St Thomas Downtown VIBE April 2022

by Sarah Noble from the Elgin/ St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre @SBECinnovation

It’s an official welcome to Downtown St. Thomas to the husband and wife team of Chef Minsoo Lee and Max Qui - the pair behind Plaza Sushi. What began as a sushi counter and grab & go cooler at Plaza Convenience on Elm St. transformed into a Downtown Fine Dining option is a dream come true for the pair.

It’s also a dream come true for my partner that with a reintroduction to sushi through Plaza Sushi - it’s become a meal I genuinely enjoy and request...frequently.

Growing up in Elgin County farm country, my exposure to flavour was limited by my father’s rather bland palate. Fed by parents who raised six children through the depression and second world war, he is a meat and potatoes traditionalist who rarely ventures out of his comfort zone. His four children have since rebelled and continue to expand our tastes beyond our childhood exposures. However, I wish to have had a friend growing up like Minsoo who loved sharing his love of food and flavour with others right back to lunches in school. What began as a fascination for him transformed into a passion with the realization that people truly enjoyed his creations. Despite the long hours and workload of life in a professional kitchen, it quickly became evident that chef life was the only dream he wanted. So Minsoo spent a decade working in Asian restaurants and studying at the Stratford Chef School and the Japanese Cookery Academy in Korea Plaza Sushi’s

mission is focused on fresh ingredients and sharing elevated takes on traditional sushi options. With the dinein restaurant now open, the menu has expanded to include soups, noodle entrees, bao, poke and more - all impeccably presented.

​While the Grab and Go option is still available at the convenience store, the restaurant space offers a refreshing fine-dining atmosphere that has feels personal with art featuring the team behind the scenes. It provides a glimpse into the joy they experience preparing meals and perfecting recipes. Every element of decor highlights the food and heightens the overall experience. It’s a beautiful space that feels elegant while also being comfortable and welcoming.

​From the outside, this growth seems to have happened quite quickly. As entrepreneurs know, the behind-the-scenes practice and planning take years. For those looking to pursue dreams of their own, Minsoo shares that “it’s important not to be afraid of doing what you love to do. If you are an entrepreneur and enjoy what you do, you would be successful because you care.”

At Minsoo’s suggestion, I tried one of his favourite menu items - the Miso soup. This simple dish can be quite varied from restaurant to restaurant - but when simple flavours come together perfectly, the result is a beautiful way to start a meal. The fan-favourite Rock

N Roll roll combines Crispy Spicy Salmon, Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Torched Salmon with Spicy Mayo and Onion - the torched salmon brings an unreal dimension to the sushi with layers of extra flavour and smokiness.

​I also sampled some of the most delicate spring rolls I have ever had. All of the portions and flavours were well balanced - rolls are generous and filling but Plaza Sushi is not an All-You-Can-Eat sushi joint. It’s an experience worth savouring.

​If you go, you will find the restaurant at 877 Talbot St for dine-in and take-out orders. The Grab and Go fridge remains at Plaza Convenience at 323 Elm St while quantities last. Check out the full menu at plazasushistthomas.com or dine-in Monday - Saturday from 11 am-9 pm.

www.plazasushistthomas.com