Fishing at Tesco's

When sushi first exploded on to the British restaurant scene in the 1990s, it wasn't long before it caught on as a healthy alternative to the ubiquitous triangle packaged sandwiches. Media everywhere picked up on the trend and tended to agree enthusiastically that this particular Japanese import was cool, healthy and to be hastily embraced. The BBC went so far as to claim that sushi, although not particularly confidently, "could cure cancer". Interestingly, ever the xenophobe, the Daily Mail was a lone voice in actually putting forward the opposite opinion that sushi is not only unhealthy, but also possibly carcinogenic (see here).

Nevertheless, a trip today to Tesco's in Amersham, Buckinghamshire confirmed that sushi is firmly installed on the British snack rack. The range is rather simple, mainly salmon, prawn and egg, and it is not worth spending time on the truism that British sushi is rather different from what one finds in Japan (see here for that). The fact is sushi is here to stay and it will be interesting to see how it develops and what British features it takes on - apart from being more expensive and not as fresh of course.

A potter around the shelves reveals very little else from Japan. In this particular branch there was no sake, no Japanese beer, no Japanese brand of green tea, no pickles or senbei.

The most conspicuous Japanese brand is Yutaka whose place on the "Speciality Ingredients" shelf consists of miso soup, sushi rice and vinegar, tempura batter mix, seaweed, wasabi, ginger and instant yakisoba (tangy Tokyo style no less!).



There were also a few bottles of Teriyaki sauce and Kikkoman soy sauce. What will provincial Tesco's stock next? mirin? natto? I'll keep updating and check out the Waitrose and M&S too.