All you wanted to know about sushi!
What is nigiri? rice ball with you choice of seafood topping!
Will I get parasites from eating raw fish? No. Nematodes and other intestinal parasites live in the flesh of fish, but when the fish is flash frozen at sea the parasites cannot survive. All raw fish served at Sushi-Mon has been flash frozen and is nematode free.
What is sushi? Sushi is made of vinegared rice combined with various toppings or fillings, including seafood, meat, vegetables, mushrooms, or eggs. Sushi toppings may be raw, cooked, marinated, or pickled.
What is Tempura? Seafood or vegetables dipped in batter and deep fried Tempura refers to fried foods coated with batter. Tempura was introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries during the 16th century. The word tempura derives from the Portuguese missionaries' custom of eating fish during Lent due to the Catholic proscription against eating meat during this period: in Latin, "ad tempora quadragesimae", meaning "in the time of Lent".
Where does sushi come from? Sushi originates from the practice of preserving fish by fermenting it in rice for months, a tradition which can be traced back to ancient China. It was originated during Tang Dynasty in China, though modern Japanese adopted sushi evolved to have little resemblance to this original Chinese food. The Japanese name "sushi" is written with kanji (Chinese characters) for ancient Chinese dishes which bear little resemblance to today's sushi. When the fermented fish is taken out to be eaten, only the fish was eaten and the rice was discarded. The strong-tasting narezushi which is made near Lake Biwa resembles the traditional fermented dish. Starting in the Muromachi Period (1336 to 1573) in Japan, rice vinegar was added to the mixture which accentuated the sourness of the dish and made its life span longer, while allowing the fermentation process to be shortened and eventually abandoned. The following centuries saw the development of oshi-zushi in Osaka, where seafood and rice were pressed into wooden moulds, and this dish arrived in Edo (present-day Tokyo) in the middle of 18th century. It was in Edo that this evolved into what is known as Edo-mae zushi in the early 19th century, using fish freshly caught in "Edo-mae" (Edo Bay). At the time, it was considered a cheap meal for the common people. It is this Edo-mae zushi which is popular today throughout Japan and the world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi)
Does all sushi have raw fish in it? No, there are many types of sushi which contain cooked items such as grilled fish, tempura prawns, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables.
What is sake? Sake is a Japanese word meaning "alcoholic beverage", which in English has come to refer to a specific alcoholic beverage brewed mainly from rice, and known in Japan as nihonshu. Sake is widely referred to in English as "rice wine". However, calling sake rice wine is incorrect. The production of sake by multiple fermentation is more characteristic of beer than wine. Also, there are other beverages known as "rice wine" that are drastically different from nihonshu. Hot Sake goes well with sushi.
