Saturday's storm caught me by surprise. Though the rain was welcome, the power outage was not. Humidity hung hopelessly in the air, as did our night's plans. The Pignotti twins were expecting a sitter, and were most disappointed to learn we'd cancelled their plans of convincing said sitter into extra snacks and later bedtimes. We were all a little glum, just waiting for darkness. What we didn't know is that we'd soon be saved by the bell! Or in this case, the Red Hot Chili Peppers ring-tone. It was my mom calling, with an offer to keep the kiddos at her place for the night.

Stopping at Papa John's for a little of Cade and Elise's favorite dish (I know, I know...), we were off to salvage the remains of the day. Sushi was the plan. Five minutes later we were bellied up to the bar at Swordfish—the sushi bar. The air conditioning felt great and we could actually see. Cocktails in had, we were pleased to partake in the chef's amuse bouche. The octopus salad, liberally doused in ginger dressing, was a delicious surprise, just one of the perks of sitting at the sushi bar. Our waiter Frank stopped to tell us about the specials, as we prepared to hunker down and decide what to order.

Being a sushi-novice, I like to stick with maki. Joel has been a connoissuer for years, and so usually orders sashimi. But he was happy to compromise. Together, we decided on edamame, house salad and miso soup, and three specialty maki. The salad and soup are excellent here. Swordfish's dressing has formed a bit of a cult following, so they now offer it packaged to go. These, along with the edamame, could make for a satisfying meal, yet we had rolls to conquer.

The first arrived with just enough time to allow our starters to settle. The Crunch Mama was one of the specials of the night. Deep-fried and wrapped in mame nori (soybean), this delicious bite is safe for those who may have a seaweed allergy. King crab, cucumber, avocado, asparagus, and cream cheese made for a healthy and filling center. The wasabi mayo pulled it together perfectly. The Dark Night, and the Dragon Fire II arrived shortly after, just as tasty and plated beautifully.

Swordfish offers what I hear are fantastic desserts. I almost never order dessert, so I am afraid I can neither confirm nor deny this. But I can vouch for the fresh, creative, and super tasty sushi, as well as the efficient service at Swordfish. We left on this night feeling sated and satisfied! Swordfish was a port in an otherwise stormy Saturday.