Sushi Masters Tomorrow in Sacramento

June 9th, 2008 Posted in Cooking ideas

Tomorrow evening I’ll be emceeing the national sushi championships in Sacramento, an event known as “Sushi Masters.” Several hundred maestros have already competed in various regional events, and now it’s time to crown a winner among the six chefs left standing tomorrow night. I’ll be doing Phil Donohue-style mike reporting, live in the middle of the action. If we get any video out of it, I’ll be sure to link it here!

UPDATE

Lots of fun! The chefs were very nervous, though I did my best to try to get them to relax. A raucous crowd, much more so than one would expect, with a local chef packing in an entire section of hooting supporters. Grand winner was Tomaharu Nakamura, veteran chef at the Sanraku Four Seasons in SF. His “signature roll” was a truly stunning display of creativity and daring — it was vegetarian, and he used BROWN RICE! I’m hoping I can find some photographs to link to ; it was a marvel to behold, and utterly delicious. I’m doubly impressed that the judges — a hardcore group of grizzled and traditional Japanese men involved in the food world in various capacities — could recognize that the top prize in sushi could go to someone this unorthodox. The entire world would stop eating meat if food tasted one-tenth as good as Nakamura’s wild-eyed creations.

  1. 4 Responses to “Sushi Masters Tomorrow in Sacramento”

  2. By steph on Jun 9, 2008

    That’s very cool Eric. Post the video!

  3. By Deno on Jun 10, 2008

    Is this a warm up to the Iron Chef gig? Ya know, Alton Brown will need to watch his back by the time you make it to kitchen stadium. I can totally see you in front of those monitors commenting on what the chef are making. For now let the Sushi Masters Battle begin, “Allez Cuisine!”.

  4. By Jan in nagasaki on Jun 13, 2008

    wow, i had no idea you were such a celebrity!

    and your post points out a huge difference in life in the U.S.(well at least California, anyway) and life in Japan……

    remember, I live in Nagasaki, without any of that “forward” or “international” feeling found in Tokyo…. the thought of a VEGETARAIN…….. not to mention BROWN RICE sushi roll would have the local folks rolling in their graves…. I love living here, but now my mouth is watering for a brown rice, vegetarian sushi roll and there aren’t any to be found around here!!!!!!!!!

  5. By GLEN HASKELL on Jun 13, 2008

    Good evening! My name is Glen Haskell. I am currently a student at the Institute of Technology in Roseville. It was truly an honor to take part of the event known as sushi masters. it showed me a side of the culinary field that I personal am becoming interested in! Maybe I can use these skills and take them with me as I begin work for disney in august. You can barely see me working with Kioji. (that’s because I told them I want to do all the “dirty” work so they can enjoy their event”) ^_^ Remember!, Atruly good chef is the one who is more often behind the scenes! ;) thanks it was nice meeting you.

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