How do I order my sashimi/sushi correctly?!
I'm a huge fan of sashimi - but I prefer my sashimi sushi style, that is like, on rice. My preference being salmon and tuna.
When I sashimi salmon or tuna, if i don't specify, they simply give me the little slices without the rice. This as happened a few times, and even though it's still good, I prefer it on rice. I usually don't say anything because I don't want to trouble them for what I assume if a problem with the way I worded my order.
However, when I order salmon/tuna sushi, it's usually cooked/grilled and not raw (sashimi). Which is once again, alright, but not my preference.
I've never sent an order back or asked for anything different than they give me, but I'd like to somehow figure out a way to get exactly what i want every time. Am I wording it wrong? Am I using the term sashimi incorrectly? I'm usually dealing with cute little chinese/japanese women who don't fully speak English (though they have a grasp of it). They're adorable, but they don't always understand exactly what I want.
Any help is appreciated it :P. Help this ignorant American order sushi right!
Answers:
Hang in there...you'll get your orders in right...soon enough. Here's some definitions that might help you.
Sushi = a general term that describes a large variety of small dishes / servings like: Chirashi, Sashimi, Nigiri, Tempura, Onigiri
Sashimi = raw fish only...no rice, wasabi on the side
Nigiri = raw fish on a pc. of rice usually with a dab of wasabi under the fish.
Sake' Nigiri = raw salmon on a pc. of rice usually with a dab of wasabi under the fish.
Maguro Nigiri = raw tuna on a pc. of rice usually with a dab of wasabi under the fish.
Chirashi = a variety of raw fish on a bed/bowl of rice. You might want to try this someday. It's a nice change.
Sometimes, sushi bars serve "seared" fish because it's:
A) Trendy...never a good reason in my book...but oh well.
B) A way to serve it that is slightly more appealing to newcomers to sashimi & sushi...as it's not entirely "raw".
I'm a personal chef. I love sushi too.
Yes, you are using the term incorrectly. And if you let them know that, they'll probably serve you bad cuts of fish afterward thinking you're a sushi noob.
First off of all, sashimi is without rice. If you want it served on rice, you don't order sashimi. You order "sushi" which will be served on rice. You probably think sashimi = whatever isn't served in a roll. Sushi pieces and rushi rolls are different things. If you order tuna *sushi*, you should get the tuna cut into a slice served on top of rice.
Happy ordering!
Sushi is a Japanese dish consisting of cooked vinegared rice which is commonly topped with other ingredients, such as fish or other seafood, or put into rolls. Sliced raw fish by itself is called sashimi, as distinct from sushi. I believe what you want to order is just sushi or nigirizushi to be specific.
Japan Australia Blog
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…
It sounds like you want to order chirashi sushi -- tuna and salman chirashi. The fish is served atop a bed of vinegared rice. The nigiri sushi is served as pieces, the fish atop formed rice with a layer of wasabi in between. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi#Chira… for variations.
Sashimi is just the fish. The word "sushi" means "with rice." Read the menu--some is cooked, some smoked and some raw.
Sashimi never has rice. What you want is Nigiri.
Love sushi