The United States Department of Agriculture says twice a week, make seafood the protein on your plate. Increase the amount and variety of seafood consumed by choosing seafood in place of some meat and poultry.
My dear college friend, Stephanie, was visiting from Texas the last several days, and we had a ball.
We took a surf lesson...
and swam in a cage surrounded by wild sharks...
but maybe the most memorable adventure was dinner at Sushi Sasabune.
Called "soup Nazi-style sushi," this small restaurant in Honolulu is known for real sushi, eaten the real way...only. When I made our reservation, I was informed there would be no rolls or tempura to be had, and if we sat at the sushi bar, there would also be no menus. The incredibly talented sushi chef picks for you - called omakase-style - until you get full and tell him to stop. Here are the four plates I ate before raising the white flag. I've eaten a lot of sushi, and this was the best of my life.
In addition to choosing and explaining what you eat, the chef explains exactly how to eat it - "one bite please" and "soy sauce ok" or "no soy sauce please." This is where the Nazi reference comes in (I did get reprimanded once for trying to bite a piece of nigiri in half), but in reality, the eating tips were much appreciated. Some pieces of fish already have sauce on them, and dousing them in soy sauce ruins the flavor balance, but for many of us is just a habit. It sounds a little controlling, but was actually fantastic customer service.
I am a registered dietitian with the National Fisheries Institute, so fish is my nutrition forte. I earned my BA in Communication from Southwestern University, just outside of Austin, TX. During college, one of my very favorite evening outings was a leisurely trip to the grocery market. My passion for food was undeniable, so I combined both of my interests by earning my MS in Nutrition Communication from Tufts University in Boston, MA. As well as my Registered Dietitian (RD) credential through the University of Delaware.
Beyond reading scientific studies about docosahexaenoic acid and selenium, I love to entertain, travel, watch reality TV, grill outdoors, and go to spin class. I live in Kailua, HI on the island of Oahu where my husband serves as a US Marine Corps JAG.
People in Hawaii eat more fish and shellfish than average, but over 80 percent of typical Americans don't eat seafood at least twice per week. Doctors and dietitians like me say that's the goal, so BlogAboutSeafood is here to show you just what plenty of seafood looks like in an RD's real-life diet.
Photo by Marco Garcia
Jennifer,
Thanks for sharing your sushi experience. Great sushi can really be enhanced by a great sushi chef. Do you know of any great spots, such as the one you described in your blog, in Manhattan? I'm always looking for a great sushi joint. For those who live in the Westchester County area of New York, I enjoy Toyo Sushi in Mamaroneck, NY.
Thanks!
Hi - I've never lived in New York (regrettably) so I can’t speak from first-hand experience. However, if the Sushi Sasabune New York is anything like the Sushi Sasabune Honolulu, I’d start thinking of a “special occasion” to go there now.
http://tinyurl.com/yzmlu9s
Also, and this is of course ridiculous, but on my list of lifetime goals – Masa is supposedly an out of body experience. It’s been called the most expensive restaurant in the world, so it requires a REALLY special occasion. Like my last meal, ever. (Apparently Bar Masa is a less expensive version.)
http://tinyurl.com/yjlwojd