Dining pick of the week: Yama Sushi

1350 E. Flamingo Road at South Maryland parkway, 696-0072

There are many reasons to enjoy sushi. One answer lies in the fact that sushi is not a particularly fattening food. While the rice in sushi contains a fair amount of carbohydrates, sushi that is prepared by a shokunin (expert sushi chef) can be eaten without rice (as sashimi) and in moderation. Even a standard sushi item can be a healthy treat without breaking the calorie bank. So, sit back and don't worry about calories at Yama Sushi. Just enjoy the tuna, yellowtail, crab, octopus, scallop, squid, salmon roe, snapper, mackerel and salmon. Have some real fun with the many sushi rolls here. A sushi roll features rice and seafood wrapped in seaweed (nori). At Yama, their exotic names belie their delicate, colorful and sophisticated tastes. What kinds of names? Some special rolls are Happy Ending, Dancing in the Sheet, Vegas Style, Harry Potter, Who's Your Daddy?, Baby One More Time and One Minute Man. Some of the more traditional rolls are Rainbow, Caterpillar, ultimate tuna, double salmon, vegetable, shrimp tempura, soft-shell crab, Alaska, shrimp-asparagus, eel, Tiger, Grand Canyon, Devil and Hawaii. Rolls begin at $10.95 (ask about all-you-can-eat sushi). Yama Sushi is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. - Jack Bulavsky