Waiter, There’s Deer in My Sushi

[133724]

TOKYO, June 24 — Sushi made with deer meat, anyone? How about a slice of raw horse on that rice?

These are some of the most extreme alternatives being considered by Japanese chefs as shortages of tuna threaten to remove it from Japan’s sushi menus — something as unthinkable here as baseball without hot dogs or Texas without barbecue.

In this seafood-crazed country, tuna is king. From maguro to otoro, the Japanese seem to have almost as many words for tuna and its edible parts as the French have names for cheese. So when global fishing bodies recently began lowering the limits on catches in the world’s rapidly depleting tuna fisheries, Japan fell into a national panic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/business/worldbusiness/25sushi.html?ex=1340424000&en=522dcb044ff2226a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Kagemusha]

1. I do believe that the word sushi refers to the rice?

Which is funny, because the kanji for it prominently features the radical for "fish" as the main component.. just specifically refers to the rice that goes with the fish course.

[Sanctified]

2. Sushi is more about the rice than what is placed on top.

I have eaten sushi with beef, horse and other meats that are not related to fish in the past, I am not sure why this is considered news since this is pretty common in Japan.

[tomreedtoon]

3. Then why do they screw up good rice with raw fish?

I'm not entirely kidding. I love all kinds of food, but the eating of raw fish utterly nauseates me. I was forced to eat it at an EPCOT restaurant in Scandinavia, where they have every variety of fish except one (cooked). I shudder to think what those rolls and things are like.

I'd rather eat a bag of Uncle Ben's, uncooked and dry, than anything like what the yuppies order in sushi bars. If you want me, I'll be over at the teppanaki table, watching an entertaining chef actually COOKING the fish.

[pansypoo53219]

5. what?

you don't like eating bait?





i'm with you. i'd like some chicken please.

[AndyTiedye]

9. Because Raw Fish is YUMMY

[Matariki]

11. I think actually the important point of this article is that we are depleting the ocean of fish.

Not that sushi can be made with deer or horse. Although the fact that you can get horse sushi in Japan actually is news to me.

[Sanctified]

14. Yep you can eat horse in Japan.

Here is a picture of horse served sashimi style so this is not sushi, but I have had horse on sushi rice before.

http://sushi.textamerica.com/details/?r=854532

[Bluebear]

4. Introducing the Bambi Roll (tm)

[krispos42]

8. Batter-dipped Bambi on a Stick

Bambi Pockets
Bambi-roni Pizza
Banquet Bambi-loaf Dinner with corn and mashed potatoes
Bambi Tacos (hard or soft shell) with lettuce cheese, and sour cream
Bambi-filled wontons
Spambi
Jamican Bambi patties
Bambi pot pie
Bambie and cheese bread
Bamburger Helper (7 varieties)
Bambiball Parmigiana
Breakfast Bambi on a stick (maple-flavored and wrapped in a pancake)
Bambi McMuffin with cheese

[Jed Dilligan]

6. My friend had horse sashimi over there

He said it was delicious.

[Bluebear]

7. But did it give him the trots?

Who said that? :hide:

[orleans]

10. nay. 'cause he didn't really eat it. he was just horsing around with his food. n/t

[Berry Cool]

13. That's the kind of meal to which I would say

a hearty "Nay."

[originalpckelly]

16. What if it was a gift?

Would you look a gift horse in the mouth?

[badgerpup]

12. Deer meat is pretty good actually...

...has more flavor than most beef. Less fat, so it is tougher, though...think it might take some special prep to tenderize the raw stuff...not to mention the possibility of trichinosis.

Had tuna sushi once...was expecting it to be kinda tough and textury...but it was soft as balloon bread and very flavorful.
Friend from Japan taught me how to make California rolls (maki) using the canned tuna. Pretty good, too!

He wouldn't use raw fish...felt that if you didn't have to knock the fish on the head to get it to cooperate, it wasn't fresh enough to use for sushi/sashimi.

[originalpckelly]

15. "Japan could one day lose its status as global tuna superpower"

I'm sorry, but I just broke out into uncontrollable laughter when I read that. For some reason it just sounds so fucking funny.

Serious story, I know, but that line is a riot.

:rofl:

[gatorboy]

17. Start expecting a dramatic decline in those Japanese math wiz kids.

They don't call tuna "The brain food" for nothin'!