Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura
RA Sushi, the stylish sushi restaurant and bar, invited everyone from novice to professional food eaters to enter its inaugural MAKI MADNESS sushi-eating contest on Sunday, March 22, 2009 from 12-5pm.
Just as the March Madness phenomenon sweeps the world of NCAA Basketball, MAKI MADNESS is drawing sushi supporters and wasabi warriors from around the area to face-off in this culinary consumption competition. Organized like a bracket system, this sushi-eating contest took place in rounds and heats. MAKI MADNESS eaters gamed against their opponents and a lot of sushi rolls.
During the first three rounds, the competitors who demolish two uncut RA Sushi signature Tootsy Maki (crab mix, shrimp and cucumber topped with tempura bits) in the fastest amount of time during their heat advance to the next round. The “final four” competitors competed in the Championship Sushi Showdown. During the championship event, opponents ate as much of 6 Tootsy Maki rolls as they can in three (3) minutes.
Cali Combo
Jay Gorman, the champion, receives 12 $50 RA gift certificates, as well as bragging rights as the first RA Sushi MAKI MADNESS champion. Second place won a $50 gift certificate and third place won a $25 gift certificate.
Registration to compete included a $10 fee, which will be donated to The Tyanna Barre O’Brien Breast Cancer Foundation along with donations from guests at the door.
I was amazed how fast these guys and gals took down the rolls of sushi! The determination on their faces was fierce and they each had their own technique for getting it down. A common technique was to dip the sushi roll in the water take a huge mouth full and then chase it down with a gulp of water.
For those of us who were there to be amazed and cheer them own we had some treats to try out also. RA Sushi will also offer guests Tootsy Maki rolls for $5.00 and drink specials throughout the event including the Double Dribbler ($3.00), “RA”ckin’ Rebounder ($3.00), Metromix Madness ($4.00) and the Elite 8 ($8.00), a drink for two.
Chicken Yakitori
I tried the Metromix Madness with was a peach and rum mixture what was perfectly peachy- they were so yummy you would have thought it was a juice box being sucked down by a 2nd grader. My table went on to try some items off the menu. We tried the Chicken Yakitori- 3 chicken skewers sauteed in teriyaki sauce ($7.25). It was very moist and tasty. We then went on to try the #13 Cali Combo w/ shrimp & vegetable tempura- it was served with miso soup and uchi no salad ($12.25). The portions of #13 were much larger than expected and if worth the $12.25 for lunch. I love the dressing on the salad- a ginger Asian dressing.
Even with the roar of the crowd and contest service was spectacular and very friendly! When you walk into Ra Sushi you are greeted by a very modern and sleek atmosphere dawned in a dark and dramatic lighting with red and glowing sphere lights and thumping music (some say the music is too loud but I felt it fit the atmosphere they had set and you could still hear each other talk). The space is divided into several dining areas, with your traditional sushi bar and a cocktail bar and lounge area. They offer Happy Hour 7 days a week. From 3-7 on Monday through Saturday and then on Sunday they have Reverse Happy Hour from 8-11 pm. During Happy Hour they offer a wide variety of appetizers and sushi at ½ off. They also have a drink list the offers a vast variety of drink from $1 to $5. The Happy Hour specials are offered through out the entire restaurant.
Check out the slide show and then to see even more photos click here. To know more about the concept or RA Sushi read my interview with Executive Chef of RA Sushi, Tai Obata.
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