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Restaurant teaches kids to make their own sushi

May 6, 2008

Sakae Sushi offers classes to teach kids how to make their own sushi. (Handout Photo / May 5, 2008)

Some kids understand that an under-12 menu can go beyond chicken fingers, French fries and grilled cheese.

Midtown east restaurant Sakae Sushi has taken note, and is offering create-your-own sushi classes for its littlest customers throughout the summer.

The two-hour sessions ($60 for a child and compulsory adult) instruct participants in the basics of making a sushi negri rice ball, roll and handroll.

Lynn Teo, director of Sakae Sushi, gave us the low-down on what mini-chefs can expect in class.

Is cooked and uncooked food used?
It's only cooked food [crab stick, teriyaki chicken and beef, shrimp and veggie tempura and tamago eggs, among other ingredients]. Kids prefer cooked food and parents prefer cooked food.

How else is the class youngster-friendly?
The kids can make the sushi in creative shapes. We have molds for them, and they can make them into stars or whatever shapes they want. They're very pretty and cute.

Who teaches the class?
One of our chefs, Joe Hun from Singapore. He's done it before in Singapore. The chef is going to be quite entertaining. He's fairly young. We want someone to be engaging with the kids.

What do kids like about sushi?
Kids that have come to the restaurant like the interactive menus and moving conveyor belt [which Sakae Sushi has]. That's why we decided to bring it to a class.

What is the Sakae Junior Club, which the kids who take the class become members of?
It's a really popular brand among children in [our restaurants in] Asia. It helps us pay tribute to our young customers with special activities throughout the year to learn more about sushi.

Sakae Sushi
405 Lexington Ave. at East 43rd Street
212-286-8868 or kids@sakae-sushi.com to book a spot
Cost: $60 (child plus adult)
Dates: May 10 and 17; June 7 and 21; July 12 and 26; August 2, 16 and 23; 1-3 p.m.