Eating Tasty Sushi With Western Twist: Gen Sushi
People who fear to try a conventional sushi, thinking that it consists of raw fish, can feast on Gen Sushi. Gen sushi, or New Generation sushi, came into existence with the blend of western tastes and has a variety of vegetables and cooked dishes including scallops and tuna, for the timid people who wish to experience sushi. A few things should be kept in mind if you are thinking of trying gen sushi.
Gen sushi has taken on a decidedly western technique when it comes to sushi creation, adding area-specific ingredients and changing the shape, size and presentation format laid out by Japanese inventors. Crazy combinations of ingredients can be found inside sushi rolls, with names like the Caterpillar roll, Spider roll and even the style of sushi has changed.
The traditional Japanese reverence for good quality food in small portions has dissipated in America, with sushi bars deferring to the American-sized appetite and attraction to colorful food in big portions.There is a specific way in which sushi should be eaten, whatever form it may be in. There are methods to eat sushi in a polite manner in the Japanese culture, and it is also observed in the western restaurants as well.
For instance, sushi should never be passed from one set of chopsticks to another when you are sharing your sushi platter with friends and family, as it is considered as uncivilized and unmannerly to do so at dinner. This custom is observed only at funerals in Japan.
Carefully place your chopsticks on the edge of your plate or in the provided holders. Chopsticks should not be placed on the edge of your plate with its base touching the table. Similarly, never whittle your chopsticks.
You should also be careful as to the amount of soy sauce you take, as it should be not more than you need, so it does not get wasted.
Soy sauce should only be used as much as required for leaving even a tiny amount of food on the table means serious disrespect for the sushi chef.
You can generally find gen sushi at a specialty sushi store, but many grocery stores and Asian markets do have it in stock as there is a growing demand for it now. You can also try gen sushi at a restaurant, as many chain restaurants are now open that are special only for their style of sushi. Also, some American sushi options will also be found at a traditional sushi restaurant, though that variety would be less than at a gen sushi restaurant.
Ingrid Preube
Find additional information on sushi buffet and gen sushi.
Tags: cooking, food, recipes, restaurant, sushi