WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2012

DIXIESUNNEWS.COM -9-

Lifestyles
BY KATELYN LANCASTER Lifestyles Editor

Samurai 21 among sushi favorites

Snap those chopsticks in half and dig into your inner sushi. Not sure how to use these awkward wooden sticks? Thats OK because sushi is all about the experience. (If worse comes to worst, you can always ask for the cheater chopsticks made especially for kids.) Once youve got a semi-grip on the chopstick-holding technique, youll need some sushi to practice with. After a weekend of sushi taste testing, I compared four sushi joints in town. Samurai 21, 245 Red Cliffs Drive Ambience: Greeted by koi fish in a pond, Samurai 21 makes you feel like youve been transported to Japan as soon as you walk through the door. Service: Guests have the choice between hibachi or private dining. If you enjoy the social scene, hibachi is the way to go, offering dinner and a show. Hibachi chefs cook your meal right before your eyes on a steel griddle directly in front of your seating area. If an interactive scene is not for you, the restaurant also has a designated dining area to make for a more private setting. Quality: My taste buds quickly told me the Samurai 21 Roll was a favorite. Shrimp tempura, crabstick, spicy mayo, tuna and avocado wrapped together and topped with a coating of eel sauce make for a tasty combination. Price: This specialty roll sells at $12.50 for eight to 10 pieces. Prices range from $4.50-$13.50. Overall experience: The Samurai 21 experience was action-packed, and the sushi set high-standards of what was
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Benjas Dallas and Spicy Snake sushi rolls sit paired next to a side of wasabi and ginger. Compared to other sushi restaurants, Benjas prices are fairly competitive.

to come. Samurai 21 earns five stars. Sakura, 939 E. St. George Blvd. Ambience: The hostess, dressed in a kimono, quickly set the mood of the restaurant. Service: The hibachi chef joked around, pretending he spoke Spanish instead of Japanese. If youd rather eat your meal in peace, youll want to head to the dining area of Sakura instead. Quality: The presentation of the sushi roll spread along a plate made my eyes just as hungry as my tummy. I tried the Surf N Turf Roll, a combination of shrimp tempura, crabstick, sweet chili sauce, seared garlic, garlic sauce and scallions. Price: This roll sells at $12.50the same price as my

Samurai favorite. The sushi at Sakura ranges from $4-$14.95. Overall experience: The restaurant was the perfect way for me to get my social jitters out on a Saturday night. Sakura earns four stars. Benjas, 435 N. 1680 East and 2 W. St. George Blvd. Ambience: Unlike Samurai 21 and Sakura, Benjas does not offer hibachi. Instead, the restaurant has a dining area for a more ordinary eating-out experience. Though Ive dinedin before, this time I called Benjas earlier in the day and placed my sushi order to-go. Service: Unfortunately, the hostess hadnt put my order in, so I waited in the restaurant while the crew hastily prepared my order with sincere apologies. Quality: The sushi I tried

at Benjas was too much for my taste. The Playboy Roll is a combination of tempura crabstick, cucumber and cream cheese topped with avocado, spicy tuna, spicy mayo, creamy wasabi and covered with crisp tempura flakes and a light teriyaki glaze. The mixture of three different sauces made the roll too wet. Though the tempura flakes create a crunch, everything else makes for a mushy meal. Price: This particular sushi sells at $11.95 a roll, the higher end of the $5.95 to $12.95 price range. Overall experience: Benjas tables are always packed on the weekends, so if youre in a hurry, take Benjas to-go. For those first-timers, its worth staying in the restaurant in order to get the ins and outs

of eating sushi in its entirety. Benjas earns three stars. Harmons, 1189 E. 700 South Ambience: Harmons has sushi boxed and readily available for customers to grab and go. Though there is a small dining area near the grocery story deli, I took the sushi home for a more comfortable eating experience. Service: Purchasing sushi from a grocery store is perfect for customers who would rather not be bothered by a server and the accompaniment of other guests in a restaurant. If you have a question, though, a deli worker will gladly help. Quality: If youre looking for the freshest tasting sushi, it wont be found at a grocery store. The sushi was cold and

see SUSHI page 10

Friendships build at appropriate time, place

BY REZA OMORI Staff Writer

Its time to break free of social fears and meet new people. College is a time of academic pursuits, certainly, but it is also a crucial time to network and grow socially. To those who are uncertain of when and where would be the right time to approach people and strike up a conversation, there are certain dos and donts. Dont: Approach if they look like theyre having a bad day. Some people like being cheered up but probably not by a stranger talking to them. Do: Approach if they look approachable, such as if they catch the eye or smile. Brent Yergensen, department chair of communication said there are particular times and places when it is acceptable to talk to others, such as classmates sitting next to one another. Dont: Chat to someone who is obviously studying in a library or other quiet

place. The wrong time to start a friendship is to corner them or make someone feel obligated, Yergensen said. Do: When at a dance, coffee shop or other public

venue, why not try and meet someone new? You really wager nothing, said Marcus Valdez, a freshman communication major from Centerville. If they ignore you, you lost nothing. You lost someone

you didnt knowwho cares? But if something positive happens, you gain something. Dont: Talk in more personal situations. The gym shower, thats a wrong time to invite

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICA BAIRD | DIXIE SUN NEWS

Dont get caught trying to make new friends at the wrong time. Avoid awkward situations by picking the right moment to spark a conversation.

someone to be a friend, said Wendy Worthington, a senior communication major from Ivins. Do: Be friendly and network at social or athletic events. Ive met a lot of friends playing soccer, said Mason Brown, a sophomore business major from Park City. After the game Ill compliment them or theyll compliment me. Browns example is about seeking out friends with common interests. Dont choose your friends on what you observe, Yergensen said. Choose your friends on what your experiences are. Dont: Ask uncomfortable questions or tell too much to first-time acquaintances. Do: Start opening up to others while in college. It only gets harder as life goes on. I think that for the most part, people like to be approached to get to know people, said Jordon Sharp, director of student involvement and leadership. A lot of time they

are afraid to be the first to do that. The wrong way would be to ask people information that they would not give out initially or divulge personal information too soon. But this should not deter anyone from attempting. Dont: Be afraid of feeling uncomfortable or getting shut down. The personal relationships are the ones you remember in college, but those dont just happen, Sharp said. You have to get involved. Uncomfortable positions is where we grow as human beings. Do: Steer away from communicating only through the use of technology. Put the cellphone down, Sharp said. Put the remote down, and go communicate Everyone has awkward moments and fears of rejection, but its necessary to think back to the process of making friends and realize that if one hadnt gone up to the other one, all of the memories wouldnt have happened.