Students learn art of sushi

Students in Shigeo Yamaguchi’s Japanese class initially cringed at the thought of eating sushi – what they assumed was a raw fish dish.

But as Steve Ribustello, chef and owner of “On the Square” in Tarboro, explained, sushi is a seasoned rice dish that can be topped with nearly anything, frowns loosened and the Tarboro High School students dug in to help shape, roll and create the Japanese cuisine.

The class of 10 peeled cucumbers and sliced avocado to accompany the sushi in nori wraps, a pressed sheet of seaweed.

Ribustello also brought a Japanese omelet, raw fish and a crab mix to add to the sushi.

Yamaguchi said he tries to incorporate culture lessons in the language course and having Ribustello teach cuisine helped.

“Sushi is getting big in the area,” Yamaguchi said.

Senior Robert Speaker, 17, tried avocado for the first time during the Tuesday lesson and enjoyed it. He also liked the sushi.

“This really makes me want to go to Japan to see the culture and everything,” Speaker said.