Health and Nutrition in Sushi

According to http://www.sushifaq.com, sushi has had the reputation for being healthy; it is low calorie and not very fattening. It can be even better for you if you cut out the carbohydrates by opting for no rice. There are rolls that include only fish usually wrapped with soy paper, or just choosing sashimi. Fish is a great way to consume lean protein, it has many vitamins and minerals and the fatty acid called Omega 3 that is extremely beneficial and play a big part in ones health. They are considered the ‘good fats’ and can help prevent cardiovascular disease, stroke, asthma, arthritis, and many more diseases.

            Sushi has usually been viewed as a healthy choice, but some may be worried about the health concerns in regards to eating raw fish. There is potential rare chance of being contaminated by mercury; so pregnant women are advised not to eat fish that is uncooked. Yes, it may be limiting but there are still many options someone can choose from. Such as a roll with crab, shrimp tempura avacado, cucumber, and seared salmon on top; all those ingredients have been cooked.

Below are some sushi roll’s nutritional value As you can see the roll’s that have tempura in them have a lot more calories, carbs and fat grams. This is because it is using a batter and then being deep-fried According to the chart, the Shrimp Tempura roll only includes the shrimp tempura. When you go out to eat the roll usually includes a lot more fish and ingredients. So this would rack up even more calories, carbs and fat grams.

As you can see the roll’s that have tempura in them have a lot more calories, carbs and fat grams. This is because it is using a batter and then being deep-fried According to the chart, the Shrimp Tempura roll only includes the shrimp tempura. When you go out to eat the roll usually includes a lot more fish and ingredients. So this would rack up even more calories, carbs and fat grams. So as whole, sushi is good for you, but you just have to be aware of what you are ordering.

Sushi Etiquette

                When going out to lunch or dinner at a sushi restaurant there is some different etiquette one should be aware of prier to their dining experience.
The website http://www.sushisecrets.com/sushibar.html gives a play by play of what to expect.

Your host can either seat you at the bar or a table, but if you’re with just one or two people, the bar would be a better option.  Here you will be at a lowered bar where you can clearly see all the fresh fish. Behind that bar is the sushi chef; he (or possibly she) is there solely to take your sushi order. You will also have a waitress if you decide to order anything that is made in the kitchen such as miso soup or any entrées. When ordering your sushi you will be given a paper menu to check which roll you want from the list and hand it to the chef.

                Some restaurants give you a complimentary starter. It’s often soy beans called edamame, a miso soup or a pickled cucumber salad. Make sure you do not ask for these items unless you want to pay for them because not all places give these items out.

                Many people are not accustomed to using chopsticks but it is a great utensil to learn how to use. If not, they may offer chopsticks that are bound together and therefor easier to maneuver.  It is more polite to pick up the roll with the chopsticks and eat in one bite, but it is also acceptable to use your hands and eat in several bites since the rolls are made bigger these days.  The soy sauce and wasabi are there to be mixed together to your liking of hotness, and should be only dipped with the fish side. The ginger is there to cleanse your palate after different rolls.  When all finished the term “arigato” means thank you and is appropriate to say when leaving.  The staff will often loudly say it back, thanking you for your business.

Sushi Beginnings

This was an article called “Sushi in America “ written by Ray Isle http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/sushi-in-america

It was very informative and gave lots of facts and statistics. First it gave a little history of how sushi was integrated from the Japanese to America. It all started after World War II in the 1950’s when a restaurant in San Diego opened up. At the time sushi was only around $1.25, compared to now when a regular roll sells for about $12.95, depending on where you go. In L.A there are even high-end restaurants that are very intimate with little seating that have extreme prices. I’m referring to dinner at Urasawa where the fixed price is about $250 per person. Of course this includes all the finest fish and gourmet ingredients created by top chefs. While crazy expensive, it’s heard to be the best you can get.

            The article also included an array of definitions that explained the different types of sushi there are. They included:

“Sashimi Sliced raw fish without rice; sashimi should be eaten with chopsticks rather than fingers.
Nigiri sushi A bite-size mound of vinegared rice with a similar-size piece of fish, shellfish or other topping.
Maki sushi Rolled sushi; basically, a sheet of nori wrapped around rice and raw fish (or other fillings).
Temaki sushi Known as a hand roll; the nori wrapper is rolled around various fillings into a cone shape.
Chirashi sushi Literally, "scattered sushi"; raw fish and vegetables served over rice, most often in a bowl.
Omakase The root word means "to trust"—the chef serves you whatever he or she likes. No menus.”

            Isle’s also listed some of the best sushi restaurants in the country. Ranging from New York to L.A to Miami to Chicago. According to the article sushi bars have quintupled from 1988 to 1998, and it still continues to grow. Just in L.A alone there are over 270 sushi bars. It just goes to show how popular it has become.

Passionate About Sushi

When asked to blog about something I am passionate about, the idea of sushi instantly came to mind, that and my dog actually named "Passion". I thought I was a little more informed on sushi so I went with that. Ever since I was little I have been eating sushi, almost before I could even talk. I lived in South Carolina at the time and my parents would take me to this little whole-in-the wall sushi bar in Charleston. At the time it was one of the very,very few Japanese restaurants. As I got older we continued to eat there as a family and my love for sushi grew.

             I learned all about the different types, like cut rolls, hand rolls, nigri and so much more. Now when I go out to eat, I end up telling what the chef to make because my ideas aren’t on the menu. While usually more pricey, I can come up with some amazing combinations for rolls. One that I usually order consists of; tuna, shrimp tempura and cucumber inside; with sliced yellowtail and shrimp on the top garnished with lemon slices and masago.

           

There are about 4 different kinds of rolls you can order when eating sushi:

The deep-fried rolls. The fresh rolls. The baked rolls & The spicy rolls.

-The deep-fried rolls are either entirely deep-fried, have some type of fish or vegetable battered and deep-fried or have crunchy flakes on top.

-The fresh rolls are a lot healthier, they stay away from anything fried and use fresh fish like tuna, yellowtail albacore etc. along with vegetables wrapped in seaweed or soy paper.

-The baked rolls usually have a regular roll on the bottom and then have something liked scallops, eel or shrimp baked and put on top with a creamy sauce.

-The spicy rolls include either crab, tuna or pretty much any fish that can be chopped up and mixed with a spicy mixture. Sometimes its garnished with jalapeño’s, spicy mayo or hot sauce.

Doesn’t sound appetizing? Some of my friends wouldn't eat it at first, because they were scared of the raw fish or thought it was gross. But I needed my friends to at least like something at a sushi restaurant because that’s my favorite. That’s where this little technique came in. Not all roll's have to be raw, so I would order them something with crab, and shrimp tempura inside (since that’s cooked), along with avocado and shrimp on top with crunchy flakes and eel sauce. That way they don't taste the fishy part, and instead are satisfied with the crunchy, deep-fried shrimp and the tangy sweet eel sauce.  If that still doesn’t work most sushi restaurants or teriyaki chicken or something similar.

This blog is here to give tips, stories, recipes, and history about sushi. 

Some of the things that will be covered are:

All the fish and the types of flavors

History of Japanese cuisine

How it is crafted and the skills it takes

Where to learn to how to make sushi

The way it has been integrated into pop-culture

The effects of it being Americanized

The risks, benefits and effects of eating raw fish

The nutritional value
            The proper etiquette

The types of way you can have the fish prepared

The demographics of those who eat sushi

Restaurant chains and their net-worth

Quality and prices

Sushi has always interested me since I was young, and now I will be going into detail of why. If you don’t love it already maybe you can give it a chance after finding out all the information.