The Zen of Fish: The Story of Sushi, from Samurai to Supermarket
004 4 Corson's fascinated with seafood , as his earlier book on lobsters demonstrates . Here , he casts his net through entirely new waters as he describes what sushi is , where it comes from and where it might be going . Spending three months as a perpetual presence in a California sushi school , he was able to establish close contact with staff and students . Supported by an avid research team , he's able to present nearly every facet of sushi from biology to service methods . Little is left unsaid in this book , but every bit is interesting and informative . Written in the best journalistic style you'll find this book worthwhile in many respects .
Among the first students Corson presents is Kate Murray , who lacks both cooking skills and confidence . She quickly learns that there are no short-cuts to sushi , even though the meal is composed of little but rice , mostly raw fish , some vegetables and simple sauces . Throughout the narrative , Kate seems to continually lag behind the other students , harassed by the impatient instructor - Toshi Sugiura . Sushi kitchen skills focus on knives , with each student possessing a kit of them . Sharpening is essential , as Kate learns the hard way . Her solution to her fear of knife sharpening is unique . She's also startled to learn that the image of sushi as everything fresh is false . Mold and infectious bacteria are essential to good sushi .
As the class struggles to keep up , Corson is able to introduce a wide range of supportive material relevant to what they learn . Sushi's history is complex and intricate , starting as quick meals from city street vendors . The move of Japan's capital from Kyoto to Edo [ Tokyo ] , was but one of many divisions sushi would go through in Japan . There are also regional varieties , as well as those of customer class . Moving from street to restaurant also brought changes , not all of them universally welcomed . Even today , many women won't enter a sushi restaurant , partly because the staff and customers are male dominated . And often boisterous . Women chefs , such as Kate , and her classmate , Danish beauty Fie Kruse , are generally unwelcome . North American sushi restaurants are slowly modifying that traditional view .
Underlying the kitchen activities is the biology of what comprises the product . Corson provides information on rice's history , but his real flair is in describing the toppings placed on the rice . Shrimp , octopus and the multitude of available fish types both fresh and sea living each have their place and their handling in this book . There are no few surprises in store for the reader . What comprises the wasabi powder you can purchase in many North American shops ? Are the salmon eggs crowning the rolls on your plate really from fish ? Is tuna the true fundamental topping for sushi ? These , and countless other questions , are raised and resolved . Except one - eels , a common sushi topping in Japan , but generally spurned in North America , have eluded domestication through fish farming practices . Nobody knows when , where or how they mate . Many other sea food mysteries , however , are undergoing examination and changes by suppliers , chefs and consumers . Pick up this book and be prepared for a challenge to your thinking and your taste buds . [ stephen a . haines - Ottawa , Canada ]
001 4 The Zen of Fish is built around the story of a group of people attending California's first sushi-chef school , but there's a lot more to the book than that . Using the class as a framework , Corson presents the history of sushi , starting as a way to preserve fish , and its transformation into its present form , first in Japan and later in California . Along the way , he discusses different kinds of fish , how they are caught or farmed , and how they are cooked or presented raw . And this is accompanied by a taste of Japanese culture and vocabulary , and some of the science behind the preserving , cooking , tasting and eating of fish .
It is , like sushi , beautifully presented . The various threads of the book each make an interesting story , and you'll learn something from each of them . I don't want to reduce the book to a tag line , but Corson's thoughtful tone will make you more thoughtful in preparing or eating fish - - a zen approach , if you like . Certainly you'll be a more thoughtful consumer of sushi , but there's also information that might make you a better fish cook , and more knowledgeable in considering the economy and ecological impact of fishing .
There's a cultural lesson to be learned in the way sushi has been Americanized on its way from Tokyo . Eating sushi in the United States can be helped by knowing more about Japanese practice , but it's a separate thing , not a copy . The sushi school in California makes that clear , with frantic weeks of training instead of the years of apprenticeship required in Japan . Being fluent in Japanese , Corson is in an excellent position to provide a balanced view of this , and the clarity of his writing helps you develop your own point of view .
I liked this book a lot . There's so much in the book that while I was reading it I felt as though I should be taking notes , but I didn't want to put it down . It's definitely a book worth coming back to .
002 4 After hearing Trevor Corson speak on the radio about sushi , I picked up his book because I wanted to learn more about one of my favorite foods . The Zen of Fish follows a new student through a sushi course at the California Sushi Academy . Mixed in with the story of the student and her classmates are historical facts and other information about things related to sushi such as fish , knives , rice , and etiquette .
While I was reading the book , I couldn't help feeling annoyed by the passages about Kate , the student going through the school . She's inept , clumsy , ditzy , and just not that interesting . I was more interested in the actual tidbits of information about sushi than Kate's classes .
I would have rated this book higher if it only contained the informational passages about the Japanese cuisine . Those parts were interesting and worth reading for anyone who likes sushi , but the other parts felt like a waste of time . Corson might have been trying to get readers to relate to Kate , but he would have been more successful if he had chosen a stronger student from the class to follow .
