Friday, June 23, 2006

Raw Obsession

Boqueria Market

I'm in the grip of a mild obsession. I'm obsessing about raw fish and I can't seem to get my palate to entertain the notion of anything else right now. The guys at work have taken to calling me "The Valley Girl" because I seem to be subsisting on a diet of sashimi from Yo! Sushi and diet coke, something I may have to watch for fear of it sticking or finding myself saying "Oh My God!" a great deal.

I've been getting home with a slab of sashimi grade tuna or just a couple of choice salmon steaks and gorging myself standing at the kitchen counter, trusty Global shearing off great slabs, a touch of wasabi and a little dip in the soy sauce and then pure heaven. I have no idea if I am cutting the stuff even vaguely correctly, I am undoubtedly not, but there is nothing like that hit of pure protein, that mild buzz you get when you are sucking down glistening slabs of tuna or salmon. It's not sashimi, I won't pretend that I can even begin to call it that. It's just stunningly fresh fish eaten with the minimum of fuss. As good as eating gets, something honest and clean.

In 31 Songs, Nick Hornby claims that we listen to songs until we understand them and then they lose interest for us. It might take a couple of listens or it might take a lifetime of listening to finally "get" it. It might be something very simple but we'll listen and listen until we finally break it. I find I get like that about food, I'll become incredible tiresome about something, eat and eat it until I've bored the shit out of everyone around me and then finally find something else to get a bit obsessional about. Do I finally "get" it? Do I find myself understanding whatever it is I have let get under my skin. Nah, it takes a lifetime and I don't have the patience.

6 comments:

beth said...

What a vivid image of you in the kitchen with your knife and slab of tuna!

How nice that your current obsession is healthful (if the fish is truly high-grade, of course) and not say bread slathered in jam.

Where DO you get such high-grade fish, by the way?

Anonymous said...

I see where the babycham doe has been hiding out and partying...

Anonymous said...

oops (in your other post)

Anonymous said...

Where do you find this fish? If I were to bring home such amounts of tuna and salmon I'd be broke within the month! More power to you if you can find it, afford it, AND enjoy it!

Ulla said...

That photo is GOOD, I mean REAL GOOD!

Anna (Morsels and Musings) said...

i agree. there's something about raw food that's so appealing in warm weather. i crave raw fish, raw vegetables and raw beef. bring it on!!!