Ghosts of Sensi hang
in chain-mail curtain. Techno
murmurs make it new.
Hai Troung greets you
with a smile and sly wink, like
Iron Chef Chairman.
Anna's your server
Appearing at intervals
Precisely well-timed.
Dub-step vibrations
change with fuchsia ombre walls,
Din of dim warehouse.
In the near distance
sushi chefs fuse East and West
mostly with success.
Oh, beef tataki
carpaccio-thin, soaked
in sweet ponzu
deserving of praise
for subtlety and grace: beets,
cucumber, scallions
intermingling
on your tongue, a rush of acid
lingers, melts away.
XOXO shrimp:
crisp, Grand Marnier-glazed, atop
nest of fried noodles.
Bento breaks its box.
Thai basil and lemongrass
steal the lunch show
replacing normal
throwaway entrées with bold,
fresh flavor and spice.
Eclectic cuisine
that spans the Asian coastline:
Banh mi and good pho
share menu space with
simple sashimi and rolls.
Decisions, decisions—
"So what would you like?"
One of everything sounds good...
"Try the Power Roll."
Surf and turf sushi —
tempura shrimp and fillet:
fancy yet filling.
Whereas Jiro dreams
sushi: freshest fish and rice,
Hai dreams of "fushi"
fusing flavors of
Virginia and Japan:
oysters and cream cheese
meet nori and soy.
Tobacco Row and Tokyo
under one big roof.
Sashimi pizza?
Rack of lamb with potato
wontons? Anything goes.
If a poem is good,
it doesn't need to be explained;
same goes for sushi.
What works well works, right?
Juxtapositions transform
Simple to sublime.
But innovation
plays well in River City,
East Enders take note.
Haiku is serving
Eclectic fusion that's fun.
Check your assumptions.
Hai swirls Bordeaux, smiles,
breathing the bouquet deeply.
Kitchen Stadium.
Haiku Sushi & Lounge
2222 E. Cary St., 658-0621, haikurva.com
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 5 to 10 p.m.
Prices: Lunch $10 to $12; dinner $10 to $25 (sushi bar dinner $13 to $64)
