The owner of Kathy's Kaffee and Sushi Bar, Ms Kathy Faries said she was inspired to open a sushi bar by a frequent visitor to Bermuda, chef Mr. Bill Flynn.

So she recruited Mr. Flynn, who began work as Kathy's Kaffee's sushi chef last week.

"I will be preparing 15 different kinds of Japanese dishes, including vegetarian rolls. I want to make sure that the fish I use is caught locally,'' said Mr. Flynn.

"I can make various kinds of sushi on request,'' said the chef, who spent three years training in Tokyo in the 1970s. "Other than Mikado at Marriott's Castle Harbour resort there is no other competition.'' Mr. Flynn is available to give lessons in sushi preparation and will also cater for private parties.

Mr. Flynn has been a visitor to Bermuda since 1960 and recently met Ms. Faries while she worked at the Windjammer Gallery.

Ms Faries studied food and catering at a Bermuda College course in the 1970s.

She opened the cafe one month ago and the sushi bar last week. The opening hours are from 7.30 a.m. to midnight, although the cafe remained open all night last Saturday, picking up trade from Hamilton's nightclub goers. Also on the menu are hamburgers, pizzas, salads, home-made pastries and cappuccinos and espressos, and breakfasts.

"I have always wanted to open a coffee and pastry shop. In Europe, there are so many cafes with different kinds of coffee available. I wanted to start a cafe that offered that choice here,'' said Ms Faries.

The cafe's other chef, Mr. Nigel Sandiford, who has worked at Sonesta Beach Hotel and Somerset Bridge Hotel, creates Barbadian dishes like pan-fried flying fish and Bermudian curried chicken.

The restaurant is decorated with a mural featuring Ms Faries alongside typical Bermuda scenes. It was painted by artist Mr. Leonard Ming.

SUSHI BAR -- Sushi chef Mr. Bill Flynn shows off his platter of sushi at new cafe Kathy's Kaffee and Sushi Bar in the Emporium building. He is flanked by owner Ms. Kathy Faries and the cafe's chef Mr. Nigel Sandiford.