“Raw fish?,” I asked my grandfather.
It was weird. He called it sashimi. Raw tuna. The pink block definitely looked raw, which just made me even more puzzled. Why in the world does he want me to taste raw fish? Was I a bad girl?
I was thirteen years old. I could not understand why my grandfather delighted in that weird lump. It looked slimey and gave me the shivers.
Then Mama took us to Mikimoto, a Japanese restaurant along West Ave. There I was faced again with tuna sashimi. Great. This time it was sliced in small rectangles, unlike the huge block my grandfather had back home.
I wondered why the grown-ups delighted in it. They’d put a little green paste on the pink strips, dip it in soy sauce, then savor it.
Yucccck, I thought. But it fascinated me. Surely grown-ups wouldn’t eat anything dangerous, right? They should know better. And so I asked my Mama if I could give it a try. I think she was more than happy I was getting a little more adventurous.
When the slimy pink raw fish meat was on my tongue, I was surprised to discover it didn’t taste bad at all. Sure, it seemed a little spongey, but it was… sweet. And addictive. Mama had to stop me from eating too much of the tuna sashimi that evening.
Interesting? Definitely. It was definitely the most interesting and fascinating food I’d ever tasted. It was raw, for goodness’ sake. But it tasted damn good.
“Raw fish?,” my younger cousin asked me many years later.
I had already explored other kinds of sushi and developed a love for Japanese food. My grandparents always teased me that I’d eat anything and everything — “etcetera, etcetera, etcetera” — a reference to a line from The King & I. That meal of tuna sashimi helped pave the way for being more adventurous with culinary delights.
And my little cousin had that same look on her face as I did the first time I encountered sashimi.
“Raw fish?,” she asked again.
I took the wasabi, spread it on the little pink rectangle, dipped the fish in soy sauce and winked at her.
“You bet,” I smiled. And she looked at me weirdly, but more interestingly, fascinated.
This is my entry to kitchencow’s A Cook’s Tour Giveaway.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Em Dy
January 14, 2009 at 11:14 pm (15 years ago)My appreciation for things raw started with kinilaw on a trip to Davao. Before that, I avoided sashimi at all costs. Now, I love it. My personal favorite is salmon sashimi.
Em Dys last blog post..Bedtime Stories
blue rose
January 15, 2009 at 9:49 am (15 years ago)uhmm… sarap nga tingnan kaya lang hindi talaga kaya ng sikmura ko ang kumain ng raw fish or meat.
blue roses last blog post..blog love: from across the miles
glenville
January 15, 2009 at 12:05 pm (15 years ago)raw fish was anathema to me until i met my husband, who would insist, when we were still dating, that i try to eat a little raw thingie everytime we dined in a japanese restaurant. now that we’re married, i’m usually the one who prods him to take me out for a sushi and sashimi chowdown.
glenvilles last blog post..Food Overload
witsandnuts
January 15, 2009 at 1:44 pm (15 years ago)I did dread eating sashimi until it was introduced to me in an (overly) appetizing way. Since then I like it especially with the right amount of wasabi. Truth is when I came to UAE, I’ve been more concerned (next to Pinoy stuff) if there are Japanese restos around. Gladly, there are few but good ones.
notsquare
January 15, 2009 at 2:04 pm (15 years ago)oh, now am craving :p
notsquares last blog post..just thought about it
Sinta
January 15, 2009 at 6:08 pm (15 years ago)I hate the same response when my dad put some caviar in front of me. Eeeeeeeeew! But I love it now, it’s my favourite luxury treats ^_^ I think he regrets introducing me to the finer things in life.
Sintas last blog post..Temple Newsam Woods
Jeanny
January 15, 2009 at 11:05 pm (15 years ago)Hmmm..I havent tried eating sashima. It find it a bit icky….but since you said, it taste good, I am thinking to try it sometime 😉
Jeannys last blog post..LP: Asul na kagandahan
maxinie:)
January 16, 2009 at 6:33 am (15 years ago)i still don’t want to taste that…what’s so good about it ba? :-))