Aka Sushi in Ostia (Rome), Italy
Japanese and Italian cuisines may be worlds apart but there is something that they have in common. The stringent usage of ingredients of superior quality binds both kitchens together. With raw fish, extreme attention is needed in selecting the ingredients and preparing them. For this reason, there's no other perfect place for Aka Sushi to find its home in Ristorante Red Fish in the district of Ostia. Aka in Japanese, by the way means red too. Ostia is a coastal district of Rome on the Tyrrhenean Sea that's about 30 kilometers away from the center of the capital. It is a popular place for Romans to spend their summer holidays in the long stretch of beach, crystal-clear water, and seafood restaurants.
Ristorante Red Fish
is already in iconic seafood restaurant in Ostia that enthusiasts of
innovative kitchen have been going to for years. Executive Chef is
Antonio Gentile, a young Neapolitan chef carrying loads of talent and
past experiences in the kitchens of important chefs. Along with him is
Pastry Chef Federica Valleriani, another young and talented chef who
makes the extraordinary desserts at Red Fish.
Choosing
to share the spacious restaurant and the kitchen with Sushi Chef
Micaela Giambanco of Aka Sushi is an important step towards a wider
culinary audience. Ristorante Red Fish has utilized a part of its space
to a very brilliant move. People who love quality and creativity in the
kitchen often evolve around both Italian and Japanese cuisines. With
Micaela Giambaco preparing the Japanese delicacies with utmost care,
Ristorante Red Fish has gained another triumph in the culinary sphere.
At
a young age, Micaela Giambaco moved to the town of Kurume, a southern
town in Japan. Until adulthood, the years in Japan had been formative in
the education of Micaela where her discipline for karate and the art of
sushi had deepened. Experiences in the sushi bars in Japan amplified
her passion and refined her techniques in the Japanese cuisine. When she
went back to Italy, her expertise in the Japanese cuisine was put into
good use as she helped several Japanese restaurants start up by creating
their menus and teaching the chefs the preparation of edomae sushi and
other traditional Japanese dishes that are less known in Italy.
Ristorante Red Fish now divides its big space with Aka Sushi where 20 can be
accommodated including at the sushi bar where Micaela prepares the sushi
in front of the diners. The menu has selection of different kinds of sushi as well as traditional cooked Japanese dishes. There
are Salmon in Panko (€9), Fish Soup (€6), Rice with Yuzu-Marinated
European Bass (€8), Tuna Tataki and Leeks in Miso Sauce (€8), Potato
Salad (€3) or the Takoyaki, meatballs of octopus, spring onions, ginger
and nori (€6).
For
the sushi, you can find simple and special Nigiri (thin slices of raw
fish over pressed vinegared rice), Uramaki (maki with the filling in the
center surrounded by nori, closed with a layer of rice and an outer
coating of sesame seeds), Hosomaki (small maki with one ingredient and
rice then wrapped with nori), Chumaki (maki between the size of hosomaki
and futomaki), Futomaki (big maki with about 5 ingredients), Sashimi
(raw seafood sliced into thin pieces), Chirasizushi (rice bowl seasoned
with fish, eggs and Japanese omelet), and lastly, simple and special Inarizushi (traditional pouch of fried tofu typically filled with sushi
rice that can also be served with raw or cooked fish). Aside from
seafood sushi, there is also Beef Nigiri and Vegetable Nigiri for
vegetarians and vegans.
You
can also find some traditional cooked meat dishes that the kids will
definitely love like the Tori No - Kara Age, marinated fried chicken
(€6) or Tonkatsu, pork cutlets in panko (€8). For the dessert, you can
find the traditional Dorayaki (€4), Mochi (€3) and Homemade Black Sesame
or Green Tea Ice Cream (€4). Sometimes, Micaela prepares some dishes
that are outside the menu like the Black Sesame Cheesecake which is one
of the best cheesecakes I have tried.
Aka Sushi
Corso
Duca di Genova,
22
00121 Lido di Ostia (RM), Italy
Tel: +39 06
45470650
Email: info@ristorantered.com
Open daily for lunch and dinner
except Wednesdays
UPDATE MARCH 2019: Chef Micaela Giambaco has opened a new restaurant at Via Torcegno, 39 in Rome called MIKACHAN. Aka Sushi is permanently closed.
UPDATE MARCH 2019: Chef Micaela Giambaco has opened a new restaurant at Via Torcegno, 39 in Rome called MIKACHAN. Aka Sushi is permanently closed.
Restaurants in Ostia:
