Who Am I?

Who are you exactly?

My name is Tia Heilig! I'm a self-proclaimed foodie, and love to try all sorts of different dishes. I hold special soft spots for Japanese cuisine, flavorful teas, and unusual dishes that not many other people would dare to try. (I dream of a day when I can sample scorpion kebabs for the first time!)

Aside from food, I also love a variety of music, and have just as much (if not more) talent on the stage as in the kitchen.

What kind of schooling have you had?

I graduated high school back in '06 (that should be age-telling), hopped between a few colleges without earning any sort of degree, and eventually spent a year in the Job Corps program, where I earned my certification in Culinary Arts. 

I'm still learning a lot about working in a kitchen, but I make up for my lack of experience with my boundless enthusiasm and love for a large variety of foods. 

Why make a blog about sushi?

I tried sushi long before my high school graduation and discovered an especial love for it- the cool, savory, ocean taste of fresh uncooked fish is unlike anything else. I have slowly acclimated myself to the different flavors of each fish that customarily accompanies the vinegary rice, as well as to fresh ginger and spicy wasabi, and I always try to hunt down unique combinations.

Any favorites?

So far, my favorite sushi that I've found has been the Snow White roll - white tuna with cream cheese and avocado, wrapped in an inside-out roll, flash-fried, and served with a wasabi-lime vinaigrette.

Anything you don't like?

I absolutely won't eat eel. It literally falls apart into mealy little pieces in my mouth - and that texture is not my cup of tea. Raw octopus is a close second, but only when I can tell it's not at its freshest quality.