Consider this the ultimate sustainable sushi.
After all, nothing over-fished went into creating this beautiful dish. The maki rolls, salmon egg nigiri, and even the pickled ginger and dab of wasabi you see here are cookies and candies. Yes, all made of chocolate, crisp rice, apricot gummi “eggs,” and other edible items.
Suedy’s Koo-Ki Sushi of San Jose crafts these intricate, realistic-looking sushi sweets by hand. Two sisters — one a former illustrator, the other a former teacher — started the business 13 years ago. They set out to create a unique cookie, and more than succeeded.
Purchase an array of sushi cookie assortments, as well as chocolate chopsticks and “kanpai!” cups at the tiny retail store tucked into a warehouse/office park area of San Jose. Most items also can be ordered online.
Prices start at $10 for chocolate chopsticks and $12 for one piece of sushi in a pretty washi paper box; and go on up to $75 for an elaborate arrangement of nine sushi in a lacquered sushi serving tub .
Unlike real sushi, these should never be refrigerated.
And once you’re finished staring in disbelief, do take a bite. After all, they’re meant to be eaten, not merely ogled.