Pacific Rim Roots Take Hold As Café Japengo Rolls Out Its Latest Menu

March 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Renowned for its award-winning sushi, trendy Asian-fusion cuisine and sexy nightlife, Café Japengo will celebrate its 22-year anniversary with the debut of new crave-worthy additions to their signature menu lineup created by the dynamic master chef duo, Executive Chef Jay Payne and Executive Sushi Chef Jerry Warner.

“The key to our success has been the ability to continually evolve and create new flavors while simultaneously staying true to our Pacific Rim roots,” says Chef Payne.  “Much of our inspiration comes from customer feedback and experimenting with new ingredients.  For example, we’ll add a bit of zest to traditional dishes like sashimi with orange, jalapeno or micro-cilantro.”

One of the most noticeable changes to the menu is the extensive offering of gluten-free items based on an increasing demand from patrons.  Some of the featured items include:

•   Miso Butterfish served with sautéed vegetables, truffle miso broth, micro basil and tobiko;
•   Seared Jumbo Scallops served with pineapple bamboo rice risotto, bok-choy, opal basil and salmon caviar beurre blanc; and
•   Prime Kobe Beef and Prawns served with wasabi mashed potatoes, long beans and demi-glace.

In addition to patron-inspired items, the menu also hooks in to the latest trends from across the ocean.  From oodles of noodles to traditional street foods and meats on a stick, the new offerings span the tastes of countries along the Ring of Fire:

•   Bahm Mi Char Sui Pork Sandwich served with sweet and sour vegetables, wasabi aioli and caramelized onions;
•   Hawaiian Beef and Udon consisting of wok’d beef, shitake mushrooms, carrots, snap peas, udon noodles and Hawaiian BBQ sauce; and
•   Beef Yakitori served with black bean garlic sauce and mizuna green salad.

Lastly, Café Japengo fosters its own bit of creativity and innovation from within.

“Every couple of months, I ask one our chefs to tap into their culinary imagination and conceive a new sushi roll,” says Chef Warner, who began his own career at Café Japengo when it first opened its doors 22 years ago.  “For the next several weeks, we’ll be featuring the Summer Roll, which consists of spicy crab, broccolini, grilled shrimp and avocado on the inside with salmon, lime and sweet ponzu on the outside.”

Full versions of the current lunch and dinner menus are available on www.cafejapengo.com, as well as copies of the gluten-free lunch and gluten-free dinner menus.

About Café Japengo
Café Japengo is one of San Diego’s top restaurants for sushi and Asian-fusion cuisine.  Featuring innovative menus for lunch and dinner along with a series of gluten-free options, the restaurant also boasts an award-winning sushi bar, a hot happy hour scene and an extensive selection of the world’s best wines and sakes.  Behind each culinary masterpiece is the talent of Executive Chef Jay Payne and Executive Sushi Chef Jerry Warner, who began his career at the restaurant when it first opened 22 years ago.  Café Japengo is located at 8960 University Center Lane in the Aventine complex.  For more details, please visit www.cafejapengo.com or call 858-450-3355.  To stay up-to-date on the latest news and offerings at Café Japengo, follow them on Facebook or on Twitter at @Cafejapengo.