The Philadelphia roll is similar to the California roll in that people may mistakenly associate the roll with a location. Although in this case, the roll may or may not be named after Philadelphia, depending on which story you believe.
Despite its name, the California roll actually originated in Canada. Likewise, people may learn that the Philadelphia roll is named after cream cheese and assume that cream cheese originated in the city. However, Philadelphia cheese was invented by the Kraft Heinz Co. in New York City in 1872. It was named after Philadelphia to represent the dairy farms it was once famous for.
But even though the cream cheese isn’t from Philly, the Philadelphia roll is from Philadelphia. Madame Saito, the city’s “sushi queen,” came to Philadelphia after moving from Japan to Paris. In the ’80s, she opened a sushi restaurant in the city’s central food district, and the mayor ordered sushi for the city. So, inspired by the number of Jewish customers she served, she created the Philadelphia roll, which resembled a salmon sandwich. She later explained that it was supposed to be a “Jewish roll,” but her customers consistently insisted it was a Philadelphia roll.
Of course, there are no actual records of it. Another equally unsubstantiated claim is that it originated in San Diego, California, in 1985, taking its name from the cream cheese that defines its recipe.
What is included in the Philadelphia roll?
However, we would not call the Philadelphia roll Philadelphia sushi. The problem is that the Philadelphia roll goes beyond the rice, rice vinegar, seaweed, and fresh raw fish or vegetables that make up the basis of traditional sushi. However, in terms of the combination of products that define the main dishes of sushi, the Philadelphia roll has its own appeal.
The ingredients for the Philadelphia roll include sushi rice, rice vinegar, smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumbers. You can expand on this by adding onions and insisting that if you are going to make this roll, you really should use Philadelphia cream cheese and not a cheaper brand. Another opinion on this, noting that the roll may contain imitation crab instead of smoked salmon, can also be included with avocado, green onions, and sesame seeds.
So the most superficial consensus on what makes a Philadelphia roll a Philadelphia roll is the use of cream cheese, specifically Philadelphia cheese, with the fish. Everything else, including whether the salmon serves as a filling or a wrapper, as in the picture above, seems secondary.
Making a Philadelphia roll?
In 2020, Madame Saito, the self-proclaimed creator of the Philadelphia roll, shared her recipe. Cut some nori on a bamboo mat and cover it with seasoned sushi rice. Flip it over. Cover the other side with Philadelphia cream cheese and smoked salmon. Roll the roll so that the rice is on the outside. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve the original Philadelphia roll.
A Japanese rice cooker manufacturer has its own, broadly similar recipe, but also offers tips for those less confident in sushi-making techniques in general. Mix cooked rice with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Wrap plastic wrap around the bamboo mat you’ll be rolling the sushi on, and prepare a bowl of water. Place the seaweed shiny side down on the mat, pat the rice, and wet your fingers as you prepare the rice spread. Once you’ve spread it out evenly and sprinkled it with sesame seeds, flip the entire sheet over so it’s rice-side down, as in Madame Saito’s recipe. Add the other ingredients, roll the sushi, and cut the resulting log into bite-sized pieces. Voila! You’ve made a staple of American-Japanese fusion.
