Sushi Cake. Why not? There’s a first time for everything. I remember the first time I tried sushi. My husband, Bao, introduced it to me while we were on a date in Vietnam in 1999. I’ve been a sushi fan ever since.
This year I wanted to do something different for my husband’s birthday. His birthday is two days after our younger daughter’s birthday so naturally she gets all the attention and, well, his falls into the shadow. Sorry babe! I certainly don’t need two sugary cakes in the same weekend so….
Time for Sushi Cake
That, my friends, is a sushi cake. They’re not individual maki roll pieces like you may think. It’s a single layer of rice, topped with a layer of fish, followed by more layers of rice and fish. Just like a cake! Instead of frosting we have spicy mayo sauce topped with seaweed, avocados, crabmeat and black sesame seeds. It’s definitely a conversation piece that will delight the raw seafood lover in your life!
Here’s a better photo of another variation:
So where can you find this unique cake alternative?
Hello Lolo Poke
I love the town of Newburyport for its walkable and charming downtown area. The streets are lined with fun shops and restaurants, including this one: Lolo Poke.
If you’ve never heard of poke, you’re probably not alone. At first I thought it was a literal jabbing of someone with your finger. Completely wrong. Let’s start with the pronunciation: “poke-aaaay.” You’re not poking anybody, okaaaay?
Poke is diced raw fish served either as an appetizer or as a main course and is one of the main dishes of Hawaiian cuisine. That would explain why the first I tried poke was in California; the West coast caught on to their neighbor’s cuisine a lot faster than we did in the East coast.
So here’s what I ordered from Lolo Poke Newburyport on my first trip:
It’s like sushi, but in a bowl. That’s the best way I can describe it! Lolo Poke also makes sushi donuts. It’s a better size if you’re looking for an individual portion.
The next time you have an event, consider getting a sushi cake to wow your guests. It’ll certainly get everybody talking. The best local place I can think of to order one is from Lolo Poke Newburyport. They recommend picking up your cake on the day of the event as the fish should be packed on ice to maintain freshness. Trust me, you don’t want to eat raw fish that’s been sitting out too long. Food poisoning anyone?
If you enjoyed this article and learned something new, be sure to share with a friend!
Visit Lolo Poke at one of their 2 locations:
978-255-2504
47 Pleasant Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-969-0166
503 Rantoul Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday 11:30a-8p
Friday-Saturday 11:30a-close (open later seasonally, please check google)
Sunday/Monday-closed
