If you've never tasted the gourmet Japanese delicacy, Sushi, and would like to do so, you need to make sure you choose a reputable restaurant. Your first experience with Sushi is very important, as it will determine whether you will forever hate this dish or, on the contrary, become a Sushi lover. Sushi is made primarily out of raw fish combined with ingredients such as rice and vegetables, served on a bamboo platter and most people either love it - or cannot abide it.
Sushi lovers all agree that first-time Sushi samplers could use some useful tips to help them select a quality Sushi restaurant for their 'Sushi initiation'. The tips below should allow you to determine whether a Sushi restaurant is good or not, before you taste this Japanese delicacy for the first time.
Visit the Sushi restaurants in your town and make a note of those that have fish display bars. If a so-called Sushi restaurant does not have a fish display bar, scratch it off your list. All quality Sushi eating venues have a bar where the fish used to make Sushi is displayed. Don't hesitate to take a close look at the fish; that's what the display bars are for. The single most important characteristic of good Sushi is the quality and freshness of the raw fish used. Examine the displayed fish to ascertain its freshness (it should be juicy-looking). Also make sure that the chef is using the displayed fish to prepare the Sushi served to diners. Disregard any restaurant where the displayed fish is not fresh, as well as restaurants that display fresh fish, but don't appear to be using it to prepare the Sushi for that day.
Whether or not it has a display bar, do not eat Sushi at a place that advertizes an "all you can eat" policy. Whatever their specialty, "all you can eat" restaurants need to prepare huge quantities of food in advance. When it comes to Sushi, this is simply unacceptable. Sushi is made of raw fish, and preparing it ahead of time means that the fish will not be as fresh as it should be. Quality seafood is expensive, so you should be prepared to pay extra in a reputable Sushi restaurant, but you'll find that you are getting what you pay for. If you want to test this theory yourself, all you have to do is to eat one Sushi meal at an "all you can eat" sushi restaurant, and another at an authentic Sushi restaurant where you are charged by piece of Sushi ordered. The difference in flavor will convince you that traditional restaurants offer a far culinary experience.
First-time Sushi eaters should prefer restaurants that emphasize the quality and flavor of their Sushi and take pride in the food they serve, rather than in the quantities they can get diners to order. Avoid any Sushi establishment where the waiters pressurize you into ordering everything at one time. A good Sushi restaurant expects diners to order just a few pieces of Sushi at a time so they can take the time to savor the food. Sushi is not a form of fast food. It's an epicurean treat, a delicacy meant to be savored at leisure. Sushi restaurants that try to force customers to order big quantities of food usually have prepared huge quantities of Sushi ahead of time, meaning that the fish will not be as fresh as it should be.
Also note the flavor of the rice used in sushi dishes. Sushi rice is short-grained rice combined with sugar, rice vinegar, salt and water. This imparts a delicate flavor to the rice accompanying the fish. If the rice has no flavor, try another restaurant.
The menu in a good Sushi restaurant should always offer a choice of traditional Sushi and Sashimi dishes. Check to make sure it is not limited to modern versions of Sushi such as California Rolls. If no traditional Sushi dishes are listed on the menu, there is a great probability that the chef has not received proper training in the art of Sushi preparation.
Once you have used all the pointers above to locate a quality Sushi restaurant, ask the chef to prepare a special Sushi dish for you, using the fish available. While there is a risk that the 'chef's special' may not suit your taste, you may also find yourself sampling a delectable piece of Sushi - and you will have made friends with an excellent Sushi chef to boot.
Sushi lovers all agree that first-time Sushi samplers could use some useful tips to help them select a quality Sushi restaurant for their 'Sushi initiation'. The tips below should allow you to determine whether a Sushi restaurant is good or not, before you taste this Japanese delicacy for the first time.
Visit the Sushi restaurants in your town and make a note of those that have fish display bars. If a so-called Sushi restaurant does not have a fish display bar, scratch it off your list. All quality Sushi eating venues have a bar where the fish used to make Sushi is displayed. Don't hesitate to take a close look at the fish; that's what the display bars are for. The single most important characteristic of good Sushi is the quality and freshness of the raw fish used. Examine the displayed fish to ascertain its freshness (it should be juicy-looking). Also make sure that the chef is using the displayed fish to prepare the Sushi served to diners. Disregard any restaurant where the displayed fish is not fresh, as well as restaurants that display fresh fish, but don't appear to be using it to prepare the Sushi for that day.
Whether or not it has a display bar, do not eat Sushi at a place that advertizes an "all you can eat" policy. Whatever their specialty, "all you can eat" restaurants need to prepare huge quantities of food in advance. When it comes to Sushi, this is simply unacceptable. Sushi is made of raw fish, and preparing it ahead of time means that the fish will not be as fresh as it should be. Quality seafood is expensive, so you should be prepared to pay extra in a reputable Sushi restaurant, but you'll find that you are getting what you pay for. If you want to test this theory yourself, all you have to do is to eat one Sushi meal at an "all you can eat" sushi restaurant, and another at an authentic Sushi restaurant where you are charged by piece of Sushi ordered. The difference in flavor will convince you that traditional restaurants offer a far culinary experience.
First-time Sushi eaters should prefer restaurants that emphasize the quality and flavor of their Sushi and take pride in the food they serve, rather than in the quantities they can get diners to order. Avoid any Sushi establishment where the waiters pressurize you into ordering everything at one time. A good Sushi restaurant expects diners to order just a few pieces of Sushi at a time so they can take the time to savor the food. Sushi is not a form of fast food. It's an epicurean treat, a delicacy meant to be savored at leisure. Sushi restaurants that try to force customers to order big quantities of food usually have prepared huge quantities of Sushi ahead of time, meaning that the fish will not be as fresh as it should be.
Also note the flavor of the rice used in sushi dishes. Sushi rice is short-grained rice combined with sugar, rice vinegar, salt and water. This imparts a delicate flavor to the rice accompanying the fish. If the rice has no flavor, try another restaurant.
The menu in a good Sushi restaurant should always offer a choice of traditional Sushi and Sashimi dishes. Check to make sure it is not limited to modern versions of Sushi such as California Rolls. If no traditional Sushi dishes are listed on the menu, there is a great probability that the chef has not received proper training in the art of Sushi preparation.
Once you have used all the pointers above to locate a quality Sushi restaurant, ask the chef to prepare a special Sushi dish for you, using the fish available. While there is a risk that the 'chef's special' may not suit your taste, you may also find yourself sampling a delectable piece of Sushi - and you will have made friends with an excellent Sushi chef to boot.
About the Author:
Michelle is undoubtedly an expert writer whose niche is writing articles about very easy, but yummy, home cooking. Her articles or reviews typically stress the many benefits of slow cooker recipes such as slow cooker chicken recipes, which is among her favorites.