The land and sea roll [$13.99] includes crab, smoked rib meat, cream cheese and avocado.[/caption]

Ray Aker’s passion for food originated in the back yard of the small Georgia town where he grew up, watching his father grill and enjoying the smell of smoked meat in the country air.

His enthusiasm gained momentum in the early 1990s when he served in the U.S. Navy and encountered new tastes in China, Japan, the Philippines and other countries.

“Food is my life,” Aker said. “My menu is my life’s journey.”

Aker opened Q-Shi last summer based on an idea he originally hatched with a neighbor who was a sushi chef.

The restaurant that emerged includes both barbecue and sushi dishes as well as many that combine elements of each cuisine.

Q-Shi’s signature sushi rolls—which feature both seafood and barbecue ingredients—and its rib baskets are among its most popular items, Aker said. Diners can choose from slow-cooked Southern ribs with dry rub seasonings, Caribbean jerk ribs glazed with a spicy mango sauce and Asian sticky ribs.

Barbecued rib baskets [$10.95] are available in three flavors, or customers can combine two with homemade coleslaw.[/caption]

In Q-Shi’s fourth month in business, Aker received a call from Food Network, which was interested in profiling the business on its TV series “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” because of the restaurant’s unique offerings and strong local following. The episode aired March 24.

The TV spotlight was exciting, but Aker said meeting local customers is his favorite part of the business.

“I get to know them and their children personally, and that brings me gratification,” he said.

Q-Shi

1491 Spring Cypress Road, Spring 281-223-1599 www.bbqsushi.com Hours: Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., closed Mondays