Sushi 101

[Poohbear123]

My greatest fear is chomping down on a big bite of wasabi! I've been eating sushi for 20 years and I always mix the wasabi into the soy. I wouldn't worry about etiquette unless you're with the Japanese prime minister (and he will likely be eating a peanut butter and 'naner sandwich. Did anyone see him at Graceland last week. Sorry! OT) Like the previous posters mentioned, if you get too much wasabi it will definitely clear up any sinus issues you may have and there'll be little steam rolling out of your ears to boot. If you are hesitant about what to get, start off with California rolls. And, I love the pickled ginger between bites although I always likened it to Windex instead of Pinesol.

Yep, 20 year veteran here too!

 

[SarahKate]

My advice to you would be to start tame. If they have something basic like a cucumber roll or California roll, then work your way up to the raw fish varieties. A Cali Roll won't have anything raw....some places put small fish eggs around the outside but don't let it scare you. They're so small, and they don't taste like much!

As for the wasabi, I take a TINY dab w/ my chopstick and put it on top. And don't overdo the soy sauce - just a QUICK dunk and sometimes I even blot it on the plate or a napkin to remove a little of it. Don't want it overpowering the ingredients.

I've never heard of mixing wasabi and soy sauce! That's a cool idea. I don't think I'd recommend it for a newbie though!

I never use the ginger - don't care for the taste, and usually I'm just eating the same type of sushi so don't nead to cleanse the palate.

As for one bite....this is totally your call!!! No one is going to give you dirty looks because you ate one piece in 2 bites. I will tell you that it is a little hard to eat in more than one bite because it can start to fall apart.

ENJOY! When I first tried sushi several years ago, I didn't like it much! It was very odd, because I would start to have these strange cravings for it and I didn't understand why because I didn't like it! But now I totally LOVE it. Unfortunately, not many good places around here but we go out of town a lot and a Japanese restaurant is ALWAYS on our list of must do's!

 

[jengelbrecht]

Dansyr1, from what I've heard the sushi is excluded as an appetizer at WPC, but you can order it as your entree on the DDP. Can't say for sure, though--just what I've heard from the grapevine (which can sometimes be misleading). I know for sure, though, that sushi is NOT an appetizer available on the DDP at Teppanyaki in Epcot--if you want to order it, you must pay for it OOP. However, when at Teppanyaki I ordered the seaweed salad for my appetizer and surprisingly enough, it was DELISH!

 

[DizzneyDi]

I've had sushi at Wolfgang Puck, and also at Tempura Kiku (in Japan at Epcot) and it was wonderful at both places. I think it's also served at the Matsunoma Lounge but haven't been there yet so I can't say for sure. I'd also suggest consulting with the waiters before ordering, as they can answer any questions you might have. There's nothing more delicious than good sushi. It almost melts in the mouth. I do mix my wasabi with soy sauce rather than putting it on the sushi itself. Some sushi chefs put some between the fish and the rice and you can't tell unless you've watched them make it or you take it apart!

 

[LilyWDW]

After speaking to many a sushi chef, including those that make "traditional" sushi and had actually come from Japan to work in a very authentic establishment, here is what I would like to state...

- Putting additional wasabi on your sushi is considered bad form and an insult to the sushi chef. By doing this, you are pretty much saying that he made the sushi incorrectly or that the fish is bad.

- Place a bit of Soy Sauce on your dish and lightly place your Sushi into it. Do not drench it!

- The ginger is to cleanse your palate between types of sushi. Putting it ON the sushi not only defeats the purpose, but you also run into an issue like the one above.

- Sushi should never taste FISHY! Fish, when fresh, should have a very subtle flavor. If it tastes "fishy" then it is not fresh.

- I have always been told to use chopsticks when eating Sushi, not your fingers

I will admit though, the best Sushi I have ever had was in London at Harrod's department store. They have many different specialty food areas, including a Sushi bar. All I can say is OMG it was wonderful!

 

[notnothin]

After speaking to many a sushi chef, including those that make "traditional" sushi and had actually come from Japan to work in a very authentic establishment, here is what I would like to state...

- Putting additional wasabi on your sushi is considered bad form and an insult to the sushi chef. By doing this, you are pretty much saying that he made the sushi incorrectly or that the fish is bad.

- Place a bit of Soy Sauce on your dish and lightly place your Sushi into it. Do not drench it!

- The ginger is to cleanse your palate between types of sushi. Putting it ON the sushi not only defeats the purpose, but you also run into an issue like the one above.

- Sushi should never taste FISHY! Fish, when fresh, should have a very subtle flavor. If it tastes "fishy" then it is not fresh.

- I have always been told to use chopsticks when eating Sushi, not your fingers

I will admit though, the best Sushi I have ever had was in London at Harrod's department store. They have many different specialty food areas, including a Sushi bar. All I can say is OMG it was wonderful!

Glad to see that someone knows what they're talkin' about!

 

[crisi]

I've seen Japanese coworkers both mix their wasabi with their soy and smear it over the fish. When asked (cause I'd heard the bad form thing) they laughed and said Westerns make too big a deal over sushi.

 

[Michele]

Sushi plattters are also available at California Grill. Very good. Tried something new there in Dec-dragon roll-yummy!

