Employee of the month by Tom O’Donnell
Behind every great sushi roll there is a great employee. The employee behind some of Nori’s finest sushi and April’s employee of the month is James Quinn.
Quinn has been with Nori from the very beginning when our first restaurant was opened. Quinn started out working at Nori as a bus boy and a dish washer. Quinn would watch the chefs behind the sushi counter move with great speed and finessewhile they assembled fresh sushi rolls for customers and he knew that that’s what he wanted to do. Quinn’s hard work and dedication allowed him to move up through the positions at Norifrom dish washer to now being a professional sushi chef. Quinn can be found working full time at Nori for at least five days a week.
As employees of the month Quinn has been a recipient of several special features that all employees of the month at Nori receive. One of the features he receives is a $300 bonus for all of his work that he has done for us. Another gift that he will receive will be a trip to a four star restaurant in the city of Philadelphia. This dinner is completely paid for by Nori.
Everyone here at Nori is very proud of Quinn and his accomplishments. Nori is so proud of Quinn that we have also informed him that upon his return from his dinner he will be promoted to a manager position within Nori so he can continue to inspire others.
Here at Nori we love to give back to our employees because we understand and see just how much they do for us. Each day employees are making sacrifices and trying to make Nori the best it can be.
We hope that with Nori’s continued success that we can continue to give more back to employees such as Quinn who demonstrate and practice key values that Nori believes in. All of our employees are lik family and we make sure to take care of our family here at Nori.
What’s really in your wasabi? By: Joel Koshy
Ever wondered how sushi restaurants prepare their wasabis? Most of us sushi lovers are told that wasabi is made from a wasabi plant also known as a horseradish plant. The truth is you probably never had the real deal, because restaurants are using cheap alternative methods to make their wasabi. The wasabi we get in our sushi boxes from our local grocery store and most restaurants are made up of a mix of mustard, European horseradish, and food coloring, which comes in a powdered form. Only a handful of people have tried wasabi from a real wasabi plant, which can grow up to two feet in length.
Brian Oats, the presidents of Pacific Coast Wasabi, said that “Probably about 99 percent of wasabi is fake in the North America.”
The history behind the plant is quite amazing, the Japanese have been using the plant for centuries to prevent illness. Due to the potential health benefits, wasabi plantation owners are looking into expanding their focus to work with pharmaceutical companies to create products for the public.
In a report done by BBC, states that wasabi plants are one of the most difficult plants in the world to grow, and only a handful of people have succeeding in growing the plants. For a farmer to start up a wasabi farm it costs approximately $700,000 dollars to get the farm up and running. Market rates for a kilogram of wasabi plant is sold around $160, making it very expensive for most restaurant owners to afford the plant for their customers. If restaurants were serving fresh wasabi along with sushi, they would have to charge their customers between $3 and $5 dollars for a small ball of wasabi.
To learn more about this click on the links below:
5 uncommon ingredients to help you create the perfect sushi by Brooke Byrne
Picking out your own sushi can be a daunting task, let alone creating your own roll. It’s easy to choose what you know and get the same thing each time, especially when you’re in a crowded restaurant and you’re hungry. Sticking to old favorites can be a treat, but trying something new can be even more fun. Below we’ve listed some lesser known foods to add to your sushi and some customer favorites that are as popular as as they are unusual.
1. Fish Roe
Sure, starting off this list with sushi made from fish eggs is a bold move, but this is a bold dish. The small crunchy eggs add an additional texture and flavor, and their saltiness wrapped up in nori or added as a seasoning makes any roll just a little bit better.
2. Seaweed
There are hundreds, probably even thousands, of varieties of sea plants, many of which are edible. Seaweed salad, also known as hiyashi wakame and goma wakame, is a very popular option. Seaweed is cooked to have a supple, crunchy texture similar to certain types of mushrooms. Since marine vegetables are sustainable and loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals such as iodine, magnesium and iron, this is one of the menu’s healthier options.
3. Spicy Mayo
If you like some zest in your sushi, this is a great add on. Spicy mayo is a happy medium for those who love strong flavor but enjoy something less powerful than wasabi. This sauce goes great with almost any sushi roll because the creamy, tangy, garlic-y blend combined with the hotness factor makes it a fun addition for any dish.
4. Vegetables
This may seem like a no brainer, but there’s a lot of delicious veggies on our menu besides the go-to ones you’re familiar with, like avocado and cucumber. Sweet potatoes, for example, work extremely well in sushi and can be used for a nice topping or a great, soft filler. Other veggies on our menu include sprouts, chickpeas and broccoli.
5. Meat
Perhaps the most unconventional item on this list is something not many people think of when they hear the word sushi. Putting beef in sushi is a great way for those who don’t like raw fish to get to enjoy Nori too. Beef teriyaki has a very strong flavor and rolled up with rice and some vegetables, it creates a delicious new spread.
Choose your favorite fish, add some of these ingredients, grab our complimentary ginger or wasabi, and enjoy your meal!
Welcome!
Hello readers!
We at Nori wanted to have another outlet for communicating with our customers. This blog will be used to post about new stuff that’s happening at our restaurants, address issues that have been brought to our attention, information about our employees and promotions, and other fun things that we think you’ll enjoy. Happy blogging!
Thanks for checking us out,
Your Friends at Nori
Nori Sushi Company 