Girls Trip - Day 3 - Sea Day and Sushi Class

 We are at sea and the only thing on the agenda for today is a sushi class that Gwen and I are taking later this morning.  For now, breakfast in the dining room.

And this view out the window.  Don't you just love it?  Nothing better than ocean, except maybe the sound of waves on the beach.

This little guy greeted us in the room today.  I think towel sculptures are just so fun.

Oh, the room.  We have an ocean view this trip and it's a nice sized room.  View from my bedside.  You can sit in the window well and since we are on deck 4, we're pretty close to the water.

I've got some time to kill and want to play in the casino a bit.  I put $50 in and made it this far before stopping for the morning.  This fish game I found is so fun and makes me giggle, thus if I was losing money, I'd be laughing while it happens.

Time for our class.  I'll share the recipe here as well and you can try it at home.  We are off to the kitchen for fun.

Step one:  Make the rice.  Gwen is doing the rice.  Take 1/4 cup of washed sushi rice and 1 1/4 cups water and put in kettle and bring to boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat and cover.  Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

Peeks at our mise en place.  They have it all portioned out for us.

Our view of the room.

Chef 

When the rice is done, let it stand, covered, for 10 minutes to ensure it is done.

We are making two sushi rolls - Gwen's is a Spicy Tuna Roll - she mixes 1/3 cup small diced tuna with 1 tbsp. Tenkas, 1 tsp. Tobiko red, 1/4 tsp. Togarashi Powder and lets it sit to marinate the flavors.

The rice is now transferred to a baking tray and allowed to cool.  In a small bowl, mix 1/8 cup rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp. sugar, and 1/2 tsp. salt.  Sprinkle over the rice.

Place a sheet of Nori on the Makisu (bamboo rolling mat) that has been covered with cling wrap. 

Spread the rice on the Nori, leaving 1 inch at the top open.  Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and flip over with the 1 inch closest to you.  (It should be even with the bottom of the mat, not as pictured.)

Put a line of spicy mayo (mayo and siracha) across the Nori.  Add 1/8 cup spicy mayo to the tuna and mix well.  Add it to the Nori as well. Place a couple of blanched asparagus spears on top.

Top with Tokibo (fish eggs)

They added something else here, but I can't remember what it was.

Now to roll.  Bring the mat up on the lower edge and roll one third of the way.  Gentle squeeze and repeat with next third.  Continue with the remaining third and finish with a firmer squeeze - not too hard or your goodies will come out, as shown.

Onto the second roll -- just a simple shrimp roll.  Repeat process of the rice and Nori.

Add the seeds 

Flip

Add mayo or sauce of your choice.

Place breaded prawns end to end on the mayo.

Top with slivered cucumber

Some avocado slices

And roll - First 1/3

Second third

Final roll

Open - pretty happy with that

Now to cut the rolls - Use a wet knife and re-wet with each cut.

Place parts on a tray and add toppings as desired.  Dab of sauce, potato straws.

TA-DA - Gwen laid hers correct, I chose to lay each slice on it's side so I could see them.  Serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.  THIS is our lunch as we can't take it from the room.  Dig in.

At the end of class we were given a gift - a nice spatula from Carnival Kitchen.  This class was fun and I wish I had signed up for more of them, but I still have a pasta class on the last day.  Next trip --- take ALL the classes.

After a brief rest, we met up with the others at Dr. Inks for some libations.  I had seen one drink on the internet and wanted to see it in person.  Here is Ocean Bubble.  Wait, it's not done.

How fun is this?

Give it a kiss and -

All the pretty ladies -

Our bartender is Dajana and for the life of us we can't figure out how to pronounce it.  She gives us her nametag to mull it over.  Finally, cheating and asking the other bartender, it's so easy we are saddened with our own inabilities.  Think Diana.  Large tip for her.

The making of another crazy drink.  This one is Vanished Beneath.

Thought I'd share the menu.

Just shortly after we left the bar, I spotted this picture on Facebook and swiped a copy.  Yep, I'm a thief.  The poster is talking about the lines at the bar and if you look close, we are all happy in our seats.  Lines, we don't do lines.  

It's time to watch the sunset.  These moments always bring peace to me and an awe for the world I live in.  Six pictures - enjoy or scroll past.

Dinner in the Main Dining Room - it's elegant night and I went with a sparkly top and palazzo pants.  Super comfy.  We gave into one picture.

After dinner - off to see the show.  Tonight is Celestial Strings - a Playlist Production which is described as a symphonic and pop experience.  They took us through the year with a light show and music.

And - the perfect end to the day.  A gorgeous moon.  See y'all tomorrow.