On the Road: 5 Fusion & Sushi Bar (Bend, OR)

I'm not a professional.  I've said it time and again.  Usually it's to remind the people reading my ramblings.  I do it a a defensive measure.  You don't like my use of profanity?  The fact that I spend so much time writing about places that are out of town?  That so much of my writing is focused on things like burgers and Asian food?  Too bad!  I'm not a professional writer.  I'm sure as hell not a professional food critic.  I make no money doing this (notice the lack of ads on my blog?).  Sometimes I get an invite to a soft opening, or a free bottle of a condiment in the mail, and that's about as lofty as it gets.  I'm the one spending my own time and money, burning gas, putting wear and tear on my car, and so I go to the places I want to go and order the things I want to eat.  This whole thing is meant to be informative to those who want the information.  But every once in a while I get someone who accuses me of trying to ruin a business, or schill for another one, or complains that I write about taco trucks so much, and I feel the need to remind them that I am not a professional.

A few nights ago, I was the one who was reminded of just how non-professional I am.  That's karma for you.

Rotary Sushi

We interrupt my regularly scheduled backlog of unfinished reviews for this important message...

Earlier today, I was doing some reading up of reviews on the aggregate sites because I wanted sushi tonight and was trying to figure out where that was going to happen.  I ended up stumbling across a new place that I hadn't even been aware of.

Dinner and Seppuku (Or: Track's first, and likely last, eating challenge)

Different people can put away different amounts of different foods.  I'm not sure why that is, but I have a cousin who could put away half a large pizza while I would lose interest after two or three slices.  I always enjoyed watching Man V. Food, mainly for the travel aspect because I was often horrified at what that guy was doing to himself.  I mean how often did it look like he was having a good time?  As for me, I always said that if I were ever to attempt a volume-based eating challenge, it would have to be dim sum or sushi.  And wouldn't you know it, we have a place in town with just such a challenge...

Krung Thai

One thing I'm learning about eating in Nampa is that the further you get away from the historic downtown area, not a lot of attention is paid to how a business looks on the outside.  I have stepped across the thresholds of several eateries that were a little sketchy-looking, only to find myself in a cozy little place staffed by friendly people who made me feel welcome and were happy to share their love of food.  One such place is Krung Thai.

Better late than never, right?

Occasionally I'll go to a very new restaurant and have a frustrating experience, but see enough promise in them to realize maybe I should give them another chance down the road.  That instinct has rarely let me down, but in this case pretty much everything I've heard and read has led me to believe that none of the things I saw as issues have really been resolved.  So, rather than hold off on the write-up until a return visit that isn't looking like it's going to happen at this point, I figure I might as well just post what I've got and move on to the next place.  So, with that in mind...

Sakana Japanese Sushi & Steak House

If you were to ask me why I've never written about Sakana before, I would have to say that's a good question.  And I wish I had an answer.  I've been eating there longer than I've been doing this website.  I think sometimes it's more difficult with a place you've been to many times, because you're just used to going and eating there, and you don't really analyze it any longer.  Sakana has long been one of my favorite sushi joints.  My family goes there for special occasions.  I've taken several first dates there.  I've been there so many times that I don't even have a particular anecdote to frame a review around.  Instead, I think I'll just share some of the pictures I've taken over the past year or so...

Another serving of "meh"...

I swear to you, I didn't want to kick off the new year with another bunch of these, but I've been having a lot of mediocre experiences lately and I'm burying myself with them because I can't get enthused about writing them up.  Bear with me, and consider yourself warned...

Stagecoach Inn's Fried Chicken

Care for a few amuse-bouches?

Here's some random food stuff that is interesting me at the moment...

1)  There's another, bigger food truck rally going on this Thursday (September 1st) downtown at 4th and Grove.  The festivities will be from 5-9 PM.  Unfortunately, I'm probably not going to be able to make it myself, but that doesn't excuse the rest of you.  Here is the list of participants:

Archie's Place
B29 Streatery
Boise Fry Company
Brown Shuga Soul Food
Calle 75 Street Tacos
RiceWorks

I've reviewed all but one of these and pretty much adore all of them, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it will be an amazing evening.  There will also be beer by Payette Brewing and music by Hillfolk Noir.  What more convincing could you possibly need?

2)  Chris the Saladman, of Fair, festival and roadside truck fame, will be setting up permanent digs in his own restaurant starting October 1st.  Chris' on Broadway will be located, well, on Broadway.  The State Street spot the truck has been parked at is now vacant, and if you want street food from Chris, the Hyde Park Street Fair will be your last chance.  After that it's strictly brick and mortar, baby...

3)  Yet another Chinese buffet is getting ready to open, this one in the Shopko plaza on Fairview and Milwaukee.  The interesting thing about this one is that they're pushing the fact that they will offer sushi pretty hard.  There's no set date for the grand opening of City Buffet (did any of my fellow South Park fans giggle at that?), but there is a website with menu and the beginnings of an online ordering setup so you can get an idea what you'll be in for.  As for me, Chinese food AND sushi just a stone's throw from my office?  You can bet I'll at least have to check the place out, even if I'm keeping my expectations relatively low.

And on a personal note, I've noticed a couple of odd things regarding this site.  First of all, I'm getting a LOT of hits from Russia lately.  No idea why.  Secondly, my Native Taters review is getting a lot of hits lately, is there something going on with them that I'm unaware of?

Shige Japanese Cuisine

Anyone who's seen my Facebook page knows that it exists primarily to promote my eatery write-ups, but I also try to pass along any food offers from the numerous daily deal sites.  If you haven't been keeping an eye on these things, you've been missing out.  I'll likely do a blog entry on them at some point, or perhaps add a sidebar linking to the various sites and mailing lists, but in the meantime let me give you a prime example of exactly why these things tickle me so.

A few months ago, I purchased a voucher for Shige Japanese Cuisine from a then relatively new deal site called LivingSocial.  To this day, it's the best restaurant offer I've seen on any of the sites.  By paying $20, I essentially got a $40 certificate to use as I pleased.  50% off is pretty common with these deals, but this one allowed for each person to use their own certificate so long as they were on separate bills, and didn't restrict alcohol.  Plus, it was for what is generally regarded as the best sushi place in town!  Better yet, I talked three people into buying certificates using my personalized link to the deal page, which made my certificate free.  Because I'm a swell guy, I split the difference with them so essentially we each paid $15 for $40 worth of Japanese food.  The only question that remained: could I eat that much sushi in one sitting?

Kyoto Japanese Steak House

Kyoto Japanese Steak House is located just West of Curtis on Fairview, and has been for some time now.  They must be doing fairly well to have been open for so long, but I don't recall the last time someone mentioned to me (or even within my earshot) that they had eaten there.  Among the people I know, Fujiyama is the place to go for sushi in the Mall area, and Shige is the place to go when you're downtown.  However, there are a lot of other options around town, and Kyoto is one of the most enduring.

Any port in a storm...

Southern Tsunami dragon roll from Fred Meyer

Had to run an errand at lunch time today, which left no time for a separate lunch stop.  Luckily, Fred Meyer has some fairly decent sushi available.  Granted, it's kind of a fast food (or in this case grocery store deli) version, but tasty nonetheless and better than the stuff at Albertson's and WinCo.  And hey, it beats the usual fried chicken with a side of potato wedges most people come away from the grocery store deli section with, yes?  Well nine times out of ten.  Maybe eight.  Sometimes, you just have to get the potato wedges.

A winning combination: unagi, cucumber, nori, sushi rice, avocado and kabayaki sauce