Don't let the horror stories of botched sushi-making attempts scare you away from trying it yourself. With the Sushi Chef Sushi Making Kit, intimidation gives way to simplicity. The kit comes with all the basic supplies you need (minus the fish, of course): a ten-ounce bottle of sushi vinegar, five-ounce bottles of both soy sauce and rice vinegar, six ounces of ginger, 28 ounces of sushi rice, five Nori (toasted seaweed sheets), and a bamboo paddle and rolling mat. Think of it as a baby step into the world of sushi-making, and a night of entertainment.

First off, it can take some searching to find a store that sells sashimi-grade fish, which you'll need if you're going the raw route. There are alternatives, however, as you can use smoked salmon, cooked shrimp or crabmeat, and various vegetables in place of raw fish. You may want to pick up some extra Nori (toasted seaweed sheets) if you're having a few people over, as the kit comes with only five sheets. Also, the directions call for toasting the Nori; however, you don't have to do this step, as the sheets burn easily and lose their flexibility, making them break apart rather than roll.

The included Sushi Chef Cookbook gives explicit instructions on how to make sushi rice. At first look the task seems daunting, but if you follow the steps exactly, your rice should turn out fine, and that's the most important part of the process. Keep in mind that the rice will take a couple of hours to prepare, so it's best to start early, and plan to have it ready by the time people arrive.

Once the rice is done, you are ready to make your sushi. The cookbook provides directions on how to make various types of sushi, from shrimp finger rolls to cucumber rolls, inside/out rolls, and more. It also explains how to prepare fresh fish for sushi, which can also be a lengthy process. One thing to watch out for: the wasabi, a powdered horseradish that you mix with water, is incredibly powerful, so start small and add more to your taste. Otherwise, keep a glass of water—or sake—handy for those wasabi-heavy bites that make your eyes water.

The kit provides all the information you need to create sushi with confidence. After you get the hang of it, be creative with your sushi and make challenging rolls, or invent your own. The Sushi Making Kit is just the first step into the world of sushi. ($35.95; www.amazon.com)