Ingredients:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
7 tablespoons granulated sugar
Juice of one lime
2 cups shredded coconut, toasted
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 ounces colorful fresh fruit, sliced into long strips
3 ounces milk chocolate, melted

Directions:

Mix cream cheese, 4 tablespoons sugar, and lime juice in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in coconut.

Meanwhile, melt butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave for 1 minute on high. Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth; stir in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.

Roll chocolate dough into a 13-inch log and place down the middle of a large sheet of waxed paper. Place another piece of waxed paper on top of the log and use a rolling pin to roll the log into a 13×6-inch rectangle. Remove top sheet of waxed paper.

Spread coconut and lime cheesecake mixture on top of chocolate dough rectangle in a 13×5.5-inch rectangle, leaving a 1/4-inch border on both long sides of the rectangle. Line up sliced fruit down the middle of the sushi roll and roll up dough into a cylinder like a “sushi roll” by lifting up waxed paper and sealing the ends of the dough together. Roll the roll on the counter and press together firmly. Remove waxed paper from the roll and carefully cut into 16 dessert sushi pieces with a sharp knife.

Place melted milk chocolate into small soy sauce containers. Serve dessert sushi with melted milk chocolate and eat with chopsticks! Makes 8 servings.

50 Sushi Tips for Beginners by Janet Murray – Tips 21 – 30

21. Do not take food off a dining companion’s plate with the eating end of chopsticks.

Pick up food of other people’s plates with the other end of the chopsticks, which does not touch the mouth. Doing otherwise compromises sanitation and cleanliness.

22. Never pass food with chopsticks.

Instead, pass the plate and allow dining companions to pick up the food themselves. Passing with chopsticks resembles the bone protocol during traditional Japanese funerals.

23. Buy the itamae a sake or beer to show appreciation.

Doing so does not take the place of a tip, of course, but many enjoy establishing a rapport with the sushi chef and treating him or her to a sake or beer as a way of showing appreciation for an exquisite meal.

24. If drinking from a carafe, dining companions should refill each other.

This typically holds for alcoholic beverages, but it also a nice, polite gesture when consuming tea from a shared container as well. Individuals must serve others before serving themselves, and wait patiently for their dining companions to follow suit when in need of more drink. Alternately, if serving oneself, be sure to offer others a refill first.

25. Never stick chopsticks straight up in a rice bowl.

Instead, place them over the shallow shoyu dish or a provided chopstick rest. Making them stand upright in a bowl of rice recalls the incense sticks burned at funerals.

26. Be sure to tip both the waitron and the itamae.

At sushi establishments, it is advisable to leave tips for the waiter or waitress as well as the chef. If there is not a tip jar available at the bar, simply add it to the bill and indicate the split.

27. Make sure the fish does not have an overly pungent odor.

Though some seafood does naturally admit a slightly fishy smell, a pronounced bouquet of rancidity indicates compromised freshness. It is not considered rude or wasteful to skip over a piece of sushi due to safety concerns.

28. Fish flesh must be firm.

This can be tested by pressing it with a finger. If the flesh feels mushy or does not spring back (as it were) from denting, then it is not fresh and should not be eaten. The only exception to this rule is sea urchin, which has a naturally soft, buttery texture.

29. Do not eat raw fish if pregnant.

In spite of all the health benefits of raw fish, pregnant women are discouraged from indulging. Slices of sashimi, nigiri topped with sake or toro, and other dishes still pose a risk – however slight – of causing damage to unborn children.

30. Do not eat raw freshwater fish.

Far more parasites are present in freshwater fish than those residing in saltwater because the majority cannot handle the high salinity of the latter’s environment. In fact, certain breeds of tapeworms explicitly thrive in the muscles of some freshwater species. Because of this very high risk of infection, it is never safe to eat raw fish from freshwater habitats.

Takamatsu of Chandler has graciously offered a 10% discount to all patrons who present the exclusive Sushi Lovers Unite! coupon below on Sunday, February 21 between 3 – 5 p.m. Takamatsu (www.takamatsuinchandler.com) offers sushi and other Japanese food as well as delicious Korean barbeque. Most importantly, the restaurant features an extensive ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SUSHI deal, normally at $19.95 per person, but would be $17.95 with the coupon. The 10% discount can be applied to any dine-in meal (not just sushi).

Takamatsu is located at 3002 North Arizona Avenue (at Elliott Road) in Chandler, AZ. While you’re there, stop by the private room on the left side of the restaurant, where I will be hosting a Handbags for Haiti fundraiser. For more details click here or check out the Event listing on the Sushi Lovers Unite! Facebook page.

Click HERE to download and print the exclusive Takamatsu coupon.

Takamatsu of Chandler offers delicious sushi, Korean barbeque and other Asian dishes. All-you-can-eat sushi is available for only $19.95! You don’t have to eat, you don’t have to shop, but stop by if you want to do either one, or if you would just like to say hello. We will be in the room to the left as you walk in.

50 Sushi Tips for Beginners by Janet Murray – Tips 11 – 20

50 Sushi Tips for Beginners from Janet Murray: Tips 1 – 10

2. Go light on the wasabi at first.

Wasabi is a fluorescent green condiment that kicks like a bronco. There are multiple ways to apply it to a piece of sushi, but try it in tiny doses at first to gauge tolerance. Many a prankster has taken advantage of a naïve friend and found pleasure in their reactions to this pungent horseradish paste.

