Skip to main content

Little Lilly Sushi

Although it may look the same as Fort Worth's original sushi joint, Little Lilly Sushi is a different animal (or fish) in a novel way.

diced tuna, sushi rice, shiso, sake-soy,
mountain yam and wasabi
It's in the same location and has the same chummy atmosphere as the former Hui Chuan but a crisp carte du jour. The 24-year-old blooming chef, Jesus Garcia, created the menu and plays with it weekly to keep his job amusing and see what works for his customers.

And trust me, it's DELICIOUS. So good that it inspired me to write on my food blog for the first time since I had my baby. He's 11 months old.

While there are a few items that stay on the menu (like my favorite Hamachi Zest roll), he adds treats every week to keep things interesting. Check out their Facebook page under the "current fish selection" album to see what's fresh and what Jesus is experimenting with this week.

If ever confused by the contents, Chef Garcia explains all of his creations to his customers with zeal. He observes what they like and dislike and may even remember their palate the next time they come in. That's one of my favorite things about this place—it's intimate feel goes beyond the atmosphere.

Hamachi Zest:garlic-sesame Scottish Salmon & avocado inside;
hamachi on top; yuzu ponzu and lemon zest
Jesus truly cares for his customers. He sends avocado slices for my baby boy right when we sit down. I don't even ask. He knew that was his favorite thing to eat the third time we brought him in. He also customized a dish for my husband when we didn't request it. One day at lunch my husband asked if he did something different with the tuna tower. Jesus said he watched my husband pick the sprouts and wasabi off of his tuna tower one evening, a customary practice everywhere we eat, so Jesus left it off for him this time. Wow. And if you're wondering, he didn't have a clue I was a food blogger. He does this for all of this customers.

Jesus' resume is almost as brilliant as his sushi and personality. After reading about it in the raving Star-Telegram food review, I confirmed his culinary journey with the chef himself. He's worked at Stephen Pyles, Fearing's, Five Sixty and Shinjuku Station to name a few places where fantastic fares are shared. Jesus also said he has his culinary arts degree from the Cordon Bleu in Austin.

Tuna Tataki Salad- togarashi seared tuna over
mixed green salad with honey miso dressing
Oh yea, I forgot to write about the food. It's fresh and delicious. You will just have to drive down Camp Bowie, park next to La Madeline and check it out for yourself.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Marfa 2020

By Jocelyn Tatum  I n the 12 years that I have been going to Marfa almost annually, a lot has changed. But the small-town-in-a-vast-desert charm has stayed the same. Here are a few things I always plan to do in my two days and two nights in Marfa.  First, drive. I know it seems like it is far away, and it is, but this road trip goes fast because there is no traffic headed west and away from civilization. Driving is part of the right of passage to get there. I also feel like I shed the societal sludge that builds up on my shoulders as I careen across Interstate 20.  Once you turn off onto HWY 17 in Pecos, the drive starts to transition from sulfur and pumpjacks to pure beauty. It always reminds me of my road trip though the Scottish Highlands. My thoughts change with the landscape. Again, no traffic and no crowds. A tip: when you do pass a fellow road warrior once you get into the mountains, give them the friendly L-shaped finger wave the locals do th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Big Sky No. 2, parts 1+ 2

  By Jocelyn Tatum   I have an affinity for all things that cause me to look up — mostly trees and clouds. When I walk the dogs or go for a long run, I often trip over something because I am admiring tree limbs reaching toward the ever-changing clouds, or the way sunlight plays with both.    Komorebi is a Japanese word that doesn't have an English translation, which means the way light travels through the leaves of trees. I wonder if there is a word for the way light shines through the clouds. Fall Gallery Night 2019, I stumbled upon a magnanimous canvas of clouds with the sun piercing through. It knocked me back. I took a picture just to admire it from home but walked away knowing I would never allow myself to get it. A year later, it occurred to me that I still think about that art. The strange state of things and lots of extra time at home has encouraged me to do things I never thought possible. And I don't understand the correlation between the pandemic and my n...
Post a Comment
Read more

My Trip to Port Aransas, TX: Goodnight Summer, Goodnight Beach

photo credit: wikimedia My last trip of the summer takes me to the Texas coast. It's time to go after days of play, but I need one last moment on the shore.  A few others are there doing the same. They stare out at the gilded waves reflecting the new morning sun. Two thoughts undulate in my head—someone bigger than we are had to organize this, and timelessness mixed with newness. Saltwater and waves have been around since the beginning, but the life within is new and ever-changing. Ancient Greek tragedies and comedies, settlers, explorers and travelers find their stories' epicenter in the ocean.  I then remember I'm not alone in my adoration. The opening paragraphs of Moby-Dick speak to humankind's shared fascination with water: "There now is your unsular city of the Manhattoes, belted by wharves as Indian isles by coral reefs—commerce surrounds it with her surf. Right and left, the streets take you waterward. Its extreme downtown is the battery, where t...
Post a Comment
Read more