003 4 I gobbled down this book , as if it were a nice square plate full of my favorite sushi rolls . I have been eating sushi since I was a child , and was never taught the correct way to eat it . I was one of those people who mixed wasabi with soy , or put more wasabi on when it was already correctly measured out for me by the chef ! I had no idea the origins of the components that make up sushi , or what it took to become a certified sushi chef . I have new found admiration , on top of the dizzying awe I already had for anyone who can put together the delicacies I so love to eat . Reading it I got so hungry for everything that was described , especially for the special rolls that Kate was so good at making .
It was fascinating to hear about how westerners like their sushi , and how Japanese connoisseurs prefer theirs . It has made me think twice about my own palate and what my taste buds run to .
I myself could never go through what these students went through because I am notorious for chopping off hunks of my own flesh when handling sharp knives . It's a wonderful book , I read it in one sitting , you wont be able to put it down !
005 4 Journalist and food writer Trevor Corson ( who previously authored The Secret Life of Lobsters ) has masterfully combined the story of a young female sushi chef struggling up the ranks with the natural and cultural history of Japanese raw fish cuisine . The Zen of Fish follows 20 - year-old aspiring sushi chef Kate in her struggle to break down the sexist and cultural barriers to entry in the art of sushi . At the same time , it provides historical context for sushi , which originated as a means of preserving old fish in peasant villages . Modern sushi has Japanese incarnations ( influenced by the 20th century US military presence in Japan ) , California twists , and high-fat , additive-loaded , American supermarket incarnations .
Visit the author's website if this book leaves you wanting more . The site includes articles on etiquette and technique , full-color pictures , and a behind-the-scenes look at the chefs featured in his book .
006 4 What a fabulous book ! I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader's edition of this text and am fully recommending it to everyone I know . . . foodies , sushi fans , non-fiction readers , and people like myself who were just curious to the read the book will be delighted .
The book is a nonfiction text that covers the history and expansion of sushi from ancient Japan to modern day California , including the ingredients , the methods , the menus , and the atmosphere of sushi restaurants all over the world , past and present . It also picks up cultural permutations of sushi - how mainstream it has become , why certain things are certain ways , and the big differences between Americanized & traditional sushi practices .
However , the part of the book that really livens it up and makes this worth a 5 - star review is the fly-on-the-wall portrayal of a sushi school in California that is attached to a struggling sushi restaurant . Much of the story acts as a lens view of 3 students training at the school , serving as a very well-written and entertaining documentary on paper .
Kate is a young adult hoping to overcome her past by doing something positive with her life - but she gets nothing but negative feedback on her work . Marcos is a teenager hoping to meet chicks and get a job straight out of high school . And Takumi is a retired Japanese pop star devoted to studying his culture from afar to return home a triumphant chef once and for all , after a failed pasta bar attempt .
Overall the book packs equal parts drama and lessons - although at times the talk got a bit technical . However , to clear things up , Corson's folks have put together a fabulous website that lets you see pictures of the people he writes about , includes a blog , sushi facts , etiquette , and tons of photos that really help clear everything up . Have your internet nearby when reading this so you can look up everything from willow blades to nigiri and you'll be just fine .
007 4 This is a book , I think , for lovers of the American-style sushi joint . This is for people who judge a hot new sushi place on the different and exciting kinds of rolls they serve , and for people who think a Volcano Roll or a Mango Chutney Roll with Spicy Curry Sauce sounds like a delectable treat .
On the other hand , if the words Edo mae , Otoro or Omakase have any meaning to you , if the yellow insides of a sea urchin start your mouth drooling instead of gagging , you are probably best off staying away .
Trevor Corson's The Story of Sushi is not a pure history book , but instead flip-flops between sushi history in Japan and its development in the US and between telling the story of a class of students enrolled at the California Sushi Academy . The California Sushi Academy offers a 12 - week course that circumvents the traditional multi-year apprenticeship system of Japan and delivers sushi-bar ready sushi chefs who are able to meet the current high demand at US restaurants .
From amongst the students Corson chose to follow Kate as his main character . A young woman of around twenty , Kate lacks confidence , has an unspecified eating disorder , is shy and inward , is terrified of her own sushi knives , has no cooking skills and is disgusted at the idea of touching a raw fish , much less cutting one . Directionless and unsure of herself , Kate borrowed money from her parents to attend the sushi school on somewhat of a whim , hoping for a career where she could socialize with customers as her main concern .
Kate is where the book starts , with chapter one , page one , and Kate is where the book fell apart for me . Obviously , Corson saw in Kate someone he hoped his audience could identify with , someone for whom sushi was still slightly yucky and who would be grossed out by the concept of eating octopus and squid . I was personally just annoyed by her , and found myself hoping she would drop-out instead of persevere . Her constant whining and self-doubt got to be too much , and she is the kind of character you wish your could somehow reach into the book and give a good smack on the face too .
