Sushi, simply translated, refers specifically to seasoned rice.
Here in the west, however, it’s become a blanket term for any assemblage of raw fish, rice, and discretionary seaweed.
Stretching that already loose definition even further still: Canadians, the inventors of California Rolls, Sushi Pizza, and Sushi Poutine.
Are these bastardizations of Japanese cuisine or products of Canadian ingenuity and an irreverent appetite?
You decide:
All You Can Eat Sushi
@_wreca/Instagram
Before we get into specific atrocities committed against this humble cuisine, AYCE sushi has to get a mention. Quantity over quality. With few exceptions, that’s the mantra of these unlimited sushi establishments. It sounds great, but is it? Is it really? What would Jiro think?
California Rolls
Kind of like how General Tso isn’t really a thing in China, and exactly how Hawaiian pizza has no roots in Hawaii, California Rolls aren’t really all that big in Japan. Claiming responsibility for the inverted avocado-imitation crab sushi roll-up is Vancouver Chef Hidekazu Tojo (circa 1970). His restaurant, Tojo’s, is still open in Vancouver today.
Sushi Pizza
The origins of these prolific deep-fried, panko-crusted, rice patties topped with fish are murky, though a 2008 Chowhound thread attributes the invention to a sushi bar in Montreal. Regardless, this delicacy is EVERYWHERE. Find it on countless menus across Toronto (Sushi on Bloor, Ni Ji, and Japango, to name just a few), and even in Vancouver as of late.
Sushi Burritos
Sushi Burrito at Pokérrito (Jess Fleming/Daily Hive)
While not invented in Canada, the whole nation seems to have taken to this trend which dispenses with delicate chopsticks and lets diners just manhandle massive maki rolls. Find them in Vancouver at Pokerrito, in Montreal at Moushi, in Calgary at Poke YYC, and at a multitude of eateries in Toronto.
Sushi Burger
Because everything’s good as a burger: Su&Bu makes theirs with salmon, tuna, crab, onion, avocado, seaweed salad, arugula, coconut, lettuce, carrot, red cabbage, sesame mayo, sweet sauce and Sriracha aioli. Somehow that’s all sandwiched between two crispy rice buns.
Sushi Poutine
It doesn’t get more Canadian than Poutine, so it was inevitable it would get combined with sushi. Geneviève Everell owner of Montreal catering company Sushi à la Maison serves up rolls of duck confit and french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy.
Sushi Nachos
Tex-mex meet sushi: match made in heaven? Sushi Nachos are fusion food brought to the extreme. Nique Restaurant in Hamilton does a rendition with tuna, meanwhile, Toronto’s Rollipub does a version with sashimi and jalapeños.
Sushi Tacos
Venturing mighty close into ceviche/tostada territory here, Joey Restaurants across Canada include “Tuna Tacos” under its sushi bar menu. In Mississauga, Corner by Spoon & Fork devotes a whole section of its menu to sushi tacos, meanwhile Montreal-based chain, Sushi Shop has also made sushi tacos a staple.
Sushi Cake
Kimu in Vancouver recently introduced sushi cake to its lineup that already includes sushi pizza. The festive stack of sushi is served with crab meat, avocado, shiitake mushroom, salmon, spicy tuna and tobiko then torched with spicy mayo, BBQ sauce, balsamic reduction, caper and garlic chips.
Sushi Doughnuts
AKA doshi, the sushi doughnut can be devoured at Square Fish in downtown Toronto. To the untrained eye this might just look like a sushi pizza, but there’s a hole in the middle presumably to tap into every Canadian’s obsession with Tim Hortons.
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