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How to Eat Sushi
Types of Sushi:
There are three common types of sushi. The first are finger rolls known as nigiri-zushi. Nirigi sushi are long bars of sushi rice topped with wasabi and usually a type of fish, such as shrimp, salmon, or tuna.
Secondly, and perhaps the most popular type, is sushi wrapped in nori (seaweed), known as nori rolls or maki rolls. The rolls come in a variety of sizes and fillings. The larger size sushi rolls are sometimes called futo-maki, while smaller rolls are hoso-maki. Another type of nori sushi is a stuffed roll featuring a topping of fish. This is known as gunkan style of sushi. Still another varation of nori sushi is temaki, which are ingredients wrapped in a hand roll cone of nori seaweed.
The last and least common type of sushi is know as chirashi-zushi or maze-zushi, or "scattered" or "mixed" sushi. Mixed sushi consists of a bowl of sushi rice topped with diced fish and vegetables.
Eating Sushi:
One word of warning: Eating sushi can be a very expensive habit to break. When you start your meal at a Japanese sushi restaurant, you'll first be given a hot towel (called oshibori) to wash your hands. Since sushi can be a finger food, this is a good thing to utilize. The meal often begins with a bowl of miso soup.
A small dish is used to pour soy sauce into for dipping. The green paste is known as wasabi (think Japanese horseradish), and may be mixed into your soy sauce. Most sushi maki rolls already have wasabi added by the chef, so you may want to taste your sushi first before adding wasabi to your dipping soy sauce. Small pink slices of pickled ginger (called gari) are eaten between different types of sushi courses in order to cleanse the pallet.
When eating nigiri (hand pressed) sushi or sashimi (which are small pieces of raw fish), hold the sushi with fingers or chopsticks, dipping (not soaking) the fish into the soy sauce. Avoid dipping the rice into the soy sauce, as rice will absorb the liquid and lose it's flavor. Place the sushi fish side down in your mouth, making sure you taste the fish first, followed by the wasabi and rice. Maki roll sushi is traditionally eaten in one bite. The rice in the roll tends to fall apart if eaten in more than one bite.
For more information on all aspects of sushi, read our Sushi Glossary.
Sushi Bar ETIQUETTE
Originally served by vendors in the streets of Tokyo, the modern sushi restaurant consists of a dining area and the sushi bar itself. While you can sit at a table, the sushi dining experience is best had by sitting at the bar and being served directly by the sushi chef.
The Sushi Chef
Traditional sushi chefs are subject to difficult and lengthy training before earning the title of chef. As an apprentice, a student sushi chef learns how to make sushi rice, prepare fish, and finally, making sushi. This process can take several years to accomplish.
When placing an order at a sushi bar, ask the sushi chef for a recommendation. They will usually be serving something special for the day. The selection of fish from local markets can vary, so it's a good idea to follow the chef's recommendations. Don't be afraid to experiment! A good sushi chef will gladly answer any questions you may have about what to order.
When sitting at the sushi bar, your sushi will be served to you by the chef. Orders for drinks, soups, and other items are handled by a waiter. They also take payment for the meal, since sushi chefs do not handle money in order to keep their hands clean. You should tip your sushi chef - this can include offering to buy the chef a drink. Kampai! (To your health!) |
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The Sushi Chef: Both Cook and Artist |
Now that you're hungry for a nori sushi roll, why not learn a few techniques on how to make sushi? |
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Make sushi with ingredients and products from our Sushi Store! |
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How to Use Chopsticks
| While sushi is considered a finger food and can be eaten with your hands, you'll want to learn how to properly use chopsticks. After all, who wants to ask for a knife and fork in a sushi bar or Japanese restaurant? |
Holding Chopsticks
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Using Chopsticks
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For sushi recipes, visit our store for great sushi cookbooks.
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