Thursday, March 21, 2013

Sushi Club Delicious


 Most American’s coming to Okinawa or Japan for the first time might be a little intimidated when trying Japanese cuisine for the first time. Why do I say that, just think back to that old Tom Selleck movie “Mr. Baseball.” In it, Selleck plays Jack Elliot is an aging American baseball player unsuspectingly put on the trading block by the New York Yankees in favor of a rookie first-baseman. Unfortunately and because of his age and dwindling stats, there's only one taker: the Nagoya Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Professional Baseball league.


Right away, the arrogant Elliot clashes with the Japanese culture, the team's manager and he soon alienates his new teammates. He believes the rules and management style of his new skipper, Uchiyama (Ken Takakura), are ridiculous, and continues to do things his way, which leads his already dwindling performance to suffer that much more. His only ally on the team is another American ballplayer, but even he gets fed up with Jack's attitude, lack of respect for the game and his team.


At the same time, Elliot develops a relationship with the beautiful Hiroko (Aya Takanashi), who is, he later finds out, Uchiyama's daughter. In one of the first scenes after his arrival in Japan, he’s taken to a Japanese restaurant and declares to his hosts in stereotypical American arrogance “I don’t eat bait!” Of course in a surprise move, he’s pleasantly shocked to find out that they’ve anticipated his protest and he is served up a delicious steak dinner. Of course, Kobe Beef is far too pricy, as well as delicious to be ever considered for use as bait.


Of course the hero in that movie, just like most American's who've never tried it before, just don't know what they're missing! Anyone who’s ever eaten sushi before knows full well that sushi is anything but bait. That’s because anyone who knows anything about Japanese food knows that in Japan, dinner isn’t just something to fill you up and tide you over until the next meal. Japanese cuisine is an art that pleases the eye just as much if not more so than the palate.


To say that Chef Satoshi Toyama knows sushi would be an understatement. Better than that, he not only knows sushi, he knows what kind of sushi American’s like best! He did hone his culinary skills in the US so he knows from experience what tickles our fancy and he goes out of his way to cater to the English speaking community here on Okinawa. So it’s safe to say that the sushi you’ll find here isn’t anything at all like what you’ll find in the commissary or at one of the local supermarkets. This isn’t just some slices of raw fish dabbed with wasabi pressed on to vinegary rice and left out to dry in the sun. Sushi Club Delicious specializes in many of the rolled sushi styles and features American favorites like shrimp and avocado. Adding insult to injury, the portions are likewise large or “American sized.” Unless you’re a Sumo Rikshi wannabe or a down lineman for the Green Bay Packers, chances are better than good you’ll leave the place with a happy and very satisfied tummy.

Fruits and vegetables, edibles garnish the servings and everything is made from scratch as you order it so customers can be assured of freshness. If you’re interested, Chef Satoshi even offers classes in fruit and vegetable carving so you can learn to dress up the dishes you serve at your home. Don’t have the time to do it all yourself, take out is available too. That’s what most people call a win-win situation!

The Sushi Club Delicious is open six days a week, Friday through Wednesday, closed on Thursdays. Lunch is served from 1200 ~ 1400 and Dinner is from 1700 ~ 2200. From Kadena Gate one, head south on highway 58 and make a left at the first light. Drive up the hill on highway 23. Just past Eagle Lodge, look for it on the right hand side of the highway at the first traffic light. The address is 421-7 1F Ihei, Chatan Town, Okinawa (098) 979-5425 

BTW, the name says it all!