Archives for June 2013

New Sushi Roll at Wasabi Express: Great White Shark!

June 25, 2013 by Joi Sigers 3 Comments

Great White Shark Roll at Wasabi Express, Owensboro

It’s no secret that one of my favorite places to eat lunch in Owensboro is Wasabi Express. I’m sure you’ve read my reviews on Genuine Kentucky and know I’m smitten with this restaurant. Here’s the thing – I cook a lot (I guess the fact that I have a food blog would tip you off to that fact). I consider myself to be a very good cook – if you can’t be cocky about your own cooking, who will be?!

Because I do cook regularly, when I eat out I prefer restaurants where I’m treated to food I don’t normally cook. Wasabi Express certainly fits the bill – there’s NO WAY I’d ever even attempt to make sushi rolls. Not when Wasabi Express has the best sushi in the world. I’d be silly to even try to compete.

I also love their fried rice, House Soup (can you say addiction?), Hibachi, Tossed Salad (with a ginger dressing that’s to die for), spring rolls, etc. Their appetizers are all amazing, too. Yes, I’ve tried them all.

I told you I was a regular.

This restaurant review was written BEFORE I had to start eating gluten-free. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to eat at Wasabi Express because I have no idea what (if anything) on the menu would be gluten-free. If you have to eat gluten-free, I would not recommend this restaurant. Many dishes include soy sauce which is not gluten-free – Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce, but few restaurants use it.

Edamame at Wasabi Express, Owensboro

A few days ago, my husband Michael’s barber told him about a new sushi roll at Wasabi Express, the Great White Shark. When he called to ask if I’d like to meet him at Wasabi Express for lunch in about 15 minutes, my purse was on my arm before he said “bye”. 15 minutes, nothing. I was there in 10.

I ordered my favorite sushi roll, the Kentucky Roll, because it’s a straight up obsession of mine. Michael ordered the Great White Shark. Be warned, it’s a hot one (you can even see the hot sauce sitting prettily on top!). He took one bite and was raving about it as he reached for his iced tea.

According to him, this is one of the best sushi rolls he’s ever had.

The Great White Shark Roll isn’t on the menu (at least it wasn’t when we were there), but the server will know what you’re talking about.

The Kentucky Roll at Wasabi Express

On this particular trip, the Kentucky Roll (which is normally a perfect 10) was only about a 9. There wasn’t any of the delectable sauce on the plate like normally accompanies sushi rolls and it just wasn’t as fresh as it normally is. Having said that, it was still better than everyone else’s sushi! That’s the magic of Wasabi Express – even on a less-than-perfect dish, they’re still amazing. This girl just digs the sauce.

This was, literally, the first time my Kentucky Roll wasn’t mind-numbingly perfect. One time out of over 50 visits? I can live with those delicious odds.

If you love sushi – or have never tried it and are downright curious – you have to go to Wasabi Express in Owensboro. They’re in a league of their own. I do offer one small piece of advice though – and this isn’t something I’m ticked about or even annoyed by. It’s just something I think is funny. I am ALL ABOUT the ginger they put on the plate to accompany the sushi. I could, literally, eat tons of it without taking a single breath. The past 3 times I’ve been to Wasabi Express, I’ve asked for “extra ginger” with my sushi. Each time was a different server, so it’s not something one in particular does. But, each time, my sushi has come out with a beautiful amount of extra ginger… but it’s been the ginger from the plate of the person dining with me!

If you’ll notice, in the pictures in this review (and probably in pics from previous reviews), my Kentucky Roll has a fat amount of ginger while the other person’s roll has zero. To me, it’s pretty funny – but to whomever I’m dining with, probably not so funny. Needless to say, I won’t be able to order “extra ginger” on the side anymore because I don’t want to take someone else’s from them.

It’s not something any of us have been particularly bothered by, I just think it’s funny.

So here’s the lesson to be learned – DO NOT ask for extra ginger. Just wait and pluck it off your companion’s plate yourself!

Wasabi Express is located at 636 Southtown Blvd – right off of Frederica. Go for lunch or dinner – you’ll absolutely love it.

This restaurant review was written BEFORE I had to start eating gluten-free. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to eat at Wasabi Express because I have no idea what (if anything) on the menu would be gluten-free. If you have to eat gluten-free, I would not recommend this restaurant. Many dishes include soy sauce which is not gluten-free – Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce, but few restaurants use it.

Picture of the Day: BIG Turtle at Jack C. Fisher Park

June 18, 2013 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Turtle at Jack C. Fisher Park

These pictures are of a large turtle my daughter Brittany befriended on a walk at Jack C. Fisher Park a few days ago. Unlike a lot of girls, Britt is obsessed with lizards and turtles. When she saw it, her hands went straight up in the air and she half-screamed “TURTLE!!!!!” Another daughter (Emily) wasn’t entirely sure what she’d said, but she automatically grabbed her phone to take a picture of whatever it was.

Several people have looked at the pictures and told us this was a snapping turtle, but I couldn’t say for certain. I have less than zero knowledge about turtles.

After I convinced Britt that bringing the cute turtle home was a bad idea (somehow I was able to convince her it had babies it needed to stay with them), we left it in its beautiful home and headed on our way. We did, however, hear from Brittany all day about her being “Soooooooo Cute.” Britt’s also the one who took these pictures.

