Snow, sledding and ... sushi! On Monday, amidst the excitement of the University's closure, those who stopped by Pavilion XI also received a pleasant surprise: The Pav now provides University students with a brand-new unique food choice with the opening of the AFC Corp. Sushi Bar.
The Sushi Bar holds a wide selection of choices in its display case. With a menu ranging from California Rolls to Crunchy Shrimp and Tsunami Rolls, patrons can expect to pay approximately $5 for traditional samples. However, menu prices range from $1.95 to $8.95.
The idea for the sushi bar originated with student suggestions dating back to last year, according to Director of Dining Services Brent Beringer.
Dining Services took the request to heart and spent the past year taking care of the logistics of the addition, as well as finding the perfect company to prepare the traditional Japanese cuisine.
There has been a "very good" turnout this past week, according to Beringer. A lot of new faces have been seen around the Pav, showing a definite interest in the new addition from those who were not previously "regulars" at the Pav.
"I was glad it opened," fourth-year Engineering student Farzana Hossain said. "We were talking about how a sushi place would be great in the Pav and then there was one."
Despite misconceptions, sushi is not defined as raw fish. It is a mixture of vinegar and rice which gets its name from the Japanese words "su" (vinegar) and "shi" (cooked rice). Sushi also is healthy -- it's low in calories, cholesterol, fat and sodium and can be enjoyed leisurely with chopsticks, or more quickly with fingers.
The sushi bar is open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
A grand opening Sushi Bar celebration will be held on Monday from 12-2 p.m. Door prizes and giveaways will be available to students at the kickoff, as well as samples for those first-timers who are "nervous" about trying the unique food. It will give those who are unsure about the Sushi Bar, as well as sushi fans, a chance to stop by, see what it's all about and enjoy the party atmosphere.