RA Sushi rolls out a delightful new seasonal menu

RA Sushi recently rolled out a series of new, unique, light offerings for the season, including four new food items and five cocktail offerings.  Sushi fans should definitely stop by between now and August to sample these intriguing offerings.  I was recently invited to try several, and they were all excellent.

• Red Sea Bream Carpaccio (sliced red sea bream and lemon topped with spicy yuzu dressing, organic micro greens, truffle salt, and lemon zest) – Of the four food items, this was my favorite. The lemon at first appears as though it would be overpowering, but surprisingly it did not.  The combination of flavors in this dish were delightful – light, refreshing, zesty, and satisfying.
• Red Sea Bream Nigiri (red sea bream on rice, topped with spicy yuzu dressing and truffle salt) – This is a simple preparation, but the addition of the dressing and truffle salt add a dash of unique flavor.  The sea bream, as in the carpaccio, is subtle and fresh.
• Tuna California Roll (the classic California roll topped with a tuna mix of avocado, cucumber, bell pepper, and cilantro; finished with togarashi, garlic chips, and black pepper soy sauce) – This is a nice ‘redo’ of the same old California roll.  The combination of ingredients topping the roll are very flavorful, and the most delightful part of the experience is both the flavor and crunch of the garlic chips.                      
• Langostino Strawberry Salad (Langostino, strawberries, cucumber, and avocado over arugula; tossed in citrus vinaigrette and served with kiwi wasabi sauce and truffle salt) – Of the four, this was the one that I felt might benefit from a bit of adjustment.  The flavor combination was excellent, but the serving I received needed a boost of flavor.  The Langostino was a bit bland and there was not quite enough dressing.  Still, with a little boost of dressing this salad could be excellent and it’s definitely an easy, light, summery treat and will be elevated even more while strawberries are fresh and seasonal.

For a pairing with the new spring menu I opted for the Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc, a light and crisp wine from the Casablanca Valley in Chile.  The subtle mineral flavors and slight tartness were a perfect pairing with the seasonal offerings, particularly the Red Sea Bream Carpaccio.  Since this wine lacks the heavy citrus notes of its New Zealand counterparts, it did not interfere with the lemon in the carpaccio.  The two flavors complemented each other and elevated both the food and the wine – the goal of a good pairing.

After tasting the new spring offerings, I opted to sample one of the signature dishes on the menu, the “RA”llipop (tuna, salmon, yellowtail and spicy tuna mix with lettuce, asparagus & cucumber wrapped in lobok; served skewered with garlic ponzu sauce).  If you like sashimi, then this is for you.  The fish combination was excellent, and the ponzu dipping sauce had just a tiny hint of spiciness to liven up the flavors.  Like the seasonal offerings, this was light and refreshing.

Since I couldn’t decide exactly what I would like to pair with the “RA”llipop, I opted for a the new Discovery Sake Flight which consisted of three 2 oz. pours of Kizakura “Pure”, Sho Chiku Bai Nigori “Crème de Sake” and Kizakura “Pure” Stars.  The flavors ranged from sweet, to dry, to sparkling.  I have only recently begun to explore the world of sake, and I must say that these three were all superb.  If you’re a sake novice, like me, then this is a perfect introduction.  All of them were worth coming back for a larger glass.

In addition to the items I sampled, there are four seasonal cocktails that will be sure to refresh you this summer:

• Peach Basil Sour: a flavorful mixture of Bacardi Peach Red, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, fresh basil and lemon sour.
• Hot Tropics Margarita: a blend of sweet and spicy flavors that contains Tanteo Tropical Tequila and Combier Liqueur d’Orange, shaken with mango purée, lime juice and agave nectar and served with a chili-salted rim.
• Pear & Lemon Blossom: a refreshing seasonal pear-infused lemonade made with Absolute Pears, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, lemon sour and pear purée.
• TY KU Coconut Nigori Sake: premium nigori sake infused with the refreshing taste of coconut and aromatic hints of vanilla.

These delicious seasonal offerings will be available until August, so make sure you stop in soon.  RA Sushi is located at 1139 North State Street, on the corner of State and Elm in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.  You can reach them by phone at (312) 274-0011.  Get more information on their website, and follow their social media conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.