Going to a nice sushi bar for the first time - tips?

[Computerpro3]

Tomorrow I am performing in a piano competition and afterwards my studio is being treated to sushi at Aqua in Cincinnati by our professor (who is also famous for his food and wine knowledge, in addition to being one of the top concert pianists out there).

I have actually only had Sushi for the first time about a week ago, and it was good. I have never been to a sushi bar before and to be frank, I don't want to look the fool next to my professor (he won't really care, I'd just rather not be embarrassed).

I've been googling and it seems like there is a proper etiquette to the sushi-bar experience. What are your experiences, and what should I expect at a place like Aqua?

aqua

Anything in particular to do or not to do?

 

[-=Germania=-]

Do get Unagi, but keep it to one order. Really, guys gotta keep this to one order because it could cause embarrasment ( a friend getting too happy...).


Nigiri - hard formed sushi
Maki - rolls
Narezushi - fermented meat sushi (tradional)

You put the Wasabi in the soy sauce tray, but do not have much in your first time.
Eat using the chopsticks and not your hands!
Sake is to be sipped, but there are many excelent japanese beers that do well with sushi.

Gari = pickled ginger ( fresh is awesome, dry is pretty gross)
Toro = fatty tuna (very good)
Yellow Tail is not Yellow-Fin, but a different fish.

Eel is delicious!

Start your meal with green tea and then move to drinking. It is better to start with the tea.

 

[Computerpro3]

You know what sucks? I'm not quite drinking age and I am not proficient at chopsticks. At least there will be one other person there that is underage.

 

[Kirosia]

Don't say "kimi no pansu wo kudasai" when ordering from a waitress. I learned that one the hard way.

 

[intoflatlines]

Never ask the sushi chef if the fish is "good" or "fresh" that day.. It is considered really offensive but I have heard people ask it and I have even read people suggesting doing that to others. Don't do it.

 

[soundfreq]

oh i love japanese food! pair them with warm sake!

 

[Xephyr]

Get super white tuna, salmon, eel (freshwater or seawater), and egg...these are personally my favorite and dip it in wasabi with soysauce...yuumm....which reminds me I haven't had sushi for a long long time

 

[braillediver]

It's an eating adventure. If he's that knowledgeable ask him to recommend some stuff. Plus each place has a specialty. Just ask what’s good?


Mitch

 

[Computerpro3]

I am probably just overthinking it, I'm sure he realizes that some of us may have never been to a sushi bar before.

I was just hearing all these stories about etiquette and how you will offend the chef if you dip the sushi wrong, or eat with hands vs. chopsticks, etc.

I guess I will just follow other people's lead.

 

[greydragon]

Be honest and ask your professor to show you the ropes. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help ya.

And also, if you're non-Asian, using chopsticks proficiently impresses those around you (think dates and such). Go get some and start eating with it all the time at home to get practice.

 

[BIG POPPA]

Go for the California Rolls, Shrimp and Avocado. Drink a lot of Beer. Everything should fine. Have fun!

 

[jjcha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by intoflatlines /img/forum/go_quote.gif Never ask the sushi chef if the fish is "good" or "fresh" that day.. It is considered really offensive but I have heard people ask it and I have even read people suggesting doing that to others. Don't do it.

I've never heard anything this silly in my life. Maybe here in the States, where sushi places are pretty crappy with the exception of a rare handful, some poser who thinks he's a sushi chef, serving you a crudely cut piece of defrosted tuna or salmon on a fistful of packet-seasoned rice, such a person might feign offense at being asked such a question. But I can't say I've ever ordered sushi at any of my old sushi bars in Tokyo without asking "honjitsu no osusume ha?" or just "kyo, sashimi ki ga suru, omakase".

Best,

-Jason

 

[Kirosia]

I've only been to out for sushi a couple times (my cousin treated, I'm pony poor) and I just acted normal. Didn't stare, use bad japanese, or threaten to rape anyone.

Quote:

And also, if you non-Asian, using chopsticks impresses those around you (think dates and such).

That sounds incredibly stupid. Although, I am asian and chopsticks confound me.

 

[jjcha]

But back to the original poster, here are a few tips.

1. Don't be afraid to eat with your hands. If chopsticks are difficult for you, just pick it up with your hands and eat it.

2. Do not dunk the rice side in your soy sauce. use your fingers, dip it upside down so you just get the soy sauce on the fish. do not let your sushi sit in your soy sauce bowl.

3. Do not mix your wasabi in withy our soysauce making a weird brown-ish concoction. If you want more wasabi on your sushi, just dab a little on top of the fish, then dip the fish (again upside down, as per #2) in the soy sauce and eat.

4. don't put too much soy sauce in the little bowl thing. you're supposed to lightly dab your fish in it, not dunk it anyway.

5. actually avoid the wasabi altogether. unless you like artificially coloured horseradish, because that's what it is in nearly every sushi place in the States. Ask for the fresh stuff if they have it.

6. Definitely have beer with your sushi if you drink. beer and sushi go hand in hand.

7. dont order dumb rolls with mounds of eel and avacado or fried chunks of crab in it. That's like how the Japanese like their Pizza with tuna and mayo on it.

8. eat the piece in one big bite. unless it's some insanely portioned american sushi. then don't make a fool of yourself by overstuffing your mouth. just bite it in half and sigh in disappointment at the ignorance of others.

9. eat slowly (hard to do as it's easier to eat bad sushi quickly so you don't have to taste it) if you can. enjoy what you're eating. you have my sympathies as it's probably nothing but cold overvinegar'd rice with, again, defrosted slabs of fish on it.

10. generally order the egg towards the end. it's somethign to finish your meal with

11. likewise, miso soup is not an appetizer nor should it be eaten with a spoon. it should be the last thing you eat.

I know none of this is really that useful given you're eating sushi in the States. I suppose all rules are off in such a case. Seriously, if I can sum it down, relax, eat with your hands if you suck with chopsticks, and don't dunk the rice in the soy sauce. that's all, otherwise enjoy.

Best,

-Jason

 

[-=Germania=-]

If you do the rolls (maki), dip the flat side (just one side) in the wasabi/soy sauce.

If you are not drinking age, have green tea all night... it REALLY goes well with sushi. Do not get the puffer fish outside of a $200/person restuarant! The chef has to be extrememly qualified with this and have a surgeon's precision.