It's too bad , because the other students who are relegated to the side-lines seemed so much more interesting than Kate . But we don't get to here their stories ; like Takumi , the hard-working Japanese student who is secretly a pop star in Japan but escaped to the US where his anonymity allowed him to study his true love , cooking . Or even the Japanese-American girl who dropped out halfway through the course . Why ? We'll never know .
As far as the parts of the book that actually focus on sushi history , they are interesting but nothing new . A bit of time browsing wikipedia would bring you the same information , such as the invention of the California Roll by Ichiro Mashita at the Tokyo Kaikan restaurant in LA in the 1960s when he found himself out of fatty tuna and decided to slip in avocado as a quick substitute , or the ins and outs of the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo where the bounty of the seas is flash-frozen and auctioned to the highest bidder .
Perhaps the lack of any real new historical information or ground to cover is what gave Corson the idea of giving over half of the book to Kate and the California Sushi Academy . If you are a real sushi novice , then perhaps much of this will be new to you and the behind-the-scenes look at the sushi school will be valuable / entertaining . Personally I just didn't find a lot here .
On one last note : When I bought this book , it was called The Zen of Sushi and I see that the name has since been changed to The Story of Sushi which makes me happy . For someone who has resided in Buddhist temples in Tokyo ( as it says in his author's bio ) Corson should know better than to mis-use the term Zen in that way .
008 4 Throughout the book , the author shifts from describing the history of sushi to describing the foods used in preparing sushi to a narrative about students enrolled at the California Sushi Academy ( CSA ) . His intention , as he says himself , was to make the book more readable , almost like a novel .
While I found the background on the ingredients used in the making of sushi , as well as the historical context of the book to be informative , the narrative regarding the CSA students was a bit distracting and , at times , dumbed-down .
Writing about Kate ( one of the students at the CSA ) changing out of her chef's clothes and into tight shirt and jeans was unneccessary . It didn't do anything to help the book move along . Unfortunately , Mr . Corson felt it was necessary , not once but twice . Another thing that stuck in my craw was his description of Jeff as the restaurant consultant whenever he was mentioned . ( Well , maybe not every time , but at least five or six . ) It seemed he kept on having to remind us of who this person was . I guess it worked as I don't remember his last name . I only know him as Jeff , the restaurant consultant .
Finally , I found it odd that it wasn't until the end of the book that he added pronunciation keys for some of the Japanese words used in the world of sushi . He should have either left these out altogether or added them from the get-go . Doing so at the end made it feel disjointed and an afterthought .
Overall , though , I thought it was a good book and , as I said , provided a good overview of the history of sushi . Regardless of whether you like the narrative portion of it or feel it's fluff , you'll want to put your new-found knowledge to use the next time you belly up to the sushi bar .
009 4 I love sushi ! So this is not the first book I've read on the subject , but it's my favorite . It dives into detail about the process of making sushi , about it's history , and even the science of how the flavors work . It fills you in on some secrets and teaches proper sushi etiquette . And all of this is told as part of a story about real students at California Sushi Academy . The author describes the book as documentary nonfiction , but the book reads like a good novel , and you learn a lot along the way . The author is a great storyteller . I laughed in several places and even got watery-eyed at the end .
Even if you aren't a sushi nut like me , you could enjoy reading this book . It's excellent . In future editions , though , I would hope that they add a section of color photos and a pronunciation guide to the Japanese words . Otherwise , _ The Zen of Fish _ is perfect !
010 4 In this fact-filled but entertaining book , Corson follows a group of students as they struggle through California's first sushi school , the California Sushi Academy . Corson has picked out three particular students to follow : one is changing careers mid-life , one is going into sushi against the odds , and one is pretty young and seems to mostly provide comic relief along the way . He breaks up this narrative with descriptions of the history of sushi and information about fish and other sushi toppings as they are encountered by the students . The format works , and although I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to people who are squeamish ( for relatively accurate descriptions of gutting fish and parasite talk ) , I would definitely recommend it to any other lovers of books on food .
011 4 Not sure what a few of these reviewers expected from this book . Certainly this is not a novel . What you have in this book is a means to learn more about sushi , rolls and sashimi ; More about the sea creatures and vegetation that adorn sushi ; more about the Sushi Academy in California ; More about sushi chefs ; and more about the environment of all of this blended together . This book met those needs for me . I feel what author Corson has done here , is wrapped a lot of potentially dry information about sushi and fish and etc . around people who brim with personality and fun . Sushi is a very traditional food . . . but it is also a very fun food . Corson shows us this . In the journey of doing so , all the potentially dry facts are brought to life by the stories he weaves together . . . most brilliantly in my opinion . If you are new to sushi or maybe even well versed in the front end of the sushi restaraunt . . . you will enjoy this book . I learned a LOT . Armed with this book and a great Ken Sushi DVD offered on Amazon and books like The Complete Book Of Sushi by Hideo Dekura , Brigid Treloar , and Ryuichi Yoshii . . . I now feel comfortable and inspired enough to sit in front of a sushi chef at a sushi bar and even try to make my own ! Good job Trevor . . . and thank you . Now . . . on to Tsukiji . . . another intriguing book I see .
