Ohh! Sushi: Hyde Park

Those who love trains say rail is the only want to see the world. But here at Ohh! Sushi on King William Road at Hyde Park, it's a world of food which slowly rumbles by. Raised in Hong Kong, Michael Yan learnt the art of sushi while studying in Europe. He'd originally studied as an economist but later swapped the text book for the cookbook to learn the intricacies of Japanese Cuisine. "I learn to cook this in Europe, in Vienna." "Ah Vienna of all places? And does it take a long time to learnt it? How many years?" we asked. "Six years to learn it". Most of that time was spent learning the art of sushi with its delicate preparation and emphasis on presentation and variety. "And what's that one?" "That's omelette. That's a California roll and that's a fish roll with caviar." And so it rolls on but this is rolling stock with a fascinating history. The art of sushi cooking with its ingredients laid on a bed of rice and often wrapped in seaweed is part of a tradition which goes back centuries. According to Michael, the wives of Japanese fishermen would marinate rice in vinegar so that it would keep during their husbands long fishing trips. The men found this marinated rice a perfect accompaniment for their catch while out on the high seas. Over the years, the marinade has changed to include sugar and salt and rice wine or saki. What hasn't changed is the most common ingredient...raw fish. Other dishes on the menu include a selection of noodle and soup dishes as well as tempura with a variety of ingredients fried in a light butter. At Ohh! Sushi, you can travel first class on board the pick plate carriage at $6 a serve or take your pick from a range of classes including economy at $2 a serve. Michael simply picks up the colour coded plates at the end of your journey to work out the bill. Ohh! Sushi is located at Shop One - 155 King William Road Hyde Park. It's open for lunch every day except Tuesday and Sunday and is open for dinner seven nights a week. For more information you can email info@postcards.sa.com.au