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The three main categories
of Sushi include Nigiri, which is a small rice mound topped with cooked or
raw fish, Temaki, hand rolled cones of seaweed that are filled with rice,
vegetables, and fish, and Norimaki or Maki, which is a combination of rice
along with fish and/or vegetables all rolled up in dried seaweed, with all
three having the same foundation of vinegar rice.
For each of these categories, the preparation is as unique as the
presentation or serving. For the right
presentation, Sushi should be served on authentic Japanese dishes.
Although the dishes do not have to match, they should all have a
Japanese influence. If you do
not have any Japanese dishes, dark colored platters or plates are most
acceptable. If a group of
people order from a Sushi bar or restaurant, or if you have a group of
friends over for dinner and serve a variety of Sushi types, you would use
a communal platter. In this situation, a nice
presentation would be to serve the Norimaki Sushi in groups of four and
Nigiri in pairs, or whatever combination you prefer as long as it is in
even numbers. Keep in mind
that if you serve Temaki or Norimaki rolls, you should serve them to your
guests first as the ingredients can cause the seaweed to become soggy. For any type of Sushi,
the seasonings used are crucial. The
two main types of condiments served are Soy Sauce and Wasabi Sauce, which
is Japanese horseradish and quite hot.
Some people in the United States have discovered that mixing a
little soy sauce with the Wasabi is delicious.
However, this is taboo in Japan.
Along with these, pickled ginger slices are served but only as
something to cleanse the palette between eating the different Sushi
varieties. For instance, if
you were to eat Ebi, which is shrimp, you would take a small bite of the
ginger to cleanse the palette before you moved to the Unagi Sushi, which
is eel. Remember that it is
perfectly fine to serve a communal platter of Sushi but every person
should receive his or her own dish containing each of the condiments.
If you are having a Sushi party for people who have never enjoyed
the taste and experience of Sushi, a simple card with eating instructions
can be placed at each setting advising the guests that the Sushi should be
dipped with the seaweed side and not the rice, which prevents it from
soaking up too much of the condiment of choice. When going to a Sushi bar
or restaurant, you would expect to be offered a hot towel used for washing
your hands before picking up the Sushi to eat.
The Sushi is generally chosen from a variety of types displayed and
then eaten with fingers or chopsticks.
Rather than take a small bite of the Sushi, the entire piece is
considered a single bite. For
your own Sushi dinner party, you can offer guests a small hot washcloth
for their hands. Finally,
serving green tea with the Sushi is another way of cleansing the palette
and adds to the overall experience. If
you are a true Sushi connoisseur, the following are commonly used dishes
or tools for serving or creating Sushi: · Sushi Maki – These are small mats made from bamboo and used for rolling the Sushi, which is then cut into circles to eat · Nigiri Sushi Mold – If you prefer to use a mold rather than your hand, this mold is perfect for creating uniform shapes · Lacquerware – Lacquer is one of the primary types of plates or platters used in China and Japan for serving Sushi · Wood Sushi Press – This tool helps create the perfect Sushi roll. Simply layer in the ingredients, press, and then cut the serving pieces to size. · Sashimi Serving Trays – Sashimi is similar to Sushi except that it includes only raw fish. However, these serving trays can be used for both Sashimi and Sushi. · Rectangular Servers – If you love having dinner parties or intimate Sushi dinners, these servers are designed with beautiful Oriental design · Dipping Dishes – These dishes are created for dipping Sushi in the Soy Sauce and/or Wasabi |
