2008 Woodie Awards
Sumo Sushi: the raw deal
Paige Costa
Issue date: 3/2/08 Section: Entertainment
This is far from my first time entering Sumo Sushi, in fact the top floor on upper Thames Street is a frequent stop for me and my friends. The scene is the same as it always is: delicate lighting from authentic Chinese lanterns and a clean and inviting atmosphere.
The official Sumo Sushi website is where I learned a little history of sushi. In the Edo period, the 1700's, a new Japanese food style was developing by placing slices of raw fish on to balls of rice seasoned with vinegar. Over the past 300 years, sushi has evolved and now incorporates an assortment of fish, vegetables, seaweed paper, and sauces all of which contributes to its growing popularity.
Lee, originally from Korea, learned how to make sushi, and has been making sushi for around 15 years, nine of which in the Newport area.
Q: Where does the name Sumo Sushi come from?
A: Sumo, everybody knows Sumo, the whole world knows Sumo the sport. In Sumo, all the wrestlers are huge, big, and I make all the dishes, the portions I think are bigger than other places.
Q: What brought you to Newport?
A: Newport is beautiful. I used to have a business in New York and California, and here, but I choose here in Newport because it is beautiful. And the people are nice. The people are so nice, everybody's friendly. It's very fresh here. I think, you know, that if I run the business in a big city, I could make more money than here, but I love it here.
Q: What do you think sets Sumo apart from other sushi places in the area?
A: Most of the restaurants have the standard, which is the California roll, tuna roll…maki; almost every restaurant is the same. But mine is special because of the Crunchy hand roll, the Red Sox, and the Andy roll. So many rolls, and only I have them, they are my own creation. And special sauce, the spicy and spicy sweet sauce only I have. There are so many people when they go out of the state, go out to a restaurant trying to get crunchy crab. It doesn't happen, only I have it. Also we have BYOB, which means bring your own drink. That's the key. I have been trying to buy liquor license but I started the business BYOB which is good for the customer. They have more choices; they can bring whatever they want. …save a lot of money and they have a choice.
The official Sumo Sushi website is where I learned a little history of sushi. In the Edo period, the 1700's, a new Japanese food style was developing by placing slices of raw fish on to balls of rice seasoned with vinegar. Over the past 300 years, sushi has evolved and now incorporates an assortment of fish, vegetables, seaweed paper, and sauces all of which contributes to its growing popularity.
Lee, originally from Korea, learned how to make sushi, and has been making sushi for around 15 years, nine of which in the Newport area.
Q: Where does the name Sumo Sushi come from?
A: Sumo, everybody knows Sumo, the whole world knows Sumo the sport. In Sumo, all the wrestlers are huge, big, and I make all the dishes, the portions I think are bigger than other places.
Q: What brought you to Newport?
A: Newport is beautiful. I used to have a business in New York and California, and here, but I choose here in Newport because it is beautiful. And the people are nice. The people are so nice, everybody's friendly. It's very fresh here. I think, you know, that if I run the business in a big city, I could make more money than here, but I love it here.
Q: What do you think sets Sumo apart from other sushi places in the area?
A: Most of the restaurants have the standard, which is the California roll, tuna roll…maki; almost every restaurant is the same. But mine is special because of the Crunchy hand roll, the Red Sox, and the Andy roll. So many rolls, and only I have them, they are my own creation. And special sauce, the spicy and spicy sweet sauce only I have. There are so many people when they go out of the state, go out to a restaurant trying to get crunchy crab. It doesn't happen, only I have it. Also we have BYOB, which means bring your own drink. That's the key. I have been trying to buy liquor license but I started the business BYOB which is good for the customer. They have more choices; they can bring whatever they want. …save a lot of money and they have a choice.
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