Sushi Confidential: Mistakes
Sushi Confidential
It's not that the master is perfect. It's how the master conceals his/her mistakes.
That's a Misaki line.
Imperfections vs mistakes. Even when I make sushi the very best I can, it’s imperfect. Too rough with the rice or too slow and the rice got cooler as the fish/ingredient got warmer. Then you have mistakes. Miscommunication and something gets made twice, an alteration to an order is overlooked.
I’ve explained katsuramuki in the past. It’s a technique peeling/cutting in a circular motion to make sheets of product. Cucumber for example. Easy texture, it’s cylinder, usually used relatively thick. Once you have a sheet, you cut it and put in rolls.
Daikon is difficult. Depending on how it’s being used, it’s supposed to be super thin. I’m rusty. Couldn’t get through full turns, too thin and then too thick, breaks at the top or bottom.
That's imperfection.
The real OG test is, can you cut a huge piece of daikon so thin that you can read a newspaper through it – in one long sheet. That’s when you know you’re a real one.
When making sushi, I was taught to never put your knife down until you're putting it away. Learn to use your left hand and the knife. This helps with economies of motion as well.
There was one time where one of my teachers asked me where something was. I was in the middle of cutting. I told him where and pointed using my knife.
There are mistakes and then there are flat out fuck-ups. I fucked up.
In Japanese there are several ways to express remorse. Low tier, sumimasen, gomen nasai or just gomen – Sorry bout that. Shitsurei shimasu or just shitsurei – Little more serious, like "I apologize".
Moushiwake arimasen – Used in very serious situations, translated to "there is no excuse", and my teacher knew that I knew its meaning/use. I said it to him as I was mortified. It was a hectic shift, heat of the moment – I just pointed to not put the knife down. I couldn’t believe it myself. That’s dangerous but veryyy disrespectful. He understood, with grace. Great teachers have fucked up more than you.
Mistakes happen, that’s ok. Remember that our mistakes come from imperfection, and we always will be. Your best will never be perfect. Keep trying to improve.
But don't fuck up. Can't conceal a fuck-up.
E
#ARTiculate