Sushi For/By Dummies - What Are They Shouting?

by Sarah J. Gim, Posted Aug 31st 2005 @ 9:06AM

It’s quite the hep thing now. Utter the words “Oooh, I’m totally craving sushi,” and suddenly you’ve got an exotic palate. You’ve tried raw fish, and you liked it. You’re ooh la la cosmopolitan. You are it, baby.

Yeah, right. Whatever.

I grew up eating a lot of sushi because my Mom loved it (so strange how our tastes derive from what our parents make us eat when we’re little – but that’s a subject that deserves a whole day of posts for itself!). I’ll tell you a little secret - raw fish with wasabi at the age of three doesn’t affect childhood brain development. Or, at least not as observed in this Sarah J. Gim.

Anyway, I certainly do love a luscious slice of o-toro, but I am still what you would call a novice. For we should know by now that practice makes perfect when you’re playing with a joystiq, but eating and drinking, especially sushi, is a whole different ballgame.

So let’s learn together shall we? I mean, I don’t want to look like a complete country bumpkin when I stake out Mr. Kutcher at Geisha House in LA, right? Let’s start from the very beginning – right when you walk in the door.

You may wonder what the sushi chefs and servers are shouting when you walk in the door. It’s “Ira shai masse!” which means, “Chicken of the sea!” But if you’re really smart, you’ll know that “ira shai masse” is a warm, hearty welcome that really means something like “May I help you?” And no, you don’t have to answer back.

That’s our sushi lesson for now. Next up: Omakase is not a competitor on The Apprentice.

Filed Under: Ingredients, Chefs & Restaurants, How To, Restaurants
Tags: asia, dinner, fish, grains, lunch

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-31-2005 @4:40PM gk said... And if you're really really smart, you'll know it's actually "irasshaimase" not "ira shai masse", and that it literally means "Come in" or "Welcome" not "May I help you?"

Also, "Omakase" is a little weird, perhaps. It means "Leave it to me". I suspect the poster may have meant "Omatase" which means "I've kept you waiting". But there's no context given for that one, and I suppose either could be said in a sushi place.
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8-31-2005 @4:52PM sarah said... LOL! thank you! see, this is why it's sushi BY dummies (me)! i am learning...

and i actually do mean "omakase" - meaning the format of dining at the sushi bar where we just leave it all up to the chef.

that little post on omakase to come up shortly...and will be looking forward to your comments :)
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