012 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
I learned quite a bit about sushi from reading this book . The history of sushi is rich , interesting , and revealing . For example , did you know that sushi started out as a way of preserving fish in rice ? And , according to Corson , it tasted like aged cheese ? ! ( And wait till you read about how miso is made . . . you'll never order it again without having a certain image in your head ! ) Trevor Corson does a fine job in explaining the evolution of sushi and the array of fish that has made it such a favorite to so many people outside of Japan . Corson also traces the story of sushi chef in-training , Kate , and her classmates at a southern California sushi school ; this gives the book a personal touch . If you love sushi , as I do , you will enjoy this book .
013 4 I learned quite a bit about sushi from reading this book . The history of sushi is rich , interesting , and revealing . For example , did you know that sushi started out as a way of preserving fish in rice ? And , according to Corson , it tasted like aged cheese ? ! ( And wait till you read about how miso is made . . . you'll never order it again without having a certain image in your head ! ) Trevor Corson does a fine job in explaining the evolution of sushi and the array of fish that has made it such a favorite to so many people outside of Japan . Corson also traces the story of sushi chef in-training , Kate , and her classmates at a southern California sushi school ; this gives the book a personal touch . If you love sushi , as I do , you will enjoy this book .
015 4 The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket by Trevor Corson provides fascinating information of the history and culture of sushi . Shadowing several students at California Sushi Academy for wannabe sushi chefs , Corson provided valuable glimpses of what it took to become a sushi chef . Besides the training and understanding of the Japanese culture , the students needed to learn the ingredients that made sushi and it was very interesting to learn about the different fish that were used , the importance of seaweed and rice , among other important ingredients . The author was also able to show how sushi became popular both in Japan and in the United States . Another fascinating aspect of the book was that Corson was able to tell the stories of the chef instructor , the owner of the academy , and also the students .
This was an interesting book for me as even though I am not a fan of sushi , I was interested to learn about the cultural aspect of sushi . The writing was clear and concise even though the book was a little too long for me . Otherwise , this was definitely a great read . Highly recommended .
016 4 This is an incredibly rich and rewarding read . I always knew that sushi was special and unique both as an art form and as food , but the complex histories and anecdotes just provided such a lush context for my sushi love affair that I could barely put the book down .
Before reading this book , my sushi horizons were plateauing . Ignorant american that I was , I mistook my fancy inside out rolls , stuffed full of veggies , avocado , and tons of fish were top notch sushi . And then I read this book . My world of sushi eating has been inverted .
Omakase ( chef's choice ) . Real and sparing use of Wasabi . The right fish . . . aka no more fresh salmon ( parasite problems ) . There was so much cultural and colorful background about sushi and in such great detail that I feel compelled to reread parts just to make sure I have a proper grasp of it all .
This is a must read for ANY fan of sushi . It will change the way you eat . Or at the very least , provide you with a healthy serving of fresh perspective .
017 4 This book had the potential to dazzle . Unfortunately , in many places Mr . Corson's writing style reminds me of underwear with sagging elastic . And really , what's engaging about that ?
018 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
You will after reading this . For anyone who spends lot's of time ( and money ) eating Sushi this book is a real treat . It blends the story of some student Sushi Chefs in LA with an examination of the cultural and biological details surrounding Sushi and it's incredible growth in popularity around the world . Many things that the average Western Sushi addict probably doesn't know make the book a delight to read and very enlightening and entertaining .
019 4 You will after reading this . For anyone who spends lot's of time ( and money ) eating Sushi this book is a real treat . It blends the story of some student Sushi Chefs in LA with an examination of the cultural and biological details surrounding Sushi and it's incredible growth in popularity around the world . Many things that the average Western Sushi addict probably doesn't know make the book a delight to read and very enlightening and entertaining .
020 4 ` The Zen of Fish , The story of sushi from samurai to supermarket ' by culinary journalist , Trevor Corson is an excellent addition to the genre ( s ) superbly represented by Michael Ruhlman ( ` The Soul of a Chef ' ) and Peter Kaminsky ( ` Pig Perfect ' ) . In fact , this book is virtually a perfect synthesis of Ruhlman chronicles of chefs ' experiences and Kaminsky's exploration of a culinary subject .
Corson's narrative is almost like Herman Melville's structuring of ` Moby Dick ' , where chapters alternate between action and the details of 19th century whaling technique . Corson takes as his thread connecting all the various subjects the experiences of a novice cook undertaking a course of training at the California Sushi Academy , founded by a Japanese sushi master chef and owner of a sushi restaurant to which the school is attached .
The book is totally delightful , most especially in the reader's discovering so many new things about the history and lore of sushi , at least in the case of THIS reader ! The first major discovery is the fact that ` sushi ' is not named for fish , or a fish , but for the type of rice preparation . On reading the background to this story , one immediately understands the care to which , for example , Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto goes through to prepare his rice . In Japan , a trainee at a sushi school involves two years of working with rice before you even touch the fish .
