Every day is a good day to eat at Lui Lui Restaurant, but between Monday and Wednesday is Sushi Tuesday!
Sushi, though gaining popularity over the last twenty years can still be a source of mystery and trepidation for many. Seaweed? Cold rice? Raw fish?! It’s okay to be skeptical, but it’s important to be open to new things. So, let us offer you a sort of beginner’s course on sushi, sashimi, and what to expect on Sushi Tuesday, so next time you stop by Lui Lui’s you can proudly and fearlessly say, “Can I see the sushi menu, please?”
What is sushi?
Sushi is a type of cuisine that, contrary to popular belief, is not simply raw fish. Cooked egg is often available in sushi dishes with no fish or meat whatsoever! If the idea of eating raw fish makes you a bit squeamish, fear not! There are still options available to you, which will be explained below.
So, what’s the raw fish, then?
Raw fish served with sushi is called sashimi. Traditionally only the finest cuts of the freshest fish are served as sashimi, and what you’ll find on Lui Lui’s menu is no exception! We use only the highest quality fish available to serve our customers. Our sushi is undoubtedly the best in the area.
Isn’t eating raw meat bad for you?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is very strict about food procurement, storage and preparation. While there is always some inherent risk in eating uncooked food, Lui Lui follows the USDA, FDA and Health Departments’ guidelines to the letter, more often than not going above and beyond what is called for. We use only the freshest, highest quality ingredients in our sushi dishes to provide not only the best tasting sushi around, but also to ensure the health and safety of our most precious asset: you!
New York Roll, Lui Lui Style
Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’ll try some. What do you suggest?
Well, that depends on what you like, of course! First, let’s go through the basic ingredients in one of the most common sushi offerings found in the United States on our menu: the New York Roll.
The New York Roll (Lui Lui Style) consists of an inside-out sushi roll made of sushi rice, rice wine vinegar and dried seaweed (called nori in Japanese or haitai in Chinese). Rolled inside this are cream cheese, avocado and wasabi. On top is a beautiful strip of smoked salmon. Traditional sushi rolls have the nori on the outside and the fish inside, but Lui Lui’s has never been too concerned with flouting tradition!
This is the classic sushi roll geared toward the American pallette. The wasabi packs quite a punch, so if you dislike spicy foods, don’t forget to request your New York Roll wasabi-free!
I’ve heard of the California Roll, too. What’s the difference?
It’s not just some East Coast/West Coast rivalry! The California Roll looks more traditional, for one thing. It’s also much simpler. With the haitai on the outside, it looks more like what most think of when they think “sushi roll.” Wrapped inside this little green treasure chest is crab, avocado and wasabi (noticing a pattern?).
I don’t like salmon. What other options are there?
Glad you asked! At Lui Lui’s we offer salmon, white tuna, yellowtail tuna, eel, scallops, shrimp, even crab!
Rainbow Roll
But I don’t eat meat, and that includes seafood. What is there for me?
The Jade Roll is a perfect choice. Also an inside-out roll, it contains celery, cucumber, avocado, cream cheese and wasabi.
So, you just… eat it, right?
Nobody’s stopping you from just popping a roll in your mouth and enjoying! However, there are other options. When you order sushi at Lui Lui’s you’ll get more than just a plate with rice and fish. Typically, you will also get three condiments: soy sauce, wasabi and candied ginger. If you’re feeling adventerous, try this: pour some soy sauce in the little dish that accompanied the sushi, mix in a little bit of wasabi, place a slice of candied ginger on top of the piece you want, then, using chopsticks, pick up the piece of sushi by gently grasping its sides and dip it in the wasabi-soy sauce. You probably wouldn’t have expected all those ingredients (rice, raw fish, seaweed, avocado, cream cheese, soy sauce, wasabi, candied ginger) to complement each other, but it truly is something you have to try to believe.
I’ve heard of wasabi before. What is it, exactly?
Wasabi is like the Incredible Hulk: green and packs a big punch! You may have heard it called Japanese horseradish. While it is in the same family as horseradish and is also a root, it is technically different, though the flavor is quite similar. There are a couple things to remember about wasabi: first, a little goes a long, long way, so don’t get over zealous until you’ve become very familiar with how much you can handle; second, it affects your nose more than your mouth, so if you have nasal-passage issues, you may wish to stay away from it.
So that pink stuff is candied ginger?
Ah, the mysterious pink stuff. It is indeed candied ginger. It differs from it’s original uncandied version in that it lacks the peculiar heat that accompanies raw ginger. It’s sweet, cool, refreshing but very mild, and makes a wonderful contrast to its little mean, green counterpart, wasabi.
I’ve tried them, and I think they’re great! I’m ready to explore the rest of the menu.
Lui Lui customers always have such good taste! To explore the rest of our sushi and sashimi offerings, why not look at our online sushi menu? Remember, you can even order takeout!
Well, all right, here’s a short list for you.
Spicy Tuna Roll – sashimi-grade tuna marinated in spicy sesame oil, rolled with cucumber and red onion
Rainbow Roll – crab rolled inside out with avocado, cream cheese, wasabi and topped with sashimi tuna
Shrimp Tempura - battered and lightly fried shrimp with green onion and teriyaki sauce
Dragon Roll – crab and avocado rolled inside out with wasabi and topped with eel
Roasted Eel Roll – roasted eel and cucumber
Spicy Salmon Roll – sashimi grade salmon marinated in spicy sesame oil, rolled with avocado
Ocean Roll – California roll topped with yellowtail tuna, white tuna and salmon
Island Roll – spicy tuna and cucumber topped with avocado and almond
Morse Roll – spicy salmon roll topped with tuna
Baked Spicy Scallop – California roll topped with baked spicy scallop
Pamela Roll – white tuna, cucumber and mango rolled inside out and topped with sesame seeds
Sunburn Roll - spicy tuna, avocado and cream cheese, tempura fried (a unique and wonderfully textured take on a traditional spicy tuna roll – it’s warm and slightly crunchy from the tempura frying, making it a wonderful first-attempt choice)
We hope we’ve help assail some of your fears about this wonderful and healthy cuisine. Stop on by and check it out!
(Psst… mention this blog post and receive one free a la carte sushi order!)
Moms are the best, aren’t they? It’s that time of year to let your mother know that you really do appreciate all those times she cleaned up after you, did your laundry, cooked your meals, helped you with your homework and embarrassed you to death in public. We all might have wished the ground had opened up and swallowed us whole, but moms do it because of that unwavering, unconditional love they have for their children. Does a card really cover all that? Not even close.
Sunday May 9th, for both lunch and dinner buffets! Lunch will run 11:30am – 2:30pm, while dinner is 5pm – 8pm. Both are $17.00 per guest.
