Chad Clift and His Passion for Sushi

One of Chef Chad Clift favorite foods to prepare and eat is sushi. This Japanese seafood staple is one of the many offerings at his new Seattle Restaurant. Not all seafood uses raw fish, and some variations are completely vegetarian. Sushi is the type of cuisine that is open to interpretation, or the whim of the Chef who is creating it.

 

Sushi has one common characteristic that crosses all of its many forms, and that is the use of rice. Sushi rice, also known as sticky rice, is prepared in a certain way to create a product that holds together. The proper creation of sushi rice is labor intensive. After the brown or white rice is steamed, rice wine vinegar is added and the rice is stirred with a paddle to cool it while creating a unique texture.

Sushi may be served in many different ways. The most common method used in many restaurants around the world is Maizushi, or the sushi roll. In this method, sticky rice and a combination of fish and/or vegetables are rolled in nori and sliced into circles. In Japan, the birthplace of sushi, it is actually more common to eat sushi as Chirashizushi. Through this preparation, a bed of sushi rice is spread across the bottom of a bowl and then layers of thin sliced raw fish are fanned on the top. Chad Clift loves all forms of sushi from the more conventional to the creative Western variations that have become popular.
​

Chad Clift Makes Great Pho

In the city of Seattle, Pho is one of the most popular dishes served in many restaurants. Chef Chad Clift is serious about his Pho, and makes a superb version of this Vietnamese noodle soup. Pho, pronounced “fuh”, is named after the rice noodles that are included in every variation of the dish. Traditionally, Pho is a combination of broth, noodles, herbs, and meat. In the Asian country of Vietnam, Pho is considered to be a street food, sold by vendor off of their traveling carts. In the United States, Pho has become a trendy alternative to the typical Asian takeout option.
                                  

While Western countries have only recently caught on to the Pho craze, in Vietnam, it is a staple meal. Southern Vietnamese residents eat Pho for lunch or even breakfast. In Northern Vietnam, Pho is enjoyed any time of day of night. After the conclusion of the Vietnam War, many refugees from the country were displaced, and forced to emigrate to other lands. As these Vietnamese peoples moved out of their home land, they took their cooking methods with them. This lead to the introduction of dishes like Pho to nearly each continent of the globe.

The Pho that Chad Clift makes is one to remember. He starts with a rich and hearty beef broth that is seasoned with the traditional spices of ginger, clove, and star anise. While he sometimes makes Pho with chicken as the main source of protein, he prefers to use a good cut of beef, such as brisket.