First Experience with Sushi in the Deep South
Hello everyone...this is my first time finally blogging for daily eats. My name is Tanya Spataro, Tery's cousin. This weekend Tery and I have been visiting with each other in Greenville, SC. It's been about 4 years since we've gotten a chance to visit and each time is a wonderful experience. This time Tery convinced me to try Sushi for the first time. After a long day of visiting Clemson Unversity, we traveled over to Sushi Masa, which is said to be among the best Japanese restaurants in the American South.I was ready for the new experience, however, after asking "what's the red stuff?", I was a little turned off to eating it. "The red stuff" was a tobiko outside...also known as red flying fish eggs. These were on the outside of the Manhattan Roll with crab, avocado, cucumber, and cream cheese covered in tobiko. It was delicious at first, but after thinking about swallowing fish eggs...it wasn't so appetizing. I also had my first experience using chopsticks...it was quite funny attempting to use my index finger to move the chopsticks to pick up our first dish, seaweed salad. The sushi chef, Shimo, watched my attempt and handed me some training chopsticks. It was much easier to pick up the delicious seaweed salad with seaweed over a house salad. The seaweed had a scrumptuos sweet taste.
After the salad we moved onto the Shu-mai, which are steamed dumplings; the Manhattan Roll; the California Roll, which is crab, cucumber, and avocado; and BBQ eel. After being a little grossed out by the thought of fish eggs, Tery ordered some Udon noodles with vegetables for me. This was a much better dish for me to eat, although I must say my sushi experience was awesome. It may take me a while to get used to eating the traditional sushi meals, but I am willing to try it more often. That was one of the best Friday nights I've had in a long time and I am very glad I had a chance to catch up with Tery about the many things we have in common, especially as a part of the same family.
6 Comments:
Something about the words "South" and "sushi" just don't sound right. But, as a non-sushi eater, I did go to what is considered the best sushi in San Francisco: Hotel Nikko.
I barely swallowed one piece of tuna (I think it was tuna), but the sushi chef was impressed with my ability to eat wasabi with my vegetarian rolls.
As for the "red stuff" I am guessing you are not someone that has gone salmon fishing...
I love sushi in SF but have to admit this place in SC was amazing for the South. What else was amazing was how many Japanese restaurants there are just in the town of Greenville alone.
It's the appropriate cultural influence for this part of US.
Hi! I found your blog while doing a search for Sushi-masa (was actually trying to find a link to Tonpopo). I'm in Easley but jaunt over to G'ville all the time for sushi (and indian and vietnamese and middle eastern... it's got quite the ethnic mix). Our favorite place to go is Miyako out on Rushmore. It's excellent and has never tasted old fishy! It shouldn't be surprising that G'ville has several sushi restaurants... there's a large korean (and other Asian) population there.
Shea
I'll have to check out those places next time I'm in SC. thanks for the comments.
Well, IMHO, you hit the best place for sushi in Greenville, SC. I've been to all the rest; always come back to Sushi Masa. Always the freshest! And that's important with fish, as most folks know. Shimo San is always fixing up new creative delicacies. Not just in sushi, but other dishes as well. I've been going there since he opened Sushi Masa. Oh, one more thing, it is very traditional with simple surroundings and Japanese music. Also Japanese tv on most of the time too. And mostly quiet too for relaxed digestion. And Shimo San has stocked many different brands of sake. Some at the high end that are so smooth you'd think you were drinking spring water! Sushi Masa is *Ichiban* with me, and Shimo San is the Sushi Sensei! And lucky me .. i get to go there *twice* this week! Mmmmmmm .. hai!
bill san
'-)
An impressive sushi place which out does my favorite places in NYC or SF. Lucky you getting to eat there twice in one week!
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