Bun Lai | |
---|---|
Born | 1973 (age 50–51) |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
Years active | 1992–present |
Known for | Miya's, sustainable sushi, sustainable seafood |
Bun Lai (born 1973) is a Hong Kong-born American chef. He is a leader in the sustainable food movement. [1] [2] His family restaurant, Miya's in New Haven, Connecticut, is the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the world. [3] [4] His mother, who received an award from U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro for her contribution in sustainable seafood, [5] is the founder of Miya's and his father is a Cambridge and Yale University-educated scientist and surgeon. [6] [7]
Bun Lai's work as the chef of Miya's and as a leader in the sustainability movement has been featured in local and national publications (see "Media" below).
In 2001, Bun Lai initiated the removal from the menu of seafood that was caught or farmed in a way that was detrimental to the long term well-being of the harvested species or its habitats. Bun Lai is credited as the first chef in the world to implement a sustainable seafood paradigm to the cuisine of sushi. [8] [9] [10] [3] The sweet potato sushi roll, which Bun Lai created in 1995 at Miya's, is the California Roll of plant-based sushi. Today it can be found on sushi menus throughout the country. [11] [12] The use of brown rice — instead of white rice — and other whole grains for sushi, is also a Bun Lai innovation, which today is emulated throughout the world of sushi. [13] [14]
Chef Bun Lai created the first menu dedicated to the idea of using invasive species at Miya's in 2005, during which time half the menus invasive species offerings were conceptual because invasive species were not yet commercially available. [15] The menu featured locally caught invasive species such as Asian shore crabs and European green crabs. The invasive species menu was created in order to take pressure off of popular over-fished species by utilizing ones, instead, that are abundant but ecologically destructive. [16] [17] [18] [19] Today, Miya's offers a plethora of invasive species such as Chesapeake blue catfish, Florida lionfish, Kentucky silver carp, Georgia cannonball jellyfish, and invasive edible plants such as Connecticut Japanese knotweed and Autumn olive. [20] In 2013, Bun Lai's use of cicadas in sushi was satirized by Saturday Night Live, [21] though in 2021 the New York Times praised his use of the insects as part of his mission "to encourage diners to eat in an environmentally conscious way." [22]
Bun Lai is the former Director of Nutrition for a non-for-profit that serves low income diabetics. [23] "
Bun Lai has authored papers which were published in Scientific American, Harvard Design Magazine , and The Hill (see "Publications" below). [16] [3] [24] He has spoken at the White House, the Harvard School of Public Health, [25] the American Fisheries Society, [26] the World Wildlife Fund, [27] and the National Geographic Society. [11]
Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including fish and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of molluscs (e.g., bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters, and mussels.
Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce.
Shellfish is a colloquial and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some are found in freshwater. In addition, a few species of land crabs are eaten, for example Cardisoma guanhumi in the Caribbean. Shellfish are among the most common food allergens.
The history of sushi began with paddy fields, where fish was fermented with vinegar, salt and rice, after which the rice was discarded. The earliest form of the dish, today referred to as narezushi, was created in Japan around the Yayoi period. In the Muromachi period (1336–1573), people began to eat the rice as well as the fish. During the Edo period (1603–1867), vinegar rather than fermented rice began to be used. The dish has become a form of food strongly associated with Japanese culture.
A raw bar is a small restaurant or a bar within a restaurant where live shellfish are shucked and served. Raw bars typically offer a variety of raw and cooked seafood and shellfish that is served cold. Seafood-based dishes may also be offered, and additional, non-seafood foods may also be part of the fare. Raw bars may offer alcoholic beverages such as oyster shooters, as well as wine and sake that is paired with various foods. Additional accompaniments may include condiments, sauces and foods such as lemon and lime. Several restaurants in the United States offer raw bars, some of which are seasonal.
Omakase is a Japanese phrase, used when ordering food in restaurants, that means 'I'll leave it up to you'.
Chilli crab is a Southeast Asian seafood dish that is widely associated with the cuisines of both Malaysia and Singapore. The widely known version of chili crab today could be traced back to the 1950s in Malaysia and Singapore. Mud crabs are commonly used and are stir-fried in a semi-thick, sweet and savoury tomato-and-chilli-based sauce.
YO! Sushi is a chain of conveyor belt sushi restaurants, principally in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Australia.
Seafood Watch is a sustainable seafood advisory list, and has influenced similar programs around the world. It is best known for developing science-based seafood recommendations that consumers, chefs, and business professionals use to inform their seafood purchasing decisions.
Sustainable seafood is seafood that is caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term vitality of harvested species and the well-being of the oceans, as well as the livelihoods of fisheries-dependent communities. It was first promoted through the sustainable seafood movement which began in the 1990s. This operation highlights overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing methods. Through a number of initiatives, the movement has increased awareness and raised concerns over the way our seafood is obtained.
Casson Trenor is an American environmentalist, author, entrepreneur, and media personality. He is the author of a number of books on environmentalism and sustainable seafood, in particular Umijoo, a children's book, and Sustainable Sushi, a reference guide. Trenor and two co-founders created the world's first sustainable sushi restaurant in 2009, as well as the acclaimed plant-based Japanese restaurant Shizen in 2015. In recognition of his work, Trenor was awarded a Congressional Commendation as well as the title "Hero of the Environment" by Time magazine.
Sustainable sushi is sushi made from fished or farmed sources that can be maintained or whose future production does not significantly jeopardize the ecosystems from which it is acquired. Concerns over the sustainability of sushi ingredients arise from greater concerns over environmental, economic and social stability, and human health.
Miya's was a restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, credited as the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the world. The restaurant was founded by Yoshiko Lai, a Japanese nutritionist. As of 2021, they are permanently closed.
Pterois is a genus of venomous marine fish, commonly known as lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific. It is characterized by conspicuous warning coloration with red or black bands, and ostentatious dorsal fins tipped with venomous spines. Pterois radiata, Pterois volitans, and Pterois miles are the most commonly studied species in the genus. Pterois species are popular aquarium fish. P. volitans and P. miles are recent and significant invasive species in the west Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
Silla Bjerrum is a restaurateur and Chef best known for her expertise in sushi.
Some species of jellyfish are suitable for human consumption and are used as a source of food and as an ingredient in various dishes. Edible jellyfish is a seafood that is harvested and consumed in several East and Southeast Asian countries, and in some Asian countries it is considered to be a delicacy. Edible jellyfish is often processed into a dried product. Several types of foods and dishes may be prepared with edible jellyfish, including salads, sushi, noodles, and main courses. Various preparation methods exist.
Wong's King Seafood Restaurant was a chain of Chinese/Cantonese and seafood restaurants in the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, United States. In addition to the original restaurant in Southeast Portland, the business operated in Beaverton, Estacada, and Sandy, and specialized in dim sum.
Jacqueline is a seafood restaurant serving Pacific Northwest cuisine in Portland, Oregon. The restaurant was established in 2016 and has an aquatic theme.
Flying Fish Company is a sustainable seafood company which operates a fish market, restaurant, and food cart in Portland, Oregon.