I like sushi and I enjoy a nice bit of hot wasabi in my soy sauce like the next man, but I can't stand the fucking machismo that some people associate with it.

Examples:

"This wasabi is lame. I'm going to need another spoonful of it to make any kind of impact on my tastebuds."

"Your nose is running from this? Man, you're a wuss. I can't feel a thing. I need more wasabi."

"I put this stuff directly onto the fish rather than in the soy sauce. I don't want to dilute the already puny wasabi they gave us."

This happens with other foods too. Tabasco, hot peppers, Indian vindaloos etc all attract this dick-waving behaviour from people who think that the more they can handle spicy shit, the more impressive they are to others.

CRAP

Also see: Ginger Altoids

not crap, b/c it is an entertaining trait of my friend tom kipp, who seemingly has no taste buds

tom puts a heap of wasabi on every piece of sushi he eats, g-d bless him

during a visit to cleveland, just before our return trip to chicago, he once ordered a plate of 'ten star' jambalaya. i tasted a smidgen of it, and it was essentially inedible, yet he ate it. he spent the next few hours in the back of my car in the fetal position as we drove home.

I have no thoughts concerning the concept of "Wasabi Bravado".

However, "Wasabi Bravado" would be an excellent album title. I hope that someone uses it.

Bradley R. Weissenberger wrote:I have no thoughts concerning the concept of "Wasabi Bravado".

However, "Wasabi Bravado" would be an excellent album title. I hope that someone uses it.

I invented it, so I get first dibs

Maybe I'll make an album some day...

I was just discussing this over lunch w/ a friend. He was pro-wasabi bravado, I was against it. I just don't like too much wasabi


crap

I find the phenomenon in general to be a bit annoying, but usually I can dismiss it when it's Mexican or something like that. I guess my specific problem with "Wasabi Bravado" is that it kina destroys the point of sushi, which is the subtle flavor. You want me to to do soy & wasabi shots with you to prove who's manlier? Fine. You'll win, but fine, no problem. Look at your immensely impressive mancandy... just go easy on the unagi, woodja?

my friend has a band called Wasabi Devils...

i just plain like wasabi, and most other spicy foods or condiments.

NOT CRAP, though I don't like sushi very much. I'm guilty of ordering overly spiced/hot Indian and Thai food; and no matter how hot it is I always nod to my server and say, Very good. Usually, it's just hot enough. Sometimes I suffer, but I like spicy food and I think it's part of the whole experience of eating these things. My friends are pretty butch about it too, so I can get caught up in a spice/heat arms race, but most of the places I go tend to underestimate how much a diner can take.

Then again, I live in New England where people eat pretty bland. But I've lived in Chicago also and I never got anything uneatably hot. Play this game long enough, and you'll get what you deserve.