Arigato’s Valentine Roll

With Valentine’s Day a mere two weeks
away, any institute with a desire to squeeze a few extra bucks out
of customers is presenting pink-colored, lovey-dovey varieties of
their current wares. The result: schmaltz overload, for the most
part. Santa Barbara’s Arigato
Sushi, however, has yielded one Valentine’s Day item that
doesn’t sour in the stomach. The restaurant’s specials menue is
currently offering the Valentine Roll. Easy on the eyes and complex
for the tongue, the roll presses crab and strawberry into a pink
soy paper wrapping. The salty taste of crab might seem an unfit
partner for the sweetness of the strawberry, but the two opposing
tastes work well to bring out the best of both. It’s a strange
combined taste, for sure, but the Valentine Roll makes for a
tempting option for the adventurous eater. Maybe all that
sweet-saltiness might be a lot for one person to eat — especially
considering the amble selection of other fine rolls that Arigato
offers — but this sushi-ist thinks that may be the point. The
Valentine Roll tastes best when split with someone you love.