A quick stop in Utah

I went to the Moab area and up to SLC this week.  It was pleasant, though I cant say they have anything on Colorado in terms of food or beer.  In Moab, I hiked in Arches (best) and Canyonlands (also nice) National Parks, and stayed in nearby Green River, which was a sad little town but way cheaper.  There was a darling taco stand set up at a brokedown gas station, and the barbacoa was delish.

In Moab, both the food and beer disappointed at Moab Brewery, but Sabaku Sushi was great, and the garden veggie roll was probably the best vegetarian sushi I have ever had. The poke was good, too.

Here's some of what I saw in Arches:

                                                          

And Canyonland:

In Salt Lake City, which I had visited briefly before, I hung out mostly in the Capitol (downtown) district, where I had great coffee at a little neighborhood cafe called Alchemy, OK beer and a funny pizza thing with corn and shrimp at Red Rock, and took a pleasant walk on the Capitol Building grounds, which are lovely.

The Great Salt Lake is indeed greatly salty, though there's really no place to walk unless you go to Antelope Island (Utah Lake in Provo is kind of a better park, though smaller and not tasty).

         

On the way out of town I hit the university neighborhood for some tasty Vietnamese rice noodle salad at Indochine (the chicken curry was nice, too).

Sushi favorites in the Rocky Mountains

For those of you living on a coast of some sort, you might think it is inappropriate to attempt eating sushi in such a landlocked place as, say, the Rocky Mountains.  To you I say, "I know, but I want it soooo much!" It really isn't the same, and if you're travelling through the region on your way back to some amazing place with fresh seafood available in your nearby ocean, you probably shouldn't bother.  But for those of us who are sick of waiting for someone else to pay for your trip to the ocean, or for those of you who have never left the state of Colorado because it's so perfect here (don't laugh, that's a lot of people), maybe you can give these a try:

COLORADO

Arvada
Namiko's

Boulder
Hapa Sushi, 1117 Pearl St. (and other locations)
Sushi Tora, 2014 10th St

Denver
Sonoda, various locations
Sushi Den, 1487 South Pearl St.
Sushi Sasa, 2401 15th St
Taki Sushi, 420 E. Bayaud Ave.

Fort Collins
Suehiro, 223 Linden St 
Suh Sushi, 200 W Prospect Rd

Greeley
Lucky Fin's, 4530 Centerplace Dr
Sushi 1, 3820 W 10th St Ste B13

NEW MEXICO

Abuquerque
Jasmine Thai and Sushi House, 4320 The Way, N.E., Suite 300

Sakura Sushi Thai & Laos Cuisine, 4200 Wyoming Blvd NE Ste C-2

Sushi Hama

2918 Eubank Boulevard Northeast

UTAH

Moab
Sabaku Sushi
90 East Center Street
Park City
Shoyu Sushi and Japanese Kitchen, 1612 West Ute Boulevard

Salt Lake City
Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill

722 South State Street

Tsunami Sushi - Sugar House
2223 S Highland D

St. George

Benja Thai & Sushi
2 West St George Blvd

Sakura Japanese Steak House & Sushi
939 E St. Geroge Blvd
WYOMING

Jackson
Kazumi, 265 W Broadway Ave
Nikai Sushi, 225 N Cache Dr

Laramie
Mizu Sushi, 307 S 3rd St



Finally, if you are new to sushi or from Colorado (aw, I'm just joshin', I love y'all!), please review this very helpful guide on eating sushi correctly from The Bold Italic called The Dos, the Don'ts, and the Oh God Please Don'ts of Eating Sushi

Sushi made simple.

This is not necessary.

I wanted to make some simple, vegetable sushi to bring to a friend's house recently and I didn't want it to be a big hairy deal.  I've had the rainbow rolls with a bunch of layered avocado and fish on the outside; the roll was so big I couldn't eat it in one bite, but also too slimy to bite into it.  I've had tempura rolls, coated in a tough, thick batter and deep fried; the whole thing tasted like a doughnut fried in old oil, with fish inside.  Sushi to me is clean, light, and each little bite has everything you need without choking.  I like it with fish, but I live in land-locked Colorado and will never be brave enough to buy the "sushi grade" tuna at King Sooper's.  So, I chopped up some vegetables and got to work wrapping little bites of salad.

Since I was travelling across town, I added ginger to the rice and some wasabi to the rolls so that we wouldn't have to bring that along in separate containers.  It's kind of nice to get rid of some of the fuss.




