Omakase (お任せお願いします)

(Pronounced O-ma-ca-say)

In Japanese, Omakase means to "protect" or "entrust." This word is typically used in the context of ordering sushi at a Japanese restaurant. To order omakase is to "entrust" the sushi chef will "protect" your health by giving you their own selection of sushi/sashimi based on some pre-negotiated cost. I suppose in English, omakase would translate into something like, "close your eyes, open your mouth, and trust me."

I fancy myself a sushi connoisseur and prefer to sit at the bar where I can challenge the sushi chef mano-a-mano; daring so see what he can pull from the dark recesses of his sashimi display case to titillate my taste buds. Seems like the more expensive the restaurant, the better the omakase experience. I remember a recent experience where 2 people cost over $700 and the omakase was incredible. I can only assume the "C" grade sushi restaurant omakase is akin to 1am Taco Bell - leaving the diner with the urge to "make a run for the border."

For the ultimate omakase experience, I heard of a restaurant in New York which is the only place in the US where they serve Fugu (aka Blowfish). For the price of a night at an expensive Manhattan hotel, you can eat raw fish that has the potential to kill you. Apparently the way to tell you are eating authentic Fugu is that after eating your throat numbs, giving indication that the poison is working...just a bit. Now that's what I call really entrusting someone to protect you.

I think next time I am in New York, I will go try Fugu...