Like Ruhlman and his food journalistic pal , Tony Bourdain , Corson's writing is at an exceptionally high level . He is especially careful in his reporting direct quotes , as he clearly states that all of the dialogue is taken from the memories of those who actually participated in the conversations . Otherwise , his narrative is almost worthy of the level of prose achieved by the best culinary essayists such as M.F.K . Fisher and Elizabeth David ( almost , but these two are still the masters of this craft ) .
The best thing one can say about the book is that it makes me really want to read his earlier book , about a similar culinary subject , ` The Secret Life of Lobsters ' .
021 4 I picked this up on a whim , since I love to eat sushi . I couldn't believe the amount of information packed into this book . I loved learning the history of sushi from it's origins in Japan to it's development here in America .
I enjoyed reading the storylines of Kate and the other students . But the best part was reading how the chefs prepare the rice and fish . I hope I am now a wiser consumer after reading this book !
022 4 This book is technically fiction but it reads like non-fiction . History is interwoven with a current day story of young woman Kate who is attending school to become a sushi chef . As we follow her bumbling attempts through her lessons we learn about the history of sushi and the ingredients used for it .
If you want an exciting story look elsewhere . But if you have any interest at all in sushi and the culture that surrounds it this book is a must read . In that way it's masterfully woven - pulling you into the history and tradition with new respect .
023 4 This review is from :
The Story of Sushi : An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice ( P.S . ) ( Paperback )
Reading this book is like watching a documentary / reality show with fish , seafood and struggling sushi chefs involved . The main characters in the book are so real . Day to day people going about their goals of becoming sushi chefs . It is easy to empathize with them and be drawn in . They were not glamorized or made to be superhuman beings . I really like reading about the main character Kate . Although imperfect and not an icon of over-achievement , she does her best in her own way . Zoran , the instructor is also quite fascinating in the book . He is stern but genuinely cares about his students . The other lure to this book is the mountains of factoids about different kinds of fish , marine life , and other edibles from the sea . It was presented not in an encyclopediac manner . It was blended well into the story so you get the information in a very entertaining manner . I highly recommend this book to everyone , whether you are into sushi or not .
I cannot wait for Trevor Corson's third book .
024 4 Reading this book is like watching a documentary / reality show with fish , seafood and struggling sushi chefs involved . The main characters in the book are so real . Day to day people going about their goals of becoming sushi chefs . It is easy to empathize with them and be drawn in . They were not glamorized or made to be superhuman beings . I really like reading about the main character Kate . Although imperfect and not an icon of over-achievement , she does her best in her own way . Zoran , the instructor is also quite fascinating in the book . He is stern but genuinely cares about his students . The other lure to this book is the mountains of factoids about different kinds of fish , marine life , and other edibles from the sea . It was presented not in an encyclopediac manner . It was blended well into the story so you get the information in a very entertaining manner . I highly recommend this book to everyone , whether you are into sushi or not .
I cannot wait for Trevor Corson's third book .
025 4 This book does a great deal to show the real world of Sushi and what it takes to become a Sushi Chef . The stories are real and down to earth . I really enjoyed reading this .
026 4 Although this book is technically the story of a group of students going through the California Sushi Academy , the classroom serves as a conduit to learning about the centuries-old history of sushi . Corson's style is easy , conversational , and fun . Corson never fails to teach his readers about the biology , chemistry , and history of sushi .
For any fellow sushi rookies who wants to improve their sushi skills , I absolutely recommend this book . He laces the classroom stories with tips and tricks and never passes up an opportunity to detail how sushi making is a craft requiring practice and skill .
027 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
Just so you know where I'm coming from : I wouldn't be caught dead eating classic sushi . I just can't get past the ( raw ) fish . . . it was . . . ew .
I did , however , really , really like this book !
What a delight to read . Often nonfiction of this sort fails in its mission to both inform and entertain - - but this book actually kept me up reading late at night . It had just the right balance of humor and technical information . Plus a hefty serving of human interest on the side . Enough spice to balance the meal ; it made me feel as though I wanted to rush out and sit at a sushi bar .
The subject matter , sushi , is just arcane enough ( despite existing on every third streetcorner ) to be fascinating . A bit of a mystery to keep the reader guessing . Sushi's place of origin ( Japan ) is also just exotic enough to be likewise a curiosity for most readers . Best of all , the students and staff at the Sushi school proved to be nothing short of wonderful subjects .
I highly recommend this book for its obvious audience : those who love sushi . And also for anybody who just craves reading about food or likes to cook . ( If you idolize Alton Brown this is the perfect beach read for you ! )
But I'd also recommend it for anybody who reads nonfiction - - as a change of pace from the usual history , biography , and science , it can't be beat .
( So , OK , maybe I will try a vegetable roll of some sort . But only because of this book . . . . )
028 4 Just so you know where I'm coming from : I wouldn't be caught dead eating classic sushi . I just can't get past the ( raw ) fish . . . it was . . . ew .
I did , however , really , really like this book !
What a delight to read . Often nonfiction of this sort fails in its mission to both inform and entertain - - but this book actually kept me up reading late at night . It had just the right balance of humor and technical information . Plus a hefty serving of human interest on the side . Enough spice to balance the meal ; it made me feel as though I wanted to rush out and sit at a sushi bar .
