I Like it Raw...

There is one restaurant in Minneapolis you must go to if you like sushi. Hell, even if you don't like sushi you should go to this restaurant. The place is Origami and it's a motherfucking institution. Yeah, yeah, I've heard all the criticism about Origami being too expensive and the portions aren't that great (forget the bitching about fish quality because every decent sushi joint in the city uses the same distributor), but truth be told, their prices are comparable to any upscale sushi bar, the service is impeccable, and the sushi chefs are hilarious. I'm not kidding when I say that half the time I think they're either drunk on sake or in open competition with each other for the best maki roles or fruit presentation. The chefs are probably the nicest I've met and the owner (his name is Ichi and he wears his Dockers shockingly high on the hip) likes to make the rounds to make sure everyone is having a good time. Granted, I'm biased because a good friend of mine was a chef there and would comp about $80 worth of sushi for me and his now wife whenever we would go in, but I still stand by my Origami-love.

ANYWAY, Sandra has never been, so I thought it would be fun to get all gussied up and eat raw fish with the beautiful people.

Origami has an inventive specialty martini list. Sandra got the green tea and I got the pomegranate. I've also had the Lychee martini, which comes with a whole Lychee fruit and is wonderful and deadly.


Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of our appetizers, which were phenomenal. Sandra got the octopus salad (wonderfully spicy, not too chewy. and just the right amount of sesame flavor). I got the Hiya-Yakko, cold tofu with ginger, green onion, kiaware, and shaved bonito, which, if I remember right, is common bar food in Japan (much like beer nuts or pretzels). I've never ordered it before and I actually loved it. It was light and filling, however, the shaved bonito has a very strong smoked fish flavor that would have gone better with a cold beer than a fruity cocktail.

And now, for the main attraction. We got the Deluxe platter, which is a pretty standard collection of tuna, salmon, shrimp, sea bass, and octopus, but is much cheaper than ordering ala carte.


I almost ordered one of their gigantic rolls and was sorely tempted to splurge on Toro (my favorite), but I held back. This is the trouble with Origami (or any sushi place for that matter). EVERYTHING is good. I always get a giant anxiety attack trying to decide between bonito, Japanese scallop, Unagi, squid, sea bass, blue fin, toro...GAH! It's the perfect place for a big, fat expense account and a big, fat appetite.

Strange sculpture above the wine bar...peep the great brick work in this place!
There is nothing sexier than watching men slice fish and listening to them gossip with each other in Japanese...
Every meal comes with a complimentary fruit sushi. I was hoping for the pinapple, but these oranges were divine!
Ok, nothing to do with sushi, but I bought a new pair of "fuck me" shoes at Target today. I love me some platform peep-toe heels.
OMG! Buckles! I want to marry these shoes!
Anyway, Origami has two locations, DT Minneapolis and Minnetonka at the Ridgedale Mall. Go to the Downtown locale if you want to feel sleek and sexy (no reservations accepted, but they have a kick ass bar on the second floor where you can work up an appetite with a comprehensive list of premium sakes, Japanese beers, and martinis). Go to the Ridgedale location if you plan on blowing your paycheck at Macy's and Sephora and want to drown your sorrows in Unagi and Sopporo.