Sushi of Tokyo Restaurant Plymouth, MN

On Sunday evening, after taking my dad to the gym with me, our family ventured to Plymouth to try the Sushi of Tokyo Restaurant. I had seen a couple ads for the restaurant and I'm always curious about mom and pops types of Asian restaurants. Reason being (for those of you who don't already know) my parents had moved to Eau Claire, WI in 1991 from Monterey Park, California to own a Chinese Restaurant. I'd put up a link to our restaurant, Fortune Cookie, but we don't have a website yet! I've been meaning to make one for years. Maybe I can talk Nicole into it once I put all the content together :)

A couple of years ago, I went to Wing Young Huie's art exhibit in St. Paul. He took pictures of Asians across America...and after seeing his pictures, I remember being inspired to want to learn and record the stories of Asians who wandered into small towns and opened restaurants in order to make a living and live. I'm so in awe of hard working people and I want to hear their stories and ask questions, but I'm weird shy in certain situations. This happens to be one of them.

Last year when our family went to White Rock, Canada, I saw a small Chinese restaurant at the corner of where our hotel was located. I ran by it a couple mornings and did not have the courage to go in and ask them how they happened upon White Rock. Later, Eric and I ended up taking a picture of another small Chinese restaurant we found in Vancouver (that doesn't quite count!) but that was the closest I came to finding out more about Asians and restaurants on that trip.

So this past weekend at Rich's house...when I was talking to Wing (so strange that they are friends and I got to meet Wing)...I told him how he had inspired me, but I haven't quite gave my idea life yet. It's still swirling in my head...and he simply said, that sounds like a great idea, you should do it. I remember feeling a bit puzzled. That's it? It's like a Nike slogan? Just do it?

So...Eric, my dad and I sat down on the corner table by the window at the Sushi of Tokyo Restaurant and was contemplating whether to choose the All You Can Eat dinner option or just ordering off the menu, when we heard the owners speak in Cantonese. We all instantly perked up and looked at each other...whoa...Chinese people own this place? And they speak Cantonese...how great! The lady came over, greeted us in English and then walked away to get us plates...when she came back with the menu and was trying to explain their specials to us...I worked up the nerve to say to her in Cantonese...,"Hey, you can talk to us in Cantonese...we speak your language!" She widened her eyes...and complimented me on how well I could speak Cantonese. She thought I was from Hong Kong! Well...actually the best part was when she asked me if I was 20 yet! :)

And because I can speak Cantonese...I found out all these neat little things. The sushi chef, her brother (or in-law), learned how to make sushi in Japan. He had an apprenticeship of some type and then had worked at Benihana's in Golden Valley for a number of years...then three years ago, he decided to venture off on his own and open this sushi restaurant. She says it's all in the rice...and it's true...our meal was very good - the sushi rice was soft, warm and mmmm....good! She said she's just helping out until they hire someone...she had owned two Chinese restaurants in St. Paul years ago. She's actually lived in Roseville for over 30 years. And the last time she went to Hong Kong was in 1974! I was so shocked...how can she be away for so long? But she said when she went back...all her friends had emigrated...so she no longer felt a connection to the place. I know exactly what she means.

I think my dad was surprised I started up a conversation with her. All this, it seems, because of going to that art exhibit two years ago and the BBQ at Rich's this weekend. Otherwise I might have said nothing and we might have just had dinner and left.

Next time, we're going to go back and try the Udon.

I'm excited.

Life seems fresh and new again.