People didn’t know this?
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WTF is this Wasabi day at the BoingBoing offices?
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I’ve always known this, and I recollect that once upon a time people were surprised by this, but I figured by now this was common knowledge.
Still, it’s kind of weird how accepted it is to label green-dyed mustard and/or horseradish (there’s not even any consistency as to the actual ingredients) as “wasabi,” especially now that there are so many (pseudo-) “wasabi” flavored products and people know it’s not actually wasabi.
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It’s one of those things that are being used in such small quantities that to your point…as long as it reasonably approximates the flavor, how would anyone know the difference.
Also…I have seen video, tv show, and book excerpt ad nauseum tell me how no real sushi eater would want wasabi on the side, the sushi chef will put it in the roll if it belongs, don’t add it…its bad etiquette. yada yada yada.
So if I shouldn’t have it or use it in the first place…why does it matter if it’s authentic or not?
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I agree. I don’t eat it so often that it really matters to me. I like it well enough when I do. Even if I had the opportunity to get the real thing, I don’t know that I would like it better. I’m a peasant, after all.
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Dammit. I was just looking for a good clip of this. (tips hat)
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I wonder if it’s hard to grow the real thing. My dad has a big patch of regular horseradish in Iowa. That stuff requires like zero maintenance here. It just comes back on it’s own every year.
I vaguely recall looking up how to grow wasabi years ago. Likely its possible to do most places but my guess is that for large scale growing there must be some difficulties i’m unaware of. If i had some property i would not mind trying my hand at growing some… some day perhaps.
I do get weird ideas on things to grow though, despite my lack of experience. I’ve looked into what it’d take to grow rice, black corn, sugar cane, vanilla, and a bunch of other food stuffs. The only things i’ve committed so far to growing has been some peppers, an avocado plant and a dwarf banana plant (all indoors)
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wasabi is fairly easy to grow indoors as a houseplant and you’ll always have fresh whenever needed. a very little goes a long way and when you grow your own you can use the leaves in pickling similar to shisho.
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If I’m paying $300 for a master chef to prepare me food, I’m eating it his/her way.
If I’m paying $2.50 a plate off the back of a model train, I’m bathing that stuff in green horseradish!
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Is that so bad if it is?
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It’s just an observation not a condimentation.
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Oh, it’s a fine day indeed at stately Boing Boing Manor. Green stains everywhere and Rob continuously yelling “WASSSSSAAAAABI” to anybody who walks through the door.
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True Vanilla contains more than 200 aromatic substances, and depending on the fermentation process a hell lot of other compounds adding to the taste as well. Vanillin is but one of those. It is double blind test provable that one can distinguish the two. If you can’t, I am really sorry for you. You might not know what you are missing, but it would really be a loss.
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I need the CCTV of this. Right nao.
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America’s Test Kitchen recently looked at this very thing. (you have to subscribe to see the results, but not to read the summary (click read more), which is the relevant bit here):
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Wasabi Wednesday?
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