Fujiya

Since I got back from China I have had a serious obsession with sushi. The fact that sushi originated in Japan in besides the point. In China, I could gorge myself on raw fish and delicious, intoxicating sake for less than $10 USD at the various Japanese restaurants. Any sushi lover in the US will marvel at this insane price. Relying on these low low prices is how I learned to like the exotic dish without the downfall of wasting my money on something I might spontaneously upchuck.

I never liked seafood as a kid. Up until I left for China I could probably count the number of times on one hand that I had eaten anything from the ocean. Didn’t like the taste, didn’t like the smell, didn’t like the looks of it. In Shanghai, I was reluctantly introduced to some sushi, a little fish, a little urchin, and a little eel. Their pink, raw flesh shining in my reluctant eyes. The idea of raw fish made me want to throw up into my miso soup, but I caved into the pressure and tried it. Piece by piece the psychological barrier between me and the mushy sea creatures dissolved. I was eating jellyfish, eel, urchin, shrimp, octopus — all things that I would have NEVER tried before. Anyway, I have been opened up into a fantastic new culinary realm that has followed me back to the states. So it goes.

Sushi in Minneapolis is pretty fantastic considering we’re landlocked in the middle of the United States. I am always amazed at the beautiful design and care that goes into every piece. Flavors, colors and textures are all combined precisely by the chef to create the most delicious experience possible. With that said, I just got back from Fujiya, in South Minneapolis — here is what we got:

2 pieces Yellow-tail Nigiri (Hamachi)
2 pieces Maguro Nigiri (Tuna)
6 pieces Mekka Maki (Tuna)
6 pieces Sake Maki (Salmon)
4 Dynamite Rolls (Spicy Chili, sprouts, cucumber, and yellow-tail)
4 Tempura Rolls (Salmon Roe, Shrimp, carrots)
5 Gyoza Pork Dumplings
2 Sopporo (Japanese Beer)

Needless to say, everything was delicious!