Last night, Mal and I cashed in a Groupon for a Sushi 101 class at Samba in Framingham. One of my goals for 2013 was to learn how to make sushi, so when a reader sent me a link to this Groupon, I was all about it!
The 1.5 hour-class was instructed by Chef Ginzu, who demonstrated how to make a couple of maki rolls (California and Spicy Tuna), and then let us loose to make our own creations.
I figuring making sushi would be kind of tricky, but it surprisingly wasn’t. My very first maki roll (spicy tuna with mango and cucumber) turned out great!
I continued to perfect my sushi-making technique with another two rolls. Look at those beauties! Don’t they look like legit restaurant sushi? I was pretty impressed with my sushi-making skills.
Mal, on the hand, struggled with his sushi-rolling technique.
Well, at least his sushi tasted good! Haha!
Mal’s third roll actually turned out pretty well. Check out those fancy shrimp tails!
After each of us made our three sushi rolls, we ate them and listened to Chef Ginzu talk about all things sushiāāfrom how to make traditional sushi rice to his favorite places to buy the various ingredients needed to make it. FYI: Wegman’s has great, affordable sushi-grade fish!
Fun fact that I learned last night: You know the wasabiāāthat bright green pasteāāyou get along side your sushi in a restaurant or with your take-out order? Well, there is no actual wasabi in it. That green paste is a mix of horseradish, mustard, and food coloring. Authentic wasabi needs to be freshly grated and consumed immediately, which doesn’t make sense in high-volume restaurants. Authentic wasabi is also really expensive (it doesn’t grow well in the U.S.), so we don’t typically consume the real deal here. Crazy, right? I had no idea!
Wayfair Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered to win a fire pit from Wayfair! Here’s your winner:
I would LOVE, love, love to win the fire pit so we could have an end-of-summer/back-to-school s’more-making party for our kiddos and all their neighbor buddies!!
Congrats, Kelly! Please email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your full name and mailing address to claim your prize!
Yoga Event at Fenway
Just heard about this event and thought some of the locals might be interested!
The Red Sox Foundation will hold the first-ever yoga sessions at Fenway Park on Monday, September 23. āFenwaYoga Presented by Equinox and New BalanceāĀ will raise funds for two of the foundation’s cornerstone programs, the Red Sox Scholars Program and the RBI Youth Baseball and Softball Programs.
Two classes, taught by Equinox instructors at sunrise and sunset, will accommodate 222 participants along the warning track each session. The classes are geared towards all levels of experience. Each participant must commit to raising a minimum of $250 for the foundation.Ā There will be prizes awarded for the top three fundraisers.
Those interested in signing up for the class can register at fenwayoga.com.
Questions of the Day
Have you ever tried making sushi?
What’s something you’re surprisingly good at?
64 Comments
Your sushi looks awesome Tina! I’m going to have to keep an eye out for something like this near me on Groupon š My boyfriend is a chef and has tried to teach me but the pressure always kills me haha.
I made a veggie sushi roll one time a few years ago. It actually came out pretty good for my first time. The only problem was I added way to much rice vinegar to the rice. Not such a lovely taste!
I’ve been on a massive sushi kick lately (at least once a week!) and I was just looking into how to roll my own so I can save a bit of money (and have it more often.) Will look around for sushi classes!
I don’t really even eat sushi (sometimes feel like I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t) but your sushi rolls made my mouth water. What a fun class to do together. I did not know that about wasabi!
I’ve been dying to try sushi making, but I’m waiting for a Groupon since it’s expensive to go to in Chicago. Hopefully mine turn out as well as yours!
I LOVE sushi, but I’ve never made it myself before. This class sounds fun and I must say…your sushi look pretty darn good! Definitely restaurant quality!
One of my favorite sushi restaurants has sushi classes. I’ve been there a couple times while it’s been happening and it always looks so interesting.
How cool. I haven’t tried making sushi but I have been talking about it recently! I am going to look up sushi classes in the NY area right now!
Yum I love homemade sushi! Its so fun to make and funner to eat.
You are making me really hungry for sushi! Your sushi rolls are so beautiful! I’m surprisingly good at procrastinating. Oh wait, that’s not a thing to be proud of. HA!
I’m also a little upset about the fake wasabi. Who knew!
I have never made sushi before, but that class looks like it was super fun! I never thought that I would be good at yoga, but I think I do pretty well in Bikram classes. š
I am craving some sushi now!
Fun!! I have always wanted to take a sushi-making class but figured that I would never actually make it at home. Raw fish is something that I’ll gladly leave to the professionals š
Not real wasabi?! I always just thought it was horseradish anyway. LOL. we used to have sushi making parties at home. they always made for great fun.
That yoga thing looks so cool! I am in Boston right now and am IN LOVE with your city. Seriously sad I have to leave tomorrow. This place has so to offer in terms of history and things to do. And it’s just SO beautiful. You are lucky to live here š
I’m surprising great at hula hooping. This is shocking because I’m extremely uncoordinated at most things. I can actually walk on my knees while hula hooping. It’s a sight, that’s for sure.
