There are three reasons my posts have been scarce lately. Work has been hella busy. I signed up to an unlimited month of Bikram yoga and have been going four times a week, leaving me incapacitated and way to yogi-zen to blog. I started watching True Detective and have been slurping the series up like a sugar-sweet milkshake. I just can’t get enough!! I have one more episode to go and don’t know what I will do with my free time once I’m through. Perhaps go back to blogging I guess ;) This past weekend (which feels so far away already) B was out of town. I missed him, but having the bed to myself for three whole nights kind of rocked. Other than being a shameless pillow hog, I had a total self-respect weekend. On Saturday morning I ran errands around the city. Instead of biking I walked, and as the morning went on the sun slowly burnt through the clouds. All of the trees are blooming in Holland, and lately the sun has been poking around until well past 8pm. So I think it’s safe to say it’s officially spring, and I’m loving every moment.

When my errands were done, I decided to continue the self-respect and try something a bit out of my comfort zone. I’ve lived on the Albert Cuyp Market for three years. And I LOVE seafood (see here and here). But I’ve never actually gotten around to buying fresh fish from the market, despite the many stalls pushing fresh seafood. It might sound silly, but as an American I’m intimidated by purchasing food that’s priced per kilo, as I didn’t grow up with the metric system. No thank you am I accidentally paying €35 for one piece of fish. I also don’t speak Dutch, and the fish market is usually quite crowded and loud, which can be somewhat overwhelming for a short (by Holland standards), non-Dutch speaking American. But on Saturday I said screw it. I wanted a big plate of raw fish, and no way in hell was I chancing the stuff from the grocery store. So after running errands, I ventured to the market and pushed my way up to the smelly fish counter. I boldly asked for €8 worth of salmon and tuna.

I told the fishmonger that I was making sushi, and he helped me pick out a few pieces that were especially fresh. yo sushi takeaway menu ukThe experience wasn’t half as bad as I had imagined – in fact it was quite pleasant – and I think my local fishmonger may have a new regular!food delivery hotline manilaI got home and was excited to unpack my bounty.jiro dreams of sushi soundtrack youtubeI opened up the packaging, stomach growling.sushi no suki games onlineAnd then . . . where to buy eel in chicago

Because I didn’t know what to do. yo sushi dubai marina phone numberI’ve never prepared sushi at home, and despite just wanting a simple plate of sashimi, I didn’t know what to do next. sushi tei delivery orderDid I have to wash the fish? Was there a special way to cut it? Did I have to refrigerate it first? Would it be weird to eat it with a fork and knife as-is? So I did the next best thing. I did some research. If you’re planning on making sashimi at home, here are the key things you need to know: 1) Make sure you tell the grocer or fishmonger you’re buying fish to make sushi. There’s no specific grade or standard for selling sushi-safe fish, so you’re going to have to be careful. Not all fish is created equal, and you’re going to want the freshest stuff they have. Ask for a recommendation.

The fish should smell like a salty ocean (not dead fish) and should be moist, with bright skin and a firm flesh. 2) Once you’ve got your fish, you’re going to need a very, very sharp knife. You don’t want to have to saw back and fourth with your knife as you cut the fish – this will crush the cells. You want a very sharp knife that will cut straight through the fish in one firm slice. 3) When you’re ready to cut your fish, slice it into long strips that are about an inch wide. Now, cut your fish against the grain into ¼-inch thick slices. You should be left with an even pile of bite-sized sashimi. For taste and freshness, you’re going to want to serve your sashimi immediately after slicing. 4) The last step is serving. Pickled ginger, wasabi, soy sauce, and daikon radish are all great sashimi accompaniments. Garnish a plate with you favorites, and then lay down the sashimi. I made my own dressing with sesame oil, soy sauce, and wasabi, and served my sashimi with a big helping of ginger and some mango.

Once you’ve mastered the basics of sashimi making, you can then start to make some really delicious and unique dishes. Typically sashimi is served as a starter, but you could make it into a delicious tuna and seaweed salad, as seen here, or a sashimi-cucumber skewer, as seen here. Keep in mind that the fish flavors are so powerful, so you want to pair your sashimi with light fragrant fruits, vegetables, and grains that compliment the meal.  Birthday Dinner at Ron Gastrobar Amsterdam Full English Breakfast Bake & Other Sunday Things Hot Pockets of Love Share this post:Like this: Since living in Holland, I’ve adopted many Dutch traditions. I ride my bike everywhere, my house is always filled with fresh tulips, and on the 15th of October, I bake my own birthday cake. But there’s one tradition I’ve been hesitant to adopt, a right of passage I’ve been unwilling to devour. One of the first Dutch foods I grew to love was smoked mackerel. Serve it at breakfast with a fork and some toast, and you have a delicious, protein filled meal.  

I’ve also grown quite fond of hutspot. Sure, you could just eat your potatoes and vegetables without mashing them all together in one pot, but where’s the fun in that?! But the raw herring thing I just can’t get on board with. It’s traditionally served with onions and pickles (talk about bad breath). And in Holland, there’s no such thing as eating herring with a fork and knife. The Dutch simply cock back their heads and shove the whole, slippery fish down their throats. Where the Americans have cheeseburgers, the Dutch have raw herring, and there are shops and stands all over Amsterdam serving this delicacy. One such shop is across the street from my house, and every morning as I sip my tea and look out the window, I watch a number of brave souls line up to buy their raw fish. After three years of evading Holland’s ‘national dish’, I decided to take one for the team; so I could share the story of raw herring with you, my readers. I went into the experience skeptical and determined.

I would try ONE bite. I would not spit it out. I would chase it with a pickle and some fresh juice from the Albert Cuyp Market, and I would go on with my day. It would be done in a second and it would not taste horrible. It would be bad, but it would be OK. We queued up in Volendammer Vishandel with all of the old-school Dutchies. There was fried fish, served hot to order. But most folks went for the raw delicacy, served on a bun with pickles and onions. I ordered the Malse Haring, sans bun, as advertised out front on a big sign.B wimped out and got fried fish – as you would expect from any good Brit. It was served with a flavored mayonnaise and was absolutely delicious. Based on the fried fish alone, we would definitely eat at Volendammer Vishandel again. How have we live here for three years without trying this delectable fried fish, right across the street?!And then it was time to try the herring. I was served two good-sized slices of herring, chopped into small pieces, along with three sweet pickles, and a big spoonful of chopped onions. 

I put on a brave face and smiled for the camera.And then I did it. So, what is the consensus? I think I’ve lived here for too long. Because I absolutely loved it! I truly expected to take one bite and then chuck the rest, grossed out and burping up raw fish for the rest of the day. But the herring was tender and soft, and not overly fishy. In fact, it tasted much less fishy than I expected, especially compared to some of the sushi I’ve had in the past. The pickles were sweet and crunchy, and the onions were sweet as well – not too overpowering. My only complaint is the lack of cutlery – how are you supposed to eat these tiny chopped onions without a fork?! I found myself wedging the onions in between two pieces of fish, and then popping the whole fish-onion taco into my mouth. Not very lady like, but damn good. And yes, I ate the whole thing! If you want to try raw herring in Amsterdam, you’re in luck, because there are stalls on almost every corner! I highly recommend the shop on my street – it’s not every day you eat raw fish and pickles, so when you do, you want to do it right!