Shopping for Sushi and Sushi Making Supplies in Providence, Rhode Island

Don't you hate how expensive sushi can get? By the time you've had a bowl of miso soup, a cup of green tea, and a California roll or two, you can easily have a bill that tallies $20 and still be hungry enough to grab a late night slice of pizza, too. For a group of friends to go out for sushi, it's not unusual for the bill to be over $100, but what if you and your friends are broke college students who like sushi? Does that mean you have to go without? Heck no!

First of all, if you live in Providence, the capital city of the Ocean State, consider yourself lucky. Fresh fish is easy to come by, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than what can be had in, say, Wichita. Also, we have several decent places to buy pre-made sushi. Lots of people like Tokyo, on Wickenden Street, but I'm always hearing how pricey it is, so I've never been. Another place on Wickenden Street in Providence can't be beat, though, and that's Sakura, at the bottom of the hill, next door to Cafe Zog. With rolls ranging in price from $3.50 - $13.50, there's something to meet everyone's price level and taste expectations. Try the Yam rolls... omg! They are delicious beyond belief.

Don't feel like going to a restaurant because you want to spend the night at home in your underwear in the air-conditioned goodness of your dorm room? (Hey, I can't be the only one... Right?) Swing by Whole Foods on North Main Street to pick up a sushi try. It's a little more expensive than Sakura, with less options, but it's good and it travels well. Besides, for those of you enjoying some food stamps benefits, it's a great way to get some "free" sushi. There are some other grocery stores around that carry pre-made sushi items as well, like East Side Market and some Stop and Shop locations.

Still, for the best price levels, I recommend that you gather a group of friends and learn how to make your own sushi. It's cheap to get started, easier than you might think, and a whole lot of fun. For those of you in Providence or nearby, check out the Chinese American mini-market on Park Avenue in Cranston. It's crazy packed with all sorts of Chinese grocery items, and it's wicked cheap. You can get a 5-lb bag of sushi rice for less than $10, and packs of Nori sheets (10 to a pack) for $2 a pop. You can also get your pickled ginger, wasabi, rice vinegar and soy sauce all in the same place, and for a better price than you'll find anywhere else. If you're from out of state, you might have to shop around, but, trust me, the hunt will be worth it.

You will also need a bamboo rolling mat and some plastic sandwich wrap. Your initial expense for all the supplies will probably be about $25, and that's not counting the fillings, which we'll talk about next, but that 5-lb rice will make enough sushi for many dinners, and all the other stuff will last a while, too. Sure, you could get a smaller bag of rice, but if you're like me and you like sushi, you'll end up using it so why not?

For fillings, you can find a bunch of recipes online, and you don't even have to use raw fish. Here are a few simple combinations:

California Roll
Buy an avocado, a pack of imitation crab meat, cream cheese and a cucumber. Slice the avocado, sprinkle with lime or lemon juice. Break up the crab meat into thin, long strips. Put the cream cheese into a bowl and allow to warm to room temperature. Stir in wasabi to taste. (Not too much!) Peel the cucumber and slice into long, thin strips.

Veggie Roll
Buy cucumber, carrots, and green onions. Peel the cucumber and the carrots. Slice all the veggies into long, thin slices.

Tempura
Buy eggs, and make sure you have a little sugar around the house. Beat the eggs, making sure to whip in a lot of air, which basically means to whip it really well with a whisk or a fork. Add a T. of sugar to a few eggs. Add a little oil to a heated frying pan, add egg, stir gently and remove from eat when set, sorta like making an omlette. Slice the egg into long, thin strips.

Spicy Tuna
Buy a can of tuna, mayonnaise and red pepper flakes. Drain the tuna, and mix it with a T. of mayonnaise and pepper flakes to taste.

Make the sushi rice first, and make sure you allow extra time for the rice to cool before you will be ready to assemble the rolls. Your bag of sushi rice should have directions, but basically, cook the rice with a little extra water and stir in a cup of rice vinegar to a large batch of rice once it's done. Allow to cool to a touchable temperature before trying to roll.

Add one Nori sheet to the rolling mat. Wet the edges and add the rice, pressing it flat and leaving 1 inch on each side. Add the fillings to the middle of the rice square. Roll tightly, but gently, sorta like all those doobies you've rolled in your dorm room, and make sure that the edge sticks. Wrap the roll in plastic sandwich wrap, and repeat. With a bunch of friends rolling, this is a fun way to have dinner. And remember: Practice makes perfect!

When all the rolls are done, refrigerate for five minutes, at least, to firm up the rolls. During this time, prepare a large serving platter and set the table. Drink some Saki if you wish. When it's time to serve, get a large bowl of water and a sharp, serrated knife. Dip the knife in water, and cut the unwrapped rolls into 6 - 8 pieces each. Arrange artfully on the serving platter. Use chopsticks, or your grubby fingers, and enjoy!