Ask A Sushi Chef : 1A When you're eating sushi, something's always in season.

Sushi established itself in America in the 1960s and '70s in Los Angeles. Since the cuisine made inroads on the West Coast, it's gone national. You can find restaurants serving dishes like nigiri in every state and can find stripped-down versions of popular dishes in American drugstores sold alongside cheese and crackers.

It's safe to say Americans are taken with sushi. But it's a genre of food with a long history and specific philosophy.

How much can we say we really know about it? Other than the fact that it's extremely tasty.

As part of our "Ask A" series, we take your questions to sushi experts.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

1A

Ask A Sushi Chef

Ask A Sushi Chef

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Chefs prepare sushi specialties during the official opening of the Nobu Hotel at City Of Dreams. Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images hide caption

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Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images

Chefs prepare sushi specialties during the official opening of the Nobu Hotel at City Of Dreams.

Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images

Summer's almost over. The coals under America's grills have cooled. The weather's getting chillier. The days are getting shorter.

But for one particular group of culinary connoisseurs and creators, the Fall means the return of some favorite dishes and new eating opportunities. When you're eating sushi, something's always in season.

Sushi established itself in America in the 1960s and '70s in Los Angeles. Since the cuisine made inroads on the West Coast, it's gone national. You can find restaurants serving dishes like nigiri in every state and can find stripped-down versions of popular dishes in American drugstores sold alongside cheese and crackers.

It's safe to say Americans are taken with sushi. But it's a genre of food with a long history and specific philosophy. How much can we say we really know about it? Other than the fact that it's extremely tasty.

As part of our "Ask A" series, we convene a panel of sushi chefs and sushi experts to answer your questions about the cuisine.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.