Canadutch
One thing I have never done that I’ve wanted to is to try sushi. This is probably a strange desire for someone who isn’t really fond of fish, but so many people I know eat it and love it, how can I not want to try it for myself? In the past I’ve seen it at wok restaurants or places I’ve been and I may have taken a nibble here and there, but I’ve never tried it properly. Until now!
While talking to a friend about how I’ve never tried Dim Sum, she mentioned she was treating herself to a sushi lunch on Friday and asked if I wanted to come along. Hang out with a friend and scratch something off my 101 list? I’m in!
We went to Happy Sushy in the city center of Rotterdam, because she heard that they have the cool conveyer belt type of setup and she wanted to check it out. We were both pretty keen to see what it was like, I mean… it’s a conveyer belt. With FOOD!
It was just as fun as I had expected. You sit there and the food comes cruising by in the plates with the little domed covers. You get a menu that has photos of each of the different types with a description, so you can get an idea of what it is you are picking up. I’m pretty sure that between all the snapping of photos and squeals of excitement, my friend must have felt like she was out with one of her children. I couldn’t help it though, it was just so fun! Thankfully, she was a very good sport about it and didn’t appear to be too embarrassed!
These were the very first pieces of sushi I’ve ever eaten. They have something, avocado, something and something else. As I fumbled with and tried to learn how to use my chopsticks, it was explained to me about the importance of the soy sauce dipping process. Then it was time to find out once and for all if I actually like sushi. DOWN THE HATCH!
Yup, I liked it – a lot! I also understood and agreed with the importance of the dip. What a strange and new mixture of tastes and textures. If someone had told me that I would one day eat sushi by choice and actually enjoy it, I would have laughed them out of town.
Anyway, the avocado with something, something and something was clearly a good choice because next I grabbed the pretty green and red one. Yes, I know I astound you with my broad knowledge of all things sushi now, but please try to keep up.
That one was tuna and it was delicious. What I didn’t know was what the green stuff around the edges was, and why it went pop when I bit it. I pondered how it sort of reminded me of that feeling of pop rocks, what fun! I felt a little less enthused about it when my friend told me that it was probably some sort of fish eggs.
Fish eggs… did I just turn green too?
It took me a minute to recover from that one but once I did I dove back in and continued to try some different combinations, some very, very strange combinations…like this one.
Cheese and salmon!
Wait… what? Cheese?
In sushi? This can’t be right… is it?
Is this right or is it just a Dutch thing? I know these crazy kids love putting cheese in everything they can but it just doesn’t seem like it belongs in sushi. Does cheese belong in Sushi? Does it?! I have to know!
So, it’s official, I like sushi! So, if you are ever in need of a lunch partner and want to go for sushi, I’m your gal
… but only if they have a conveyer belt, because otherwise it’s really just raw fish and rice, isn’t it?
Oh, and cheese.
I think I first had sushi in China and didn’t think much of it until we went to Australia a few years later. Sushi boxes (like bento boxes) were very popular in Sydney so I got to eat a lot.
I usually have sushi once a week in Canada, sushi places are taking over Ottawa anyway. It may not be very Japanese but my favorite kind of sushi is avocado, cucumber and a bit of cream cheese.
I am partial to salmon, avocado and cream cheese sushi rolls that can be found in Australia, but I’ve never seen anything like that last one before. It looks like something for the Dutch market :S
My colleague is a fan of Shabu Shabu Rotterdam, and another colleague told me a good dim sum place in Amsterdam, but I can’t recall the name. You’ve reminded me I have to try both one day — argh, too many things to do!
I’m not a big sushi eater but I do enjoy it. Dim Sum is great too. I just really like being able to try lots of little small things.
That’s what my friend said she enjoyed too. I like the idea because if i don’t like something it’s not ALL I have, I can move on to something else :) I can’t wait to try it.
Hmm, looks very good, thanks for the report, now I can go there too ;)
And if you still want to learn some (dutch) signs (signlanguage), we can combine sushi and signs!
btw: how’s the big project in crochet going?
I love sushi! I’ve never been to one that has the conveyor belt, though. Definitely another good excuse to visit Rotterdam! ;) Dim sum is delicious; I used to go a lot in NY. There’s supposed to be a good dim sum place here in Utrecht; I need to try it soon, although I doubt I’ll have much idea of what stuff is, since my Dutch is basic and my Chinese non-existent. ;)
Maybe Dutch_Bitch and I should meet up with you in Rotterdam and go for sushi!
Hey that’s a good idea :) If you two can sort out when you are both free I’ll make sure I’m available! Unless it’s between the 10th – 18th of July, I’m away then.
Damn you!! I am now craving sushi. Whitehorse has a great sushi place that I got take-out from the last time I was in town.
