Snow And Sushi

Current song: "Nothing Like You and I" ~ The Perishers. (Ever so appropriate. Look it up!)

Bergen County in the snow. It's beautiful...until you get in your car to go to work. Then it's you against every other New Jersey driver on every major highway--fighting the traffic, the bad roads, and each other. And, of course, it's the fault of everyone else. It's never your fault. You're the best driver out there, right? Wrong. (Something I came to terms with long ago: I am NOT the best driver out there...but neither is anyone else in the area. So there.)

In other news: I promised to start documenting local restaurants, and I'm beginning today.

Last night, my boyfriend took me to Masa Sushi & Grill in Allendale, and I was pleasantly surprised. He is an avid sushi lover. I am not a huge sushi fan; however, I was willing to give it yet another shot. (Plus, we parked right in front of the restaurant on Allendale Ave. And if you know the area, easy parking there is NOT one of it's perks.)

Masa is split into two sections: The first section containing a sushi bar and take-out area, and the second reserved for sit-down dinners. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, which is a nice change. I usally feel underdressed in most sushi and/or Japanese cuisine places. (And I was wearing old jeans and a T-shirt. I was not in the right frame of mind for anything fancy.)

We were seated right away, and I was instantly comfortable. The restaurant had plenty of customers, but did not come off as loud or crowded at all. Instant brownie points, in my book. (Especially having spent over 6 years now working in a restaurant that tends to get loud and crowded. The frustration is imminent.)

Masa is a BYOB, resulting in Diet Coke for me, and green tea for my company. (Apparently, the green tea is "amazing," or so I was quickly informed by said company. I suggest you try it.) We both started with green salads--get it just for the deliciously sweet ginger dressing!--and two sushi rolls each for dinner.

My Spider Roll (softshell crab, avocado, cucumber, and tobiko) and my Shrimp Tempura Roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, and tobiko) were both prepared quickly and perfectly. They were just the right amount of crunchy, chewy, and sweet, and every ingredient tasted extremely fresh. My one down side: each piece was HUGE and just barely made it in one bite. (It would have been two bites, but my chopstick skills are saddeningly weak, and everything kept falling apart due to my lack of coordination. Another little something I should work on.)

My boyfriend ordered an Alaskan Roll (salmon, avocado, and cucumber) and a Spicy Salmon Roll (salmon, scallions, and "orginal spicy sauce" [does anyone else find this a little nondescript?]). Needless to say, his pieces were normally sized and he was able to eat them without looking like a chopstick-inept fool. I don't eat raw fish (personal choice), but he said the Spicy Salmon Roll was "different" than he was used to. The salmon is not minced and mixed with the nondescript "spicy sauce" at Masa. Instead, all of the ingredients are separate. And, as it turns out, this is a good thing. He was happy. That's good enough for me. (Love is cute that way.)

Masa's prices are fair, our bill coming to $42.00 for four sushi rolls, two salads, tea, and (of course) a Diet Coke. (It's a sick addiction, but someone's gotta keep Coca-Cola in business.) I would certainly go back again, if I happen to be in the Allendale area and in need of good sushi. For Masa's menu, prices, and more info in general, go to their (really nice!) Web site at masasushiandgrill.com.

In further news: the packing up of my life commences tonight after work. (Thankfully, I have an amazing best friend who's willing to put up with me long enough to get it done.) It should also end tonight (if all goes as planned). It's the final stages of getting ready to move--packing clothes, shoes, bags, toiletries (my expensive makeup--MAC only, please--will not break! My expensive make up WILL NOT BREAK!). Hopefully, aforementioned best friend will take some handbags, shoes, etc. off my hands. (These, too, are sick addictions. So, as a reminder, we have Diet Coke, MAC makeup, shoes, and bags.)

So, now it's T minus four days until I'm offcially moved in. (Apparently, I can't count. I said six yesterday. Sigh.)

Current song: "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" ~ Boyz II Men. (Oh, how I love to shuffle.)