THE BIG E. Local foodie Eric Koskovich has three sushi rolls named after him across the Chippewa Valley, including The Koskovichie Roll at Muang Thai, shown in the above photo. How'd he do it?!

Have you ever seen a funky menu item or name, and wondered where it came from? Eric Koskovich, an Eau Claire foodie, has not one, not two, but three different sushi rolls named after him at three restaurants across the Chippewa Valley: Muang Thai, Shanghai Bistro, and Sakura Japanese Cuisine.

At Muang Thai (2637 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire), courtesy of Chef Xai, you can get The Koskovichie Roll, which includes spicy tuna, spicy crab, and cream cheese, topped with tuna, salmon, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, wasabi mayo, masago, sesame seeds, and scallions.

At Shanghai Bistro (2930 Craig Road, Eau Claire), you can order the Big Ric Roll, which has spicy tuna, salmon, asparagus, and cream cheese, wrapped with walu, shichimi, kaiware, and negi, topped with Japanese mayo and unagi sauce, thanks to Chef Eugene.

And the roll that started it all, The Ric Roll at Sakura (360 Chippewa Mall Drive, Chippewa Falls), is produced by Chef Tony and includes spicy tuna and cream cheese, topped with avocado, white tuna, salmon, spicy mayo, eel sauce, masago, and scallions.

You may notice some similarities in the rolls’ ingredients. That is because Koskovich’s rolls were dreamed up and designed by him and made possible by the hard-working chefs at these restaurants, the results being some darn good sushi.

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Going out to eat and writing reviews is a way for me to help out in my own way.

I think with myself and other people that go on the different food pages, (we) definitely make an impact on businesses, and will continue to go on for a long time.

Eric koskovich

avid local foodie

This all started when Eric noticed a roll on Sakura’s menu that seemed to be named after a person, and he asked if they name their rolls after customers. Since Koskovich was a regular there, they asked if he wanted to help create a roll. Of course he accepted.

After that, Muang Thai – another regular stop of Eric’s – approached him about creating its own roll named after him, which inspired Eric to inquire at Shanghai Bistro about a third possible collaborative roll.

Big Ric Roll at Shanghai Bistro.

“I encourage everybody to go to each place to try each sushi roll and to see what they like the best, and it gives all these great local people more business,” Koskovich said. “It gives them a chance to shine and gives locals a chance to try something maybe they never have before.”

Koskovich is an administrator of the Chippewa Valley Restaurant Review Facebook page, administrator of the Wisconsin Supper Club Adventures Facebook Page, and a moderator and active participant of the Eau Claire Foodies Facebook Page. He is passionate about supporting local restaurants and a huge fan of going out to eat and leaving reviews, humorously calling it “his only hobby.”

“Going out to eat and writing reviews is a way for me to help out in my own way,” Koskovich said. “I think with myself and other people that go on the different food pages definitely make an impact on businesses and will continue to go on for a long time.”

The Ric Roll at Sakura.

On top of the sushi rolls, The District Pub & Grill (101 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) and Chef Travis have also introduced their burger special for April, called The Big E – yep, alluding to Eric! – which has fresh mushrooms, Swiss cheese, deep-fried onion strings, and roasted garlic aioli, and will only be available during April.

Want a night out on the town but not sure what to try? Make it a Koskovich Tour and share the love with these great local restaurants. Make sure to be on the lookout for other local creations named after Eric and other foodies!

The Koskovichie Roll at Muang Thai.

Eric with The Ric Roll at Sakura.

Big Ric Roll at Shanghai Bistro.