HOTELS

Derek Gale

When In Boston...
October 6, 2008

You might expect me to say something like, "When in Boston, eat chowda."



Or really any seafood, for that matter.

But sushi?

Yes, sushi. When in Boston, eat sushi. 

But not just any sushi. Eat sushi at The InterContinental Boston, at Sushi-Teq. You'll be glad you did. 

What is Sushi-Teq? It's a concept created by Jean-Pierre Etcheberrigaray, vice president of food & beverage for IHG in the Americas, a passionate man who has creatively brought together two items--sushi and tequila--that previously seemed a world apart. 

The concept came to him on a visit to Mexico, and he turned a wild idea into a popular East-meets-West venue in which you get the best of both worlds. 

I was fortunate to be able to do a private tasting at Sushi-Teq this past weekend, and I must say, I was blown away.

The hotel's bars manager, Wayne Duprey, took me on a hit-the-highlights tour of the menu, bringing out everything from a frozen margarita flight (try the Mojarita--a cross between a mojito and margarita) to sipping tequilas paired specifically with various maki such as the Sushiteq signature roll (at right) or the Atlantic roll.

By the end of the tasting, I was in a sort of delicious daze (admittedly, the full-size jalapeno margarita may have had something to do with that). I left feeling full and alive, and thinking that JP (as Jean-Pierre is affectionately known by his colleagues) really hit a home run with this concept. 

It was a unique experience that melded together flavors from two distinct parts of the world against a backdrop of upbeat Salsa music and Salsa dancing videos. ¡Que Rico!

Posted by Derek Gale on October 6, 2008 | Comments (1)