Review: Kiwami in Studio City

Sushi star Katsuya Uechi takes a traditional approach at his new restaurant. For the ultimate, reserve a spot at his backroom omakase bar.

By S. Irene Virbila, Restaurant Critic March 4, 2009

I hear a shush, shush, shush sound and look up to see sushi chef Katsuya Uechi grating a piece of fresh wasabi root, bearing down with all his might. I catch my Japanese friend's eye. Any sushi chef who grates his own wasabi is serious about his ingredients. It's a small touch, but one that's telling.The 50-year-old chef is well-known for the trio of Katsuya by Starck restaurants that serve pretty but standard-issue sushi almost as an afterthought to the scene. But before he hooked up with Sam Nazarian and the SBE group or the prolific French designer Philippe Starck, he was sushi royalty in L.A., right along with Nobu Matsuhisa, Masa Takayama and Mr. Nozawa. Sushi lovers flocked to Uechi's Studio City restaurant Sushi Katsu-ya (note the hyphen, which is what distinguishes it from the trendy Katsuyas) for his fusion-influenced sushi dishes.

To read full story ?http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-review4-2009mar04,1,1037154.story

Where is an American Idol's favorite Sushi restaurant?

Nineteen year-old Studio City, Calif., native Alex Wagner-Trugman will face the greatest challenge of his young life this week. He will compete with Group Three in the semi-final round on "American Idol."

Q: Are you taking a break from college to do “American Idol”?
A: Yeah, I’m taking a semester off.
Q: What college do you go to?
A: The University of Miami
Q: You’re from Studio City?
A: Yeah
Q: Where did you go to high school?
A: I went to The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do in Studio City?
A: I like to just go on walks with my dogs. I mean it’s a small, nice area. I like to get all-you-can-eat sushi from Midori.

American Idol & Randy Jackson dined at Katsuya?

Mar 3, 2009-American Idol judge Randy Jackson dined with season 8 finalist Adam Lambert at Katsuya restaurant in Hollywood last Tuesday -- the night before Lambert's Feb. 25 semifinal performance of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" propelled him to a top 12 slot -- is "absolutely untrue," according to Jackson's publicist. "Randy did not have dinner with Adam Lambert. He ran into him as he was leaving the restaurant," according to Jackson's publicist.
After Lambert performed his Rolling Stones cover, Jackson hailed him as "one of the most current artist we've ever had on this show. It's like a combination of Steven Tyler meets Fall Out Boy meets Robert Pattinson from Twilight meets My Chemical Romance."

L.A. dining deals

The recession has led to a wealth of low-cost offerings at area restaurants.Boa, Katana and Sushi Roku"Appetite Stimulus Menu": Sunday to Thursday, the Innovative Dining Group offers dinner specials starting at $25.

Boa Steakhouse: Three courses for $40 per person (for example, smoked salmon and caviar and filet mignon medallions). 101 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 899-4466. 8462 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-8383.

Sushi Roku: Three courses for $30 per person (Kobe beef tataki and a selection of sushi or jidori chicken teriyaki plus dessert). At Sushi Roku Pasadena, it's three courses for $25 per person. 1401 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 458-4771. 8445 W. 3rd St., West Hollywood, (323) 655-6767. 33 Miller Alley, Pasadena, (626) 683-3000.

Katana: Four courses for $35 per person (such as albacore tataki, robatayaki and sushi). 8439 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-8585. http://www.innovativedining.com/.

Where the celebrity chef takes five ?

Michael Mina, one of San Francisco's most popular chefs, recently added the Philippe Starck-designed restaurant XIV in West Hollywood to his dining empire, which includes several Las Vegas spots as well as his namesake space at the Westin St. Francis in Union Square. His favorite places to buy meat, grab a drink and take five for a cup of coffee.

Sushi Hana, 6930 Burnett St., Sebastopol. "The quality of the product, the technique, true Japanese fish and the best sushi rice in the Bay Area are just some of the reasons I go to Sushi Hana over and over."

Maiden Lane Salon, 111 Maiden Lane. "Lena is very professional, accommodating and always does a good job. The salon is always well kept and clean."

Imperial Tea Court, Ferry Building Market Place, 1 Ferry Building Plaza. "They have a great, calming space to take in a cup of tea. My favorite is genmaicha. I buy it by the bag for the office."
Cantina, 580 Sutter St. "They have a pride in making their drinks that comes through. Their location is great, and above all the owner is very friendly and outgoing, just what a bar should have."

Caffe Greco, 423 Columbus Ave. "I just love their coffee and it is great to sit and soak up the North Beach atmosphere."

