Sushikeepsactive studentsgoingstrong

PATRICIA J. SHEEHAN SPORTS EDITOR PJS723@CABRINI.EDU

Weather you 're into Gunkan or Norimaki your heart flutters at the sound of the names of these sushi favorites. Sushi is the most popular Japanese dish outside of Japan and more and more young people are becoming addicted to the ctaze.

"I love, love, love it!" said Stephanie Myers, a senior criminal justice major. "I go to Mandarin [Margaret Kou's Mandarin Restaurant) on Lancaster Avenue they're the best!"

Sushi comes in many different flavors and forms. Some contain shrimp, eel, salmon and tuna. These types of sushi are actually prepared with sushi vinegar, which is the same ingredient the first sushi cooks used he 1500's according to Japan-guied.com. Also, many do not realiz.ethat not all sushi is raw; sometimes it is boiled. Sashimi is the correct Japanese term meaning "raw fish," which is pieces of thinly sliced raw fish served over boiled rice and sometimes raw vegetables.

Sushi appeals to college students not just because of the exotic presentations but because of the health benefits. While in college, many are very conscious about what they eat and this different cuisine helps to settle the weight burden. Sushi is high in protein and very low in fats and calories. A California roll, which is about nine pieces of raw crab, avocado and cucumber rolled together in rice, comes to about 281 calories and by the end of this tasty treat you are full and packed with energy to go.

Steve Johnson, a freshman business major, said that he likes sushi because its good for you and its something different to go out for.

"I like to try and stick to healthy stuff. I don't like fried fast food or anything like that. Its healthy for you and its always good," he said.

"The experience is just different from anywhere else you could eat out at. It's always fun to experience new cultures. There is always something new to try and its fun to bring your friends who haven't tried sushi to a Japanese restaurant. I've gotten all of my friends hooked," Myers added. There are hundreds of websites online dealing with these delicious meals. Everything from notrition facts to recipes to a sushi dictionary can aide in the Japanese experience.

Japan-guide.com offers a complete sushi dictionary for the newcomer sushi diner. The entries are shown with their Japanese name, picture and a brief statement of what exactly goes into each particular roll. This site also gives a brief overview of the proper table manners and chopstick strategies when dining at an exclusive Japanese restaurant.

Another helpful site, Anncollins.com, a website that posts focuses on weight loss and staying fit, posts the complete nutrition facts for many cuisines including sushi.

However, going out to a Japanese restaurant may burn an annoying hole in your pocket.On average, sushi rolls can range from $2 to $5 and specialty rolls can cost to $8 to $12. It is normal for oe person to order two or three rolls so the meal not including a tip is already up to $15 and you haven't even gotten the grasp on your chopsticks yet. However, as part of the traditional Japanese sushi meal, a crab salad, traditional tea and tasty fruit salad for dessert is usually included at most Japanese restaurants as it is at Margaret Kou's Mandarin Restaurant in Malvern, Pa. Other popular picks around the Main Line include Samurai Restaurant in Wayne, Liki Japanese Restaurant in Phoenixville and Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in West Chester.

Sushi has people going back for more and the health benefits are not something that can be ignored. So grab your chopsticks and dig in, the only thing you've got to lose are those love handles.

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