In recent years, Japanese cuisine has gained worldwide popularity due to its light taste and healthy image. Sushi in particular has become famous and there are now many restaurants that serve the Japanese dish.
This column will introduce you to a smart way to eat sushi.
The etiquette for eating sushi is the same whether you are eating at an expensive establishment or at a reasonably priced conveyor belt place.
There may be minor differences depending on the particular restaurant and there is no one “correct way” to eat sushi. A generally accepted way to eat sushi follows.
First, sushi is made in the hands of a sushi chef. Therefore, the basic way to eat sushi is to pick it up with your fingers as soon as it is presented to you. However, it is better to use chopsticks instead of your fingers at more formal establishments, so please use the method appropriate for the setting.
- Lightly grip the sides of the sushi with your thumb and middle finger. Then, hold the sushi by placing your index finger on the top. Be sure to grip lightly and take care not to squeeze with too much force as the seafood and rice crumble easily.
- Dip the sushi lightly in the soy sauce. It is important to dip only the tip of the seafood. Some kinds of sushi are eaten with salt or sweet sauce. In any case, you should keep the amount of condiment to a minimum to enjoy the delicate flavor of the sushi.
- A smart way to eat the small pink slices of pickled ginger (gari) is to wipe your hands with the moistened hand towel (oshibori) first, then use your chopsticks.
Take care not to put soy sauce on the rice. If you put too much soy sauce on the rice, your sushi may disintegrate before reaching your mouth and rice may fall into your soy sauce dish. Wipe your hands with the wet towel (oshibori) frequently to keep the smell of seafood from your hands.
- Using Your Fingers (Gunkanmaki, Sushi Rolls)
- Lightly dip the bottom of the sushi in soy sauce.
- Pinch the sides of the sushi in the same way as you would with your fingers. Lightly pinch the center of the sushi to keep it from falling apart.
- Dip the sushi lightly in soy sauce. It is important to dip only the tip of the seafood. You can hold the small soy sauce dish in the other hand to keep the sushi from falling. If you find it difficult to dip the seafood in the soy sauce, you can dip the pickled ginger in the sauce and put it on the seafood. Both are accepted etiquettes, so you can choose the method that suits you.
If the seafood piece is large, you can cut it in half using your chopsticks. It is considered bad manners to cram food into your mouth with your chopsticks to eat the entire piece in one bite.
- Start with the sushi topping nearest to you on the left side. Put some wasabi mustard on the piece. Then pick it up with your chopsticks and lightly dip it into soy sauce before eating.
- A smart way to eat chirashizushi is to alternate between rice and sushi topping. You can also put the sushi topping on the rice when eating.
- Don’t mix the sushi as it will ruin the visual beauty of the dish. Eat the toppings in order, starting from the pieces nearest to you. That way, you can enjoy the visual beauty of the dish until you finish.
Some people mix soy sauce and wasabi in a small dish and pour the mixture over the chirashizushi. This method is not recommended for enjoying the food, since the color of the sushi may change and lose its luster.
Various pieces of seafood are artfully placed on top of the sushi rice. Be careful of the order in which you eat the pieces. If you eat all of your favorites first, it may ruin the visual beauty of the dish.
While eating in an elegant manner is not always the “smart” way, it is important to remember the basic principle in table manners,
which is not to give others an unpleasant feeling.
Using high quality chopsticks for your daily meals will satisfy your mind as well as your appetite.
Natural and elegant plate to complement your sushi and enliven your table.
These bowls give the warm feeling of wood and lacquer. Each design has a distinct aesthetic and feel.
Using fine teacups makes your tea taste better.
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