Yeah I guess you don’t get a lot of sushi in your area, huh? Maybe you could try making it yourself!
By the way, if you find Thai and Indonesian and Korean too spicy, you might enjoy Vietnamese as most dishes don’t use as much spice. Korean BBQ is fantastic, though!
Slow down girl, one thing at a time haha I’ve done Sushi and Indian, I’ll try Indonesian next and let you know! :)
I’ve eaten a lot of sushi, but I’ve never seen cheese in sushi except cream cheese (Philly rolls). In most places around the world it’s pretty expensive but in Vancouver I’d eat it sometimes 5-6 times a week because it’s cheap and fresh there. Even in Japan it’s not casual food and people don’t eat it nearly as often as on the West Coast of the US/Canada. I know people who make it at home, but I’d rather eat it out because getting the rice just right is tricky! And it doesn’t keep, either.
When you go for dim sum, it’s best to go with someone who’s familiar with it because you can’t tell the fillings from the exterior unless you ask them to cut the pieces in half… and even then you may never know what you’re eating. But now that you dove right into sushi, maybe you’ll do the same with dim sum.
I can’t believe you lived in Toronto and never had dim sum?!? There are three Chinatowns in Toronto alone!
Yeah there are a lot of things I didn’t do while I was living in Toronto, maybe someday I’ll get back there again and get the chance to do it all :)
When I go for dim sum I’ll probably be going with Barbara, she knows about it and will guide me like she did with the sushi haha
Oh and you’re right, it is expensive. It’s so easy to rack up a bill when you are just grabbing things willy nilly and forgetting that each one costs a few euros. It was so fun though, worth it!
Yay for trying new things! If you’re looking for an alternate place in Rotterdam to go for sushi try Sumo Sushi.. there are 2 locations.. only one of them is open for lunch though. It is all you can eat, but no conveyor belt…. they do have a roll with cheese in it though. MUST be a Dutch thing. In Vancouver sushi is very popular but I can’t say I ever had sushi there with goudakaas.
Seriously though, try Sumo next time and also dimsum.. it’s terrific!
I saw that place! It’s almost right across the street from Happy Sushi :) I don’t know if I can forgive them for their lack of conveyor belt though :P
We love Sushi! Seth actually makes a wonderful Korean sushi called kimbap (cooked tuna, avocado, green onion and hard boiled egg). Yes, there are versions of sushi that are cooked. :) If you liked the cheese one, there is one you can get here called Philadelphia roll that has salmon and a little square of cream cheese in the center which is totally Americanized but yummy all the same. I’m happy that you were adventurous and willing to try something totally new. Good for you!
By the way, I highly recommend the dim sum. Dumplings done in the traditional steamer baskets are so good! :) Hungry now… good thing its almost supper time.
I like the sound of that phili roll. I like anything with cream cheese :P I have had no choice but to get a little more open food-wise, it was that or starve! haha I think I survived on ham and cheese sandwiches for the first few months I lived here, then I realized I had to start trying some new things :P
Tammy,
check out the LWAD sign up sheet – from our conversation on FB, a sushi dinner is planned. No conveyor belt (jammer!) but I bet also no cheese!!! And from what I’ve heard, this one is amongst the best in Rotterdam… hm…. yum!!!
And we’re definitely doing Dim Sum soon! I took the boys on Saturday, and Sebastian just ate himself silly – he really loved it.
I saw the sushi evening but I can’t go :( I have a meeting for my photo club in Den Haag that evening, plus I signed up for the night at Curry’s that you set up so I’ll be going to that. Twice a week would be a bit expensive for me I think. We definitely have to do the Dim Sum, I really want to try it.
I LOVE SUSHI!!!! And I am like u – not so fond of fish but sushi is mouth watering delish! Every time I go home to Canada I go to one of my favourite Sushi stores and eat until my tummy (almost) explodes. I haven’t tried any Sushi restaurants here in the Netherlands but I am curious about the cheese one? never seen that one in Canada… maybe it is a Dutch concept! I do plan on going to a Sushi restaurant soon. I’m drooling at the thought!
I never had Sushi in Canada. It really isn’t that common in Cape Breton haha I don’t even know if there is a sushi restaurant to be found there. When I was in Toronto I never came across it either, although I was MUCH less adventurous when it came to food back then.
YAY you tried Sushi! thats awesome. Im not a big fan of it myself but I like some it..wow..cheese? I never had cheese in mine..I wonder if it is a dutch thing..lol
Next sunday you get to scratch another thing off your list because we finally get to meet..YYEESSS!!!!
I’ve never tried Dim Sum but I really really want to!
I was surprised how good it was tbh. I think it’s the raw fish thing that puts people off. If people didn’t know what was in it they’d be more likely to try it and like it I think.
Holler when you are going again. I wanna come with you!!!
Sure! It’s a date :)