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Pearl Sushi, which opened in Old Town Scottsdale in early 2008, is all about the new these days — new management, new chef, and new menu items.
Owner Tammy Carlin — former co-owner of Blue Wasabi Sushi & Martini Bar — came on board about six months ago to oversee the day-to-day operations. One of the staff changes she made is the addition of chef Michael Shortino, whose resume includes private restaurant consulting for such eateries as RA and Drift; serving as director of operations for the Roka restaurants; working as the corporate chef for the Big 4 Restaurant Group (Steamers); and cooking at places like the Boulders Resort.
Capitalizing on Shortino’s background in Pacific Rim cuisine, Pearl has updated its menu to feature more fusion-style small plates, from Hawaiian tuna poke tacos (pictured) to fried calamari tossed with fresh ginger, garlic, cilantro, and Thai chili.
