Your wedding anniversary is coming up and what better place to celebrate it than a restaurant?
You get a nice space with a wonderful ambiance, plenty of room for your friends and family, and some great catering too!
Speaking of catering, you’ll want to choose a good catering menu that’ll make your anniversary party unforgettable for all your guests. So instead of going for the usual affair for starter dishes, why not try a sushi appetizer menu?
Sushi probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a menu for your anniversary party, but just hear us out. Here’s why a sushi appetizer menu is a great choice.
What makes sushi so alluring?
Around 5 million people in the United States eat sushi at least once a month—it’s a really popular dish! Here’s what makes sushi so great:
1. Health Benefits
Many consider sushi to be a very healthy and nutritious food. It’s relatively low in fat and calories, and it’s a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Because of this, some of your more health-conscious guests may find sushi to be a very welcome addition to the menu.
2. Lots of Variety
There are many varieties of sushi; these include tuna rolls, California rolls, maki rolls, and many more. They also come in different, eye-catching presentations with different colors and are served with beverages like sake.
Also, there are vegetarian sushi rolls that replace fish with veggies like cucumber. This can be a great choice for vegetarians.
3. Versatility
Sushi can be enjoyed as either a formal dish or a casual dish, making it a versatile option for all kinds of events. Also, you may have sushi as a starter dish before the main course as it doesn’t clash with other dishes.
4. Sense of Adventure
Sushi is considered an exotic dish in the United States and chances are that some of your guests haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet. By including sushi in the menu, your guests will get a sense of adventure when trying an exotic dish—it’ll be an experience they’ll remember for a long time!
Why is a sushi appetizer menu great for anniversary parties?
And now let’s get down to what makes sushi a wonderful choice for an anniversary party:
1. It’s a Unique Meal
Sushi isn’t an appetizer option you’d normally see for an anniversary party and some people may not have had the chance to try sushi before. So by including sushi as an appetizer, you can create a more memorable dining experience for you and your guests.
2. It’s a Conversation Starter
Since sushi is a rather exotic delight, it can get your guests talking during the party. Presenting sushi as an appetizer may act as an icebreaker and get your guests to socialize with each other.
3. It’s a Light Option
Sushi is a light meal option, compared to other traditional anniversary party meals, like roast beef or chicken.
Some guests may not be keen on heavy meals, especially when they want to enjoy party activities, like dancing. In this case, sushi can be a yummy snack to have before the festivities kick off.
4. It’s a Diet-Friendly Choice
Sushi is gluten-free, making it a good choice for people who have gluten intolerance. Also, as we mentioned earlier, there are many kinds of vegetarian and vegan sushi options available too.
What should you consider when picking a restaurant with a sushi bar?
You’ll want to pick the best restaurant with a sushi bar out there, so here are a few things you need to consider when choosing one:
1. Freshness
Freshness is king when it comes to sushi, so make sure that the restaurant you choose is known for making its sushi from the freshest ingredients. Look at online reviews to see what people say about the quality of the sushi and check if the menus use terms like daily catch, which means that the fish was brought to the restaurant within 24 hours of being caught, or sashimi-grade, which indicates that the type of fish used in the sushi is deemed safe to eat raw.
2. Price
The price of sushi can range from cheap to expensive, but cheap sushi may not be of the best quality.
When choosing a restaurant, take into account the quality of the sushi they offer and match this with your budget. A good sushi restaurant will offer high-quality sushi at affordable prices.
Also, some restaurants may offer a discount on their sushi for events like anniversaries.
3. Experience
Many restaurants are opening up their own sushi bars, even ones that have just started up. Some restaurants may not have been in the sushi game for long so their sushi dishes might not be on par with more professional offerings.
If you can, try to find out if the restaurant employs a sushi chef with years of experience and a good reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
See below for some commonly asked questions:
1. What is the best time to hold a party at a restaurant with a sushi bar?
Holding the event at lunchtime ensures the freshness of the dish as the fish would have been caught in the morning.
2. How do I know if the sushi is fresh?
Take a look at the color of the sushi. Fresh sushi should have a very vibrant color. Beware of sushi that looks greyish or pale.
3. What beverages aside from sake go well with sushi?
Beer can be a great accompaniment to sushi if you’re not a fan of sake.
Consider a sushi appetizer menu for your anniversary party
An anniversary party is an event close to the heart and even something as simple as a unique appetizer menu can make the experience memorable for you, your significant other, and your guests.
So try holding your anniversary party at a restaurant with a great sushi bar for a one-of-a-kid dining experience.