Shanghai

Good food can be delightful and healing. It can make you forget your diet. And in the case of Vincent Liu, it can make you throw caution into the winds, quit your job and become a business partner in a restaurant that he says serves the "" he's ever had.

Malaysian-born Liu shares his "love-at-first-bite" story. As a frequent visitor to Beijing while working and living in Shanghai, Liu often ate at Haiku by Hatsune, a Japanese restaurant offering sushi. He ate here so often, in fact, that he became its business partner in Shanghai.

Liu says what differentiates his sushi spot from the usual restaurants are the unique combinations, the varied menu and most importantly, the perfect balance between style and substance.

For a start, the names alone were enough to intrigue the diner: 119 roll, Princess Li roll, Caterpillar roll, and Moto-roll-ah. Does the last ring a bell? Apart from the quirky names, these rolls also brighten the senses with their combination of eye appeal, scent and taste.

But, wait. There is a surprise waiting even before you pick up your chopsticks. You have to choose which pair to use. For that, a waitress will present a tray of colorful chopsticks, each pair wrapped in brocades and a small red ribbon. There are no rules to dictate which to choose, but it is a pleasant way to pass the time while your sushi is being made.

The top choice cheekily named Moto-roll-ah uses deep-fried spicy tuna, snow crab, maguro and avocado, topped off with sweet "secret" sauce. You are supposed to eat the whole piece in one bite, which will leave you speechless and it won't be because your mouth is full.

The heavier but equally flavorful G roll is a must-try. It stars a winning combination of soft shell crab, unagi and crisp, sweet flying-fish roe.

It tastes like a seafood party, with crispy fried crab falling apart, tender eel rolling around and little explosions of roe like fireworks at the end of the party.

The juicy grills are also satisfying, and perfect with beer for a more casual meal.

As Liu explains, the restaurant is here to cater to expatriates like himself, and that is why you will see Fish-and-chip Haiku, Mexican Taco with Japanese stuffing, and Californian-style rolls.

"It's all about fusion, fun, and creativity," Liu says.