The subject matter , sushi , is just arcane enough ( despite existing on every third streetcorner ) to be fascinating . A bit of a mystery to keep the reader guessing . Sushi's place of origin ( Japan ) is also just exotic enough to be likewise a curiosity for most readers . Best of all , the students and staff at the Sushi school proved to be nothing short of wonderful subjects .
I highly recommend this book for its obvious audience : those who love sushi . And also for anybody who just craves reading about food or likes to cook . ( If you idolize Alton Brown this is the perfect beach read for you ! )
But I'd also recommend it for anybody who reads nonfiction - - as a change of pace from the usual history , biography , and science , it can't be beat .
( So , OK , maybe I will try a vegetable roll of some sort . But only because of this book . . . . )
029 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
The fun in this book comes from the encyclopedic treatment of the title's subject . Who knew there was so much to know about sushi ? Probably not even many sushi chefs .
The thing that is ultimately unsatisfying about this book is the feeling that it often goes nowhere . Much of it feels like a recitation without a purpose . Even the portions about sushi history and construction eventually become tiresome because they lose distinction , with few exceptions , and don't go anywhere interesting . There are a lot of facts and not enough story .
I also wanted to feel more engaged in Kate's story . . . or Zoran's or Marcos ' or Toshi's OR SOMEONE'S ! I kept waiting for something interesting to happen to them - - something that had a point . But none of these stories were very satisfying in the end . Corson never gave me a good reason to care about them . I ended up caring more about bluefin and sex-changing non-tetrapod chordates . But then , the book is about sushi and not the characters populating the California Sushi Academy . Perhaps it would have worked better without the CAS involvement at all .
I wish I could write something more glowing about this book . I wanted to give it a four just for the volume of research involved . The idea is full of promise and I did enjoy some sections . But before I was finished I was longing for the end and not enjoying the ride .
030 4 The fun in this book comes from the encyclopedic treatment of the title's subject . Who knew there was so much to know about sushi ? Probably not even many sushi chefs .
The thing that is ultimately unsatisfying about this book is the feeling that it often goes nowhere . Much of it feels like a recitation without a purpose . Even the portions about sushi history and construction eventually become tiresome because they lose distinction , with few exceptions , and don't go anywhere interesting . There are a lot of facts and not enough story .
I also wanted to feel more engaged in Kate's story . . . or Zoran's or Marcos ' or Toshi's OR SOMEONE'S ! I kept waiting for something interesting to happen to them - - something that had a point . But none of these stories were very satisfying in the end . Corson never gave me a good reason to care about them . I ended up caring more about bluefin and sex-changing non-tetrapod chordates . But then , the book is about sushi and not the characters populating the California Sushi Academy . Perhaps it would have worked better without the CAS involvement at all .
I wish I could write something more glowing about this book . I wanted to give it a four just for the volume of research involved . The idea is full of promise and I did enjoy some sections . But before I was finished I was longing for the end and not enjoying the ride .
031 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
The author intersperses lots of fascinating sushi facts with the story of a young woman's trials in sushi school . The combination could be awkward , but his superb research and excellent writing style make it work .
032 4 The author intersperses lots of fascinating sushi facts with the story of a young woman's trials in sushi school . The combination could be awkward , but his superb research and excellent writing style make it work .
033 4 If you love sushi , you might be surprised that you know nothing about it - - or even worse - - are eating it all wrong ! The Zen of Fish enlightens on every topic from the long history of sushi - - ( Did you know that the first sushi was anything but fresh ? Fish were fermented for months or more ! ) - - to the description and anatomy of a wide variety of fish , sushi preparation , and so much more .
The best part about Trevor Corson's book is that all of this detail and history is embedded within the account of a group of students in session at the California Sushi Academy . At the CSA , students of all different races and ethnicities , not just Japanese , can attend the school for 3 months to learn how to make sushi . The main character is Kate , a white 20 year old from San Diego . We see Kate struggle to keep up with her class and consider quitting , as well as the trails of de-scaling a fish , learning to peel a cucumber , and perfecting nigiri , which all of the students face .
The Zen of Fish is inspirational , especially to me , a 19 - year-old college student . I had developed an interest in the culinary arts before reading this book , but when I finished reading , I knew that it was what I wanted to go into professionally . Most importantly , I was really inspired by Kate and her perseverance . The book does not attempt to make the art of sushi look easy , but showing how a normal girl pushed through it made me feel that I , too , could work through the difficulties in the industry and even if I were to attend the Sushi Academy . Finally , to take a topic like sushi , which is traditionally dominated by Japanese men , and focus on a white , female American is a breath of fresh air and adds new possibilities to the sushi experience .
I don't know where you can go wrong with this book . The writing is clear and fluid , the history is interesting , the characters are inspirational , the situations comical . Highly recommended to young people especially , but anyone will find enjoyment in The Zen of Fish .
