Food History: The California Roll

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ส.ค. 2022
  • California rolls are a well-known type of sushi in the United States, but how does it differ from Japanese cuisine?
    Food History is a show all about... well, the history of food. Join host Justin Dodd as he brings you the stories of how your favorite meals ended up on your plate. On today's episode, we break down the history of California rolls and the impact of Japanese culture on the American palate. Let's dig in.
    Check out Sarah Lohman's Book, Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine below:
    sarahlohman.com/book/
    -----------------------------
    Website: www.mentalfloss.com​
    Twitter: / mental_floss​
    Facebook: / mentalflossmagazine

ความคิดเห็น • 70

  • @kalui96
    @kalui96 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    As a Japanese American I will never understand why Americans put the rice on the outside of their sushi... the Nori seaweed wrapping is meant to go on the outside as to give the rice structure
    Like a sausage... the meat goes on the inside of the casing!!!
    The taste is not really affected other than the initial contact of the tongue prior to chewing though. Functionally the usage of the Nori does not matter all that much lol

    • @iprobablyforgotsomething
      @iprobablyforgotsomething ปีที่แล้ว +4

      As an American, I always wondered the same thing. It seemed counterproductive and silly. But then, it's also popular for people to misquote "heels over head" (aka being, or feeling as though you've been, hit by surprise so that you're knocked backwards off your feet, which fly up into the air as your upper body falls down) as "head over heels"... Even though *our heads are already over our heels* omg ppl. So ofc American sushi is wrapped halfway inside-out instead of properly containing its bite-size goodness. That's just how America rolls.
      .
      (No pun intended.)

    • @6thwilbury2331
      @6thwilbury2331 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I've never really liked the California roll, so until this video - and your comment - it never dawned on me that it's constructed that way. Kind of funny to hear it described as "inside out." That's pretty accurate.
      But yeah, I've long called the California roll "white people's sushi."

    • @stenbak88
      @stenbak88 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It’s bc seaweed is disgusting and we don’t want that to be the first substance to hit our tongue. As a white American I don’t understand eating fish in general but raw fish makes absolutely zero sense

  • @manaash4316
    @manaash4316 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This episode in particular made me so hungry 😭

  • @bubbledoubletrouble
    @bubbledoubletrouble ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Raw salmon in sushi/as sashimi also did not originate in Japan. Norway had a large surplus of salmon back in the ‘80s and needed to find new markets for it.

    • @delusionnnnn
      @delusionnnnn ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I presume (perhaps incorrectly) that most of the freshwater sushi we see here in North America are modern and local innovations.

  • @scottherrington9382
    @scottherrington9382 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    👏👏👏👏Loved this episode. That ending full circle with the fermenting connection was 🤌.

  • @MattAndImprov
    @MattAndImprov ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Gotta mention Molly Ringwald's explanation in The Breakfast Club.
    Old news for many by the time it came out but definitely the introduction for tens of thousands of people

  • @koreanelvis
    @koreanelvis ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My personal favorite (which I have also seen in Japan when I traveled there four years ago) roll is the Spider Roll. It’s like any other roll except for the special deep fried, soft shelled crab in the middle of the roll; which is chopped for easy eating. No wasabi needed, just Japanese Mayo.

  • @wepoststuff
    @wepoststuff ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Who knew food history could be so interesting! Excellent video :)

  • @atsukorichards1675
    @atsukorichards1675 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In my hometown in Japan, we still enjoy the fresh water fish fermented in cooked rice as a regional traditional cuisine, "Funa-zushi."

  • @HayTatsuko
    @HayTatsuko ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like lots of sushi, both traditional and United Statesian, but my favorite thing ever is inarizushi -- with just the sushi rice and some seasoned seaweed and sesame seeds and such in. The lovely aburaage pocket and the vinegary rice inside, as well as the sweet-and-savory toppings, make it an absolute delight to nom upon.

  • @moredena
    @moredena ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My go-to sushi roll is unagi and avocado inside out rolls! So yummy!

  • @nariu7times328
    @nariu7times328 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love this series!

  • @wezul
    @wezul ปีที่แล้ว

    Favorite: Rocket Roll from Ginza Sushi in Tampa, FL. Tuna, crab, onion, deep fried, topped with mayo, eel sauce, siracha, and scallions sprinkled on top. Warm, crispy, sweet and savory, it's so good!

  • @s.b.8496
    @s.b.8496 ปีที่แล้ว

    Our favourite sushi-rolls contain several "non-traditional" ingredients. A mixture of fresh cheese and creamy peanut-butter, wasabi, breaded chicken (toasted and cut into stripes), mozzarella. My favourite variation of those are with cherry-tomatoes cut up into eighths (or thin slices of pickled beets). Whenever I make them for myself I add some tabasco - but it works perfectly fine without that.

