You're Gonna Put That In Your Mouth?

Sushi is no longer the "weird and gross" Japanese food it was once considered. More and more people are discovering how amazing sushi can be. The flavors and textures are nothing short of amazing. I believe sushi is my "umami" or the perfect taste.

Contrary to belief, sushi is actually the rice and not the fish. There are nine types of sushi, but most often in the United States you will see two. There is nigiri which vinegar rice topped with a slice of raw or cooked fish, or vegetables. Maki is the rolls of raw or cooked fish, vegetables, rice, and wrapped in nori (seaweed wrap).

The Japanese are known for their extreme displays of etiquette, and sushi is not excluded. In fact, sushi has some of its own rules to show manners and not offend anyone. It is polite in any restaurant to greet the host or hostess, who may greet you with the traditional "irasshaimase" which means "please come in." You just need to acknowledge their greeting and are not required to say anything back, other than to answer the questions about your evening (seating, etc). If you are interested in watching your food preparation or conversation with the itamae (sushi chef), ask to be seated at the sushi bar, otherwise a table is fine. Place your chopsticks properly. If at a sushi bar, place the chopsticks in front of you, parallel to the edge of the bar, with the narrow ends on the has-hi oki (chopstick rest). If there isn't one available I often place them on my soy sauce bowl. Use the broad end of your chopsticks to pick up sushi from a communal platter. Always place your nigiri upside-down in the soy sauce and eat it "rice-side up." Don't pinch it too hard, and place it so the fish touches your tongue. The soy sauce will cause the rice to fall apart. Pour a minimal amount of soy sauce into the bowl. It is considered rude to waste it and you can always pour more. Sushi should be eaten in one bite if possible, but two bites are generally acceptable. However, don't put the sushi back on the plate if you bit it in half already. Once you pick it up, eat all of it. Don't use the wasabi paste. I know he put it on the plate, but it is considered bad form. The sushi chef already put it on your sushi, and he knows best. Ask the chef what's good, and let him pick for you, especially if it's your first time eating sushi. This shows your respect for what he does, and maybe you'll get a good snack. If you're in Japan, buy the chef a drink, like sake or beer, as a compliment.

Now you ask, "Where can I try this marvelous sounding new dish?" There are close to a dozen restaurants in Bloomington that serve sushi. "But Bloomington is full of Asian college students." Fine, I know of at least three in Terre Haute. In fact, my favorite restaurant is there. The Ichiban is located behind Burlington Coat Factory and Gander Mountain. If the sushi scares you, go for the steak bar. They cook on a grill in front of you

Now that I have talked about it, I think I have to go this weekend. See you there.

If you have any questions about any food or restaurant topic feel free to contact me at mattmason628@sbcglobal.net