So you think you hate sushi.

I must admit I was skeptical about the idea of sushi the first time the words "raw fish" were uttered, but as one whose palate is always game for an adventurous new endeavor, I agreed to dinner at Formosa. The result was the discovery of an entire new previously unknown and unappreciated genre of lip-smacking tastes and textures that leave me thinking "That was too good to be legal" every time I eat there.

Not to overstate things.

I must also stipulate, for those who lack my swashbuckling taste buds, that I am married to one of you. My wife, a true Iowan, was raised on a steady diet of farm food, and is somewhat less inclined than me to jump at the chance to sample strange new dishes and cuisine combinations. As my partner in life (and a wonderfully accommodating one at that) however, she regularly gets dragged into my food adventures (or from her perspective, misadventures) the Willie Scott to my Indiana Jones, unwitting of the eyeball soup that may await her.

Formosa, to be sure, is not nearly as frightening to the picky eater's sensibilities as such dishes. After some scrutiny of the menu, the wife opted for the Scorpion Roll, which is made with crab meat and tempura flakes, and served with a mysterious red-orange tangy sauce which was so good, I am convinced someone must have sacrificed themselves just to get the recipe out of Japan. At six bucks for the roll, it is definitely a reasonable price. One roll would probably not fill you up, but each sushi roll can be ordered as an a la carte item, and most fall in the same price range. The maki dinner comes with two different rolls and miso soup for only $10. Most bars in the area won't thaw out a frozen hamburger for much less than that, and the myriad of flavors alone is worth the 1-2 bucks extra you might have to throw down. The atmosphere is laid back yet chic, and those who appreciate tasting the food as opposed to the Marlboros being smoked in the booth behind them will love that Formosa is non-smoking.

If you weren't already aware, the restaurant is located downtown at 201 S. Linn St, on the ground floor of that most prevalent of Iowa City skyline features, the Hotel Vetro. If you are a sushi amateur, I (and one of the waiters) recommend the California or Scorpion rolls. For those with more refined tastes go for the Black Samurai roll (it comes wrapped in a piece of pepper crusted seared salmon skin). If you still don't think you are capable of enjoying sushi, the Shabu Shabu comes with your choice of thinly sliced meats, served with various vegetables which you cook yourself in a bowl of boiling broth set into a range in the table. Enjoy!

The improper way to eat sushi:



Although, I always say, if it's good enough for Takeru Kobayashi, it's good enough for me. And even my wife agrees.