beautifully illustrated book on the aesthetics and science of sushi
"With the passion of a connoisseur, the insight of a scientist, and the curiosity of a writer, Ole Mouritsen offers this exquisite meditation on sushi, including its meaning, the art of preparation, eating, and serving it, the health benefits it imparts, and its role in ancient and contemporary Japan."
Victoria Abbott Riccardi, author of Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto
"As a lifelong enthusiast who has eaten, studied, and sought to
construct great sushi - from traditional to modern - I was extremely
impressed by this wonderful book. It is clear that serious research, as
well as much imagination, went into every page. It has become my new
`go-to bible when I need a shot of inspirations
Ken Oringer, internationally renowned and award-winning chef Clio Restaurant, Uni Sashimi Bar, Boston
"Ole Mouritsen's engrossing book focuses on sushi in its minutest details, but zooms out for extended looks at everything from the tea ceremony and Japanese aesthetics to the biology of nutrition and perception and the origins of life. It's a treatise to consult for its wealth of practical information, and to browse in for the diverting thoughts of an omnivorous mind."
Harold McGee, author of On Food and Cooking. The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
In recent decades, sushi has gone from being a rather exotic dish, eaten by relatively few outside of Japan, to a regular meal for many across the world. It is quickly gathering the attention of chefs and nutritionists everywhere. It has even made its way into numerous home kitchens where people have patiently honed the specialized craft required to prepare it. Few have been more attuned to this remarkable transition than Ole G. Mouritsen, an esteemed Danish scientist and amateur chef who has had a lifelong fascination with sushi s central role in Japanese culinary culture.
Sushi for the eye, the body, and the soul is a unique melange of a book. In it, Mouritsen discusses the cultural history of sushi then uses his scientific prowess to deconstruct and explain the complex chemistry of its many subtle and sharp taste sensations. He also offers insights from years of honing his own craft as a sushi chef, detailing how to choose and prepare raw ingredients, how to decide which tools and techniques to use, and how to arrange and present various dishes.
Sushi is irresistible for both its simplicity and the hypnotic performance-art aspects that go into its preparation. With clear prose and straightforward instructions, Mouritsen looks at every facet of sushi in a book that is as accessible as it is informative, as useful as it is fun.
Hardcover: 330 pages
Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
