Are you eating sushi the right way? Do's and dont's from a master sushi chef
In:Whether you've never tried sushi before or are new to it all, now is the perfect time to master it and give it a proper try.
Nearly all Royal Caribbean ships have Izumi Japanese restaurant onboard, including the brand new Legend of the Seas.
From the first time I tried sushi on a Royal Caribbean ship in 2010, I've been hooked on their brand of freshly prepared food. It's become a must-eat when I'm onboard.
However, I know there are lots of people who have never tried it before or are new to it all. Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama created the Izumi brand and works year after year to bring his vision for quality Japanese cuisine to cruise ships.
"People are really interested in the culture, the type of food. Japanese cuisine is very diverse. Sushi is just the tip of the iceberg."
While sailing on Legend of the Seas, I asked him to share the proper way to eat sushi and how to go about trying it if you've never sampled any.
What's the best first sushi to try?
You don't have to start off with raw tuna or salmon as your first entry into sushi.
Chef Travis recommends starting with a fried roll because it's cooked instead of being raw.
"You've got to start out with our crispy Philly or the crispy spicy tuna. It's actually flash fried on the outside, so it's quite friendly."
Another good option is the crispy shrimp roll because it features shrimp tempura, which is a flavor and texture many people already enjoy.
Of course, there's always the tried-and-true California roll. It's not fried, but it appeals a lot to American tastes.
"It's basically the flagship of all the Americanized sushi. It's super friendly because the crab is cooked. As long as you're not allergic to shellfish, it's a great place to start."
Sushi isn't an all-or-nothing experience. You can start with a familiar flavor, and perhaps graduate to something more adventurous later.
How to use chopsticks the right way
Learning to use chopsticks can seem intimidating, but there's a trick that might make it easier.
Chef Travis recommends asking for wooden chopsticks if they're available because they're easier for beginners to grip than reusable plastic ones.
Once you've separated them, don't rub the chopsticks together, "You don't want to do the sharpening... trying to get splinters out because there's none, honestly. That's totally not what Japanese do."
Learning to hold chopsticks requires practice and patience. He says to move the top one up and down, while keeping the other one stable.
"It's going to take practice. Your muscle memory isn't going to be there."
Fortunately, Izumi restaurants also offer chopstick "helpers" that snap onto the sticks to make them much easier to control while you're learning.
Is eating sushi with your hands rude?
Since mastering chopsticks isn't going to happen at once, you might need another way to eat sushi.
"Traditionally in Japan, it's normal to eat sushi with your hands," he said.
Ask your server to leave the warm oshibori towel at your table. The towel allows you to comfortably eat with your fingers while cleaning your hands between bites.
What about using a fork? That should be the last option, "Chopsticks first is ideal. Then hand. Then fork is last."
Using a fork is actually not practical because it often causes the roll to fall apart before it reaches your mouth.
I was using ginger wrong for my entire life
I asked Chef Travis about what ginger was for when it's served with your sushi, and I had no idea I was actually using it incorrectly.
According to Chef Travis, it's not a topping. Instead, it's meant to be a palate cleanser.
Imagine you're eating a sushi sampler featuring tuna, salmon, yellowtail and shrimp. You should be eating the ginger between pieces because that allows each fish to stand on its own.
"You want to try to taste the fish instead of masking it with the ginger."
Should you mix soy sauce and wasabi?
The answer depends on where you're eating.
"If you go to a high-end sushi bar... don't touch it," he said.
At an omakase experience, the sushi is already seasoned exactly as intended.
"They're not going to give you soy sauce anyway."
But since you're probably eating sushi at Izumi, Chef Travis says diners have more flexibility.
You could take some wasabi, put it in the dish, add some soy sauce, mix it up, and then dip it. That's okay."
The key is not to overdo it. You want a little bit, so you don't overwhelm the fish.
What's the biggest mistake people make with soy sauce?
I asked Chef Travis what is the top faux pas people make when eating sushi.
He said too many people dunk the rice directly into the soy sauce, "The thing you want to avoid is to dip the rice in there where it soaks up all the soy sauce."
This causes two problems: it overwhelms the flavor and can cause the rice to fall apart.
He compared it to covering French fries with so much ketchup that you can't taste the potatoes anymore.
Is eating raw fish dangerous?
Some people have been hesitant to try sushi because the idea of eating raw food could make them sick.
Chef Travis explained the fish in sushi is different than the raw seafood from your supermarket, "Sushi grade is very different, and we're very honed into that sourcing. We're very picky."
Sushi restaurants operate under entirely different sourcing standards than grocery store prepared foods.