Sushi Rice: this makes 4 rolls

1 cup short grain white rice
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoons grated ginger
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar


Cook the rice with the salt in a rice cooker according to directions.  Dissolve the sugar into the vinegar (easier to do if you heat the vinegar a bit in the microwave), then stir in the ginger.  Stir the vinegar mixture into the rice and smooth out in a thin layer on a baking sheet.  Allow to cool on the counter while you assemble your ingredients.




Vegetable Sushi
nori sheets
long, thin matchsticks of green onion, cucumber, carrot, red pepper, mung bean sprouts
wasabi (optional)

Smooth a thin, even layer of cooled rice onto a nori sheet.  Lay two sticks of each vegetable in a row near one edge of the sheet, then scatter a few sprouts over the top.  Squirt a thin line of wasabi down the length of the vegetables.  Roll tightly and seal the end of the nori sheet to itself with water.  Cut off the ragged ends and cut the rest of the roll into 1/2-inch discs.

Mushroom "Caviar" Sushi
nori sheets
long, thin matchsticks of green onion
1 cup shiitake mushrooms
1 small shallot, finely minced
1 teaspoon grated ginger
soy sauce and Sriracha to taste

Soak the mushrooms in water for at least 30 minutes, or until soft.  Squeeze excess liquid out of them and chop as finely as possible. Place in a bowl and add the shallot, ginger, soy sauce, and Sriracha, stirring to thoroughly combine.

Smooth a thin, even layer of cooled rice onto a nori sheet. Lay a generous row of mushroom mixture down the length of the sheet, near one edge.  Add one green onion stick. Press into place.  Roll tightly and seal the end of the nori sheet to itself with water.  Cut off the ragged ends and cut the rest of the roll into 1/2-inch discs.

If you've never rolled sushi before and are having a hard time picturing it, watch this video.

Don't feel like rolling it?  Make a deconstructed sushi bowl: fluff the rice and place some in a bowl.  Chop the vegetables into bite-size pieces instead of matchsticks.  Stir some mushroom "caviar" and veggies into the rice. Sprinkle a little crumbled nori on top, and maybe some toasted sesame seeds.

Blue C Sushi Extra Super Good!!!!!!

Blue C Sushi can be found in mediocre, overpriced shopping areas throughout suburban Seattle, and it's sickeningly lit with copious neon lights.  Open the doors and you are overwhelmed with insipid, thumping ambient trance music and your eyes will eventually be assaulted by Japanese sports shows projected onto the largest wall in the room (because a widescreen t.v. just isn't enough).  But here's why you should go: it's totally fun!  Oh, and the food is amazing!

So, Blue C is modeled after the first Japanese restaurants to work on conveyor belts in the 1950s--food comes gliding around on a long train, plated on color-coded plates.  The color of the plate tells you how much you will pay if you take it.  So, watch carefully and grad whatever you want--the host adds up the costs at the end.  Picking your food becomes a whimsical group activity, and the slower pace of eating keeps you from getting overstuffed.  Prices are also quite reasonable, particularly for Seattle.

The food itself is beautiful: lovely sushi rolls and sushi nigiri with the freshest of fish, comforting noodle dishes and innovative salads, and tasty little naughty things like mini doughnuts and cheesecake.  I loved the seared ahi tuna--it might be the best I have ever had.  And it cost me $4.25.  I had one of the most satisfying, delectable Japanese meals of my life for $22.95, and I got a good giggle out of the cheesy aesthetic.

So, Blue C Sushi, when are you branching out?  Or do I have to keep flying back to Seattle to eat well?

A great place for your sushi fix in Denver

Chain restaurants are bad, right?  We can all agree that Applebee’s, Chili’s, and the like should not be encouraged to keep pushing out mediocre fatty food with our money.  Local is best, but there is this hybrid, the “local chain”, that poses a philosophical problem.  I grew up in Chicago and then moved around the Midwest in college, and it was in Michigan, Iowa, and Indiana that I learned Chicago is the home base for a lot of national chains.  But when I moved to Denver, all tucked carefully away on the other side of the Mississippi in a much less populated part of the country, I learned about the local chains that you only find in Colorado and maybe western Nebraska or Wyoming.  For me, it was a no-brainer: I had the convenience of a chain location and the consistency in food quality that is implied, and greatly appreciated on the road in an unfamiliar location, but I was still supporting the local (albeit statewide) economy.  I still prefer the really local when possible, but I will take a  trip to Rockbottom Brewery any day over Arby’s.

