Foodie Post #7: Tako-Sushi - "Far East, Southwest"

Entering graduate school, year two.  Helping the little bro who just moved in as a freshman... and made it a obvious he's gonna-need some help from the big sis.  Sinking into new job at the grant writing firm.  Preparing for teaching fitness classes four days per week.  Managing our graduate student group.  Waiting for the results of John's Bar... and word on any job prospects.  Trying to get this photography bid'ness moving along.  Budgeting the very little money I have (thanks, school, for jacking up tuition YET AGAIN) for the insane amount of things I still have yet to cover... not to mention the already rising general monthly costs.  Reworking my schedule to fit everything in.  Pretending I'll actually have a real 'day off' once in a while.  And possibly... playing on a community kickball team?


School doesn't start for another four days and I'm already COMPLETELY overwhelmed.

And I have no one to blame but myself.

Surprise. SURPRISE.

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Yes. I'm loud, move quickly, talk 100 miles a minute, and can be pretty darn impatient knowing I've got 394083 other things to do. I'm not particularly proud of the spaz I am; patience and taking the time to annunciate when I get worked up in a conversation is something I'm constantly working towards. One such way is surrounding myself with people who are strong and sturdy, think clearly and methodically, and are calm and patient themselves. It just so happens its a perfect opposites attract situation, because the dear Lord knows I'd be exhausted if I surrounded myself with people... like me.

My friend, Sarah K., is a long-time pal from undergrad whom I met through my sorority. A transfer student from California, she possessed a mysterious charm and style and perspective all her own; before we knew it, she was heavily involved in several student organizations and making all kinds of impact along the way. She made it look effortless and still always made time for friends (and she had about 928390), so it was always a treat when we could schedule a lunch or coffee date. Post-grad, she moved to the area of the state in which I grew up, and I was thrilled to know she'd still be around for me to harass.

As the end of the summer neared, I made a trip back to the quaint town of Aiken: so different from the days of my chaotic youth, but always so familiar. Early in my undergrad career, Aiken opened a new restaurant that quickly became a favorite hotspot: Tako-Sushi. The concept took a little catching on. When John and I were home for a family weekend soon after it opened we decided to try it, thinking it was going to be a kitschy, themed joint, making its moolah off the "atmosphere" rather than the food. We were pleased to find out it was totally the opposite: fairly upscale with a nice wine and beer list, modern accents and classic notes. Needless to say, it's been a long-time favorite every time I go back to visit.

I had a free night during my trip and was in desperate need of sushi and Sarah's good vibes, so we arranged to meet at Tako-Sushi. The menu is pretty big (not to mention now you have to decide if you want Japanese or Tex-Mex... or can handle both), so our strategy was to split an appetizer from one side of the menu and order our entrees from the other. To get things started, we ordered the "Portadilla": a quesadilla stuffed with portabella mushrooms and goat cheese.

Tako-Sushi's "Portadilla"

I don't think you heard me: PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS and GOAT CHEESE. Melted with a little cheddar and served with homemade salsa and guac', I really thought about ordering a second helping for dessert. SO. GOOD. Sarah's calm and composed nature had certainly rubbed off at this point, as I took my sweet time indulging in this culinary masterpiece.

The anxiety flared up again, though, as it came time to order sushi and I was torn between, ohhhh, seven choices (the poor waitress came around like eight times). I finally settled on the "Firecracker" Roll: Tempura fried tilapia, cream cheese, avocado, and cucumber, topped with masago (smelt eggs) and a spicy apple mayo sauce. Lordhavemercy.

The "Firecracker" Roll

Sarah was also having issues trying to decide, but she landed a winner with the "Crazy" Roll (aka, "Kevin's Roll"). Shrimp tempura and cucumber, topped with fresh shrimp, crab, avocado, and teriyaki glaze and Tako-Sushi's own special sauce.

 

Sarah K. and her "Crazy" Roll

Naturally, the blend of East-meets-West food complimented our blend of personalities, and our long conversations were equally as delicious and refreshing.

