| Alright, let's get this out of the way up front: | | | | The word "sushi" doesn't refer to the raw fish, it |
| sushi is raw fish. Westerners are generally brought | | | | actually refers to the rice, called "sticky rice". Sushi |
| up to believe that all meat should be cooked | | | | is short grained rice to which sugar and vinegar is |
| before you eat it. Sushi is one exception; steak | | | | added, giving it a distinct sweet/tart flavor. |
| tartar is another, though I could never bring | | | | Wasabi is a green paste made from Japanese |
| myself to eat raw beef. Sushi, on the other hand, | | | | horseradish and is very hot! Use it sparingly or |
| is quite delicious when properly prepared. | | | | you'll be hitting the sake a bit too hard in an |
| Although the Itamae, or sushi chef, really does no | | | | attempt to put out the fire. |
| cooking, making sushi is considered an art form. | | | | To refresh your palette between bites, there is |
| Traditionally, a budding sushi chef would have to | | | | Gari, or thin slices of pickled ginger. This can also |
| train for ten or more years before being | | | | be used as a garnish. |
| considered an Itamae, but the rise in sushi | | | | The sheets of seaweed used to roll the rice are |
| demand has outstripped the supply of sushi chefs, | | | | called Nori. |
| therefore more chefs are being hired with less | | | | Soya sauce is sometimes served as a dipping |
| than ten years experience. | | | | sauce along with wasabi. |
| Sushi comes in four main varieties: | | | | Sushi can be a simple as a single ingredient or as |
| - The first is called "Nigiri sushi", nigiri means "grab". | | | | complex as the Itamae's imagination allows. |
| For nigiri, the Itamae hand presses balls of rice | | | | Cucumbers (Kappa) avocadoes, tuna (tekka or |
| topped with raw fish, and finishes with a bit of | | | | maguro) or salmon are all popular ingredients. |
| wasabi. | | | | Different kinds of sushi have been developed to |
| - The second is called "Sashimi", but it is technically | | | | please the American palette. |
| not sushi because the "sushi" refers to the rice | | | | California rolls, which are made with avocado, crab |
| and sashimi is sliced raw fish without any rice. | | | | and cucumber are popular and a good choice for |
| - The third is "Maki Sushi" which is sushi rolled with | | | | the sushi newbie. Philadelphia rolls, which are made |
| bamboo mats. They are traditionally rolled with | | | | with smoked salmon, cream cheese and |
| seaweed as the outside layer, but if you order a | | | | cucumber are a delicious choice if you are not |
| California roll you will get it with rice on the outside | | | | quite ready to go raw just yet. |
| layer. | | | | So be brave, give sushi a try! Start with the |
| - The last is called "Temaki", it is basically a hand | | | | more Americanized California or Philadelphia rolls, |
| rolled version of Maki, shaped kind of like an ice | | | | or have your Itamae suggest a local favorite. |
| cream cone. | | | | Either way you can't go wrong, sushi is a delicious |
| No matter what kind of sushi you order, they all | | | | and healthy alternative to traditional Western |
| have some variety of these common ingredients | | | | meals. Enjoy! |
| or garnishes: | | | | |