Yesterday after Tween’s practice, we used a few gift certificates we had received and went to the Asian buffet here in town. She was not super excited about it - she wanted to go to Ryan’s Buffett (Ryan’s was not free though!). However, once we got in there, she started warming up to the idea of eating some of her favorite foods (She’s part Filipino, so while it is not a typical part of her diet, she does like a lot of Asian foods). She piled her plate with sticky rice and some veggies and meats, and asked to try a Dim Sum dumpling I had picked up (neither of us liked it). She also tried some Won-ton soup (that was super yummy!), a bite of coconut shrimp (I love shrimp, she insists she does not like it …although she agreed that this particular flavor is the best so far).
Suddenly, she said: “Mom, what is sushi like?” I was taken aback - I do not like sushi, and have not liked it any of the times I have tried different variations. However, I just said, “It is something you should try sometime. It is not one of my favorite things, but I have tried it at least once a year for the last ten years, since we lived in Cali. Aunt C & Uncle B love it, as do most of my other friends.”
She pondered this for a moment, then asked me to go with her to pick one out. Then, she looked at the oysters. I told her those were raw, too, but I thought she was going to try the sushi rolls. She said, “Oh, I am. But, can you help me pick one of these, first? How do you eat it?”
So, we grabbed a cracker, a small oyster (raw - she didn’t think the smoked ones looked appetizing), some chopsticks, and a seaweed/rice/crab/green onion sushi roll. I asked if she wanted to try hot sauce on the oyster, or Wasabi on the sushi. She declined both (which I expected - she does not like spices anymore).
I was so proud, watching my Tween slurp a raw oyster off her cracker (and then eating the cracker), and eating her sushi roll. She preferred the oyster to the sushi, which surprised me.
I had to call my (redneck!) Daddy to tell him about his granddaughter’s accomplishment. He promised her that he’d get his brother (my uncle) to take them out on the boat to get fresh oysters when she comes down. They’ll shuck & eat em right there in the water - that’ll be quite the experience for her! They will also bring some back in to smoke, grill, and bake at home.
It was quite the say. So happy Tween seems to be growing in her food tastebuds 
