Sushi
Nowadays, sushi is popular everywhere from upscale
restaurants to household kitchens.
However, the methods used in the preparation
of sushi today were ___1___ a way in which some Southeast
Asians preserved fish. Since
fish was an important part of their diet,
but quickly went bad, people invented a way to
ferment fish and rice ___2___ the fish could be
stored. After several months, the fish would be
consumed, but the rice had
to be thrown away. This method of
preservation eventually found its way
to Japan.
However, in Japan, sushi became much more than
a way to prepare fish for ___3___. During Japan's Muromachi period ( 1336
- 1573 ), chefs
began ___4___ vinegar to rice and
serving the fish and rice
together. This popular culinary
invention spread throughout Japan, becoming common in
large cities and small towns ___5___. It was in Tokyo,
Japan's capital, that modern sushi was born. In the
1800s, a chef in Tokyo began using fresh
ingredients ___6___ in Tokyo Bay and immediately
serving them on the vinegar rice without
fermentation. Modern sushi became popular in
Japan soon after.
Today, sushi remains a popular food and ___7___
many varieties. While sushi in the traditional style, a
single piece of seafood served on a small mound
of rice, can still be found, modern versions like sushi
rolls, battleship sushi, and sushi
bowls are also very common. These
delightful dishes have
gained in popularity around the world,
especially in Asia and North
America. Today, people the world over
are enjoying sushi as a fresh, healthy meal. |