What is sushi

A. Sushi is a traditional Japanese cuisine based on raw fish as the key ingredient.

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Q. Where does it come from

A. Origianlly, Osaka and Tokyo about 1,000 years ago. It was used then as a method of preserving raw fish by wedging it in a case of prepared rice. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that a chef thought to serve it as it is, rice included.

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Q. Isn't eating raw fish dangerous

A. As long as you are not tempted to eat poorly prepared Blowfish (Pufferfish, to you and me) which , unless it has had all its poisonous bits careully removed, is 1250 times more deadly than cyanide. But� it remains the greatest of all Japanese delicacies, all the same.

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Other fresh fish, such as salmon or tuna, should be eaten no more than 24 hours after being caught. It should be soaked in brine and marinated in a 3:2:1 parts mixture of rice wine, sugar and salt to kill any lurking parasites.

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Q. What's the difference between sushi and sashimi

A. Sushi is the generic name for food prepared in� this way. Sashimi is fresh raw fish sliced into thin strips and chilled, eaten with wasabi (Japanese horseradish mustard) and soy sauce.

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Q. How do you cook sushi

A. You prepare rather than cook it. To make the rice, the base of most sushi dishes, just use any medium grain rice and cook it as normal. Then in a bowl add enough vinegar, sugar and salt to make it stick together. If it still won't stick add a little mayonnaise.

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To make Nigiri, or rice balls, you just need to roll the rice into balls with your hand and then add thin strips of fish on top. To make rolls with Nori, black seaweed paper, you need a bamboo rolling mat.

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Q. How do you serve it

A. Presented simply and beautifully on a plate with raw vegetables, such as cucumber and spring onion, cut into small but interesting shapes. Add your accompaniments wasabi, gari (thinly sliced pickled ginger) and soy sauce in separate little dishes.

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Q. Is there any etiquette associated with eating sushi

A. Sashimi is eaten with chopsticks, Nigiri with your fingers. If you are at a sushi bar do not dip the eating ends of your chopsticks into communal dishes to pick up food. Use the other blunt ends.

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Q. What do you drink with sushi

A. Sake, or Japanese rice wine.

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Q. Is it good for you

A. Yes. Sushi is full of vitamins and minerals unadulterated by cooking or over-preparation and it is very easy to digest.

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Q. Can I make it at home

A. Yes, if you can find ultra fresh fish caught 24 hours earlier. Or you can substitute tinned or cold smoked fish, or even fish and crab sticks. California Rolls don't sound very Japanese but it's a great dish. You just combine your prepared rice (see above), avocado, cucumber and crabmeat on a layer of nori set on a bamboo rolling mat. Roll up tightly and cut across the roll into thickish rounds. it looks really pretty too.

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by Nicola Shepherd