Blofish
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Boulder Magazine
Being a chef and restauranteur was not the original plan for Curtis Gardner. Though he loved the cuisine, working at fine-dining sushi establishments along the Front Range was supposed to be a temporary means of support while he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. But of course, destiny has a way of upsetting even the best-engineered plans, and after getting a little life under his belt, Gardner found his true place in the universe was closer to where he started than expected: behind the counter of BloFish Sushi, his very own pocket-sized gem of a sushi restaurant founded in November 2020.
“I decided if I was going to do this sushi thing, I was going to do it traditional. I don’t play games,” says Gardner, who like many sushi chefs worldwide, is inspired by the talented chef Jiro Ono, best known for the documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi.” In fact, BloFish is a Tokyo-style sushi house that’s not only in the same mold of Jiro’s, but chef Curtis has also been trained by senseis who have been trained in a direct line back to Jiro himself.
Based on the results of a recent visit, it’s safe to say that should Jiro ever make it to Boulder, he’d be incredibly proud of the quality of sushi served at BloFish, where Gardner offers one of the most diverse and unique selections of wild Japanese fish in the state, all prepared with precision.
303 Magazine
Blofish Sushi makes perfect sense. From Instagram-worthy takeout boxes to Tokyo-style dining – this pocket-sized sushi bar is setting a new standard for downtown Boulder. Co-owners, Avi Scheinbaum and Curtis Gardner, appear to have things dialed in. Literally – Scheinbaum has demonstrated the ability to order bluefin tuna, Tasmanian salmon and other delectable fish at the touch of a button. “We get sent pictures of fish as it comes in off the boat, we choose our cuts and get it the next day,” said Scheinbaum. In addition to a rare connection with international fish markets, Scheinbaum’s sharp eye for design, alongside Gardner’s two decades of experience making sushi, appear to comprise the ingredients for a perfect concept.
Boulder Lifestyle Magazine
BloFish Sushi emerged from a deep appreciation for highest quality fish and an infatuation with amazing food. The pandemic brainchild of operations guru Avi Scheinbaum and chef Curtis Gardner, BloFish is a Sushi concept that proves a love of sushi can bring anyone together.
“We’re a small space that’s focused on doing one thing very well - that’s sourcing the best, most sustainable fish, ingredients, and making the most amazing sushi,” Gardner says.
With a respect and admiration for traditional omakase style sushi, BloFish serves up the highest quality fish in quick, easy, minimalist grab-and-go boxes you can enjoy anytime: with friends, at work, on-the-go, or at home perched on the couch while watching TV. “As we’ve gone through ups and downs in our personal lives, one profound passion that always united us is our shared appreciation of delicious food,” Scheinbaum says. “It makes it easy for us to come together on this project. In addition to our family, we share a love for all things food. It has brought us so much happiness in our life, and we want to share that with our community.”
The pandemic inspired Scheinbaum and Gardner to reimagine what a restaurant could and should be in the age of COVID, and to create a fine dining concept that reflects the changing world we live in now. BloFish is reminiscent of a Tokyo sushi bar - a small, quaint space that makes you feel like you’re at home. “Our goal is to leave pretentiousness at the door and create an inviting ambiance for you to enjoy one of the best meals of your life, whether you enjoy it at our place or at yours,” says Scheinbaum.