Last Updated on September 6, 2022 by gregor
The NOBU fusion cuisine experience in Vienna
The Bristol Hotel in Vienna hosts a pop-up of the famous Japanese NOBU restaurant. I had the chance to meet the Chef of the NOBU Budapest and get a more than interesting insides to the secrets of making and eating Sushi the way real experts do
How to……behave in a Sushi bar
Traditional Sushi bars in Japan are always owned by Chef himself – they are usually very small and can only host a few guests. The Japanese culture demands being extremely polite – sending away potential guest, therefore would be a real problem for the chefs. If you are within a group – simply let one person enter, showing the chef by raising fingers how many of you would like to eat – and allow him to let you know if he can host you …. That will respect culture and pride ….and gives you the image of a real insider!
In Japan, a Sushi bar will only serve at the bar directly – one Sushi after the other – freshly made by the chef! If you visit a Sushi bar outside Japan, in Europe for example, you might have the choice between a place on a perfectly set table or the Sushi bar facing the chef – your choice shall always be the bar! Why? Well, because there is no better way of having the freshest Sushi ever….! If you are lucky enough to find a traditional place – there might be a tip box -not to tip the waiters – but the chef himself – for preparing delicious food for you – do not hesitate to use it!
How to …….eat your Sushi the correct way …. or how to kill them!
Gabor Schreiner, NOBU Budapest’s Chef, gave us a deep insight into the secrets of eating Sushi the way it is meant to be – the way that respects the Chefs art of preparing them……
- The classic Nigiri Sushi is made with different fish – it is recommended to start with the white fish because it is less intense – and then enjoy the red fish with the stronger flavors….
- Do not put Wasabi into the soy sauce and mix it together – it will kill every carefully prepared Sushi immediately!
- Do only dip the Sushi with the fish – not the rice – into the soy sauce – just one corner – carefully!
- Eat it in one bite – any well experienced Sushi Chef will choose the size accordingly-……!
- Eat a slice of ginger between the different types of Sushi to neutralize the taste….
Well…. strict rules… you might think…. Gabor explained it this way:
Every well experienced Sushi Chef has his one secret of flavoring the fish before serving – using salt and a bit of lime for the mild sorts of fish or stronger flavors and sauces for the red fish …. mixing that with a lot of soy sauce and wasabi will never allow you to taste them way he wants you to – it will kill them ….!
What to drink …… with a Japanese menu
Everyone knows the Japanese drink Sake – and of course wine is served in most of the Sushi bars in Europe…. let’s find out about the perfectly matching drink to enjoy with your Japanese dinner…..
If you are not already an expert regarding Japanese food or you want to experience an overview about what NOBU offers …. choose the 7-course tasting menu! It will offer Sashimi, Sushi, hot dishes and a desert. Wine is the perfect match with the hot dishes – Sake will do fine with the Sashimi – the Nigiri Sushi itself does – per Gabor’s taste – not demand any accompanying drink – enough taste with the fish and the rice!
Nobu Vienna.. What you can expect….
NOBU Vienna pop up in the Bristol Hotel Vienna offers you the chance to get an idea of the secrets of the famous Japanese food served worldwide – lucky if you manage to get a table!
Well … If not…. try the opera menu – a special tasting menu served early evening for those going to the opera that night – or for those couldn’t make a reservation for the regular dinner but desperately want to try NOBUs food – which is definitely worth it – I can tell you!
