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!
BTW, the name says it all!