034 4 I have been waiting a long time for a book like this one on one of my favorite subject sushi The author reveals the history and culture behind this healthy food source from ancient Japan to modern day California sushi school and the students struggles to perfect the perfect art called sushi .
035 4 I am enjoying this book tremendously ! It's not what I expected - no beautiful photos of sushi and the like , but the history of sushi from where it started - NOT Japan - to the processing of the fish , and the training of sushi chefs . and a local story line to tie it all together . I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys sushi , especially omakase .
036 4 This review is from :
The Story of Sushi : An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice ( P.S . ) ( Paperback )
An intriguing look at the American sushi industry and the joys of sushi itself . You will gain a great appreciation for the saga of the seemingly simplistic hunk of rice and fish that most people don't give a second thought . If you're going to lay down $100 + for a sushi dinner , it's worth knowing the full story . Then again , this book may make you hungry and curious enough to run out and thrown down $100 + for a sushi dinner when you otherwise would be content with some spicy roll from the supermarket .
037 4 An intriguing look at the American sushi industry and the joys of sushi itself . You will gain a great appreciation for the saga of the seemingly simplistic hunk of rice and fish that most people don't give a second thought . If you're going to lay down $100 + for a sushi dinner , it's worth knowing the full story . Then again , this book may make you hungry and curious enough to run out and thrown down $100 + for a sushi dinner when you otherwise would be content with some spicy roll from the supermarket .
039 4 This review is from :
The Story of Sushi : An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice ( P.S . ) ( Paperback )
This book threads an interesting story full of engaging real-life characters together with a peerless history of sushi , from its unappealing origins in antiquity through its step-by-step evolution into what it is today . Of those who follow my advice to immediately buy this book and read it , quite a few may be surprised to discover that their favorite kinds of sushi are fattening Americanized perversions of true sushi , made of inferior ingredients , and including such un-sushi-like stuff as mayonnaise , hot sauce and crunchy make-believe tempura crumbs . Yecchhh ! The book gently reveals how all this processed junk masks the flavors of the top quality fish and rice that should be the basic ingredients of sushi . They're far more delicious than the mass-market garbage that most Americans order , even in the best sushi restaurants which are forced to produce Americanized junk-food sushi just to survive . Genuine sushi is also way more nourishing and healthful . Buy this book , read it , and see how it influences your tastes in sushi .
040 4 This book threads an interesting story full of engaging real-life characters together with a peerless history of sushi , from its unappealing origins in antiquity through its step-by-step evolution into what it is today . Of those who follow my advice to immediately buy this book and read it , quite a few may be surprised to discover that their favorite kinds of sushi are fattening Americanized perversions of true sushi , made of inferior ingredients , and including such un-sushi-like stuff as mayonnaise , hot sauce and crunchy make-believe tempura crumbs . Yecchhh ! The book gently reveals how all this processed junk masks the flavors of the top quality fish and rice that should be the basic ingredients of sushi . They're far more delicious than the mass-market garbage that most Americans order , even in the best sushi restaurants which are forced to produce Americanized junk-food sushi just to survive . Genuine sushi is also way more nourishing and healthful . Buy this book , read it , and see how it influences your tastes in sushi .
041 4 This review is from :
Zen of Fish , The ( Kindle Edition )
The other reviews cover the content of the book pretty well , so I'll keep mine short . This book combines an interesting story with exceptionally good writing . I really like the style ; the author blends some interesting facts with an interesting story . Separately , each would make excellent books , but this book is better than the sum of those two parts . Even if you don't care about sushi or stories about people taking classes , this book is worth a read just to see how the author uses storytelling to both teach and entertain the reader .
I will also point out that I took a look at the book's website after I finished it , and the people in the photos almost perfectly resembled the mental images I had of them . This is either because I am an all-knowing superbeing , or because the author did an excellent job describing the characters . I think it's probably the second one ; )
Anyway , to summarize : wonderful , entertaining story , made better with the addition of facts about fish and a sprinkle of good writing . You definitely want to buy this book .
( One other thing - - I read this on the Kindle ; the experience was great . )
042 4 The other reviews cover the content of the book pretty well , so I'll keep mine short . This book combines an interesting story with exceptionally good writing . I really like the style ; the author blends some interesting facts with an interesting story . Separately , each would make excellent books , but this book is better than the sum of those two parts . Even if you don't care about sushi or stories about people taking classes , this book is worth a read just to see how the author uses storytelling to both teach and entertain the reader .
I will also point out that I took a look at the book's website after I finished it , and the people in the photos almost perfectly resembled the mental images I had of them . This is either because I am an all-knowing superbeing , or because the author did an excellent job describing the characters . I think it's probably the second one ; )
Anyway , to summarize : wonderful , entertaining story , made better with the addition of facts about fish and a sprinkle of good writing . You definitely want to buy this book .
( One other thing - - I read this on the Kindle ; the experience was great . )
043 4 After reading The Secret Life of Lobsters , I looked forward to this book's publication and for the most part , it did not disappoint . Corson follows Kate , a young woman trying to enter the world of sushi in America ( not always a friendly place ) . This story is interwoven with copious research about the history of sushi and all of its main ingredients . Never again will you look at the green blob restaurants call wasabi the same way , but I will say that this book has not curtailed my sushi consumption .