I'm only a 5-year veteran. I mix a little bit of wasabi with low sodium soy sauce (ask for it). Dip sushi in quickly, don't soak it. Don't like ginger at all. My favorites are eel (unagi), tuna, cucumber roll. We get a great appetizer, kanni su, crab wrapped in cucumber soaked in rice vinegar. But it is different, depending on where we get it. Some places it is a crab and cucumber salad, others it is a roll.

Me, DH and 1 DS-11 love it. Other DS-12 will try just a few pieces.

 

[crisi]

By the way, if you are new, I'd suggest starting with tuna and salmon - both are mild and taste a little like rare steak. I'm not a big fan of rolls (don't like seaweed), but a lot of people love them, so give them a try.

 

[momomonster]

Glad to see that someone knows what they're talkin' about!

Except that it is perfectly fine to eat sushi with your fingers. Sashimi should be eaten only with chopsticks, though.

 

[DisOrBust]

I had to take a parasitology class for my animal science degree and it pretty much did me in for anything "raw" in my lifetime. The professor got a real kick out of making you sick!


However I am thinking of living on the edge and trying....

.Lemon-Cumin Marinated Ahi Tuna - with heirloom beans and "Zough" yogurt sauce at Jiko. I assume it will be raw...anyone ever try? Have a comment???

 

[Mister Disney]

I have to agree with the other posters. Wasabi should be placed lightly on the sushi....not mixed in the soy...but that obviously is personal preference.

The Ginger though is definitely a palette cleanser, not a condiment for the sushi.

Kevin and I ate at CG (we did a mini review with photos Mini Review of CG Sushi Here ) last year (2005) and this past spring we ate in Epcot and at WP Sushi bar, along with an incredible place off property (we owe reports on these).

Basically, our over all impression of sushi ON PROPERTY is that they tend to cater to the basic "American" tastes. You will not find anything adventurous on the menus of the Sushi bars at Disney. Basically what I am trying to say is... GO and enjoy...especially if you have never had sushi before. Disney is probably the easiest place to try something, especially at WP in DTD. Whats the worst thing that happens? You hate it and go over to Ghiradelli's and grab a huge bannana split or something

 

[MyGoofy26]

Whats the worst thing that happens? You hate it and go over to Ghiradelli's and grab a huge bannana split or something

If that doesn't convince everyone to try I don't know what will!


I might have to try this trip (not just because of the promise of banana splits ) I don't think we have ANYWHERE locally. . . sushi just isn't big in WV. Although we have a pretty big Japanese population in this area, you'd think we'd have something. I can't even think of any places in Pittsburgh, I'm sure there are. . . just none of the places I'm ever near. So I've just never really had the opportunity. A friend and I were going to try in Canada, there were a couple places across the street from our hotel on a road trip but as we got closer we realized all the places across from our hotel were pretty scurvy looking and we weren't that brave

 

[StanH]

Except that it is perfectly fine to eat sushi with your fingers. Sashimi should be eaten only with chopsticks, though.

If it comes wrapped in seaweed, fingers are ok. If it doesn't, chopsticks are the way to go.....But who cares? I could eat sushi everyday, if I could afford it!

Everyone seems to be recommending tuna and salmon for newbies. I need to mention the best (IMHO) - Hamachi, aka yellowtail! That stuff is soo good and tastes sooo good. It melts in your mouth!

 

[MyGoofy26]

I know this probably defeats the purpose, but are there any good vegetarian options? I'm not big on seafood (just the smell has a tendency to turn my stomach) and not sure that I'm psychologically ready to put raw seafood into my mouth. Baby steps. I need baby steps if I'm going to try this.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Wasabi is like horseradish... I LOVE it. I don't mix mine with soy sauce... I spread it right on top of my sushi. Oh, and I HATE pickled ginger... ew, it's like pinesol!!! But that's just me. I absolutely love sushi and sashimi and I wish there were better options for it on the DDP.

I thought I was the only person who didn't like pickled ginger

I do like the wasabi though and I love soy sauce.

 

[crisi]

I know this probably defeats the purpose, but are there any good vegetarian options? I'm not big on seafood (just the smell has a tendency to turn my stomach) and not sure that I'm psychologically ready to put raw seafood into my mouth. Baby steps. I need baby steps if I'm going to try this.

California rolls...but honestly, I'd skip sushi if you are a vegetarians. I know a lot of pescatarians who eat sushi, but the vegetarians I know are almost always disappointed - not nearly enough food or variety in veggie sushi.

 

[Jenn0)))]

I realize that pickled ginger is just a palette cleanser, but does nayone just eat it by itself, like me?
I know it sounds a little weird, but I love the stuff and probably eat more of it than sushi.

 

[Jenn0)))]

Lemon-Cumin Marinated Ahi Tuna - with heirloom beans and "Zough" yogurt sauce at Jiko. I assume it will be raw...anyone ever try? Have a comment???[/QUOTE]
It's probably an ahi tuna steak, so.. probably not going to be raw. I've never personally had that dish at Jiko's, but Trader Joe' sells a similar dish to be cooked.

 

[Laura]

The California roll isn't vegetarian, but it would be a good option for those who eat seafood and are squeamish about the raw fish bits. I enjoy veggie rolls (like California but without the crab or fake crab) and sushi with just avocado.

And I know the ginger isn't a condiment but I put it on my sushi anyway. So there! (I eat it by itself, too.)