Recently, two of our writers, Dani Stone and Carly Holmes, took a trip to Kanai. Here’s what they found:

Dani:

A few weeks ago, when I told my husband I not only agreed to review the west side sushi restaurant Kanai (12111 W. Maple), but that it was, in fact, my idea, he probably thought I was huffing Play-Doh again.  He knows I’m not a fish fan and avoid it at all costs.  I barely allow it in the house and the few times I do, I wash all dishes and utensils in such hot water I lose a layer of skin.  I prefer my fish in a tank, swimming around those little fake treasure chests rather than on my plate.

However, this year on my birthday I turned 39.  I’m not so bothered by the number as I am by the number of things I haven’t experienced.  This year I decided I would be more adventurous, take risks and put myself out there.  Yes, palate, that goes for you too.

Fellow verb [ICT] writer and friend Carly Holmes agreed to be my sushi date and promised she wouldn’t laugh at me if I held my chopsticks wrong (which I did) and hold my hair if things went terribly awry (which, thankfully, they did not).

If you’re a sushi connoisseur, Carly’s review is for you.  If the sight of sashimi makes you squeamy, read on to find out if I enjoyed my first experience with this popular rolled fare.

As soon as I sat down at the table, I was immediately intimidated by all the accessories in front of me.  No knife, fork OR spoon.  Instead, I had chopsticks, chopstick rest and bowl for mixing/dipping.  Next, it was time to check out the menu.

Carly explained I could always order veggie sushi and even pointed out a few rolls made with beef, including one called the Midwest.  In the spirit of adventure, however, I said, “Bring on the fish.”  Then I quickly begged her not to order anything that might be staring back at me.  A girl has her limits.

I’m a very delicate diner.  I take small bites and nibble.  Let me tell you, there is no place in sushi eating for nibblers.  My first few attempts left me with a ribbon of unfurling sushi dangling from my mouth until I finally took Carly’s advice to just grab it and go for it.

There were a few rolls with raw fish splayed across the top that gave me pause, but I was happy to discover a few others that had me grabbing for more, including Survival (spicy hamachi), Mucho Caliente (spicy crab) and Flatland Dream (crab/scallop/shrimp/cream cheese).  As a big fan of spicy food, I think the heat kept me in my comfort zone.  It was also my first experience with wasabi, and I couldn’t get enough of the green pasty stuff.

Well, check it off the list!  I did it; I ate sushi, and it was better than I thought it would be. Like many new things, the company I was with made the experience more enjoyable. Carly encouraged me to be brave and only giggled at my sushi ignorance a few times.  I may have to take her on all my 39th year adventures.  I wonder how she feels about skydiving?

Carly:

I didn’t have a list to check off when I first ate sushi years ago, but I did have something that made me want to try it – …a boyfriend. Sushi was his favorite, and before dating him I was perfectly content with not putting raw fish anywhere near my mouth. One year for his birthday, though, I decided to take a chance and just go for it. Despite the relationship failure, I’m happy to report it was love at first bite for sushi and I. Since then I have become obsessed and would eat sushi for every meal if I could. Am I an expert? No. I’d say I’m more of a sushi lover who has yet to master the art of chopsticks, but will happily spend every day for the rest of my life trying.

When Dani suggested we get together to review Kanai, I was ecstatic. Not just because she makes for an excellent friend-date companion, but also that I had a reason to go back. I’ve been to Kanai several times since its opening and it has quickly become one of my favorite ICT places. The menu is extensive and includes many signature rolls and varieties of fish, including shrimp, squid, lobster, crab, salmon and tuna. The fish is flown in fresh daily, which makes it even more delicious.

Chef Kanai is a culinary genius who delivers an exquisite presentation with every dish. One such dish is the Invader, a combination of deep-fried jalapeno, cream cheese and spicy tuna. I also highly enjoyed the rolls Dani mentioned above, with an honorable mention to the Roppongi Roll –  a spicy tuna and shrimp roll topped with tuna, masago, scallion, mayo and tataki sauce. Basically, everything on their menu is a win. Try it and thank me later.

For this particular visit I made a list of my favorite moments with Dani, the first timer.

1. When they brought out the appetizer of green beans and tuna,  there was a moment when I’m pretty sure she was trying to decide, “How much will Carly hate me if I just grab my purse and make a run for it?” Thankfully, she stayed.
2. The moment when she first tried the appetizer and promptly gulped it down, grabbed her ice tea, turned her head and swished the tea around to make the tuna taste go away. She did so while ensuring the chef couldn’t see what she was doing so as not to offend him. She’s classy like that.
3. When the chopsticks were brought out and there was a realization that forks would not be making an appearance at the table.
4. Her decision to go for it and not just stick to the California roll. You have to admire her sense of adventure.
5. Her attempt to eat the sushi in a delicate manner. And her subsequent decision to forget that nonsense and one-bite-it instead. It must be noted that the rolls at Kanai are larger than rolls made elsewhere, so eating the roll in one bite can be challenging. She did it, though. That’s my girl!
6. The giddiness on her face when she first tried wasabi. Mama liked.
7. Our discovery of the fabulous drink menu. We tried the Akuma, which is made with red pepper, mint, lime juice and something called krogstad aquavit (a Scandinavian spirit made with star anise and caraway seed). It’s not something you can really recreate at home, but man, I wish it were. It had such an interesting flavor and it was strong.

As you can see, this trip was one we will not soon forget. Whether you are a sushi virgin or a sushi lover looking to add a new place to your list, Kanai comes highly recommended by both of us. Try it and let us know what you think.

Oh, and Dani, bring on the skydiving!

(Image Credit)

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