Let's face it, Sushi is a naughty food. From it's seductive beauty to it's tantalising tastebud sensations. Sushi is a naughty, naughty food that tempts us with it's colourful hues and delectable flavours. Sushi is somewhat like a work of art, some may love it, some are repulsed by it. Obviously, if you don't like fish you probably fall into the latter camp and vegetable Sushi just doesn't cut it for me. If you're new to eating Sushi it can be quite daunting knowing what's what, but it doesn't have to be.

There's no denying that a platter of different kinds of Sushi has to be one of the most appetizing foods there is visually. The old saying "you eat with your eyes" definitely applies here. It's no surprise that it takes top Sushi chefs 18 years to hone their craft, this food is simply perfect in every way.

If you're just starting out eating Sushi it's easy to get confused by all the different kinds available. What I started out eating was Sashimi, Nigiri, Temaki and Futomaki, they're still my favourite kinds of sushi many years later.

• Sashimi is simply raw fish that has been sliced.
• Nigiri is a rectangular rice mound that has a topping. Generally the topping would be of raw fish, but as I'll explain in a minute, Sushi isn't about raw fish as some people believe. Sometimes the topping on Nigiri would be cooked seafood, sweet egg or tofu.
• Temaki is sometimes referred to as a Hand Roll. It's the cone roll made from Nori (seaweed) with a rice and seafood filling.
• Futomaki is a large Sushi roll with Nori on the outside and either seafood or vegetable (sometimes both), rolled inside rice. The roll is cut into pieces.

Some people think that Sushi means raw fish. It doesn't, the word Sushi actually means vinegar rice. So if you're talking about eating Sushi, you're talking about eating something with rice that has been covered with a dressing of rice vinegar, sugar and salt. No raw fish necessarily involved!

Sushi as a whole is a rice based food that can be teamed with raw fish, marinated fish, cooked fish, raw seafood, cooked seafood, vegetables, egg and tofu. 

If you're talking about raw fish, then the word Sashimi is to be used. Sushi and Sashimi are two completely different things and this is where people get confused. Sashimi isn't Sushi because no rice is involved. Sashimi is simply the raw fish that so many people wince at even if just mentioned. It's sliced and laid out decoratively on a plate.

There are of course many other kinds of Sushi to try and once you start eating Sushi and Sashimi, it's quite easy to get addicted to. These are really healthy foods that are low in fat and high in protein, so it's a great option for dieters or people who like to have a healthy diet. It's rare for a food that looks and tastes as good as Sushi and Sashimi to be healthy, but it is, so there's no guilty pleasures here!

If you're going to a sushi restaurant for the first time, or even if you're buying Sushi to take out, here's some things you'll encounter:

• Soy Sauce - a staple ingredient that most people have at home. The Sashimi or Sushi is dipped lightly into the soy sauce.
• Wasabi - Outside of Japan, wasabi is generally imitation wasabi made from horseradish, mustard powder and a green food colouring. You will sometimes find wasabi in Nigiri, on top of the rice. Wasabi is hot and when dipping Sushi or Sashimi into it, caution is advised!
• Pickled Ginger - This is to be eaten between dishes or after the meal, It is a palate cleanser and aids digestion. It's also delicious!

If you're sat there thinking should I try Sushi and Sashimi? The answer is yes! Obviously if you hate fish you won't like Sashimi, and obviously, if you don't like rice, you won't like Sushi. But other than that, there is simply no reason not to try these delectable foods that will have you going back for more and more.

Sushi and Sashimi are sexy foods that shouldn't be feared as they are by some. A word of caution though, go for good Sushi and Sashimi, preferably from a Sushi restaurant or Japanese take out. Here in the UK, Sushi is sold in supermarkets and it's gross. The stuff that they put together isn't good Sushi at all, with the exception of Waitrose. Waitrose make good Sushi, but it's still not up to true Japanese Sushi made by expert chefs. If you see Sushi in a supermarket like Tesco or Sainsbury's, don't be tempted to try it! I can write from experience that you will not be eating proper Sushi, and there's no point in that!

If you fancy having a go at making Sushi at home - you should it's fun! Check out my hub on Sushi Kits - How To Make Easy Sushi At Home