6 minute read
Foodie Friday DFW 8 Local Sushi Restaurants
8 LOCAL SUSHI
Tsunami Sushi & Grill
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3851 Long Prairie Rd., Ste. 190 Flower Mound, TX 75028
RESTAURANTS
You Should Know About
Tsunami Sushi has a lot of signature rolls customers constantly rave about like their namesake Tsunami Roll and their Long Prairie Roll. They also serve bento boxes, poke, udon, and ramen. Dine in with them or order online for carryout or delivery.
by Jay Marks | photos courtesy of Foodie Friday DFW
Blue Ginger
2900 Wind River Ln. Denton, TX 76210
Every time we’ve been to Blue Ginger, it’s always been packed! And when you see how delicious and affordable their sushi is, you’ll understand why! In addition to all of their tasty sushi selections, they have hibachi meals, bento boxes, and teriyaki dinners.
Asahi Teppenyaki & Sushi
2300 Cross Timbers Rd. Flower Mound, TX 75028
Asahi is well-known for its teppanyaki-style dining, but did you know they have an incredible sushi bar as well? They use only the freshest of ingredients and have some amazing rolls and sushi selections on their menu. And at the bar you can also enjoy their wide assortment of sake, wines, and cocktails.
Piranha Killer Sushi
5801 Long Prairie Rd. Flower Mound, TX 75028
Piranha Killer Sushi has been a longtime Flower Mound favorite. They have a menu full of some amazing signature rolls as well as plenty of options for any non-sushi lovers out there. They also have an incredible cocktail menu - the perfect thing to enjoy out on their patio (which also happens to be dog friendly!). During the week, you can find live music and they also host Ladies Night on Thursdays with specials on select wines, martinis and frozen drinks.
Edohana Sushi
1900 Long Prairie Rd., Ste.142 Flower Mound, TX 75022
Edohana is one of our regular spots for sushi and we’ve become great friends with the owner over the years. We love their sashimi and their signature rolls, but they have plenty of other options as well. You can enjoy them for carryout or dine-in Monday-Saturday from 5-9pm.
Sushi Yamazaki Bar & Grill
4130 Justin Rd., Ste. 114 Flower Mound, TX 75077
Located near Highland Village and Lantana, Sushi Yamazaki is another great option. Not only does it have a ton of amazing signature rolls (our favorite is the Justin Roll), but they also have an incredible bar where they serve tropical drinks, martinis, tequilas, sake and more.
HERE Sushi & Bar
1050 Flower Mound Rd. Ste. 110 Flower Mound, TX 75028
HERE Sushi first started out in Roanoke and then opened a second location here in Flower Mound. They’re most famous for their signature 50 States Rolls and also have an amazing bar where you can order drinks, sushi, and watch the game.
Blue Ocean Sushi & Asian Grill
533 State Highway 121 Bypass Lewisville, TX 75067
Blue Ocean has been open just off Highway 121 in Lewisville since 2002. It’s one of our favorite spots for sushi and also has an amazing backstory. Not only do the owners produce amazing sushi, but they also own and operate an orphanage overseas.
972.724.2540 | JayMarksRealEstate.com
jay@jaymarksrealestate.com
Italian and Argentinian Cuisine SIMPLY THE BEST IN TOWN!
by Steve Gamel photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)
940.498.2730 | bellamaca.com 1400 N Corinth St., Ste. 103 Corinth, TX 76208
Have one 15-minute chat with Walter Bandt, and you’ll learn anything you ever wanted to know about this world-class chef — and then some. Sure, there’s the typical stuff, such as his prized culinary degree, and that he can practically snap his fingers and create the most delicious Italian- and Argentinian-fusion dishes you’ve ever tasted. But then there are the details you wouldn’t expect — how he’s lived everywhere from Dallas to several countries in Central and South America and back again, and that he once cooked for Queen Elizabeth II for the inauguration ceremony for her ship, the QU2.
And the Queen is just the appetizer. He’s cooked for Paul McCartney, Madonna, Metallica, and AC/DC. Chef Bandt has been successful everywhere — and now we have him all to ourselves.
“I felt like it was time to come back and see if I can be successful here,” Chef Bandt said. “The opportunity came up to open a restaurant here in Corinth, and here we are — serving the great people of this community.”
He added, “I wanted to create something new in this area that people haven’t had before.”
That “something new” is Bella Maca. The Italian and Argentinian Cuisine opened on March 26 in Pinnell Square to rave reviews because of a menu that includes original dishes and recipes such
PAIR THOSE DISHES WITH A BOTTLE OF EXQUISITE...WINE AND DIVINE DESSERTS OR FRESHLY BREWED ITALIAN COFFEE, AND YOUR PALATE IS SURE TO DO A FEW CARTWHEELS IN YOUR MOUTH
as the Bruschetta Di Bufala Caprese, Steamed Mussels, Steak Chimichurri Pizza, Braised Short Ribs, Steak Pincho, Penne Quattro Formaggi, and more.
Pair those dishes with a bottle of exquisite Empson and Mexcore wine and divine desserts or freshly brewed Italian coffee, and your palate is sure to do a few cartwheels in your mouth. Empson has been a leading Italian wine exporter for almost 50 years and is a favorite of Chef Bandt. It was founded by Neil and Maria Empson, who now have a portfolio of quality wines from all over Italy, Spain, Chile, and New Zealand that are produced using traditional Old World techniques combined with contemporary knowledge. Their daughter, Tara Empson, grew up in Milano and is a huge part of the business, too.
The icing on the cake is that rather than being another corporate chain, Bella Maca follows a similar path in terms of being a family-owned and inspired restaurant through and through. Chef Bandt partnered with his father, Walter Emilio Bandt, to bring a taste of Italy and South America to Denton County, and the inspiration behind the restaurant’s name is Chef Bandt’s grandmother.
“The name Maca comes from her. No one in Bolivia knew her by her real name; they just called her Maca,” Chef Bandt said. “My grandmother always believed that when she had guests at her home, she’d never go buy food. Everything had to be fresh and cooked by her. That mindset plays heavily into what we do here. Everything is a scratch-fusion kitchen.”
Before Chef Bandt became the culinary marvel that he is now, he was just young Walter. And boy, did Walter love learning
how to cook. Beyond deriving inspiration from his grandmother, who helped raise him, he also spent time under the wing of his aunt, Carusa Bandt. Carusa was an amazing chef and restauranteur, and she didn’t hesitate in teaching everything she knew to 8-year-old Walter. From there, Walter and his family traveled across the globe, and he continued to perfect his craft every chance he could get.
By the time he was 23, Chef Bandt was a culinary instructor in Rhode Island. He then moved to Chile to get his culinary degree at Johnson and Wells University and was immediately invited to participate in the inauguration of the Queen’s ship. After about a year, he moved back to Chile and opened a catering company.
With Bella Maca, he hopes to continue taking everything he’s learned over the years and deliver an unparalleled dining experience for Lake Cities residents and beyond. If you need to see proof, there’s a dish waiting for you right now.
“With my culinary background and the inspired fusion that happened after World War II when Italians migrated to Argentina, I’ve come up with a concept to bring those flavors to our local community knowing that no one has that style of fusion in this area,” Chef Bandt said. “This is a really neat restaurant that is only going to get better with time.”