Tako-Sushi has since expanded to several markets in South Carolina. Ironically, I'm so devoted to the Aiken location I haven't been brave enough to try the Columbia one (that whole hipster "never good as the original" complex). But friends who have gone express their excitement for it, so I'm sure I'll get around to trying it soon enough.

So even if you're not necessarily a "taco" or "sushi" kind of person, there is plenty on the menu to choose from and it's a great upscale atmosphere with a casual pace (it IS the south, after all). The experience is especially enhanced if you bring a 'variety' of folks as your company. :)

(Really, she's fabulous --->)

** Please note all B@T foodie posts are done at the whims of the author; i.e., I write & select my reviews at my own leisure with no compensation of any kind. I like sharing my favorite spots & hope you'll support our local businesses!

August Furry.

As mentioned in several prior postings, August has forever been my "new year" month. While not welcomed with loads of glitter and drunken renditions of a song nobody actually knows the words to, it still launches my "life as I know it" into some other dimension. 

(Okay, dimension is a little dramatic, but safe to say it's never been the same thing twice.)

August not only has meant a new school year, but both of my AmeriCorps positions began in August. I always meet new people, get oriented to new things, and discover very quickly that I'm going to be incredibly busy for an unforeseeable amount of time (but still always take on more... whyyy...). Football season is right around the corner, which means things like Thanksgiving and Christmas suddenly become in countdown range. The last of the summer heat peaks and does its worst (usually right around the time I've had to move, which this is -hooray!- the first year in 6 years I haven't had to), and I use every available second to do fun things with friends before the school year eats my social life. It's chaotic and awkward and bittersweet, but August always makes for an interesting transition. It's amazing how I get to this point every year and wondered how I've arrived here.

True to my historical consistency, August 2011 is already picking up and setting new things in motion:

• For one, John survived the Bar. While relieved to have the darned thing over (if you see him, please don't ask how he thinks he did), it hardly meant things would slow down. Now tasked with job-searching and preparing for results that might not bode well, we've had to start asking the nit-picky questions and working through all viable options and possible situations we could find ourselves in the coming months -- a difficult quandary for the girlish spaz I am, afraid of uncertainty and too much seriousness. Granted, now that study time is over, we can have these serious conversations with proper adult refreshments. It makes us feel smart and sophisticated, a'la Doris Day and Rock Hudson:

Canvas art image found on www.barewalls.com
*Y'all know that's not sweet tea in there...

• Though I learned a lot and am grateful for the experiences I had at my grad assistantship last year (not to mention some of my most-favoritest-people-ever), I accepted a new position as a research assistant with a local grant writing firm in town. It's run by one of the professors in our program as well as the Women & Gender Studies program, and she's already been great to work for. A totally different change of pace and duty from my previous position, but she's really supportive of my fitness and sustainability endeavors (not to mention my photography). She also likes shopping for deals and lunch dates... I think we're going to get a long JUST fine.
  
• I've got an awesome schedule lined up with campus recreation and group exercise, and I'll be teaching a couple of my most faaaavorite formats.... for those of you able to attend my classes, let me know and I'll send you my schedule. :)
  
• As the new kid in charge of our student program, I'm a little nervous about my demands of leadership. Though small, we have a lot we hope to accomplish this year and I really hope we make it work - and then some. I'm really lucky to have a supportive team of fellow student executive members, not to mention some previous alumni who have made their time and talents available to us, so no matter what I think we're already off to a good start for this year. For any of you considering grad school, be sure to get involved with your student group... trust me, I'm pretty sure this is a major reason I've survived as long as I have.

So be advised my will and need to blog is always there, but my time and ability to get my brain to make coherent sentences at the end of the day may be fairly limited in the coming weeks. Just as August came as a surprise, I know September really isn't far off. But, hopefully, I'm better prepared for this year than I was the last one.

And hey, if not, I know where are all the great drink specials are now.

To those of you also experiencing the August Furry (and I know several of you are), know I'm keeping you all in my thoughts, too. :)

So HAPPY NEW YEAR!

**PS. I should've mentioned, too, the annual celebration of John & Celia is also in late August; we'll be celebrating our 9th year together on the 23rd. Makes August even more special... more to come. <3