3. Use the pickled ginger (gari) as a palate cleanser.

Almost all Japanese dishes come accompanied by both a wad of wasabi and a small pile of lively pink or ecru gari. Eat a slice between sushi pieces to keep the palate feeling fresh and clean. Doing so imbues diners with the ability to taste the full complex flavor of every different roll, wrap, nigiri, or other sushi style.

4. Never eat the purple tuna (toro).

Tuna at its freshest and healthiest should be a vibrant dark red color. If served a slice with a purplish tinge, do not even try to eat it. The coloring indicates compromised freshness and quality and could result in violent illness.

5. Want raw fish with no rice? Order the sashimi instead.

Many people unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine usually think of sashimi when the subject of sushi gets brought up. Anyone curious about the simple taste of raw fish without the vinegared rice that qualifies a dish as sushi should order slices of sashimi. Salmon (sake, pronounced the same as the beverage) and tuna are two of the most popular fish in both the United States and Japan.

6. Take advantage of lunch specials when trying new things.

Most sushi bars and restaurants host lunch specials or happy hour deals with discounted food of the same quality served during dinner time. Novices to Japanese cuisine will want to give it a chance when they spend less money on dishes they may not entirely enjoy.

7. Feel free to ask the chef (itamae) for any recommendations.

Most sushi chefs are more than happy to help diners unfamiliar with Japanese food pick out dishes that sound appealing to their palates. Be sure to ask them about their specialties as well if hoping to sample the best sushi the restaurant or bar has to offer.

8. Order sake with sashimi. Sushi tastes best with beer or tea.

Because sake is made from fermented rice, most sushi connoisseurs consider drinking it with sushi a redundancy. It complements sashimi fine, but those hoping for a beverage best suited to accompany nigiri, maki, or other sushi dishes would do best to drink hot tea or beer instead. Try to avoid rice beers, of course.

9. Never be afraid to ask questions of an itamae or waitron.

Beyond inquiries into food, it is never taboo to ask the staff about etiquette protocol or any taboos when it comes to dining at a sushi bar or restaurant. They are usually perfectly happy to help with anything from pronunciations to how to properly use chopsticks.

10. Chopsticks are optional when it comes to sushi.

Sashimi should be eaten with chopsticks, but it is not considered rude to consume nigiri or maki sushi without any utensils whatsoever. There are several different accepted techniques to hold the pieces and keep them together with the fingers.

RAVEN’S GUEST LIST
Type: Party – Mixer
Network: Global
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Un Bacio Restaurant
Street: 7704 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. 
City/Town: Scottsdale, AZ

THE MIXER:

This is THE best event to mix, mingle, network and socialize an informal, open forum. We provide a comfortable, inviting environment openly welcoming anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit! The B2B Networking Mixer is a popular event that takes place every 2nd Thursday of each month and brings in about 500 guests. Each month we promote and feature up to two businesses or organizations that become the focal point of interest during the B2B Mixer. Although this event is held in a fun, upbeat atmosphere, make no mistake about it, in attendance are like-minded individuals who are there to exchange ideas, get referrals, make beneficial introductions and seek out serious business connections. This is a FREE event that was created, promoted and always hosted, by Raven Events, LLC.

THE VENUE:

Un Bacio, (Italian for ‘a kiss’), is a beautiful upscale Restaurant/Lounge tucked discretely away in the folds of Gainey Ranch. Come discover an atmosphere of warm and rustic European ambiance while enjoying delicious Italian fare and cocktail specials at the expansive cherry wood bar. Un Bacio is located 1 mile East of Scottsdale Rd., past the Hyatt and is on the North side on Doubletree Ranch Rd.

THE AMENITIES:

• COCKTAIL SPECIALS, ALL NIGHT:
$4 Domestic Beers
$5 PINNACLE Vodka Martinis
$5 Well Drinks
$5 House Wines
(15% gratuity will be added)

• ½ off Appetizer Menu until 11 p.m.

• Fabulous Live Background Music

• Plenty of self-parking in front of Un Bacio as well as alongside on Gainey Center Drive

FEATURING

• SushiLoversUnite.com

SushiLoversUnite.com is THE website to check for local sushi restaurant menus, reviews, Happy Hour and All You Can Eat sushi listings, coupons and special promotions, and profiles of sushi lovers. The site also spotlights sushi social events, classes, and novelty items, and provides information on etiquette and tips for sushi beginners and seasoned veterans. The site is managed by Attorney Tanya Lee, also known as “MakiMom,” who first fell in love with sushi more than 20 years ago while studying Japanese at a university in Tokyo.

Sushi lovers are invited to sign up for the e-newsletter and become a fan of the Sushi Lovers Unite! Facebook page to share photos and descriptions of favorite sushi items. Come out this evening to learn about upcoming sushi events and promotions and for a chance to win cool door prizes. Viva la sushi!

Wow, I guess I’ll know I’ve “arrived” when folks applaud when I leave a sushi restaurant.

Haven’t heard of Barack Obama sushi sightings, but a chef has become somewhat famous (or infamous) for his Barack Obami maki rolls, pictured below.

Obami maki rolls