Is this the correct way to eat Eel?
Did you know there is a correct way to eat sushi?
Neither did we, and we have been doing it all wrong for years ! It’s a good thing we have Japanese native, Miko Whigham, in town. Miko is here to teach us how to eat sushi correctly, like they do in Japan. This will ensure politeness and manners, if you ever find yourself in an authentic sushi restaurant on a Food Adventure.
How do they eat Salmon sushi rolls in Japan ?
Miko is a sushi expert. She grew up in Japan, moved to the United States decades ago. She now owns her second Sushi restaurant called ARIAKE SUSHI BAR which is near the Dayton Mall, at 59 Fiesta Lane, by the intersection of 741 and 725.
THE BIGGEST ERRORS IN SUSHI EATING:
Many of us find ourselves using chopsticks, when actually it is more customary to use your hands. This can save you from fumbling with chopsticks, if you aren’t well versed. It can also save your sushi from crumbling, which happens to the Food Adventure Crew a lot. Miko also says mixing the wasabi in the soy sauce is only a sometimes thing.
Exotic Sushi rolls at Ariake demand special handling
CORRECT WAY TO EAT SUSHI ROLLS : VIDEO
(Sushi rolls are the most common sushi, cooked or raw filling inside of rice cut into circles)
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
2) Brush a little wasabi anywhere on your sushi roll pieces using chopsticks.
3) Next, get rid of the chopsticks or forks and use your hands only.
4) Pick up the sushi piece (it is typically a small circle shape) and dip it quickly into the soy sauce
5) Put the whole thing in your mouth. Yes, the whole thing. They are made for you to taste it all at once.
CORRECT WAY TO EAT NIGIRI SUSHI: VIDEO
(Ngiri is typically a piece of fish laying on top a small bunch of rice, raw or cooked)
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
What is the customary way to eat Nigiri ?
2) Brush a little wasabi on the fish side of your sushi using chopsticks.
3) Next, get rid of the chopsticks or forks and use your hands only.
4) Pick up the sushi piece with your hand fish side down, rice side up,and dip the fish part into the soy sauce
5) Put the whole thing in your mouth. Yes, the whole thing. They are made for you to taste it all at once.
(#4 makes sense, we always dipped the rice side into the soy and it fell apart.. NEVER AGAIN !)
This VIDEO will help you with a little known Wasabi request …
Sashimi – Fatty Tuna
CORRECT WAY TO EAT SASHIMI: VIDEO
(Sashimi is raw fish, sliced into bite sized squares)
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
2) Put a little dab of wasabi into the soy sauce, and using chopsticks mix it into the soy sauce until blended.
3) Using chopsticks, pick up a piece of sashimi, dip the fish part into the soy sauce
4) Put the whole thing in your mouth.
CORRECT WAY TO EAT A HAND ROLL:
Fold the Hand Roll Bottom closed, pour a few drops of soy on the top
1) Hold the roll like an ice cream cone
2) Using chopsticks, smear a small amount of wasabi across the top opening of the roll.
3) Fold the bottom opening closed and hold it closed with your pinky finger while holding the hand roll like an ice cream cone.
4) Pour a small amount of soy sauce across the top opening of the roll.
5) Take bites out of the roll, like eating an ice cream cone.
OPTIONAL WAY TO EAT SUSHI ROLLS AND NIGIRI: (THE GINGER MOP METHOD): VIDEO
There is another way to soak your sushi with soy and wasabi. Food Adventures has named this the “Ginger Mop Method”
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
2) Put a little dab of wasabi into the soy sauce, and using chopsticks mix it into the soy sauce until it disintegrates.
3) Next, using your chopsticks, get a pinch of ginger, and dip it into your soy sauce
Japanese native Miko Whigham, owner of Ariake Sushi
4) Using the ginger like a “mop”, brush the sushi with the wet ginger, spreading soy sauce on the sushi. If you want to break tradition, you can mix wasabi into the soy sauce here.
5) Pick up the sushi piece with your hand, if it is nigiri (fish on a bed of rice) turn it fish side down, rice side up,and dip the fish part into the soy sauce. If it is a roll you can dip it by hand or by chop stick.
6) Put the whole thing in your mouth. Yes, the whole thing. They are made for you to taste it all at once.
There you have it, you are now an official Sushi Ninja…
Thank you to Japanese native Miko Whigham for her guidance on “How to eat sushi correctly.” Make sure you visit her restaurant, Ariake Sushi Bar in Miamisburg for Dayton’s most authentic Japanese menu. When you do, you now know how to mind your sushi manners!
Please browse our sushi photos below, and follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Now you can tackle sushi in the “correct manner”
How would you address this roll??
Kani, Tuna and Salmon Nigiri – use the upside down dip method
Spicy Tuna Roll
Shrimp Tempura
Sushi is life
Tell your friends to use their hands !
Sushi Boat at Ariake
How would you tackle this one? With your hands !
Sashimi Plate
Sushi roll
Roll topped with eel
Ariake Feast !
Dreams come true at Ariake Sushi Bar
hello , lover…
Mackrel, tuna and yellow tail
The Kani imitation Krab is good stuff
Some sushi rolls come deep fried
Love the Spicy tuna roll
Hand Rolls – $1 – limit 1
Sashimi Plate
Ngiri Plate – Salmon, Tuna, Crab
Tuna Roll
Outside Ariake Sushi near the Dayton Mall
Thanks for mentioning that it’s more customary to use your hands instead of using chopsticks while eating sushi. My wife and I are thinking about going to a Japanese restaurant because we want to try something new and interested in the culture. I think it’s a good investment to understand the proper etiquette trying foods we’re not accustomed to eating.