Although this book got a little caught up in the details and the research at times - an easy thing to do - this was a pretty easy read . It is part history , part biology , part economy , part cuisine and a healthy dose of narrative . Especially interesting to me was how sushi made the geographical jump from Japan to America where it became a culinary fad . This book will make you think about each piece of sushi you put into your mouth and you will undoubtedly pity the octopus . Corson brings the fish behind the cellophane to life and demonstrates how many contributors there have been to our current relationship with sushi .
Note : The paperback edition of this book is called The Story of Sushi .
044 4 This is a must read for any sushi lover . The book is very easy to read and is not dry . Warning ! Reading this book will make you crave sushi : )
045 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
You will never look the same way at Sushi again . Great Book . Highly recommended .
046 4 You will never look the same way at Sushi again . Great Book . Highly recommended .
047 4 Hi there . I see you're considering buying this book . Well , take a leap and buy it . This book is awesome . I couldn't put it down . You learn all about the rituals of sushi and how it got to be so popular in the U.S . If you're interested in food , American culture or narrative nonfiction in general , read this book . The writing is clear and engaging .
048 4 Corson's is a riveting personal story as well as a great education on the tradition and science surrounding sushi . You will never look at your favorite food the same way again ! Something to keep as a reference after you have read it a couple of times . Highly recommended .
049 4 Mr . Corson's fascinating account on sushi reads like a novel . From its origins as a way to preserve fish to the American anything goes sushi rolls , this is a wonderful and informative book . Thanks to The Zen of Fish I now have much more respect for sushi and the masters that prepare it .
050 4 This review is from :
The Zen of Fish : The Story of Sushi , from Samurai to Supermarket ( Hardcover )
The Zen of Fish
is an appropriate title . Like small decorative servings of visually appealing sushi , Trevor Corson playfully dishes out many short chapters full of descriptive appeal , encyclopedic knowledge and witty banter , a written documentary of the sushi experience in easily digestible portions . The variety of information about sushi is varied , but like the ubiquitous bed of white rice it is served on , a consistent human-interest narrative holds everything together , popping one short satisfying chapter down after the next . Reams of encyclopedic information are interesting , but when wrapped around a person and a story , it becomes an unforgettable experience .
Gratefully , Corson has added an appendix on how to go about ordering and eating Sushi correctly , and he covers at least a dozen different fish types that make knowing what to order beyond the standards easier . Fun and educational book , highly recommended .
051 4 The Zen of Fish
is an appropriate title . Like small decorative servings of visually appealing sushi , Trevor Corson playfully dishes out many short chapters full of descriptive appeal , encyclopedic knowledge and witty banter , a written documentary of the sushi experience in easily digestible portions . The variety of information about sushi is varied , but like the ubiquitous bed of white rice it is served on , a consistent human-interest narrative holds everything together , popping one short satisfying chapter down after the next . Reams of encyclopedic information are interesting , but when wrapped around a person and a story , it becomes an unforgettable experience .
Gratefully , Corson has added an appendix on how to go about ordering and eating Sushi correctly , and he covers at least a dozen different fish types that make knowing what to order beyond the standards easier . Fun and educational book , highly recommended .
052 4 As someone who loves eating sushi I found the book a bit depressing . . . how could I have been so impolite at the sushi bar for so long ? This book lifts the skirts and shares some of the manners we should all know about sushi-culture . I most enjoyed the little-known historical bits including what I should be ordering .
053 4 Entertaining and very informative , a great primer on the world of sushi . I also enjoyed it because I used to frequent Cal Beach , the predecessor of the restaurant in the book , in the mid-nineties . Not certain , but I think Cal Beach was one of the first loud , rocking sushi restaurants in the US . On the weekends it would be packed from lunch to late night . Lots of loud music , beautiful people and sake bombs . Cal Beach like passages in the book show that sushi can / should be fun while still respecting the art of preparing sushi .
054 4 This was an interesting book about sushi . Some of the chemostry part was a little too technical and became tedious , but over all , it was a good book . It will make you very careful about where you eat your next sushi meal .
055 4 i am surprised at all these rave reviews at this book . i really wanted to love this book . it is right up my alley . i have read all kinds of culinary books from history to memoir to essays . AND sushi is my favorite food , but i found zen of fish really boring . the writing style is incredibly monotonous , seemingly the same sentence structure throughout the entire read . kate's exploits in this so-called sushi school were not only uninteresting and sophomoric , but a tad ridiculous - - she has no idea how to hold a knife and they let her make sushi . it makes the school look like a joke . it definitely makes me uninterested in eating sushi in the US . i had a lot trouble even finishing the darn thing , and that is very rare for me , no pun intended .
056 4 The story was kind of bland . So were the characters , I didn't really feel like I learned anything about the characters past their opening descriptions .
The only thing that really kept me going was learning about sushi .
