It came up in our very first phone conversation. We were on the topic of food and restaurants and he casually mentioned that he thought sushi was the greatest thing ever.
I casually responded that I’d rather have anal sex with a donkey. Except maybe I didn’t say that. Maybe I toned it down a little bit and went with the ever so mature, but equally effective “ew.”
Either way, it was a no thanks for me and the eating of the raw fish.
He gave me a hard time. Something about how I should never have been let into California without knowing how to use chopsticks. I tried to argue that I was born in LA. He said that being grandfathered in was no excuse. We went around and around in lots of circles until finally I was all, “Yeah okay, we’ll go for sushi. I’ll give it another shot.”
And that was that.
It was a safe promise to make, back before we were even close to meeting in person, when I had no idea if we’d ever get coffee together, yet alone something crazy like fish and rice and seaweed.
God. Seaweed. No. Just… no. I shuddered.
But months came and went. And then Thanksgiving came and went and I was in San Francisco and we were at Zushi Puzzle and there was raw fish in front of me and I was somehow un-sober enough to consider the craziness of actually putting it in my mouth.
I gave myself a mental pep talk. “Listen bitch, this is it. You’re eating the goddamn sushi. Just pick up the chopsticks and try not to drop anything on the floor. Put it in your mouth, chew, swallow, and don’t throw up all over the table.”
I looked down at the sushi. It looked back at me.
“You’re going to be fine. It’s FINE.”
I cried a little on the inside, prepared for the worst, took my first bite, and something totally fucked up happened.
I LIKED IT. All of it. Salmon and tuna and crab and shrimp and FISH EGGS (Do you hear that mother? I fucking ate bright orange FISH EGGS) and seaweed (seaweed!) and other things that probably live in the water but that I couldn’t readily identify even if the lives of a thousand babies depended on it.
And that’s the story of how, in the span of two hours, I went from being A Person Who Does NOT Eat Fucking Sushi to A Person Who Can’t Wait To Eat Fucking Sushi Again. Which totally has me in an overly analytical tailspin, because I mean… what is that?
Maybe it’s what growing up feels like. That strange little moment when you realize, in a very specific and tangible way, that you’re not the same person you were before. When you start to think that maybe you can’t use the same routine, the same comforts, and the same list of likes and dislikes to define you for an indefinite amount of time.
Which makes me all kinds of curious about 2010. Because who knows, maybe by this time next year I’ll be a botanist. Or a marathon runner. Or a Mexican.
What? YOU DON’T KNOW.
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
Best line: "Or a Mexican."
Is this something you can become? Kinda thought you had to, like, be born into it…
But, I don't know. I'm no historian. Or geographer. Or person that knows about these things.
Yessss now we can go for fantastic sushi next time you’re here!! Or next tim I’m in San Fran (ahem April ahem)
We WILL eat sushi in Vegas! I was the same exact way and then all of sudden, IT OVERTAKES YOUR LIFE! Prepare yourself.
I have the same outlook towards sushi. My friends don't get why I don't like it. It's the squishy and the oozy and the weirdness of it all. Maybe one day I will drink enough sake that I can handle it.
Welcome to the club!!
Sushi is one of my all-time favorite things to eat, right up there with steak. It may be the reason I move back to the coast, just so I can get some decent sushi.
Sushi IS epically delicious, and I'm glad that our future epic reunion (soon, PLEASE?!) can now include an epic sushi dinner.
And did I say epic enough in this? Yes? Ok….epic.
I"m half a Mexican and it's just splendid. if 2010 provides you with the opportunity to become a full-blooded Mexican… YOU MUST TAKE IT
Hate sushi. Hate hate hate. Okay, that’s not true. I don’t “hate” it, I just don’t prefer it. It’s the seaweed that gives me the heebie-jeebies. Even with it wrapped on the inside (an inside out roll; you should try it sometime, if you haven’t already!), the seaweed still manages to gross me out. & here, I’m talking about vegetarian sushi, sans fish. I HATE fish. Hate hate hate.
I didn’t mean to make this comment all about hate. Oops.
I loved this!! I was just contemplating this a few weeks ago when I decided to list allll the things I suck at and realized that half of them are completely invalid in that category as I now DOMINATE in several categories. I had never considered this as a marker of adult-ifying but I think it is my new favorite way to define age and the passing of time. Everything arises, abides, and dissolves. Even the things we are abso-fucking-lutely sure of.
Oh, and next time you're in NYC? SUSHI SEKI ON THE UES MY FRIEND. Commence mind-blowing.
MMMMM, I do love sushi. Well, truthfully, I love "fake" sushi. California rolls, shrimp tempura rolls….I could eat them until I puked. I have tried the whole hunks of raw fish thing, and I just can't deal with the texture. I chew and chew and chew, but I can't swallow…that's what she said.
First off, I hope to god that by this time next year you are indeed a Mexican. Please keep us updated.
Second, I had this same sort of experience with a decidedly less exotic food: tomatoes. I have spend the past decade living under the assumption that I do not like tomatoes. Then, 3 weeks ago that all went out the window and I'm still trying to sort it all out.
