where to get "real" wasabi?

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

is super88 my best bet, or is there somewhere closer to davis?

Comments

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

How about the japanese market in the Porter Exchange Building?

[orbitalmechanic.livejournal.com]

Or if that doesn't work, you might try the Reliable Market in Union Square. But I agree, the Porter Exchange is a better bet.

[cutieperson]

they had it last time i needed it.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

There's also the Reliable Market in Union Square.

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind mail order http://www.freshwasabi.com/

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

nice. thanks all.

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

Reliable Market is cheaper than the market inside of the Porter Sq Exchange. I suspect that wasabi there may even be cheaper than at Super 88 (I know the panko I buy is), plus you'll probably have more choices.

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

oh! Though I've never been, there's a Japanese market in Central Sq too, off Mass Ave on the way to Whole Foods (the smaller one, not the big one on River St).

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

That was the first place that occurred to me: Yoshinoya. It's on Prospect, in the first block. Right next to The Field. Apparently they have good fish, too.

[phoenixy.livejournal.com]

I think Pemberton Farms has it.

[krysalist.livejournal.com]

I'll bet the Porter Star Market has it too.

Crunchy turtle!

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

If you want real real wasabi, they sell it at Penzey's in
Arlington Heights. Note, however, that, as their website says:

Funnily enough, the wasabi we've all been eating in Japanese restaurants for many years isn't actually made of only ground up wasabi root. It is a combination of ingredients which combine to give the bright heat and zesty flavor we all know and love mixed with soy sauce and served with sushi. Pure Wasabi root is extremely expensive and a small jar doesn't really make very much. As far as the flavor difference, it is kind of like turtles. When you've been going to the candy store all your life eating turtles, luscious chocolate covered caramel and pecan creations, and then you get told no, real turtles are at the pet store -so you go there and find out they are crunchy amphibians, even though they truly are the "real" turtle, you'll probably, in the long run, end up back at the candy store.

Re: Crunchy turtle!

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

ha! ya, that's basically my quest. i want to know. i do like my horseradish.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Scary:
There are the same cans of wasabi powder at Shaw's that they have at Reliable, Kotobukiya and Super 88.

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

i read here that that enzymes that make it spicy can only live if it's still wet. do you know if the powder contains some horseradish? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasabi

are you making sushi?

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

I like the taste of the powdered wasabi over the tube wasabi. The trick to powdered wasabi is to zap it in the microwave for about 3 seconds after you've mixed with water.

Re: are you making sushi?

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

>microwave
thanks. noted.

Re: are you making sushi?

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

If you have the money and time, I highly recommend sushi classes with Walter Rhee at CCAE. Unfortunately, he's only around in the summer and the last time I was there, there were too many people.
more people = less attention = less sushi making

Re: are you making sushi?

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

good tip. i've taken some other CCAE classes... i'll probably do this next summer. ; )

[rxrfrx.livejournal.com]

By "real" wasabi do you mean real or "real?" Like, a root or that tube you put a picture of?

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

i was reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasabi to find out. i guess it would be most authentic if i got the root and made it myself. i'll start halfway with the tube. ; )