Gavin Ekstrom is the senior area manager of Citywide Home Loans in Greenwood Village, Colorado, where he has been since 2005. In his free time, Gavin Ekstrom enjoys eating sushi.

Originating in Japan, sushi has become one of the most popular ethnic cuisines in the United States. However, many people still do not know the difference between sushi and sashimi. Sashimi, which means pierced body in Japanese, is defined by a piece of meat draped over a garnish and served with a perilla leaf. The meat is sometimes, but not always, raw, and there are a variety of meat options, including shrimp, tuna, mackerel, and yellowfish, as well as chicken and steak.

Sushi, on the other hand, is any dish served with vinegared rice. There are many different types of sushi, but the important thing to remember is that it always comes with rice.

Both are served with wasabi, soy sauce, and pickled ginger. However, sushi should be eaten with just a bit of wasabi and only the fish should be dipped in the soy sauce; the ginger is meant for cleansing the palate between bites. With sashimi, the wasabi and soy are traditionally mixed.