Yes! Tomatoes! That was another one of my "first I didn't like it and now I do" foods. Like blue cheese. And pecans. WTF IS THE WORLD COMING TO??
Oh, and in regard to being Mexican by 2011, you'll indeed be the first to know. Pinky swear.
I've only had sushi once, and it wasn't my favorite. I felt like, "hey, I TRIED it!" and that was enough. But it's the same thing with my friends, the whole HOW CAN YOU BE A CALIFORNIAN and not love Sushi?! Eventually I'm sure they'll wear me down so that I'll try it again…
I haven't tried sushi yet and I hate salmon. Friends of mine tell me I'll like it. I don't think so. But I'd sure give it a try before I die. Most certainly!
you don't like /cooked/ salmon.
"Or a Mexican."
Pure genius.
DUDE. I had the same thing happen with sushi earlier this year and then–gasp–escargot just last Monday.
I am NOT at the escargot level yet. Gah. I think it's much more probable that I become a Mexican.
So is one of the New Year resolutions going to be "eat as much sushi as your stomach can handle"?
This reminds me of the time we took one of our co-workers to lunch to a sushi place. And he's not a sushi person but said he'll give it a shot.
He was not grossed out and didn't throw up or anything, but did ask for a fork and a knife.
WTF?!
who eats sushi with a fork and knife? Just use your hands if you can't handle 2 pieces of wood!
I am SO IN for a marathon….Umm you pick the place and l'll meet you there!!
PS. Please pick out about 6 months out (or however long it takes to train for one? I mean how long does it take? 6 months seems enough time to train without dying!)
I was so afraid of sushi, and now I'm in love. I think it's universal. I still refuse the pickled ginger/wasabi shit though.
Glad you enjoyed it! I looooooove sushi…. but I get a vegetarian opt out card & can stick to the safe stuff.
Like yam bakudan…… Oh! Yep. I'm weak in the knees.
Boo. Hiss. Sushi. We hates it. Yay for you and the trying of the new things but I'll just hide out here with my pb&j on squishy bread, thanks.
Haha, that is SO AWESOME! I'm you gave Sushi a chance, and that the said Sushi totally seduced with its super tasty sushi ways
Welcome to the club!
Oh man – we should be BFFs. I cursed the day when I began listening to classical music and eating sushi and finishing university degrees – I could see my father grinning with delight that no longer did i listen only to pop music and eat McDonalds and read magazines but I was becoming older and much more "refined". I wouldn't call it that – but he sure would. A great giggle for me this afternoon knowing you might have just shared a very similar experience
Ah, I wish I could fall in love with sushi again. It was definitely something to grow into. I think taste buds radically change as one get older. I used to hate this Southeast Asian dish made with liver and a dark gravy that had the consistency and texture of mud and to me that was how it tasted. Now I realize it's acually good when made right and maybe even…gulp…crave it from time to time. Are you into the wasabi yet? I went to eat sushi without wasabi after a disastrous first time.
Sorry, I meant to type I ate sushi without wasabi for a long time. I like it now:)
Hi! I am so happy you found me for these reasons:
1) You say fuck. That gives you 8 points in my book
2) You are funny like me. I am very picky about my blogs that I love. Funny is a number 1 quality. You have it. Word.
3) We will be best friends forever. Consider me a stalker.
heart you.
Great, mutual stalking it is. It's totally not creepy if it's mutual.
If you're going to be a Mexican by the end of 2010, then I'm going to be a Spanish princess. Let's get on this.
I never dreamed I'd like sushi either, but now I'm in lurve. LURVE!
Surely never before has sushi inspired such a life-changing epiphany. Unfortunately I have already tried and loved sushi. What can I try?!
Great post. I'm going to follow you, because your writing makes me feel happier. And I have a nose full of snot and a head filled with (for one day only!) misanthropy. Feel honoured!
i LOVE sushi and seaweed adn remember being freaked out by them when i first tried in 2002. i'm glad you had a great experience.
I came here totally prepared to hate you because you are Jenny the Blogess's intern and that was totally going to be MY THING except I'm lazy and can't get on the Internet as much as I want at work, but then you mentioned ANAL SEX and SUSHI in the same blog and now I think I want to be your Intern. Yep, yep, I do. We can make this work.
…now I'm all paranoid that you didn't mention anal sex so I now I have to go back and check because no one blogs about sex and blog jobs and drugs like I do….(Seriously. Go check out my post that involves a vagina drawing contest. You're welcome.)
OK. We're clear.
But I do love sushi. I hope that won't get in the way of our Intern-Intern program.
Ah, you're giving those of us who have repeatedly tried sushi but STILL don't like it a bad name. Because then people who love sushi – like say, just for the sake of argument, my girlfriend – will say to people like me "well if you just try it again you'll like it, just like Nicole did" to which I will respond with a pained groan. So thanks a lot, Nicole. You're a pal.
God, I know. I'm such a heinous bitch, right?
I. LOVE. SUSHI!! So glad you discovered that you like it too!! As a matter of fact, I love sushi so much that it figures into "pregnancy timing" discussions with my husband.
