Houston Sushi Club

Honestly, I've heard of Houston Sushi Club a few years back, as introduced to me by my friend Angie. At the time, they have monthly events and the club wasn't as big as it is now. Currently, the club has over 3700 members, the membership is free. You get to sign up for event that fits for you, and for a set price, you get a prix fixe meal.
For our event, it took place in Ginza Japanese Restaurant on San Felipe. Honestly, I haven't been here for at least a decade. Not because of anything hideous, just not in my normal area of dining.
This is Carl, he's the mastermind behind Houston Sushi Club. You can read all about him here. He really learn all that he can about the topic of Sushi and the Japanese culture. Suppose they go hand-in-hand. The club even have groups that travels to Japan annually.
A rare treat, Carl brought us a rare bottle of sake that even the Consul-General of Japan got wind that Carl had access to the bottles that had offered to take them off his hands. Luckily, he kept it for us. The sake is very unique in that it gave off the floral/citrus type aroma, but when you drink it, it has no taste and goes down smooth. Trust me, if you have couple cups of these, you'll the effect, but to go with dinner, a little goes a long way.

We were treated with edamame, gyoza, and shumai. To our starter rolls. We were treated with spicy salmon, which is full of meat and spicier than I'm used to.To something very Texan: like the Crawfish Roll. They had tempura-ed the crawfish and added avocado and lettuce into a roll. Nice and clean way to eat crawfish.

Finally, our entree: assorted sushi from clam to escolar to salmon. As we were enjoying our sushi, Carl entertained us by having a friendly game of sushi trivia. Alot of his questions came from the movie, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, which he helped brought to the Houston market. If you haven't watched that movie yet, they are still playing it at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston till April 22nd.

The movie, while has alot of sushi porn, it is also a story about how to put everything you have into one thing and do it well, appreciate it for what it is and be the best at it. Jiro's life was difficult but worked his way to be appointed by the Emperor as the best sushi chef in the country and the oldest recipient of prestigious Michelin award, this movie makes you realize that you haven't had sushi as it is intended. And that we definitely take what we have for granted.

Last piece of sushi was our sushi challenge. At first glance, it looks like salmon. For you sushi connoisseur, you may think the same too. Look at the marbling and color. But nay, my friends, nay. We were giving a choice of Hokkaido Salmon, Alaskan Char, or Norwegian Trout. It does not have a strong taste like salmon, I've never had char or trout. So it was a shot in the dark for me.

Turns out, it was a piece of trout. How funny that we really eat with our eyes first, and already made up our minds for us.

Last but not least, green tea ice cream to top off the evening.

If you're interested in events like these, join the Sushi Club. It cost you nothing to join. The only thing is you have to watch out when Carl will be announcing upcoming events and be fast about signing up. Events will tell you per person's cost, that usually means he had already arranged with the restaurant to cut you a very good deal that brings alot of food that stuff you silly. Usually it does include appetizer, main course, and a dessert. Of course, you're welcome to buy your own alcohol, they welcome separate checks. As a matter of fact, bring cash to these events to expedite your bill.


Ginza Japanese Restaurant
5868 San Felipe Street,
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 785-0332

Houston Sushi Club
http://www.houston-sushi.com/
or friend them on Facebook

Jiro Dreams of Sushi runs thru April 22nd. at

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

www.mfah.org/films