Sushi at Wal-Mart?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — When you’re thinking of a place to buy sushi, the name Wal-Mart doesn’t come tripping off the bamboo rolling mat. But for those with a hankering for the cold Japanese rice-veggie-seafood delicacy, Springfield’s newest Wal-Mart has 28 types made fresh daily at an in-store sushi bar, 7-month-old big-box store at 1100 Lejune Drive, off South Sixth Street.

Located next to the deli at the front of the 203,000-square-foot supercenter, the sushi bar displays plastic trays of colorful, ready-to-go varieties such as California rolls, shrimp salad, spicy tuna rolls, vegetable rolls, rice balls topped with tuna and various combos.

They are made fresh daily by E.J., who mans the 8-foot station from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. He works for Advanced Fresh Concepts Corp., a Rancho Dominguez, Calif.-based company that leases space in Wal-Mart and other stores. Established in 1986, the company has more than 2,500 supermarket sushi bars in 45 states, according to its Web site. The company’s sushi carries the brand name Oishisa.California rolls are the most popular type of sushi sold at the local Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart traditionally has been known for its “everyday low price” format. According to market research from ACNielson, the typical Wal-Mart shopper’s annual income is between $10,000 and $50,000, slightly below the U.S. median income.

The retailer, however, has been starting to market to the well-heeled customer. ACNielson reported that 46 percent of potential Wal-Mart shoppers have incomes greater than $75,000.

To attract this group, Wal-Mart has been stepping up the sushi bars, organic foods and high-end coffees. range in price from $3.90 for the teriyaki chicken salad roll to $9.20 for rainbow rolls with tuna, shrimp and salmon.

TYPES OF SUSHI

Maki: A roll of vegetables or seafood wrapped in rice and seaweed. It’s typically sliced into smaller pieces.

Inari: A tofu pouch filled with rice and sometimes other ingredients.

Temaki: Cone-shaped sushi filled with vegetables, seafood and rice.

Chirashi: A bowl of rice topped with seafood or vegetables.

Nigiri: A hand-formed rice ball topped with a slice of seafood

How to eat Sushi? Sushi can be eaten with either fingers or chopsticks. Many people dip it into a blend of soy sauce and wasabi, a pungent Japanese horseradish. To cleanse the palate, pickled ginger can be eaten between courses.

sushi can't get your fill?

RA Sushi is hosting a sushi-eating contest in honor of March Madness on Sunday, March 22, 2009 from 12-5pm. The grand prize eater will receive free sushi for a year, as well as bragging rights as the first RA Sushi MAKI MADNESS champion.Organized like a bracket system, this sushi-eating contest will take place in rounds and heats.

MAKI MADNESS eaters will be gaming 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.MAKI MADNESS is limited to the first 40 entries, so make sure you register now! Applications are available at RA Baltimore, 1390 Lancaster Street.

Deadline to register is Sunday, March 15 and all eaters must be at least 18 years old to participate. Registration to compete includes a $10 fee, which will be donated to The Tyanna Barre O’Brien Breast Cancer Foundation along with donations from guests at the door.All ages are welcome to attend the event and watch the second round of March Madness. 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.WHAT: MAKI MADNESSRA Sushi Baltimore’s Inaugural Sushi-Eating ContestWHEN: Sunday, March 22, 2009 from 12-5pm12:00pm Check-In12:30pm Round 12:00pm Round 23:30pm Round 34:30pm Championship Sushi ShowdownWHERE: RA Sushi Baltimore1390 Lancaster StreetBaltimore, MD 21230REGISTRATION: Deadline to register is Sunday, March 15.Contest is limited to the first 40 entries.

All participants must be at least 18 years old. Applications are available at the restaurant.There is a $10 entry fee, which will be donated to TheTyanna Barre O’Brien Breast Cancer FoundationPRIZES: First place wins sushi for a year ($600 value)Second place wins $50 gift certificateThird place wins $25 gift certificateAll other participants receive RA Penny Drink CardsAll participants receive a RA Sushi sweatbandFOR MORE INFO: Call 410-522-3200.RA Sushi is pleased to partner with Metromix.com, b free daily, and the Baltimore Sport and Social Club (BSSC) for MAKI MADNESS.RA Sushi is located at 1390 Lancaster Street in Harbor East’s The Eden. Open seven days a week beginning at 11 a.m., the sushi bar and kitchen close at 11 p.m. andthe bar is open until 1 a.m. or later every night. Happy Hour food and beverage specials are offered Monday through Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. and The Flying FishLounge, a reverse Happy Hour held on Sundays, has food specials from 8 to 11 p.m.and drink specials 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information, RA Sushi online at www.RAsushi.com or call (410) 522-3200.