Tucked just beyond the main food line in the dining hall lies a room that feels like its own little world.; The Hawk House. At the center is a counter, a chalkboard of rotating specials, and behind it all is where the magic happens. There stands Raymond Tan, the sushi chef that Monmouth students have come to know and love.
For the past four years, Ray has been serving thousands of students all sorts of delicacies, from poke bowls to sushi burritos, and, best of all, good energy. Before all this, though, his path was far from predictable.
“I was an electrician,” said Ray. “So I got into sushi because I was kind of interested in the culinary stuff.”
After nearly two decades in the culinary world, working with traditional chefs in Manhattan, Long Island, and Chicago, Ray eventually landed a job at Newark Airport. When the pandemic struck, though, the office sent him and his coworkers home for over a year. By the time they were all called back in, Ray had already interviewed at Monmouth University.
“I never worked in a college before,” he said. “So that’s why I wanted to try that new thing.”
Ray took the job and has never looked back. “All the students here are very kind,” he added. “Sometimes, I share my experience, and I learn with them, too.”
Ray runs the sushi counter with his partner Tanjim, whom he’s trained in his ways. His menu has very quickly developed a fan base across campus. He further commented that he enjoys experimenting with different styles, often blending traditional techniques with contemporary, fusion-style flavors.
Such experimentation led to his most famous creation: the sushi burrito. “I just try… but it came out like I didn’t know the result, like, everybody talking about a burrito, a sushi burrito.”
Still, Ray says he’d love to do more. The equipment is limited, especially with just the two of them behind the counter. Even with that, students commend him for his skill and effort.
When asked about his favorite trait of Ray’s sushi, one student, Andrew Shuberda, freshman music major, said, “ …texture is always like a big thing for me with food, so I’d have to go with that.”
Another student, Anthony Price, sophomore business major, added, “Favorite thing about Ray is how genuine he is… He makes you feel very welcome, a very encouraging environment. Overall, he’s just a very nice guy who wants to meet you and give you the best sushi he can.” He also shouted out Ray’s signature dish: “Hands down, it’s gotta be the sushi burrito… Ask for a little bit of spicy mayo. Can’t beat it.”
Ray seemed genuinely surprised when asked if he realized just how well-known he is around campus.
“Actually, I’m surprised too,” he said. “I didn’t know I could interact with all the students here… It’s kind of like I’ve become friends with them.”
Ray has built something bigger than a sushi counter. Through his creativity, consistency, and quiet charisma, he’s become more than a campus chef- He’s become part of the Monmouth experience.
