How to Order Sushi

Sushi is a super healthy, high protein, lowfat meal. Unfortunately, sushi can be scary for beginners. Know what you are ordering and enjoy sushi without getting anything too weird or scary. Domo Arigato.(Thank you very much.)

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A sushi restaurant
• Bring a friend(or more)

1. THE CALIFORNIA ROLE
   Sushi 101. Usually made with mock crab meat and avocado, rolled in rice, then seaweed. Most popular roll on the menu. Dip pieces in soy sauce, add a dab of Wasabi and you're good to go.

2. TUNA and SALMON
   Tuna is the easiest thing to eat raw. You can order it as SASHIMI: which is slices of fish, NORI MAKI: Fish and/or vegetables wrapped in a layer of rice and nori seaweed, NIGIRI: Which is a slice of raw fish served over vinegared rice. Tuna is labeled as TEKKA, ex. TEKKA MAKI, TEKKA SASHIMI. Salmon is labeled as SAKE. Too eat the roll and the sashimi, dip in the soy sauce with your chop sticks. It's okay to use your fingers with the NIGIRI(fish on a ball of rice). I usually eat the Nigiri in two bits. Maki is to be stuffed in your mouth all at once.

3. SPECIALTY ROLES
   Specialty Rolls are common on most sushi menus. The PHILLY ROLL: raw salmon and cream cheese rolled in nori seaweed and rice The RAINBOW ROLL: A California roll served with slices of raw fish striped over the top like a rainbow usually tuna, salmon and whitefish. THE PHILLY ROLL and THE RAINBOW ROLL are usually safe choices for sushi beginners.

4. MISO AND SEAWEED SALAD
   To compliment your meal add Miso soup, a very low calorie soup made of miso(soy bean paste), which also usually contains tofu and seaweed. Seaweed salad is chopped seaweed tossed in oil and seasonings.

5. HOW TO STAY COOKED
   Can't do raw? If you find yourself in a group that really wants sushi, don't spoil their fun! Simply order off the teriyaki menu. Chicken Teriyaki and Beef Teriyaki are easy choices on most menus.

6. ROE
   Roe is fish eggs. Yummy on the California Role.

7. WASABI
   Wasabi is the bright green paste. It has a very hot unique taste. Some people mix the the Wasabi into their tiny bowl of soy sauce. Others use their chop stick to add a tiny green daub of wasabi to their sushi before dipping.

8. FEELING BRAVE
   Order the eel(UNAGI). Or order CHEF'S CHOICE(OMAKASE), which will give you an assorted sampling of chef selected cuts of fish usaully in both SASHMI(fish with no rice) and NIGIRI(fish over a ball of vinegared rice) form. If you are feeling really brave, try the Sea Urchin(UNI) or octopus(TAKO).

Tips & Warnings

• Order a round of SAKI BOMBS for the table. Always a good time! Saki is a strong rice alchohol. Here's how Saki BOMB works: The shot glass full of saki is balanced over a glass of Kirin(or any japanese beer) using chop sticks, then player slams the table causing the shot to fall into the beer. Now DRINK UP.
• Vegetarian options are available (Cucumber rolls, Avocado rolls, sweet potato rolls and miso soup and seaweed salad are recommended.)
• Say please(DOZO) and thank you(DOMO). Domo Arigato Mister Roboto. :)
• BE responsible. Not too many SAKI BOMBS!
• If you are making sushi at home be sure to order 'sushi grade' fish. Low grade fish eaten raw will make you sick.
• Wasabi is intense. Start with a tiny dab.

[MyJB]

on 10/29/2009 Lots of information on to ponder on Sushi.

[cadence]

on 6/20/2009 Definitely start light on the wasabi...otherwise, it can scare you away from sushi forever!