The Veggie Roll (aka The Naked Roll)

Imagine a nondescript, industrial but quaint corner building, painted all in black. Like opening a small gift box,  I step inside and scan the room. No sparkly jewelry here but close. A handsome chef with his black apron greets me and leads me to a seating area facing a deep red colored wall lined with shiny industrial cookware. Fast forward to the main event, a blind fold is then placed over my eyes. Next I'm asked to part my lips and taste...

Kitchen at House of Food Porn

Dining Table for Two

At first glance my immediate thoughts were the culinary version of 50 Shades of Grey but turned black and bright red. Is that rope art or props on the wall?  This was no ordinary secret room. This was the Shushi House of Food Porn. And yes the first word is spelled correctly.

I was here for a culinary experience but one that could be tailored to my interests. Now before your minds race off to picture me as Anastasia of Miami, allow me to clarify it's not that kind of establishment. It's all about the food.

Christine holds blindfold

WHAT IS SHUSHI?
Shushi is the modern evolution of the traditional sushi but filled with the world's cooked foods and wrapped in soy paper with ingredients such as tropical fruit (avocados, plantains) and specialty sauces.




Local Cuban American chef Franco Antonio Blanco is the creator and owner. Chef Blanco shares that he fell in love with sushi rolling but his Cuban American mother did not like raw fish. So he combined his two passions, sushi rolls with his favorite mother's recipe that includes Cuban pork, black beans and plantains. With her Spanish accent, the pronunciation sounded like "shooshee". Hence the name ShuShi was born.

Caribbean Roll

That was just the beginning. Chef Blanco was on a roll.  He then took the concept a step further by creating Shushi rolls with ingredients from other countries and cultures around the world. A house full of guests not only loved the flavors but the presentation was equally alluring giving rise to the "House of Food Porn".

So what about the blindfold?
Well, there are two ways to enjoy Shushi. According to Chef Blanco, he can prepare and present tastings from around the world for your immediate consumption or to alter the experience, another way is not to see the Shushi ingredients but to taste it and feel it. Without sight, your other senses are heightened. "Close your eyes first, savor the flavors. Where does it take you? How does it make you feel?" he shares in that sexy-made-for-movie-scene voice.

So for my first tasting I submitted to the blindfold. Creamy, garlic, tangy and spicy...sumptuous! How did it make me feel? Euphoric! Where does it take me? Read on...

For the rest of the Shushi tastings I embarked on the world tour.

The Caribbean Roll pictured above was one of my favorites --black beans, corn tamale, avocado, peppers and spicy sriracha sauce. Oh that sauce!

Food Passport

So where to next Chef?

Chef Blanco serves ShuShi rolls

The Polish Cuban below features both Polish kielbasa and Cuban black beans.  Coincidentally I am half Polish and half Hispanic and loved the combination of flavors. I wonder if the Chef knew this about me. Had he Googled me and learned about my background? If so, brilliant of him to do his homework on his customer to elevate the experience. The presentation was eye-catching.

Polish Cuban roll

I called it the Naughty Polish Roll

After three tasty and tantalizing rolls, the fourth one was even more visually stimulating.
Chef Blanco continued the journey and took us to the heart of America with this sesame roll.

Americano Shushi roll

Presenting the Americano roll with flaked, angus meatloaf, ketchup and barbecue sauce for main ingredients. Of course the eyes were immediately drawn to the distinct topping.  Someone voiced "Wardrobe Malfunction". Very clever.  Oh the fun was never ending.


Located off-the-culinary-beaten-path in Little Haiti, Chef Blanco found his cooking zen here. Why Little Haiti? "It's the next up and coming neighborhood." Indeed.



Most intriguing is that the House of Food Porn is not a restaurant concept open to the public. Rather it's an exclusive culinary experience. Chef Blanco offers catering to local businesses (doctor's offices, financial institutions) and brings the shushi to you. However the ultimate experience is the private tastings at his location.  The idea behind the ShuShi Tasting Room is sitting in the living room of a chef and to view and taste a culinary experience.  With advance reservations private tastings of your choice of shushi rolls can be arranged for any occasion from a romantic date for two, a business lunch or just a fun-themed dinner event for group of friends.

So how good was it? "So good, it's naughty" is the slogan and I would agree.

Chef Blanco places blindfold on Christine

As you can tell I had fun discovering and tasting. It was memorable. That's the idea.  And pairing it with the right drink also enhances the event. My recommendation is to tell the chef  your preferred flavors and ingredients, whether you like spicy heat, and let him surprise you. Deciphering the flavors is half the pleasure.  May I suggest bringing a prop-- blindfold-- for added fun (wink).




Place: House of Food Porn, Miami, Florida
Address: 197 NW 62nd Street (Martin Luther King Blvd.)
Contact: 305-788-0137; chef@houseoffoodporn.com

Instagram: @cheffrancoantonio @hofpmiami