Eating Out: Father's Day at Union Sushi and BBQ Bar (with a few sushi health tips!)

If you scroll to the bottom of the post, there will be a few tips on eating out at a sushi restaurant provided for you!

 Father's Day Dinner:

Yesterday was Father's Day.  I hope you all had a great one and, most importantly, that you got a chance to show your wonderful dad some appreciation!  Mine has been going hard at work as well as getting MBA, so his schedule has been jam packed.  His school requires a few live-in weeks, and, unfortunately, his fell on Father's Day.  My mother, brother, and I drove to meet him downtown at a restaurant to see him and squeeze in some quality Father's Day time.

My mom is the best planner I know.  She made reservations at one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to (and, trust me, there are a TON in Chicago). It was called Union Sushi and Barbeque Bar.  It was a Japanese-BBQ fusion place with great ambiance and food that matched.  I always love trying new sushi restaurants because their food always looks like art; their dishes have to be distinct and unique to stand out from the rest.

As we looked over the menu, there was a bowl of edamame set out for us.  I've never had edamame with powdered cheddar on top -->it was fantastic!

 My mom and dad ordered a few appetizers to get started.  My dad ordered the tuna with a parmesan-butter sauce while my mom ordered the mushroom dumplings.

Mushroom Dumplings

Smoked Super White Tuna

 Next, we put in our entree orders.  My mother got the ramen soup with chicken.  It was really good-->the bowl was enormous!  It came with a chili sauce.
This restaurant gave you the option to order a full or half roll, which was something I haven't seen before.  I liked that it gave you the opportunity to try multiple rolls without ordering too much food.  My dad got half a roll of his favorite, the spicy tuna roll, and half a shrimp tempura roll.  My brother and I each ordered a California roll (mine with black rice).  I knew that wouldn't be enough food, so I also got the Barbeque Shrimp.

Chicken Ramen Soup

Spicy Tuna and Shrimp Tempura

California Roll with Black Rice

Barbeque Shrimp Skewer

 I would have to say that trying black rice instead of brown or white was a great choice!  It is a more whole-grain, healthier option than regular white.  It had a heartier, nuttier flavor that was a great compliment to the roll.  I also liked that this restaurant used real crab as opposed to the usual imitation crab you will find at most sushi places.

I tried almost everything on our table.  The tuna was fantastic.  The sauce was a great addition to the appetizer.  It was creamy but not overwhelming.  The dumplings were good too.   My mom's soup was a really nice, light option (aside from the portion size).  She definitely couldn't finish it on her own.  I also had a bite of my dad's shrimp tempura.  I was curious because they, first, fried the shrimp, then they fried the outside seaweed or rice paper (I'm not sure which) it was wrapped in.  It was good, but my runner's stomach doesn't like fried food too much so I couldn't have much more than I tried.

My favorite dish had to be the Barbeque Shrimp, though.  It was so good!  They were grilled and wrapped around a small slice of jalapeno pepper.  Make sure if you order this to have lots of water on hand...I went through about 5 glasses.  It came with a sweet sesame sauce that I ordered on the side, which was amazing.  My dad even ordered his own after he saw mine!  He really liked it as well.

Overall, it was a fantastic dinner.  I would definitely go again.  I love sushi, although it is pretty expensive, and get a little too excited about the creativity I get to see with the food/presentation.  I hope to visit again soon.

Here is the website if you want to check it out! http://www.eatatunion.com/








 Health Tip:

I think some people assume that sushi is always a healthy dinner choice.  It can be, if you order the right things.

Here are a few quick tips by Men's Health on eating healthy at a sushi restaurant:
http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/10-ways-eat-healthily-japanese-restaurant


There are a few quick things that I keep in mind when ordering at a sushi restaurant:

• Drink lots of water and watch your soy
• Try to stay hydrated with foods that are high in sodium.   Soy sauce provides much of this, so just don't drown your food in it!  
• Try filling up on sashimi, edamame, soup, or salad first
• This can not only help you save money by reducing the amount of rolls you order, but it can help you get some vegetable and protein servings in as well!  I usually get sashimi, edamame, or salad before a roll.   It helps you fill up.
• Personal favorites: seaweed salad, shrimp sashimi
• Remember--Tempura=Fried
• If you really want fried food, go for it!  My favorite fried rolls are shrimp tempura and sweet potato tempura.  I get the rarely, but if I really will crave it, I'll order one roll and split it, or counteract it with a healthier roll or food option like soup, salad, or California/vegetable roll.
• Sometimes, you can ask for things like shrimp tempura to be boiled instead of fried.  Asking never hurts!
• Also, when ordering a dumpling appetizer, make sure (unless you wanted a fried dumpling), you ask for it to be steamed.  There are options.  Just be aware of what you're ordering!
• Look at your roll options 
• Sometimes, you can order rolls with brown rice, quinoa, or black rice (as opposed to white rice).  These are great whole grain options. 
• You can also skip the rice altogether (if you are watching your carbohydrate intake) and make it a cucumber, seaweed, or rice paper roll.  Personally, I need the carbs.  
• I have tried most of the types of rolls available.  I haven't had one I do not like!
• Avoid mayo (if you are watching your fat)
• Usually, you can ask for it to be left off of your roll.  If you are really craving it, just ask for it on the side so you can control how much goes on!
• Most importantly: Enjoy yourself and have fun!
• Eating out should be a time of enjoyment, not stress.  If you want a splurge item, get it and don't deprive yourself!  Just remember balance.  
• For example, if you're craving shrimp tempura roll, get a bowl of miso soup and edamame as well! Avoid fried food the next day.  Or, ask if somebody wants to split a roll.  Order the shrimp tempura, give them half or make it an appetizer for the whole table, and eat another healthier roll like California as your main entree.