As the biggest animal lover in the world, I want to remind everyone of a few things when it comes to admiring and/or photographing birds, wildlife, butterflies, and “soooo cute” turtles in the wild:

For safety sake (your’s and the animal’s), never get too close. No picture is worth a trip to the ER.
Always keep an eye on your kids around animals. With the insanely entertaining and popular shows on television showing human and animal interactions, they’re apt to start “acting out” what they see their heroes do each week. Bad deal.
Never remove a wild animal from its home (unless you’re a professional or the “Turtle Man,” himself!). The animal could very well have young depending upon it. Besides, would you want to be uprooted from your home for no good reason?!
Don’t cause undue anxiety for the animal and, whatever you do, don’t scare it. We took the pictures shown here in about 30 seconds so the turtle could get back to enjoying the beautiful day. Naturally, we could have sat down and taken a zillion pictures of it, poked a stick at it, etc – but we’re frankly too cool for that. Animals have feelings and emotions like we do. NO PICTURE OR VIDEO IS WORTH CRUELLY UPSETTING OR SCARING AN INNOCENT AND HELPLESS ANIMAL. As you can tell from the pictures, we took only a few pictures, while keeping a distance, and then called it a day.

Jack C. Fisher Park in Owensboro, KY

Learn More About Jack C. Fisher Park, Owensboro
See More Pictures of Jack C. Fisher Park

Turtle at Jack C. Fisher Park

A Favorite Tree in the Moonlight

June 13, 2013 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

The picture above is from several weeks ago. A full moon was shining through one of my favorite trees in our yard and I thought it’d make a pretty cool pic. If you have zero interest in trees, you must think my fascination with them is kind of whacky! Not long ago, someone told me, “Trees just don’t do it for me.” I told her, “That’s OK, they do it for me enough for both of us.”

I do love myself some trees.

Pictures of the Day: Crazy Cool Planes Showing Off Crazy Cool Moves

June 10, 2013 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

A few days ago, we were treated to a really cool little air show of sorts as a number of planes flew around the skies over our home here in Owensboro, Kentucky. At first, I just watched them (with my jaw on the ground) with a few other members of my family. Then, thinking they’d make some great pictures, I ran inside for my camera. I underestimated the difficulty of shooting moving objects, especially FAST moving objects!

It reminded me of trying to photograph our daughters when they were little and even less likely to be still. At least they never moved as fast as these planes did (well, one did but only when she’d had too much sugar).

The planes soared, zipped, dove, and dipped and I must have looked like a ballerina on crack trying to follow them with my camera. The results? You got it – pictures that didn’t measure up to the experience, itself, but that are still pretty cool. Click on any picture shown above or below for a larger version.

Harland Colonel Sanders: More Than Fried Chicken

June 5, 2013 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

This bit of news includes a few of my favorite things in the world – Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lake Barkley State Resort Park! Well, to be perfectly honest, it really doesn’t have as much to do with Kentucky Fried Chicken as it does its founder, Harland Sanders, but my mind’s still thinking about fried chicken legs, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, and rolls.

So good! Before I get myself all worked up, I’d better just get to the news….

Although this event has expired, there is always something to see and do in Kentucky. Visit our Kentucky Events page for up to the minute happenings and be sure to check out our Things to Do in Kentucky page.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park, together with Kentucky Chautauqua, will present a one man show: Harland Colonel Sanders: More than Fried Chicken at 7p.m. in the Elizabeth Hooks room of Lake Barkley State Resort Park lodge. This program is free and open to the public.

Harland Sanders (1890-1980) was born in Henryville, Indiana on September 9th, 1890. After completing the 6th grade, Sanders quit school and over the years worked a variety of jobs farmhand, ferry operator, secretary, tire salesman, and furniture store owner.

Sanders eventually moved to Corbin, Kentucky, where he operated a service station. He opened a lunchroom with room for six behind the station. This marked the beginning of a legendary career in the food service industry. Sanders experimented with recipes and eventually created his famous eleven herbs and spices and perfected the frying process using a pressure cooker, creating what is now known around the world as Kentucky Fried Chicken.

In addition to developing his product, Sanders worked to develop the brand. His white suit, string tie, goatee, and image soon became synonymous with fried chicken. Sander’s life was one of hard work, determination, perseverance, and taking advantage of luck that came his way.

Harland Sanders died in Louisville, Kentucky on December 16, 1980. I remember my mom telling me that he’d once been a patient of her’s when she was a nurse. She said she’d never met a friendlier, sweeter man and that he was the very definition of the word “gentleman.”

As a lifelong fan of his food, I was delighted to learn this!

Henry Dowell portrays Colonel Sanders for Kentucky Chautauqua. Dowell is the founder of The Gusto Theatre Company, a group dedicated to educational theatre and the performance of new works as well as the classics. He is a graduate of Morehead State University and attended the American Musical and Dramatic academy in New York. He is an actor, director, and playwright, with numerous credits spanning 25 years in theatre.

Kentucky Chautauqua is an exclusive presentation of the Kentucky Humanities Council with support from : Scripps Howard Foundation, Lindsay Wilson College, the Cralle Foundation, The Honorable Order of Colonels, People’s Bank & Trust Company of Hazard, the Brown-Forman Corporation, Union College, Morehead State university, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, PNC Bank in Lexington, and Toyota Motor of North America.

The Kentucky Humanities Council is a non-profit Kentucky corporation affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is not a state agency, but a proud partner of Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

Besides the lodge (with a spectacular view of the lake), Lake Barkley State Resort Park includes cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is near Cadiz and the Land Between the Lakes at 3500 State Park Road just off I-24. Exit at Highway 68. From the exit go west toward Cadiz and the park.