that its completely boiled. The strip of salmon had a a round ball of rice stuck beneath it and basically we can dip the roll in soy sauce and gulp it down. I must have had around 20 rolls today...wud have had more....but my tummy was already full from a late lunch. Darn....the next time I go there...I'll fast from the morning and then go for dinner there. The only difference between sushi rolls and handrolls is the the hand roll has a covering of seaweed over it. It also has fish and rice inside it. I didnt like the handrolls so much...partly because the seaweed was tough and I had to struggle to bite into it.
Surprisingly, only the seaweed had a strong smell of fish...in fact it even tasted like the all familiar rohu skin, only it was rubbery as hell. In contrast, the sushi rolls, even though the fish in them is done rare...it hardly has any smell of fish. I found that quite remarkable.
In my second round I had more of salmon and tataki sushi rolls and kept away from handrolls. Dima challenged me to add 6 salmon rolls over my order...which I finished with panache'....that's teach him not to underestimate me!! But, I am thoroughly impressed with Dima....this guy has had 70 rolls!!!!! Can you beat that??!!....This guy is crazy when it comes to sushi...hez a regular at Yu Ka...apparently everyone knows him there.
Out from Yu Ka, I had a mocha frappuccino coffee at starbucks....an apt finale' to a fabulous dinner. Another thing which I liked about sushi is I think its quite healthy to have...unlike the greasy cheeseburgers at McDondalds or the monsterous slices of pizza from Koronet. Ya...I think I am another victim to the lure of sushi...I can already feel myself yearning for more....hmmm....sure am looking forward to my next visit to Yu Ka...
posted by uStaAd dEboO | 9:59 PM
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