Customers may blink twice when they read that one of Trail’s pubs offers sushi on its menu.
But when it comes to serving a healthy option, Jeff and Caroline Boag of the Arlington Bar and Grill decided to test whether Greater Trail residents had an appetite for the Japanese treat.
“People were reluctant at first but it’s catching on very well and I haven’t had one complaint, yet, knock on wood,” said line cook Jacob Colbalchini, while he rolled up his creation a “red eye roll,” which is a combination of smoked salmon, green bean tempura, avocado and spicy mayo rolled and topped with Sriracha sauce and sesame seeds.
With about 10 years experience working in a kitchen and a background and passion for creating Asian cuisine, Colbalchini is now the pub’s head sushi roller.
The new sushi menu at the Arlington offers classics like the “California roll,” containing cucumber, imitation crab and avocado and the “red dynamite roll,” which combines prawn tempura, avocado and spicy mayo finished with masago.
The pub is also balancing its Japanese menu with popular items like sashimi – raw seafood sliced into thin pieces – tempura and miso soup.
But the Big A is still sticking with its classic pub menu, cooking up burgers, sandwiches and steaks.
“I feel like having something like this on our menu gives us an option for the vegetarian or health-conscious customer coming in the door,” said owner Jeff Boag. “No one else in Trail is doing it and I thought it would be a good fit for our kitchen.”
And it’s proving to be a success already, he said, adding that the kitchen put out about 60 rolls on Good Friday.
The Boags purchased the Arlington Hotel, which has been in Trail since 1896, about six years ago with the intention to build a kitchen and serve pub food to their customers.
The pub will be moving to summer hours in May, serving food from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. seven days a week. Sushi is available after 11 a.m.
The Drift Izakaya in Rossland also serves sushi.