# Sushi - Do you eat the ginger with the roll? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891 "2007-04-27T17:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/41 "2007-04-28T19:15:51Z")
[hijack] Never mind the toppings, how exactly are you supposed to eat a piece of sushi itself? It’s usually too big to down in one bite, but it falls apart and drops from your chopsticks if you bite it in half. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/42 "2007-04-28T19:17:24Z")
I eat it with my hands … ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/43 "2007-04-28T21:21:55Z")
[QUOTE=Orual] I eat it with my hands … [/QUOTE] Never, ever visit Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/44 "2007-04-28T22:01:59Z")
There’s nothing wrong with eating sushi with your hands. Why do you think they provide you with a steaming hot towel? It’s not to soften your beard for a shave, it’s to clean your hands with, hands used to eat food. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/45 "2007-04-28T22:10:38Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Never, ever visit Japan. [/QUOTE] I was also under the impression (from a sushi manners guide) that fingers are totally acceptable in the consumption of sushi. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/46 "2007-04-29T01:32:05Z")
Correct. _Sashimi_, by contrast, is always eaten with chopsticks. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/47 "2007-04-29T04:35:35Z")
Damn. Now I’m in the mood for some sushi. And sake. Mmmmmmmm…_sake_… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/48 "2007-04-29T04:42:27Z")
[QUOTE=ExTank] Mmmmmmmm…_sake_… [/QUOTE] I used to drink that, but the last bottle has been around for months because it tastes really nasty. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/49 "2007-04-29T19:25:29Z")
What’s this stuff that I see in many local grocery stores? It looks like sushi, except it is much larger. Isn’t it supposed to be bite sized? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/50 "2007-04-29T21:06:43Z")
[QUOTE=mks57] What’s this stuff that I see in many local grocery stores? It looks like sushi, except it is much larger. Isn’t it supposed to be bite sized? [/QUOTE] Maybe it’s a roll that has not been cut? Gonna need more info to make a good guess. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/51 "2007-04-29T21:18:51Z")
[QUOTE=mks57] What’s this stuff that I see in many local grocery stores? It looks like sushi, except it is much larger. Isn’t it supposed to be bite sized? [/QUOTE] That is “American” sushi. It comes with a side of fries and a large (diet) drink. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/52 "2007-04-29T22:43:07Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] Maybe it’s a roll that has not been cut? Gonna need more info to make a good guess. [/QUOTE] It’s been cut. It’s just much larger in diameter. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/53 "2007-04-29T23:22:56Z")
[QUOTE=mks57] It’s been cut. It’s just much larger in diameter. [/QUOTE] In that case, I’m guessing Post#51 😛 ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/54 "2007-04-30T00:14:33Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] In that case, I’m guessing Post#51 😛 [/QUOTE] My guess would be some of these. [Futomaki and other fat rolls.](http://japanesefood.about.com/od/sushiroll/r/fatsushiroll.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/55 "2007-04-30T00:17:40Z")
[QUOTE=mks57] It’s been cut. It’s just much larger in diameter. [/QUOTE] Oh, that is SO filthy. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/56 "2007-04-30T13:28:01Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] Sushi is as sushi does. Traditionally the ginger is meant to clease the palate, but seriously, do whatever you want. Even in Japan, the populace has widely varying sushi eating habits. [/QUOTE] \*\*autolycus \*\* is right. the divemaster has extensive eating history with japanese clients and says that the methods of consumption DO vary greatly per individual. i’ve seen him eat sushi and sashimi w/wo ginger, wasabi, sauce, etc. depends on the mood. damn, now I’M hungry for some… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891/57 "2007-04-30T14:18:29Z")
If any of y’all come down to Fort Myers, you have to come to Yokohamas Sushi Bar. Tell the sushi chef that “Chibby” sent you. In the 8 years that I’ve eaten there (2-3 times a week), I’ve learned that sushi is meant to be eaten by hand. That’s why they bring you a hot towel. So you can keep your hands clean. But they don’t really care if you use chopsticks. Likewise, they don’t care if you have the ginger on the sushi, or between each piece, not at all, or in one big handful before or after the roll. However you want to eat is fine by them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sushi-do-you-eat-the-ginger-with-the-roll/401891.md?page=2)