The Many Faces of Japanese Rice Cooked rice is central to Japanese tradition and for over 2,000 years it was cultivated all across the country. It is barely absent on the dinner table and has come to symbolize the Japanese way of life. Let’s look at the different common types of Japanese cooked rice. There’s…

Sushi and Avocado: American-Made Many people don’t know that the avocado fruit is foreign to Japan and not commonly used in sushi rolls. Avocado only became available in Japanese supermarkets, mostly from Mexico, since the late 1970s. The Japanese refer to it as the ‘ butter of the forest’ for its buttery consistency, rich flavor…

Humble Whole Food, High in Goodness Edamame are soybeans, but are the young beans harvested at the early stage of development. Typically, soybeans are allowed to mature on the vine to form hard beans which can be easily harvested and stored. But they can also be picked at the peak of ripeness, right before they…

Why Ginger? Ginger is a big part of the culture throughout much of Asia. For centuries it has served as a delicious part of the culinary tradition, as well as a potent medicine. At our sushi restaurant in Bothell, it’s a simple side used to cleanse your palate between sushi rolls. The next time you…

Process of Making Soy Sauce Soy sauce is an indispensable part of our Bothell sushi restaurant. Every sushi fan knows the value of having a carefully mixed bowl of soy sauce and wasabi to dip their favorite rolls and nigiri into. But how is soy sauce made, exactly? Indeed, this classic brown fluid has a…

Getting tired of Salmon? Try Tuna! There was a time when tuna was king among seafood, and all other fish were mere serfs amid the surf. In recent years, however, it has lost its seat as the country’s favorite fish in favor of shrimp. This is, in a big way, due to fears that arose…

Know the Truth about Your Sushi There was a time when sushi wasn’t the fine and ultra chic dining experience enjoyed now in restaurants. It used to be a quick, cheap snack, eaten with the hands, along the sidewalks in post wartime Japan. No one though it could be eaten indoors in style. It has…

Japan’s Best Known Seaweeds Let’s look at some popular seaweeds that you can find in your Japanese dish. Do you know Kelp? This is a very broad genus of sea plant comprising about 300 species. They are the brown marine algae that grow wild in shallow coasts in many parts of the world. The Japanese…