Tastings > Chef Spotlight > James Liu of Oskaka
Summer Sushi Salad


Photo by Megan McQuade

Ingredients
8 Tbsp. Fresh Wakame Seaweed
1 Kirby Cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
8 Shrimp
8 Pieces Snow Crab Stick
2 Cups Sushi rice or brown rice

For Tamago (Egg Omelet)
1 egg
Mirin (sweet rice wine)
Salt

For Garnish
4 Tsp. white sesame seeds
4 Tsp. Bonito powder

Method
Cook 2 cups sushi rice or brown rice (for the health-conscious)
according to directions. Set aside to cool.

Poach shrimp and snow crab stick quickly. Set aside to cool.

Crack egg in bowl. Beat in a splash of Mirin and a dash of salt.

Heat 1 tsp. oil in pan. Pour in egg mixture. Do not scramble. When the egg pancake becomes firm, remove from heat and thinly slice.

Separate one-quarter of each of the ingredients for the four salads.

Combine half of the ingredients in each separate group of ingredients (one shrimp, one crab stick, one tbsp. wakame seaweed, etc.) and plate.

Arrange other half of ingredients on top of each plate.

Garnish with 1 tsp. powdered bonito and 1 tsp. white sesame seeds.

Serves Four

James Liu emigrated to the US with his wife Joy and their two children from Taiwan in 1990. The Liu’s story is pegged along a narrative arc familiar to immigrants: Settling in Kingston, the Lius struggled, James worked long hours in restaurants everywhere from Albany to New Jersey, seeing his wife and children infrequently, toiling away with a vision of one day owning his own business. Fast forward five years. (This is where the overworked immigrant story segues into the overworked restaurateur story.) In late 1995, Liu opened Osaka in Rhinebeck, a small restaurant that was staffed by himself, Joy, and a kitchen helper. Since opening, Osaka has carved out a niche in Rhinebeck as a neighborhood place, where customers are greeted by name by James and Joy and can enjoy traditional sushi.

In December of 1999, the Lius opened a second Osaka restaurant in Tivoli.

Another “only-in-America” success story, the eldest of the Liu children, Jassica, graduated from SUNY Albany this May. When not running his restaurants, James enjoys riding one of his two Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Osaka

18GardenSt., Rhinebeck
(845)876-7338

74Broadway, Tivoli
(845)757-5055

Lunch:Wed.-Mon.,11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner:Wed.-Thurs.,4:30pm-9:30pm;
Fri.-Sat., 4:30pm-10:30pm. Sun., 3pm-9:30pm
Closed Tuesday