sushi sushi sushi

Summer "Spring" Rolls

When people ask me what my favorite food is, I never respond with one definite answer. Because I like so many things, I have a difficult time choosing just one to which I will pledge my allegiance. More often than not however, my favorite selection is narrowed down to two things: peanut butter or sushi.

In Nashville, sushi restaurants have popped up all over the city in the past ten years or so, but RuSans is by far my favorite; I brag about it to my friends at school, have celebrated many a birthday there, and make a point to visit almost every time I go home.

In Oxford, Ohio where I go to school in the middle of nowhere, there aren't so many sushi options. Kroger's sushi is actually pretty tasty, Tonic Bar and Lounge has okay rolls but the fish can be a bit suspect, and the dining halls make some variations of this Japanese delight but I've been a little too weary to stomach one of those. Sushi Nara, which took the place of the old Alexander House, opened in the spring of my sophomore year and is by far the best spot for sushi, pad thai, and of course sake bombs at Miami University.

Clearly I've tried my fair share of these ricey rolls, but I've been looking even more forward to putting some all-star sushi to the test at Haru restaurant in New York City.

Haru is actually a New York City and Boston chain (gasp--my mother would be appalled...and normally so would I at a chain) with seven locations scattered throughout NYC. Since my friends and I had tickets to a comedy show in Times Square on Saturday night, we thought Haru would be the perfect place to grab a bite (or thirty) before our big night out. The restaurant was only three blocks from the comedy club, with the Hershey store smack dab in the middle, and we couldn't have been happier campers.

Kajida Bloody Mary

Of course when out on the town--or out on the city?--with a group of girls, things are bound to get a little silly. We sat down at our table at Haru, took a speedy look at the drink menu, and scooted our off waiter to concoct our cocktails while we mused over the menu. I ordered the Kajida Bloody Mary, made with wasabi, jalapeño, ginger and shichimi...whatever that is, while my friends all ordered the fruity and sweet Berry Kiss. Our cocktails came and went quickly, so naturally we decided it was time for some sake. We ordered a round of sake bombs for the table, which actually ended up lasting us for two, and in the end were given a complimentary round on the house! Guess it pays to be slightly inebriated, acting silly, and chatting too much with your waiter (who doesn't quite understand you).

Although we were drinking a little bit, it certainly didn't hinder my ability to select a suitable sushi dish to satisfy my seafood craving. Sure, I've done the Crunchy Shrimp, California, and Spicy Tuna Rolls time and time again, but to be quite frank, I'm over it. Both RuSans and Sushi Nara come through in the clutch when it comes to originality, and Haru was no different--they didn't disappoint. After looking through the menu for a full ten minutes and finally forcing myself to shut it so I wouldn't continue to befuddle myself over what to order, I selected the Golden Passion Roll and the Summer Spring Roll. I couldn't come this far and only get one thing--this was my big night out.

Golden Passion Roll

The Golden Passion Roll, asparagus, shitake mushrooms, carrots, and avocado, covered in rice and topped with charred white tuna and little yellow fish eggs was mouth watering. Put two of my favorite veggies and one of my favorite kinds of fish in a roll, add some carrot and some avocado, and you've got my number, pal. Golden Passion was both crunchy and creamy; made of the perfect combination of textures and flavors--ideal to eat in the summer. The Summer Spring Roll complimented it very nicely, as it was a lighter roll filled with shrimp and vegetables, and served with a spicy tomato soy sauce. Thus, I had both the spice from the Spring Roll soy sauce, and the creaminess from the avocado in the Golden Passion Roll to balance each other out. When our food arrived, the conversation quickly came to a halt and we gobbled down every last grain of rice on our big white platters.

Since the tempura banana dessert didn't have quite enough chocolate in it to appease Stef and me, we stopped by the Hershey store and bought a bag of Reeces Peanut Butter Cups to satisfy our sweet tooth, and finally each bought two Cosmopolitans at the comedy club--it was required...I guess they think the alcohol will make you laugh more.

Sure, it was a lavish night, but it was completely worth it, and I felt like Carrie Bradshaw living the big life, and enjoying a fabulous night out on the city, drinking Cosmos, and being with my girlfriends.

Amy, Jenna, Erica, Me, Stef