Simple Sushi

Last week we met with some friends for dinner at the new sushi Restaurant in town, Simple Sushi.  Now, let me first say that I am no sushi connoisseur.  It's been over 13 years since the last time I ate sushi.  I remember liking it, but I don't remember it being something I craved and had to have again.  This was also my husband's first time to try it.  He was a bit skeptical at first, so we decided to start off with some Miso soup first.  It was very flavorful and delicious.  We then ordered a vegetarian roll which we saw the chef prepare right before our eyes.  We sat right at the bar and could see how meticulously everything was put together, it was impressive!  First bite and my husband was hooked and ready to graduate to something more serious.  We asked the chef for his recommendation and he suggested The Phoenix: seared tuna with veggies and topped with baked crab.  It was not only visually appealing, but the taste was amazing.  The Phoenix roll was our favorite.  The third one we tried was the Millipede.  I can't remember what was in it, but we didn't care for the fish eggs on top.  They looked very pretty, but they got stuck in between our teeth and when they popped they had a very fishy taste.  Some may really like that, but we'll pass on that next time.

Vegetarian Roll, The Phoenix Roll

The Millipede

Simple Sushi is tucked away at the heart of downtown Nampa right beside Messenger's Pizza.  It makes me happy to see these small businesses pop up in my community.  The owners of Simple Sushi have done an outstanding job with making their place look really nice and the staff is incredibly helpful.  We had a great "first" experience with sushi and we are looking forward to going back soon.

Blazen Burgers



Kit Kat & Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Shakes


Blazen Burgers is a family owned hamburger drive thru in Nampa, ID.   They not only serve yummy burgers, but also chicken, salads, fries, and of course their famous ice cream shakes - which we love!  The best part is that everyday after 8 pm their Jr. Shakes are only $1... and with a family of 4, that makes cents!  Pictured above is their Kit Kat Shake and a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Shake.  Both of them were blazenly delicious!  We enjoy and support small and local businesses whenever possible. 

Blazen Burgers is open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 10:30 pm (or later, their menu says), closed on Sundays.  Check out their website for more information:  http://www.blazenburgers.com/

We'll definitely return!



Sino Buffet

For dinner tonight we felt like Chinese food and thought to try Sino Buffet in Nampa for the first time.  It's located on 623 Caldwell Blvd.

We decided to do take out and eat in the comfort of our own home instead of dining in at the restaurant.  I called ahead of time and the kind lady who answered the phone explained that we could either order by individual entree or we could choose from the buffet and the charge for that was $4.99/lb.  I told my husband to go and check it out and pick up whatever he thought was best...  and of course, he ate with his eyes first and opted for the latter.  Here's the feast he brought home for us:

Egg rolls, pot stickers, and peppered chicken.

Lo mein, fried rice, Honey Crisp and General Tso Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken

And voila... our very own buffet at home!

Since we didn't actually eat there I can't comment on the customer service, but my husband said the restaurant was clean and in good shape.  He also said they had a salad bar, which I would have enjoyed.  As far as the food goes, out of 5 stars, our family gave it 3.5 stars.  Not the best that we've tried in Chinese food, but certainly not the worst;  and for what we brought home, I think the pricing was very fair.  The total bill came out to $24.  Not bad for a family of 4 and leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.  Will we go back?  Probably so and maybe next time we'll dine in.  My personal favorite was the Honey Crisp Chicken and the lo mein.... and also the fact that I didn't have to cook any of it.  My children liked the Sweet and Sour chicken and my man liked the General Tso chicken best. 

If you check out their website:  http://www.sinobuffet.webs.com/ they offer a coupon you can print out that is buy 3 meals and get the 4th meal half price.  They also offer catering service.