Sushi Love Part I: My First Encounter

Sushi is my most favorite food. And I don't mean that lightly. If I could eat only 1 thing for the rest of my life, it would be sushi. In fact, it is the only reason I cannot ever become a vegetarian. Well, ok, sushi and bacon.

Sushi entered my life relatively recently. I never ate sushi growing up and was for most of my life, one of those "raw fish is gross and slimy" people and ate only California rolls. My brother, Kent and our dad would go to the local fish monger and bring home POUNDS of sushi grade tuna and salmon and feast while our mother and I would look upon them in part amusement, part disgust.

I finally came to my senses and saw the light after moving to NYC. It was at a sushi restaurant on the upper west side called Roppongi. I was feeling culinarily adventuresome because Terence and Kent were both raving about the quality of the salmon toro that day. I figured, if my brother and my then-boyfriend were both so ga-ga over a piece of raw fish to the point where they were ordering 3 more pieces EACH, how bad could it be? So I took the plunge and tried my first piece of nigiri sushi. Talk about a transcendent experience! The fish was so buttery it felt like it was melting in my mouth. The most surprising part was that it wasn't fishy at all. It was incredibly delicious and I became an addict.

My favorite sushi place is called Sushi of Gari on the upper east side. My brother-in-law, Brendan and his wife, Francesca introduced us to this place. If you're lucky, Gari himself will be there. Omakase is the way to go and you will not be disappointed. They bring out a few rounds of nigiri sushi with 4 to 5 pieces for each round. After each round, they ask you if you want to order another. One time, Terence and I ate so much, the waiter was relieved we didn't order another round.

Ah sushi...consider me one of those zealots who found "religion" later in life...