Oh awesome, I’m glad the class was neat! I bought that same Groupon but we aren’t using it until October – the calendar filled up so quickly! Can’t wait š
So fun! Look at you š I have made sushi once before with a friend but have yet to go to a class. That’s on my life to do list.
I have never tried making sushi, but I would love to learn! It would be so fun to have people over and be able to make them sushi! I would feel like an awesome host!
I’m surprisingly good at making raw desserts…tarts namely! I don’t have a sushi matt! Would love to give it a go though. You really appreciate how amazing yours is when you see Mal’s..no offense Mal š
Raw desserts, eh? š
@Tina: Ye I’ve a raw cherry cashew cream tart coming next week. We’ve started selling my raw brownies in the restaurant now as well! š Love experimenting.
Nice job on the sushi–it does look legit!
My sisters are really good at making sushi actually, so I’ve made it a few times with them–so fun. But mine usually don’t look awesome š
My husband and I took a sushi making class two years ago and have been saying since that we were going to make our own at home. We still haven’t! Better get on that! š
I’ve made spring rolls before, but haven’t been brave enough to try making my own sushi…yet. My mind is blown about wasabi!
Oh YUM!!! I think I might need to add some sushi back into my life here shortly!
I’ve never tried, but that looks like fun. I’m surprisingly good at crocheting… I know I know, I’m 26 going on 75!
Wooooah so cool about the wasabi!! Your rolls look awesomeeeeeeee š Yum!
I love sushi! Never made it before, but it does look fun. I’m not surprisingly good at anything in the kitchen per se, but I’m really good at fixing things around the house and I usually take over when my husband tries to do it.
Super impressed with you! I never made it before but I assumed it would be hard. That’s a fun experience.
Random tangent: Today is friends and family 30% online at Reebok’s site. I am looking into buying the ONE cushion that you love for running, did you get it true to size or a half a size up?
They’re pretty true to size. I wear a size 7 in regular shoes and have them in a size 7, and they fit great. Let me know what you think of them! š
I would love to try making sushi as hubby and I love it! I think mine would turn out more like Mal’s though. š I surprisingly caught on to yoga relatively quickly, even was asked to consider teaching after just a couple months of going to the class!
That’s crazy about wasabi I had no idea!
There is a sushi restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa that uses real wasabi.
I love the wasabi fact! My manager at work is obsessed with wasabi and I’m about to send this to him! The sushi class looks fun š
This has inspired me to ask my boyfriend if we can do this for my birthday! It looks like great fun! I’m surprisingly good at map reading and navigating. I also picked the Cha Cha Cha up really quickly recently for a work event!
Yeah!! So glad you were able to use the Groupon!!
Thanks for telling me about it! š
@Tina: No problem!
i love to make paleo sushi!
Nice! I used to make sushi a lot when I was going through this phase of mine, haha. Yours look really good! When I did them, it was either a hit or miss.
I’ve never had sushi. What a neat experience. Did Mal enjoy it or was it just frustrating?
He had fun! š
I’ve made sushi once when I was in high school. Our church youth group had a cook-off and it was sushi-themed. They came out well and our team won š
Hey Tina – Love your blog! I live in Brighton, MA and love reading about all the places you visit around Boston š Just FYI, they are opening a Wegman’s in Chestnut Hill (right across from Shake Shack) in Spring 2014! I will be visiting FREQUENTLY.
I heard that rumor! You are so lucky! I love Wegman’s!
I have never eaten sushi… I feel like I am like the only one in the world! I saw that Fenway thing and was really interested… but I get so nervous I would not be able to raise the money! š
Two really great posts today! I started following CNC when you were into running (I’m a runner) and have kept reading even though you post lots about crossfit. Today’s posts were a nice break from your norm!
You were in my hood! I work right down the street from Samba. Great place!
The one time I tried to make sushi, my rolls came out looking much more like Mal’s than yours. I didn’t go to a class or anything so maybe that would help, but somehow I doubt it.
Yoga at Fenway sounds crazy-awesome and I’m bummed that it won’t overlap with my trip to Boston over Labor Day. Are you going to participate?
Sadly, I’ll miss the event at Fenway. I’ll be in the Hamptons for something else.
wow, really impressed how well your sushi turned out.
Never made sushi — but you can come make sushi for me anytime with those skills!
Tina, I’m so impressed! They look awesome! I would love to take a sushi-making class. I’m so bummed about the wasabi not being real, though!!
looks AWESOME!! and yes i have i have a DIY kit!
and i’m surprisingly good at drilling and filling (plastic sample) cavities – (when i shadowed my sister at dental school – lol!)
Love making fresh sushi! I’ve had fresh wasabi and a fancy-schmancy sushi restaurant in NYC and it is unreal how tasty it is!
I’d love to try the real deal someday!
That looks like so much fun! I recently had sushi for the first time and am obsessed!
I had no idea that it wasn’t real wasabi! Who knew?! I did know, however, that you’re technically not supposed to put it in the soy sauce and mix it around, like most of us do. But I don’t care … I do it anyway. š
I would love to take a sushi making class. Not so I can make it at home, but just to see what goes into it!