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最近食べ物の話が多くてすみません。 お客様の殆どが現地の方ばかりと言うNewport Beachにある寿司店に行った時の話です。 |
| 元気の良い若い男二人組が僕の隣に座り、席に着くなり板さんに「何かスペシャルを巻いてくれ」、多分相棒はすし屋は初めてっていう顔した現地の青年。何を頼んでいいのか分からないから、もう一人の言うなりなんですが、その人が頼む物、頼む物、全部「何かメニューに無い物、スペシャル物」と、いい加減、板さんも困り始めた頃、一人だけいたメキシコ系板さんがなんとこのストロベリーロールを作って来たのです。 エビのテンブラとアボカド＆シャリを海苔で巻き、その上にアボカドとストロベリーの薄切りにゴマ。 シャリとイチゴ？？X？X？X？ 興味本位でこの写真を撮らせて貰ったら、「どうぞ」っと薦められるがままに一つ二つ口にしたのですが、それが想像を裏切っておいしいの何のって、これに山葵と醤油を付けて食べてみたら尚Good！イチゴとアボカドにご飯ってマッチするんですね。頭の中で想像していたのとはまったく違う状況になってしまったストロベリーロールだったのです。 じゃご馳走になったお礼に、僕は彼らにサビ巻き（山葵ロール）をプレゼント。威勢の良かった彼は「何だこれ！何ていうもの？！」と興味津々。しかし一口食べたとたんガビーン！っと目は出る、涙は出る、むせ返るの凄い状態。どんなに辛いか僕も食べたら結構強烈。板さんは初めてサビ巻きを作ったから量加減が分からなかったなんて言いだす始末。「じゃ君も食べよう」って板さんにサビ巻きを食べさせたら、板さんも泣いていたと言うストロベリーロールの話でした。きっとあの若者はどこかのすし屋で「サビロール、プリーズ！」なんて大騒ぎしているのでしょう。 ところで石川好という作家が書いた「ストロベリーロード」っていう本読んだ事ありますか？日本からCaliforniaに渡りイチゴ畑で働いた移民の話ですが、いい本ですよ。 |
| "Strawberry Roll" My apology for too many Food topics in recent issue. This is a true story about my experience when I went to a Sushi bar in Newport Beach in California, USA which most of the customers were from local area. The two young and energetic guys sat beside me at Sushi bar and ordered "make me some special roll please". One of them looked like it was his first try at Sushi bar and every thing was up to the other one who orders "something special and not on the menu" which for a while lasted the Itamae(Chef) to make special Sushi but shortly after there were nothing else to make. Then the Mexican Itamae(Chef) who is the only one Mexican Itamae(Chef) in that Sushi bar made this Strawberry Roll. The Strawberry Roll had Shrimp Tempura, Avocado rolled in sushi rice with seaweed then on topping, had some slice of Avocado, Strawberry and sesame seeds. Very strange combination from my point of view, so I asked if I could take a picture of that Strawberry Roll then I was asked to taste one. So I tasted one piece of Strawberry Roll and It tasted good. Unexpected combination but tasted even better with Wasabi and Soy Sauce. Strawberry and Avocado do match. The Strawberry Roll made unexpected situation. So I decided to present to them "Sabi-Roll(Wasabi-Roll)" for return. The energetic one showed interest and asked what it was but when he tasted one piece his eyes were about to pop out with his eyes crying and he was chalking on wasabi. I tried one piece to see how hot it was which made me surprise too. Then found out that It was first time for the Japanese's Itamae(Chef) to roll the "Sabi-Roll" so he didn't know how much he should put Wasabi in the roll. "You should try one too", Itamae(Chef) tried himself and he was crying too. That's the story of Strawberry Roll. May be those guys are asking "Sabi-Roll please" at Sushi bar some where in the America and having another party. When you have a chance to visit Sushi bar in any countries, please try one. |
