7. The rest of the menu

In a sushi restaurant or a sushi bar it is not unusual to order a mixture of sushi and other types of food. First and most prominent among these is raw fish without rice, sashimi, as well as small servings of hot food, vegetables, and condiments. The possibilities for combining these dishes with sushi are limited only by the imagination and inclination of the individual. Similarly, Japanese inspired culinary creations are often incorporated into conventional Western meals as appetizers, side dishes, or main courses.

Japanese cuisine boasts an abundance of several different soups which are incorporated into virtually every meal, including breakfast. Japanese soups are very simple and can be prepared quickly with only a few ingredients. Clear broth (dashi) and miso soup are the mainstays and often accompany a sushi meal. Small salad dishes are also excellent with sushi, especially when they make use of different types of seaweed.

Desserts play only a minor role in the Japanese kitchen and none is really needed after a sushi meal. The few desserts which are found are not particularly sweet and are predominantly based on fruit and bean paste. I personally have a weakness for those made with green tea. The slightly bitter taste of the tea is a nice complement to ice cream and sweet fruit and its green colour shows up beautifully when combined with pale tofu.