Graze on Sushi

Would you have ever thought that Sushi would be sharing space with the in crowd? Well it has become part of the mainstay here in the United States. Over the last several years we have seen a rise in Sushi restaurants and more so in Americans consumption of this centuries old delicacy.

Sushi is making its own name in the US. There are sushi bars, there is sushi at parties, sushi at wedding’s, in college cafeteria’s. Where will the sushi turn up next? A Kiosk in the mall or better yet, the airport.

Sushi comes in all different types of tastes, textures and is generally served in small bites. Sushi was developed as a way to preserve fish by Japanese ancestors. It’s is typically eaten with your fingers however, some people prefer the use of chopsticks.

Beginning not long after World War II in the early 50′s, sushi started making its way into restaurants in the U.S. My first recollection of sushi was California rolls. They began to make their way into restaurants during the 70′s and have been on the rise for decades.

Something else I find fascinating is that American style sushi is making its way into Japan. Since the late 1980′s we have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of sushi establishments throughout many cities across the U.S. We Americans are finally catching on to what the Japanese have know all along, sushi is not only good but good for you.

When we think of sushi we think “raw fish”. In actuality the word sushi means vinegared rice which is the main ingredient in a lot of sushi dishes. The fish used may be soaked in rice wine, pickled or soaked in sake.

Soy sauce is also served for dipping but sushi is also served with Wasabi which is a green paste and is made with Japanese style horseradish. Pickled ginger is also used to clean the palate between bites and aid in digestion.

What you may not know is that sushi is very low in fat. An average dish of sushi is between 6 and 7 pieces and contains less than 500 calories. You will receive your fatty acids, omega 3 along with the lean protein which is needed for a healthy diet.

First time sushi eaters, I recommend some type of sushi roll for starters. If you are brave enough to dive into the raw fish, then ask the chef. Fish is seasonal and a recommendation from the chef is the best way to go when making your choice.