Since I moved here in 2006, some of these local chains have gone viral, and now my parents email to tell me about the new noodle place (Noodles and Company) or Chipotle that just opened near Aunt Joan’s house.  But some chains remain a tight community, as is the case of Sonoda’s Sushi.  They opened in the Denver area over a decade ago and are going strong in their tacky (I say this with affection), tribute-to-the-80s basement location in LoDo on Market street along with the 6^th Ave & Broadway location and their suburban sites in Aurora and Park Meadows.   The fish is good (though their claim that “If it was any fresher you’d have to catch it yourself” is always dubious in this landlocked state) and so are the drinks.  I suppose if you don’t like sushi you can enjoy their wide variety of cooked items, but why would you do that?  Just kidding—their menu is huge.  I won’t think less of you. 

Sushi rolls cover the spectrum from clean and traditional to adventurous fusion influences, but they do tend toward the traditional end, meaning that if you like covering up your sushi with lots of crunchy bits, you won’t have too much choice.  When I first started drinking coffee, I didn’t really like it but I was in college and everyone was going to those insipid B.O.-filled hippy zones with acoustic music and I wanted to fit in.  So I would order a coffee (this was before the days of Caramel Macchiato and the like) and put so much sugar in it that the level of the drink was higher when I finished.  My friend Stephanie Pedretti  would  call everyone’s attention to my beverage while I was preparing it to taste less coffee-like and we all had a good laugh.  But I digress…

I really like sushi, and I want to be able to taste the fish and enjoy its texture, is what I’m saying.  And I really like Sonoda’s sushi chef in LoDo.  They make good use of their eel, which is difficult to find around here, the crab is always real (and delicious), and they have an entire vegetarian sushi menu full of enticing combinations, rather than just the usual “veggie roll” which ends up being avocado and carrot.   The house sake, served warm, is also very good.  

I do also appreciate that when I am at Sonoda’s (at least on Market Street), the food seems to be more important than the décor.  Sure, the place is clean, and I have no problems parking my fanny on the toilet seat, but the place is a little dorky.  Enormous, deep blue aquariums behind the sushi bar make me feel like I’m in an episode of Miami Vice circa 1986, and the giant checkerboard floor looks like it’s been there (though well cared for) since the ‘50s.  Coupled with that “junior high party in Kristen McKenna’s basement” look of the random cement pillars scattered around the room and the pop music piped in a little too loudly to hear your waitress, the truly fantastic food and friendly service become even more special, like you’ve stumbled into a secret gem no one knows about and it’s all just for you. 

It’s not all there for you, of course, so plan accordingly.  Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 4:30-6pm (and at the LoDo/ Market Street location, also Friday & Saturday from 10pm-12am), featuring 2 for 1 drinks—that includes large carafes of sake—and a 15-20% discount on food.  You won’t be the only one there. 

And don’t worry—I’ve cut the sugar out of my coffee.


I bought a lot of sushi the other night...please buy my book and help a seafood snob.

Spending Time in Sunny Seattle…

It really was mostly sunny when I visited Seattle the first weekend of April. I crashed at a friend’s house in the posh (and bustling!) Capitol Hill neighborhood, complete with a Trader Joes’ Market within walking distance and a bevy of chic boutiques, gift shops, and coffee houses everywhere I looked. When walking down the right street and in the right direction, I even caught the occasional glimpse of both the mountains and the Space Needle. This area probably won’t be on your list of places to visit when you go, but it’s just a train ride and short bus ride away if you want to slum it yuppie-style like a (salaried, mid-30s) native. Then again, there are probably many cool neighborhoods here.

There are lovely fish markets galore. If you are like me, landlocked for the majority of the year and thrown into a frenzy at the thought of eating fresh seafood, you might be tempted to get wrapped up in finding “just the right” place. Don’t – you are paying for that ambience. Go to the neighborhood, working-class places that put all of their energy into simply prepared fresh clams, oysters, and the like. It’s all delicious, the price is right, and you’re eating with the locals instead of the other tourists studiously following their guidebooks’ suggestions. City Fish Co. in the Pike Place Market is a good one to try. And with a large and diverse Asian population in the Pacific Northwest, you also can’t go wrong with fresh, local Vietnamese, Japanese, or Thai food. Go for the street vendors and food carts in the markets—they know what they’re doing.

