Brightest Young Things

Words by: Nikki Bogopolskaya

Last week, I had the pleasure of being a guest at Kushi Izakaya and Sushi’s fall catering menu presentation. Kushi, which was opened by husband and wife team Darren Lee Norris and Ari Kushimoto Norris this spring, has become well known in the DC area for serving fresh and innovative sushi and sashimi as well as delicious small plates. Located in the CityVista building (along with Busboys & Poets and Taylor Gourmet), the restaurant has drawn rave reviews from patrons who admire the authentic Eastern fare, as well as the sprawling and social dining room. (See BYT's Kushi preview here)

Darren Lee and Ari Kushimoto themselves welcomed guests into the semi-secluded bar area as servers presented seemingly-endless trays of maki, nigiri and kushiyaki (skewered meats and fish cooked over a charcoal grill) to a hungry crowd of journalists, bloggers, and photographers. I had the pleasure of sampling a variety of seasonal nigiri and individual rolls, including eel, tuna, prawn, yellowtail, salmon, and shrimp. Unlike many restaurants in Washington, Kushi doesn’t feel the need to add to their rolls with fruits, exotic vegetables, and unusual seasonings.

The flavors are familiar and don’t overwhelm the palate, and the cuts of fish themselves are incredibly fresh and crisp. I particularly enjoyed the “onigiri”: pieces of salmon, pork belly, soy simmered kelp or short rib individually wrapped in spheres of rice and sealed in moist seaweed. Kushiyaki, a Kushi specialty, proved a delicious alternative to standard rolls, and I happily gorged myself on a variety of perfectly seasoned grilled meats and veggies served barbeque-style. An open bar with a variety of cocktails finished off the evening with pleasant libations.

Kushi’s catering menu is available for office and personal parties at a variety of price points. For large gatherings, platters can be ordered for a fixed price (they range from $75 to $150 for 60 standard rolls to 80+ deluxe assorted maki and nigiri). For the smaller (or pickier) fete, individual rolls and sashimi can be purchased for $2 to $8.50 per piece. Bento boxes consisting of steamed rice, seasonal grilled fish and meat, and cooked vegetables start at $15 for the regular to $40 for the executive. Kushiyaki, Onigiri rice balls, and Kobachi (a variety of salads and vegetables) can be purchased in bulk to satisfy festivities of all sizes.

Although dining in at Kushi can fall on the pricey side, the fall catering menu is pleasantly affordable and a great substitute to traditional carb-y holiday gala fare. All orders must be placed 75 hours in advance with the restaurant.