Omakase Sushi info

Omakase Sushi

Posted under Food Styles & General Information

I’ve had a number of questions about omakase meals in a sushi restaurant and thought to take this time to explain what true omakase is to those unfamiliar with the term, or who just want to know more. Omakase literally means entrust and basically means “chef’s choice.” The Itamae (sushi chef) is given the opportunity to select what he will serve you for that meal, and since this commands a higher price usually than one would expect, the quality of the meal (food and presentation) and his attentiveness should make it worth your while. This is not your average meal, and it should leave you satisfied, still interested, and encouraged.

The first thing to realize is that there is omakase and there is Omakase. By that I mean in many areas, omakase has begun to become popular and the concept has become a diluted experience due to less experienced restaurants jumping on the bandwagon. True omakase should result in careful attention by the Itamae, a great selection of the freshest fish, seasonal items that you might not normally even encounter and a presentation far beyond what you would ever see just ordering a few pieces of sushi. You might be used to your yellowtail (hamachi) in a roll with scallions, or as sushi, but have you ever had it cubed and served with a raw quail egg and tobiko? I have seen plenty of omakase platters with new and interesting presentations, as well as unique combinations. However in some cases, where lesser understanding results in a lower quality experience, what you may end up with is a bunch of sushi items that someone else chose on a plate, perhaps still tasty, but is not that dissimilar to what you normally see in an average order. In bad sushi restaurants it could be a great way for the Itamae hand of items that he may want to be rid of. Stick to respectable places and you won’t have to worry about that. With true omakase, the Itamae should be attentive to you and not just hand you a plate and wander off. Traditional omakase is also not based on a particular budget, it can be a costly adventure but well worth it if the Itamae is highly skilled.

Some feel that it is best to not have omakase at a place where the Itamae does not know your likes and dislikes, however I feel that the true reason for omakase is to be able to experience the best items that are available at that time, and in that case, knowing you is irrelevant since it is more about what is best at that moment than what you like. If you only like California rolls and spicy tuna, omakase is something you might want to skip. However it is also a great way to discover new sushi items that you may have overlooked or never thought to try.

If you are new to omakase, you might want to keep in mind what to expect from your meal. You must be prepared to eat things that you may have never wanted to try or look like something you may never want to. Generally, it is not considered polite to leave food on your plate, but then again, no one is holding a gun to your head. On the other hand, it is not impolite to say to the Itamae something like “Omakase, please, but no mackerel.” You can choose to not have sashimi, no sushi, or both if you would like. Making requests is all part of the Itamae being attentive to you.

In general, it is best to order omakase at a restaurant that you know. Or one that is well known to serve excellent omakase. This serving style can be easily found, but to expect great omakase in a standard sushi place would be a mistake. It is easy to find good sushi, but omakase takes the experience to a whole new level. It takes years of experience, deep knowledge of the food, and devotion to creating the best meal for the customer that makes omakase great. Anything else is simply someone else’s order.

BTW… Love sushi? Check out The Sushi FAQ

Warren
Sushi Otaku

"Away from Her" DVD

I have not seen this movie yet, but some say that it's similar to "the Notebook" ... I have this on the waiting list at the library.. =)


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This Is A Must-See Film
by cineramaman (movies profile) Jun 2, 2008
47 of 47 people found this review helpful
What makes us who we are? Are we not really the memories of our experiences, the memories of who we are in relation to others? And when those memories begin to vanish, one by one, and sometimes in whole volumes at once, in a very real sense don\'t we cease to exist? And what happens when others remember the less savory moments of our lives and we don\'t? What happens when the memory of an individual\'s personality no longer exists in its full context, of the interplay between light and dark moments? What if those are the only memories they have of us?

These are the various questions explored in the complex character study, "Away from Her."

Technically and artistically, the film is a wonder. My mother lived the last years of her life in a nursing home. She began living there too young, as does Fiona, played by Julie Christie. The feel of the home is exactly right. Administrator Madeleine, played perfectly by Wendy Crewson, is like every administrator I met over fifteen years. She is all business, and completely emotionally removed from her job-- except for one fleeting moment, when she turns tail and walks away from another\'s tragedy as quickly as she can. But I can forgive her. For her, this is self-preservation. And then there is the character whose life is predicated on empathy: nurse Veronica. I swear I knew her in all her many disguises while Mom lived and died in the nursing home. She was played with a genuine sense of compassion by Deanna Dezmari.

There was one weak performance, and it must be noted. I don\'t know what happened with her preparation for the role, but Olympia Dukakis was completely miscast. She simply didn\'t understand the character. The delivery of almost every line was flat and condescending to the audience, like she was reading from cue cards. Not good.

There are the three beautiful performances in the film. They are by Michael Murphy, Gordon Pinset (Grant, who is Fiona\'s husband), and Julie Christie. Pinset\'s voice rumbles like that of a purring cat. He and Christie played their parts with such incredible attention to detail that I knew I had seen these people in my mother\'s nursing home. My heart was lost to their characters as each struggled with memories-- he to have his wife remember, and she, perhaps, to forget him altogether. Michael Murphy plays Aubrey, a former executive who is left profoundly brain damaged by a viral infection. Murphy forced me to deal with his character\'s full range of emotions, from frustration, to love, to empathy, all with his eyes, all with his facial expressions, all without ever saying a word! What an amazing pantomime!

The film\'s ability to affect the viewer, to create so deep a level of pathos, is a testament to writer/director Sarah Polley\'s skill as an artist and love for her characters.

It is Mother\'s Day weekend in the U.S., and I had just taken flowers to Mom\'s grave before seeing the film. Needless to say, writer/director Polley almost had me in deep emotional distress several times. I am almost there, now, as I write this. And I\'ve already told my father NOT to see this film because it will hit him too closely.


If you don\'t mind shedding a tear or two, or contemplating your own future in a world determined to forget who you are, this film is a MUST!