First Time Sushi Experiences

This is a brand new feature to Brian's Sushi Page, for the benefit of the readers who want to try sushi, but have reservations about the experience. We sushi lovers all went through it at one time or another...and it might help to read testimonials from others to help you take the leap.

• I was about 16 when I was first asked to try sushi. It happened when one night, my brother, who was about 2 years older than me, came into the house all excited. All he did was rave about this new food he had with one of his buddies. I asked "What?", and his reply was "Sushi." "Sushi," I thought, "that's just sick." Just like everyone else out there who hasn't tried sushi, I immediately dismissed the thought of even trying to think it was good. My brother insisted I try it. I went, but it took alot of convincing. At the restaurant, I was greeted by the smell of raw fish and seaweed. Not a common or pleasant smell to the average person. I wanted to leave based on the smell alone. We sat down and my brother ordered. He suggested I order the salmon roll and tuna roll, something easy. Well, the meal came out, and it looked pretty impressive in terms of presentation. The hard part was getting it in my mouth. My brother showed me the ropes of the soy sauce, chopsticks, and other items. When I did get the courage to eat it, I really wasn't sure what to think. The feel of it in my mouth was definitely an odd feeling, but it wasn't disgusting or smelly. The night ended when I asked my brother what that green stuff is on the sushi plate. He told me it was a minty pasted and was to be eaten kind of like a dessert after you were done eating the sushi. Well, it was wasabi - my mouth was fuming for a good half hour with my eyes watering and my nostrils flaring. Needless to say, I enjoyed the night. Soon after that night, I had cravings for sushi...and its grown since then. I just can't stop eating it. I'm hooked, and I thank my brother for that...even though he did play that wasabi trick on me. -Tim
• I was 12, and we had to make an exotic food for geography class. One of the Asian boys had his mother bring a tray of sushi and explain each piece. I was enchanted and ended up being the only one who would try the sushi. I could not believe how delicious it was. His mother invited me to the teacher's lounge to help her eat the rest of the sushi. Not only did I get to eat sushi, I got to enter the magical sanctum of the teacher's lounge!!! I didn't have sushi again until I was 32. I was recently divorced and ran a personal ad. One of my lonely hearted rejects invited me for sushi and sake at the newly opened expensive sushi bar in town. I had the soup, salad, and then the sushi. I was in heaven! I talked with the owners and learned all the names of things I needed to make sushi. -Lisa
• Fifteen years ago, my friends took me out for my first sushi experience. They ordered uni (sea urchin)...and at the time I thought "this is the only thing that comes out of the sea that tastes like a copper penny". We also had sake, which I thought tasted like warm kerosene. Of course, I eventually acquired a taste for sake and uni...and the same is true for raw oysters. -Kim
• My friend, who is a sushi fanatic, invited me to go to a nearby sushi restaurant. We got seated, and had some miso soup (which was darn good). After that, I let him order the sushi...and it arrived a few minutes later. I asked him what was good, and he replied, "Try the big green glob in the center." Let's just say it was the biggest mistake I made in my life. Other than the wasabi, the sushi was good. I'm hooked! -"One Fine Potato"

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