By Emma Murphy, contributing writer
To celebrate the fact that Sushi Chef Tracy Griffith is rolling out new, raw-fish-free Sushi American Style rolls especially for Dean & DeLuca, in July, we held a “Win a Sushi-Making Lesson” sweepstakes. Our grand prize winner, Jill, and a few of her closest friends joined Chef Griffith at the Dean & DeLuca kitchen in Manhattan and learned a few tips and tricks for making sushi at home.
Sweepstakes winner Jill
Group photo
To begin the lesson, Chef Griffith introduced our guests to her unique raw-fish-free rolls. She explained that when she worked at a ritzy Beverly Hills sushi bar, customers who didn’t care for raw fish would come in and order just California Rolls. Chef Griffith got so tired of making California Roll after California Roll that she started asking her customers what sorts of foods they like. She would ask, “Do you like roasted chicken? Grilled steak? Bacon? Asparagus?” She started incorporating her customers’ preferred foods into sushi rolls. Voilà! Sushi American Style was born.
After our guests heard the story behind Sushi American Style, they dove right in, and with Chef Griffith’s guidance made an inside-out Cowboy Roll (grilled skirt steak, triple-cream blue cheese, baby spinach and red onion wrapped in nori and dusted with pink peppercorns and served with Jalapeno Soy Sauce).
Chef Griffith putting the finishing touches on a Cowboy Roll
Next up was the brand-new Caesar Chicken Roll (savory roasted chicken, romaine hearts, Caesar dressing and fried shallots in an all-natural Sweet Corn Wrap), followed by the new Mexicali Roll (marinated skirt steak, Monterey jack cheese, NJ heirloom tomatoes, scallions, black beans and cilantro in a Corn Wrap). The last roll of the evening was the Chicken Run Roll (roasted chicken with fresh basil, cilantro, tender lettuces, red bell pepper and chili-garlic peanut crunch, wrapped in an all-natural Carrot Wrap and served with Sweet Chili Sauce).
Chef Tracy Griffith with a Mexicali Roll
By the end of the lesson, all our guests were sushi rolling experts and their stomachs were very, very full. We sent each of them home with to-go boxes filled with their leftover creations, a signed copy of Chef Griffith’s cookbook, and a bamboo rolling mat. We hope they’ll put their new knowledge and tools to good use and make Sushi American Style at home. It’s surprisingly easy, since you don’t have to worry about using raw fish. (If you’re not the do-it-yourself type, you can find Chef Griffith’s rolls pre-made at Dean & DeLuca markets in Kansas City; Charlotte, NC; St. Helena, CA; and at Dean & DeLuca cafes in NYC.)
Chef Griffith's Cookbook
We’re confident that at least one of our guests, Beth, is now a gung-ho sushi roller. You can check out a blog post she wrote, recapping her sushi-making lesson experience here>>. We’re glad you had fun Beth!
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Comments ( 4 )
Emma, thanks for the shout out!! Loved the class and will definitely be stopping in soon for more sushi American Style!
Beth added these pithy words on Aug 29 10 at 4:50 pm I love this video!!! What fun. Who thought chicken and peanuts and peppers would make such yummy sushi……check it out
Clayton added these pithy words on Sep 03 10 at 10:19 am im starting my own american style in gloucester ma . sampled & they loved soooo much must have more…..
chris added these pithy words on Oct 05 10 at 7:53 pm want to make & sell sushi american style have made but not sold. everyone loves it .
chris added these pithy words on Oct 05 10 at 7:58 pm 
