By HILLARY EDMAN

Staff Writer

It is not every dayÊwhile in a restaurant youÊhear one say, "Yes, I will have that fish raw, please,"Êbut it isÊone of theÊpossibilities when ordering from a sushi bar.

However, that is not the only option when enjoying this Japanese delicacy.

According to www.dictionary.com, sushi is defined as cold cooked rice dressed with vinegar that is shaped into bite-sized pieces and topped with raw or cooked fish, or formed into a roll with fish, egg, or vegetables and wrapped in seaweed.

Although it may seem simple, Lu Davadong, sushi chef at Tokyo Japanese Steak House Seafood and Sushi, located at 3426 Cypress St. in West Monroe, said it takes some time to explain sushi.

"I love sushi," Davadong said. "It is a beautiful art form. It is edible art."

According to www.eatsushi.com by Jorie Nolen, sushi dates back to the seventh century, when South Asians first introduced the art of pickling.

"The Japanese acquired this same practice, which consisted of packing fish with rice," Nolen said.

"As the fish fermented, the rice produced a lactic acid, which in turn caused the pickling of the pressed fish."

Nolen said improvements over the centuries have helped this "Japanese culinary art" roll its way into the sushi that we have come to love or hate today.

Why the love-hate relationship with sushi?

Aleshia Grant, a senior sociology major, said she is disgusted with the fact that some sushi is raw fish.

"I don't like anything that has not been fully cooked," Grant said.

"I feel like if it is not properly cooked you, could get sick."

Tham Nguyen, a waitress at Tokyo Japanese Steak House Seafood and Sushi, said one of the biggest misconceptions of sushi is it is all raw fish

"A lot of people think [sushi] is all raw, but actually 80 percent of it is cooked," Nguyen said.

Davadong said sushi is in a class of its own.

"[Sushi] is different than any other kind of food," Davadong said. "The taste is different from anything you have ever tasted before. It is like eating a mini garden; there is so much variety."

In addition Nguyen said, "Sushi is fulfilling. It does not look like it would [be satisfying] but it really is. There is a lot of different ways to make sushi."

The Tokyo Japanese Steak House Seafood and Sushi menu offers many different combinations of sushi from their sashimi, which is raw fish, to their Boston Roll, which consists of cooked shrimp, cucumber and Japanese mayonnaise.

They even offer a Louisiana Roll: cooked crawfish, cucumber, asparagus and spicy seasoning.

And if these items are not enough to persuade sushi skeptics, the added bonus is that sushi is healthy.

Davadong also said sushi contains a lot of needed protein, but in order to enjoy the sushi dining experience to its fullest, one must pay attention to the preparation.

"Fresh food and fresh fish," Davadong said.

"It has got to be fresh or it ruins everything."

Hanh "Kit" Duong, a sophomore finance major, said she started eating sushi when she visited Japan, but her main reason is that it contains one of the main staples in her diet.

"I am from Vietnam," Duong said.

"Sushi has rice in it, and I was [brought up] eating rice like Americans eat French fries or bread."

Nguyen said the thought of eating sushi can be intimidating, but you only live once.

"It's really hard for most people who start off with [sushi] because of the texture and the taste is hard to get used to," Nguyen said.

"But after you try it once, you are addicted."