Brazil Meets Japan in Manhattan's New Temakeria, Uma
By Kitty Lindstrom
Brought together by a shared passion for food and environmental sustainability, Chef Chris Jaeckle and Cynthia Kueppers opened UMA Temakeria. Located in the heart of Chelsea, this wonderful eatery has become a welcome addition to the city’s dining options. Combining the beauty and healthfulness of Japanese food, UMA is a delicious fast-food alternative. Brightly lit and appealing, with white floors and walls, and bright orange chairs, UMA has a modern and cheery feeling.
While traveling in Rio De Janiero, Cynthia was struck by the high quality temaki she found on the glamorous beachfronts of Leblom and Ipanema (for the uninitiated, temaki are hand-rolled cones filled with sushi and vegetables). Meanwhile, Chef Chris worked with Danny Meyer at Eleven Madison Park, and with Michael White at the Three-Star rated Ai Fiori. Chris’s work at Morimoto, a Japanese restaurant, was hugely inspirational in his decision to open a temaki shop.
Fast forward to 2016. Cynthia and Chris opened UMA, to much fanfare. Innovative and fun, you wouldn’t know you are eating seafood that has been sustainably sourced—a definite plus! The Sushi Burritos are attention grabbers, and you will definitely want one when you see them. The UMA-Ritto, filled with salmon and tuna, as well as tobanjan mayo(an Asian-chili based sauce), cucumber, carrots, tempura crunch and sesame seeds, is divine and incredibly filling. The O-Maki (fresh crab, salmon, apple, pickle, cucumber, wasabi-ginger and tempura crunch) is wonderful, and also worth a try.
Brought together by a shared passion for food and environmental sustainability, Chef Chris Jaeckle and Cynthia Kueppers opened UMA Temakeria. Located in the heart of Chelsea, this wonderful eatery has become a welcome addition to the city’s dining options. Combining the beauty and healthfulness of Japanese food, UMA is a delicious fast-food alternative. Brightly lit and appealing, with white floors and walls, and bright orange chairs, UMA has a modern and cheery feeling.
While traveling in Rio De Janiero, Cynthia was struck by the high quality temaki she found on the glamorous beachfronts of Leblom and Ipanema (for the uninitiated, temaki are hand-rolled cones filled with sushi and vegetables). Meanwhile, Chef Chris worked with Danny Meyer at Eleven Madison Park, and with Michael White at the Three-Star rated Ai Fiori. Chris’s work at Morimoto, a Japanese restaurant, was hugely inspirational in his decision to open a temaki shop.
Fast forward to 2016. Cynthia and Chris opened UMA, to much fanfare. Innovative and fun, you wouldn’t know you are eating seafood that has been sustainably sourced—a definite plus! The Sushi Burritos are attention grabbers, and you will definitely want one when you see them. The UMA-Ritto, filled with salmon and tuna, as well as tobanjan mayo(an Asian-chili based sauce), cucumber, carrots, tempura crunch and sesame seeds, is divine and incredibly filling. The O-Maki (fresh crab, salmon, apple, pickle, cucumber, wasabi-ginger and tempura crunch) is wonderful, and also worth a try.
The Tsumi Tuna Temaki, filled with tuna and green apple tossed in lemon juice, wasabi, scallions and ginger, is another exceptional choice. The combination of tart green apple and tuna is unbelievably good. If you love shrimp as much as I do, order the Samui Shrimp Temaki, made with wild pink shrimp, snow peas, scallions, green miso curry and sesame seeds. Another wonderful choice is the Sakana Chirashi Chef’s Bowl (tuna, salmon, red pepper, carrot, cucumber & daikon pickle, avocado lime, tobanjan mayo and sesame seeds on a bed of rice).
The salads are also quite noteworthy. The Spicy Cucumber Salad, is a refreshing, spicy, cold salad, made with marinated and pickled cucumbers. The Kale Salad with Cranberries is delightful. Made with a balsamic miso dressing, it is hearty and delicious.
Come and enjoy the Temaki and take home some for the week. With lots of unique choices, you will be returning again.
www.umatemakeria.com
The salads are also quite noteworthy. The Spicy Cucumber Salad, is a refreshing, spicy, cold salad, made with marinated and pickled cucumbers. The Kale Salad with Cranberries is delightful. Made with a balsamic miso dressing, it is hearty and delicious.
Come and enjoy the Temaki and take home some for the week. With lots of unique choices, you will be returning again.
www.umatemakeria.com