Something like:
Him: My parents are harassing me about grandkids again – when should we start "trying"?
Me: I don't know if I can handle 9+ months without sushi – let's revisit this another time.
i was so the same way with sushi, just had to go for it and now i absolutely love it. some of it i still avoid but for the most part it's pretty dang tasty.
I want to be 1) A Golden Retriever, or 2) A Vampire, or 3) A Bestselling Author – and that one IS going to happen, or 4) A Pagan Deity.
Or all of the above. 2 and 4 might clash, but I'm sure I can work around it somehow.
I just can't bring myself to eat sushi…. I think I'd actually have to be physically forced to try it. Not so into raw food. Yeesh.
@ "Or a Mexican" Yep–probably too late for that one…lol
Such was my experience with salad.
I maintained it tasted like grass for the majority of my life, then all of a sudden I was all "Mmm, this grass is delicious" and now I actually ORDER them. It's insanity. Or growing up. Whichever makes me sound less crazy.
I wish I could eat sushi. Damn food allergies always ruining my fun. Your reaction is pretty common from what I hear; people who are afraid of it wind up loving it!
I love you now. Marry me. Or at least let me take you on a date to Nobu. I promise it will be mindblowing. Or at least fancy and delicious.
Botany is so 19th Century-Gregor-Mendel-experimenting-with-pea-pods. They call it "plant science" now.
So you could be a plant scientist. ; )
I used to love sushi. Actually, I still love sushi. But I got food poisoning from it that lasted for about 8 hours. And then I got a fever. So I pretty much stopped eating it for 2 years. I had one piece of sushi last week in Vegas. I survived.
Of course, four days later I got food poisoning from Indian food which I am NEVER giving up so I basically should say SCREW YOU FOOD POISONING and just eat whatever I damn well want.
Thanks for making me realize that, Nicole.
i have people eating raw fish in my face every day. i mean, the people i work with have gone sushi crazy. let me illustrate;
this morning. as in MORNING:
co-worker: damn my hands smell like soy sauce
me: what??
….
me: ohh no you didn't
co-w: *looks like bambi caught masturbating* yeeeah.. i kinda had sushi for breakfast.
so naturally I'm considering this sushi shit on a daily basis. but i feel like you did sitting at that table, just by the thought of it.
ergaerg Nicole I love you. I am blogrolling you tomorrow if I don't forget.
I absolutely freaking loathe nori in my sushi. It always tastes EXACTLY like lawn clipping smells. Eugh. I do like sushi though.
Also, hilariously enough: I kept typing sushit.
I am just beginning to like sushi, too. But only eat the eel if you are super close to the bathroom, I almost upchucked that one, but I didn't, so it totally counts in my tried and never have to try again list!
The girl who just tried snails has become my new hero, just so you know. She must be fearless!
I used to feel like sushi was the last thing I would ever put in my mouth. Like, I would rather eat poop. But, I was working at this restaurant and they forced me to eat sushi because I had to taste the whole menu. And, I liked it too. Now I love sushi and can't get enough.
Seaweed salad is delicious and oh, so good for you. I'm disappointed in you Nicole–I always thought you were an "I'll try anything once" kind of girl.
I've just discovered you Ms. Intern, from my time over at the bloggess.
I LOVE SUSHI! It's all about the unagi, ebi, and whatever the roll is with baked/smoked salmon skin. That way I get to be a smug urbanite without ever letting raw fish pass my lips, because I'd rather have anal sex with a donkey (as long as the donkey is the "catcher").
PS
Why is "Cute & Smart Internet Ho" unacceptable (I know "too long" is just an excuse)? You don't like prostitutes or something?
"Maybe it’s what growing up feels like. That strange little moment when you realize, in a very specific and tangible way, that you’re not the same person you were before. When you start to think that maybe you can’t use the same routine, the same comforts, and the same list of likes and dislikes to define you for an indefinite amount of time."
I love that you put that into words for me, because it's been schlomping around in my head for a while now and I wasn't sure how to verbalize it. I was writing a bio and filling out "about me" forms for this program and I stopped and thought, "Holy shhh… that's not me! That WAS me at some point in life… so who am I now?!" I guess I grew so accustomed to the canned responses about myself that I would give to people and I hadn't stopped to reevaluate who I have become, what I've grown to like/dislike and what I want…."
And I still haven't. Instead, I just give myself anxiety and complain about my confused life
I should put it on the to do list.
I seriously had the same thing happen to me 2 weeks ago. My boss takes me to get sushi, which I cringe, throw up a little in my mouth, but politely accepted.
I ordered the cucumber roll, with faux seaweed (they make that! it's pink!), and ate it, and then she proceeded to make me try the salmon, spicy tuna, etc. and I was like, FUCK! I do like this!
Loving your blog! You are hysterical.
I agree with Jamie. "Mexican" made me giggle. A lot. And I'm so glad that you like Sushi too, as we've already discussed.
Sushi FTW.
Since you’re in SF, wander down to Foster City sometime. Go to Tokie’s, its amazing sushi. You need to eat at the bar and if possible, have Akila make your sushi. So many noms!
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