Speaking of the Pike Place Market, if you shop anyplace, go here. I am not a big shopper, because unless I am purchasing food, I am incredibly cheap, but even I can recommend this place. Located at 1531 Western Avenue and thereabouts, this complex has a mind-boggling selection of shops, restaurants, and –yes—fresh food stands. With a lovely riparian view and an active community culture thrown in, you can stuff your face, buy your unique gifts for the nieces and nephews back home, and get in some great people (and nature) watching.

Coffee is everywhere you go in Seattle. I like coffee and consider myself moderately picky about it quality, but to me, Peet’s (actually a California chain), Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Tully’s…they all taste relatively similar. Everyone picks their own “home team” and is convinced it’s the best, but it’s all good in Seattle. So let’s skip beating the dead horse and talk instead about…tea! There are some great tea shops throughout Seattle. A charming stroll in downtown Seattle will lead you to Perennial Tea Room(1910 Post Aly), filled with a wall full of different canisters of classics and special blends. Tea service includes a tray with a small pot of tea, a beautifully decorated cup, a spoon and a bottle of honey, a small pitcher of cream, and a timer to get the steep just right. The double bergamot Earl Grey was amazing, as was their special-blend herbal tisane called coconut grove, a blend of hibiscus, dehydrated coconut, and chamomile.

And back in the Capitol Hill neighborhood is Remedy Teas, a hip, urban basement shop at 345 15th Ave. E. They have a smaller selection of loose teas to drink hot or cold, but they really excel in the smoothies and tea lattes. I had a rooibos latte that was dessert-worthy, and my friends opted to start their mornings with smoothies chocked full of fresh fruits, green tea, and wheat grass. These drinks will pack at least as much of a wallop as a cuppa around the corner at ‘bucks.

No, Laramie does not yet have a sushi restaurant

(A less snarky, more corporate-friendly version of this review can also be found here, at one of my day jobs.)

Since opening on January 13, 2010, Mizu Sushi has created a buzz as Laramie’s newest food offering and, let’s face it, the only sushi place from here to Fort Collins. Students and professionals breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of having fresh Japanese right here in town, but sushi is only a treat when it’s good, and this is where things get complicated.

Owned by an interior decorator and his family, the unfinished cement floors, striking wall colors, and ambient lighting win Mizu plenty of cool points. The sleek white table settings are attractive, too, but the leaf-shaped dipping dishes are too narrow to accommodate some of the larger sushi roll pieces, making it impossible to season your bites. The sleek soy sauce bottle is equally pleasing to the eye, but ours leaked every time we poured. Aesthetics, 1; functionality, 0.

The hot tea, called a jasmine, was certainly like no jasmine I’ve ever had; brown and nutty, with a slight vegetal taste, it grew on me. The miso was familiar and comforting. Nigiri sushi was really where Mizu shined: my table ordered tuna, albacore, salmon, and snapper. All seemed fresh, with tender, buttery textures, and distinctive, mild flavors. The seaweed salad was also incredibly fresh and light, with a bright flavor contributed by the brilliantly balanced sesame dressing. The julienned diakon and carrot underneath the seaweed was a nice touch.

Unfortunately, the sushi rolls all suffered from uneven, off flavors and were so loosely rolled that they fell apart while we struggled to fit them into our too-small dipping dishes. The spicy tuna had black pepper as its spice base; like the jasmine tea, this was surprising, but not terrible. But the salmon skin roll, besides being cut into huge pieces, sported some very rubbery, fishy salmon skin. It was not fried or crisped in any way. And the veggie roll, also enormous, was dominated by pickled carrot and pickled diakon, completely obliterating the milder tofu skin, lettuce, celery, cucumber, and seaweed. The effect was a very strong cabbage flavor. The baked mussels tasted like pizza: lots of cheese with a spicy red sauce on top.

If my list of dishes seems out of order, it reflects the service. The service was friendly and prompt upon arrival. I had so many waiters, I didn’t know who to summon when I needed someone. And things were so prompt that the food came out too quickly and out of order. While we were still eating our salad and soup, the spicy tuna roll came, all by its lonesome. Then a while later came the veggie roll, followed five minutes later by our mussels appetizer, and finally the salmon skin roll. That was the end of the attention for quite some time. Upon finishing the meal, we waited 20 minutes for checks. No tea refills, no water. They were done.

I was done, too. I can suggest Mizu Sushi for the simple, unadorned items on their menu—the nigiri and the seaweed salad would have made my night if I had stopped there. But the more complicated dishes are not quite ready for public yet. And with rolls running $8 to $16, you want to wait until they get it right.