Slurping is Acceptable
Sushi Bar 101
By: Jansen Fredal

A quick distinction: sushi means “seasoned rice” and is often confused with sashimi, which means “sliced raw fish.” The different types include: nigiri - pieces of fish or shellfish over rice, the most common in sushi bars; maki-zushi - rolled in seaweed; temaki - handrolls; and sashimi - sliced/chilled raw fish without rice.

Before Sushi

• Hot towels will be offered to cleanse your hands. (Remember, sushi is finger food.) After use, fold the towel and place in the basket/tray or on the counter; a napkin will be provided for your lap.
• Drinks, appetizers and non-sushi items will be ordered from your waiter. The waiter also handles all monetary transactions. The sushi chef is only for sushi or sashimi orders.
• Sake is appropriate to drink before sushi or with sashimi. However, while eating sushi, tea or beer is preferable. Why? Sake is made from rice so eating and drinking rice at the same time is considered redundant.
• At each place you will find a small dish for soy sauce (shoyu), chopsticks (hashi), and possibly a ceramic block/chopstick rest (hashi oki). If necessary, remove the chopsticks from their paper sheath but DO NOT rub them together. This suggests to the chef that you believe he is cheap and purchases poor quality hashi.
• If you are visiting an establishment for the first time, asking the sushi chef for their recommendations is an excellent idea. Do not, however, ask them “What is fresh?”
• New to sushi? Start with rolls (i.e., California rolls, Philadelphia rolls), tempura rolls, nigiri zushi (tuna, yellowtail and salmon), and eventually you will graduate to spicier menu choices and sashimi.

During Sushi

• Soup may or may not be served with a spoon. You may use your chopsticks to pick out the solid pieces and then drink the liquid from the bowl. Slurping is actually acceptable.
• Sushi is about the balance and complexity of the flavors. For this reason, it is good to start with sashimi and its delicate flavors and then move on to the spicier items.
• Sushi is generally served with ginger (for palate cleansing between pieces), wasabi (a spicy horseradish) and soy sauce.

Where most etiquette confusion is found:

• A scant amount of soy sauce should be placed in the bowl. (Think drops, not wading pool.) Pick up the sushi with your fingers and dip the fish, not rice side, into the soy sauce.
• Wasabi should not be mixed in with the soy sauce. (Remember delicate flavors.) If you’d like to add more (the chef has placed some in the sushi to fit the flavors) lightly dip a chopstick into the wasabi and run along the top of the sushi.
• Sushi is eaten with hands and sashimi is eaten with chopsticks. When eating from a communal plate, use the large end of the chopsticks to pick up pieces. Never pass sushi to another diner using your chopsticks. (This is symbolic of a Japanese funeral ritual.)
• Try to eat the entire piece in one bite. If it’s too large, bite off a portion and hold the extra in your hand. Do not place back on your plate.
• Avoid ordering too much as it is impolite to leave food.

The Grand Finale

• If you enjoyed your sushi and it is evening, it is polite to offer to purchase a drink for, or to possibly tip your sushi chef.

If you are now aghast at all the faux pas you have made in the past while enjoying sushi, never fear. The Japanese are unfailingly polite and would never dare to mention your mistakes.

I have to admit that I went far too long under the misconception that sushi was defined as “slightly disgusting raw fish served at high prices.” I was wrong. This ignorant Westerner has become entranced with the ritual and gentility of a good sushi experience. I humbly suggest you try it and find out for yourself.