Rule Number 1: Never order Sushi if you don't live by the sea. :-)
Posted on 10/29/2005 10:46:23 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - America's growing appetite for exotic sushi may help preserve vanishing beds of seaweed seen as an important part of the ecosystem along the California coastline.
Diners in sushi restaurants are eating ever greater amounts of sea urchin roe, known as Uni, creating a $23 million industry in California for harvesting the creatures, the California Sea Urchin Commission said this week.
The spiny echinoderms, a potential peril to swimmers stepping on rocks, feast on kelp, which is dwindling along California's coastline.
Divers in the state now harvest 800,000 pounds of Uni annually, the Sea Urchin Commission said, adding that it expects growing consumer demand for Uni in the United States.
For some reason, your screen name came to mind.
The "California Sea Urchin Commission"???
California has it all!
For some reason I feel a little uneasy asking a food question from a "Pukin Dog" ... but here goes: What is Uni? I've had sushi but it was served at room temperature and it was awful. Maybe I need to try it again from a better place.
Uni is the roe (eggs) of sea urchins. It's kind of creamy yellow, with a very soft texture, and an odd flavor. Not everyone like the taste, but if you do, it can be addictive.
As for sushi in general, go to a good sushi bar with someone who like sushi and try a few roll sushi varieties to start with. Some California Roll or something like that. Most people like that pretty well.
Then graduate to other sushi types, trying ones that look interesting to you. You won't like them all.
It's an expensive habit, but really good sushi is some excellent eating. Use the stuff you don't like as catfish bait.
Rule Number 1: Never order Sushi if you don't live by the sea. :-)
Just for future reference.
Good advice, except for the $100 part. You can change your life for less than $30 if you know where to go or have friends who do.
Uni with a raw quail egg on top is how I break in sushi virgins...
"Rule Number 1: Never order Sushi if you don't live by the sea. :-)"
Well...that's not a hard and fast rule, but you want to find a good sushi bar if you live in Ohio.
My rule number 1: Never eat sushi at a Chinese Buffet Restaurant.
Rule 2: Never eat sushi at a buffet at a party or wedding reception...blech!
Rule 3: Never eat sushi not made in front of your eyes by a Japanese-looking person. You can skip Rule 1 and Rule 2 if you follow this one.
"Uni with a raw quail egg on top is how I break in sushi virgins..."
Hmm...good idea. More sushi for you, eh? I like it.
Sushi virgins or Uni virgins? That's a pretty harsh intro for someone who's not into sushi already.
That sounds like a good place; if you can eat quality for an hour and a half solid for 100 bucks, you're doing ok.
Never heard of a poison pork chop.... - Homer Simpson
Uni Sea UrchinPrized in Japan for it's mild, sweet, somewhat nut-like flavor - uni - the edible sea urchin 'meat' is actually carefully harvested roe.
Green sea urchin
This species is more difficult to process, and produces a smaller amount of roe, but is prized as the sweetest of all the uni available.
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