  • @jessiwonderfool
    @jessiwonderfool ปีที่แล้ว +3

    And now Japan often serves mayonnaise on sushi. And pizza. And anything else they can think of.

  • @roweng.4245
    @roweng.4245 ปีที่แล้ว

    A few decades ago, I came up with an inexpensive "sushi" - core cucumbers, stuff with squeezed-out canned tuna with some liquid from pickled ginger added; tie up snugly and refrigerate over night. Quite good, and works for picnics where one does not want to have raw fish sitting out. No rice involved.

  • @richardmoore8918
    @richardmoore8918 ปีที่แล้ว

    This entry written on 12/31/'22. I am sansei Japanese from my mother's side of the family and black and white from my father's side. I grew up in Los Angeles, CA. In 1970 a buddy of mine took me to the tokyo Kaikan Restaurant that was mentioned in this video. A few weeks later I decided to go there myself, alone. This was before I ever had a credit card. I ran up a bill that was a few dollars more than I had in cash; the management decided to trust me to pay them back in the days after my visit. I did pay them and patronized the restaurant for years thereafter until they closed.

  • @lillysora
    @lillysora ปีที่แล้ว

    A local Japanese restaurant to me called Kokoro does a great spider roll though the restaurants specialty is rice bowls and introduced me to the joy that is Japanese curry!

  • @firstcynic92
    @firstcynic92 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My go to sushi is... Twinkie sushi.
    Wrap a twinkie in a fruit roll up & chill it. Slice into 1" segments. Poke in small dried fruits (blueberries, cranberries, etc.), small candies, or top with a Gummi Fish. Keep chilled until you are going to serve them.

  • @matthewdrummond1340
    @matthewdrummond1340 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I've definitely had more grocery store California rolls than traditional sushi but there is a Japanese restaurant in town. I'll have to go soon.

    • @MentalFloss
      @MentalFloss  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      *whispers* People hate on grocery store sushi, but...it's good?

  • @WenzelSays
    @WenzelSays ปีที่แล้ว +2

    If a teacher shows a movie instead of teaching, there's a good chance that they're hungover

    • @MentalFloss
      @MentalFloss  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hahaha never considered this before, but having seen how teachers approach happy hour, I'm inclined to believe it.

  • @nancyckotz
    @nancyckotz ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What, no mention of sushi burritos?

  • @thenickster015
    @thenickster015 ปีที่แล้ว

    I went to a sushi place once called Hockey Sushi (I'm in Canada, obviously lol). They had what they called a "hockey roll" which was essentially a tempura sushi but the size of a hockey puck.

  • @glazdarklee1683
    @glazdarklee1683 ปีที่แล้ว

    13:09 - off by a century, but otherwise a delightful an entertaining video. Thanks.

  • @maryavatar
    @maryavatar ปีที่แล้ว +3

    There’s a sushi place about 100 metres from my house. If is difficult to stop myself getting lunch there every day. Their Dragon Rolls - 😘

  • @HeliosKou
    @HeliosKou ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Unagi has to be my favorite

  • @micknolen
    @micknolen ปีที่แล้ว +2

    My favorite is whatever the local creation is.

  • @KevinSmith-YT
    @KevinSmith-YT ปีที่แล้ว

    Fascinating!! Thanks!

  • @bonwatcher
    @bonwatcher ปีที่แล้ว

    If you've never had a California roll with real crab you are missing out. The richness of real shredded crab in a California roll is to die for.

  • @franbalcal
    @franbalcal ปีที่แล้ว

    girl, you gotta try the peruvian style Sushi "acevichado".

  • @PrinceGastronome
    @PrinceGastronome ปีที่แล้ว

    Hidekazu Tojo is my choice as creator. He has the best story.

  • @delusionnnnn
    @delusionnnnn ปีที่แล้ว

    My favourites are all the fish roe sushi, especially the spicy wasabi roe hand rolls. I'm glad I finally tried the sea urchin (roe) roll, but it's my least favourite and I'll never have another. It wasn't disgusting, but I just didn't like it.

  • @Pawz2142
    @Pawz2142 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When soft shelled crab is in season my fav is the Spider Roll for sure. Any other time the Rainbow Roll is my go-to.

  • @christopherb.2986
    @christopherb.2986 ปีที่แล้ว

    Itadakimasu doesn't really mean "Enjoy your food!", it's something you say... to yourself, more or less, not to others :p Anyways, thanks for that episode

    • @atsukorichards1675
      @atsukorichards1675 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "いただきます/Itadakimasu" means "I am grateful to receive this meal."

