FAQ's About Eating Sushi, Etc

There are many ideas floating around about the proper way to eat sushi. Here are a few of the questions I'm often asked.

FAQ #1 You can only use chopsticks with sushi, right?
Sushi is the ultimate finger food. Chopstick usage for sushi is a thing that requires lots of practice. Here’s why: When eating nigiri zushi, tradition dictates that you should always dip the topping side into the sauce rather than the rice side. If you allow the rice ball to soak up sauce, it will break apart before it gets to your mouth and make a huge mess. This clever flipping motion is not an easy task unless you are a chopstick master. By all means practice if you'd like, but don’t feel obligated to use chopsticks. Now when eating sushi rolls, chopstick usage usually doesn't pose any problems. Sashimi should however be eaten with chopsticks rather than fingers.

FAQ #2 Why am I supposed to rub my chopsticks together before I use them?
I have a very simple response for that one: Please don't! People often pick up their chopsticks and immediately rub them together to get rid of splinters. High quality chopsticks shouldn't have splinters. Take a quick glance at your chopsticks to check for splinters. If any are present, ask for another set. After all, they are disposable. If you rub them together to get rid of splinters, you'll have a raw edge that may produce even more splinters. And take my word for it-a splinter in the lip, or worse, the tongue is no fun.

FAQ #3 Some people say to mix my wasabi and soy sauce, while others say to keep them separate. Who's right?
From the traditional view, wasabi and soy sauce are two separate condiments. Combining wasabi and soy sauce is the equivalent of opening a salt and pepper shaker and mixing their contents into a bowl. Soy sauce is your salt and wasabi is your pepper. If you mix them, you can’t control the application of either. Simply put a little dab of wasabi on your sushi if needed and dip sparingly into soy sauce.
But my response? I'm just happy if people are eating and enjoying sushi.

FAQ #4 What do I drink with sushi?
You can drink almost anything! Water, sodas, beer, sake, wine, green tea, etc. But if you want the best match, stick with beer or sparkling wines.

FAQ #5 Can pregnant women and children eat sushi?
Absolutely! Sushi, as we know, is vinegar dressed rice. So unless pregnant women and children are allergic to rice (or rice vinegar), they should have no problems eating sushi. However, discretion should be used when eating raw seafood. Pregnant women, children under the age of 12 and anyone with weak or compromised immune systems should eat only fully cooked seafood, especially shellfish.

FAQ #6 Why don’t I get a spoon for my soup?
Many sushi bars do not give out spoons for soup. One of the Japanese words for soup literally translates as something to drink. So if you really want to look like you're in the know, don't ask for a spoon. Drink up!

What kind of sushi should beginner's try?
Much to my dismay, I have encountered many people that are firm in their beliefs that they hate sushi. I can’t understand-do they dislike rice, seafood, vegetables, fruit, poultry and/or meat? When I ask this question and explain that sushi can be made from any of those ingredients, people are generally willing to give it another try. Usually they just dislike the type of sushi they tried.

So where should one start? Most people would say start with a California roll, but I recommend starting off with some nigiri zushi with toppings that most people are familiar with- something cooked(ex, shrimp) and something raw(ex, tuna). Then test the waters for seaweed affinity by ordering something that has a "seatbelt"- a thin band of nori to hold the topping in place. Tamago yaki, the sweetened egg omelet or freshwater eel is good for this. Many people that “hate” sushi are adverse to nori and starting with nigiri establishes a taste for nori. But for those that don't like seaweed, rolls don't have to be completely ruled out. Most sushi bars have colorful, tasteless soy paper that can be used instead. And for those just getting accustomed to nori, inside out rolls are the best way to train their palates.