  • @6thwilbury2331
    @6thwilbury2331 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Seems like it was yesterday that the movie The Breakfast Club came out, with one character having to explain to another what sushi is.

    • @Beryllahawk
      @Beryllahawk ปีที่แล้ว

      Oh good I'm not the only one who instantly thought of that scene, hehe

  • @ktekc
    @ktekc ปีที่แล้ว

    Spicy Crunchy Tuna roll for me pls!

  • @schneedrachin
    @schneedrachin ปีที่แล้ว

    Justin eats free food should be a real thing

  • @KiloDeltaOneSierra
    @KiloDeltaOneSierra ปีที่แล้ว

    Tekka maki. Though maguro too

  • @alarcon99
    @alarcon99 ปีที่แล้ว

    Umm. Saying that ceviche has its roots in Peru (ignoring neighboring countries) is like saying that barbecue ribs have their roots in South Carolina. Any way you slice it, your about to start some beef 😜

  • @datchu8458
    @datchu8458 ปีที่แล้ว

    Watch a Foreigner stories in phillipines

  • @toveryonder1115
    @toveryonder1115 ปีที่แล้ว

    san Antonio roll

  • @deboralee1623
    @deboralee1623 ปีที่แล้ว

    ¿shot in Japan? ¿Japanese actors? so crazy, it just might work.

  • @ConradSpoke
    @ConradSpoke ปีที่แล้ว

    Let's not forget that long before the attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) Americans had been reading about atrocities committed by Emperor Hirohito and the Japanese military for *decades*, long before the rise of Hitler. These atrocities were committed against other Asians, whom the Japanese considered racially inferior.
    After Pearl Harbor many Japanese-Americans continued to worship and publicly endorse Hirohito, despite these atrocities. Most German-Americans had fully rejected Hitler, Nazis, and German nationalism by 1939.
    The illegal concentration camps on the West coast were a response to this bizarre and disturbing disparity. It is a myth that Executive Order 9066 was nothing more than unmotivated hatred of Asians. There was no such fear of Japanese-Americans in the eastern U.S.

  • @mathieuleader8601
    @mathieuleader8601 ปีที่แล้ว

    the Hawaiian Pizza is Canadian

  • @SandlotRider
    @SandlotRider ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The simpler the better. So nigirizushi it is for me but I'd rather have only sashimi if the seafood is fresh and simply good. No need to add ingredients that'll wash away the subtle tastes of the seafood.

  • @josephseda9455
    @josephseda9455 ปีที่แล้ว

    I also like squid.

  • @MustangErin
    @MustangErin ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My favorites are Dynamite rolls and if I can find something with mango I am happy. I also don't eat any raw fish so it must be cooked for this girl.

  • @christianhansen3292
    @christianhansen3292 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    classic cali roll for me please! arigato

  • @crybebebunny
    @crybebebunny ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Very interested. No I surely don't like Sushi. My husband and eldest daughter, they both enjoy it very much.

    • @MentalFloss
      @MentalFloss  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ha, thanks for watching. I bet less than 10% of the audience who watches these vids are learning about a food they don't enjoy eating, so 100 curiosity points for you!

  • @Freddles279
    @Freddles279 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Another plot twist... French toast was not invented in France. The gentleman who invented it was Joseph French. Apparently, he was grammatically inept and when he called it French toast, he forgot the apostrophe to show ownership.

  • @MeganBecnel
    @MeganBecnel ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Sushi not japanese. Spaghetti not italian. All the things

  • @Darxide23
    @Darxide23 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Garçon means "boy" as in a male child. So yea. Nobody would like that.

    • @LuchadorMasque
      @LuchadorMasque ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Someone's never seen pulp fiction . . .

    • @Swishy_Blue
      @Swishy_Blue ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Excuse me *snapsnap*, boy!"
      Excuse me *snapsnap* You're not my grandpa!

    • @TeslaMaster2
      @TeslaMaster2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      So... Justin went full Kratos on his producer.

    • @RealMariNova
      @RealMariNova ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TeslaMaster2 😂😂😂

  • @rudyoliveira6532
    @rudyoliveira6532 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hairy chest guy is back!

  • @Hillers62
    @Hillers62 ปีที่แล้ว

    California rolls are an abomination to sushi...today, many grocery stores sell "Fusion Sushi" with mayonnaise, avocado, fake crab, etc...that is NOT sushi!!!!!

  • @stenbak88
    @stenbak88 ปีที่แล้ว

    I only eat California rolls, real sushi is so disgusting

  • @6thwilbury2331
    @6thwilbury2331 ปีที่แล้ว

    So wait... the Japanese took something invented in another country, then perfected it? Yes, that sounds familiar.