Thursday, September 21, 2023

Sushi Tsujita@Sawtelle ★★★

Omakase Sushi with Good Pricing. Omakase Sushi for $49 (Osaka), $69 (Kyoto), and $89 (Tokyo). Good quality. All includes same appetizers, 2 hand rolls, and dessert. It's good that they now include 2 hand rolls instead of 1 before. A la carte also available. Osaka Set is a good deal. Tokyo Set is also a good deal with higher quality fish, all from Japan. Features Chefs Masaru Tada & Yoshihito Hirata. Street parking is challenging on Sawtelle.

Osaka Course $49 (comes with appetizers, 2 hand rolls, & dessert)

Awa Yuki Sparkling 300mL $20

Appetizers: Kanpachi Carpaccio, Hotate w/ Kiwi Dressing, Tako & Asparagus w/ Yuzu Miso

Tokyo Course $89 (comes with appetizers, 2 hand rolls, & dessert)

Ikura from Osaka Course

Ikura & Hokkaido Uni from Tokyo Course

Miyzaki A5 Wagyu Beef Sushi from Tokyo Course

Spicy Salmon Hand Roll & Spicy Tuna Hand Roll for Osaka Set

Spicy Salmon Hand Roll & Toro Taku Hand Roll for Tokyo Set

Sakekasu Ice Cream Made from Sake Rice from Japan (non-alcoholic)

Sushi Tsujita2006 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-1177
https://tsujita-sushi.com

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

sawa Shellfish Night@Little Tokyo ★★★

Special Shellfish Night. All my favorite food. My 10th visit to sawa. A casual bar environment. Featuring amazing Itamae sushi chefs Ryo-san and Anthony-san. Friendly and fun environment. Lynn, the very sweet and nice bartender, served us the nice Harada Junmai Daiginjo Sake, using Yamadanishiki rice, fruity and full-bodied. Their cocktails are amazing & reasonably priced ($45 for 3 pairing). Thank you for the love, support, & customer service in the past year. They appreciate their customers, especially Ryo-san. They show care for their customers and ensure that they are comfortable. Very grateful to try amazing sushi. Special Shellfish Night Omakase $300 per person. Parking at lot $6 cash. Metered parking $4/hr before 8pm. Enter through Kajima building. Reservations via Tock.

Ishigakigai (Stone Calm)

Harada Junmai Daiginjo Sake $90
fruity & full-bodied

A peek of the Shellfish Box

Hokkaido Bafun Uni, Canadian Bafun Uni, Marinated Hokkaido Bafun Uni

Steamed Egg Custard w/ Cherry Tomato Inside
kegani (Hokkaido hairy crab) gravy sauce, dashi

Fried Scallop from Japan w/ Bread Crumbs
salt, shiso vinaigrette

Ika Somen w/ Hokkaido Bafun Uni

Baigai (Whelk)
steamed w/ dashi sauce, sautéed w/ garlic butter sauce & salt

Blue Crystal Shrimp w/ Steamed & Marinated Asparagus
w/ Canadian bafun uni shuto sauce (fermented sauce)

Miyagi Scallop with Blanched Green Onions
dehydrated egg yolk, sweet miso vinegar

Washington Pacific Oyster, Edamame, Sushi Rice
sansho pepper & lime

Washington Pacific Oyster, Edamame, Sushi Rice
sansho pepper & lime

Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp) from Hokkaido
kombu marinated

Ishigakigai (Stone Calm)

Left: Ryo-san; Right: Anthony-san

Kegani (Hokkaido Snow Crab Legs) Butter-Seared
Canadian Uni

Tairagai (Japanese Pen Shell Clam)

New Caledonian Blue Crystal Shrimp
lightly poached & marinated w/ seaweed & dried scallop

Scored Squid from Kyushu, Japan

Kegani (Hokkaido Hairy Crab) w/ Kanimiso (Brain Sauce)

Mirugai (Giant Clam)
prepared w/ dried scallop & yuzu kosho

Uni Trio: Sweet & Salt Water Marinated Bafun Uni from Hokkaido, Uni from Hokkaido, Bafun Uni from Canada

Asari Clam Soup
sweet shrimp shell broth, tomato, chives

Soy Sauce Cheesecake

sawa
111 San Pedro St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 381-5858
barsawa.us

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Napa Rose@Disneyland Resort ★★★

Amazing Quality. I have been to Napa Rose many times, but this time was the best. Great service. The new Chefs definitely brought up the quality of the food to another level in fine dining. The Vintner's Table 4-Course Prix Fixe Menu is $125 (We ordered 2). Corkage fee $25. Reservations are made on the Disneyland App, but it gets filled very quickly. Complimentary validated 5 hours parking at the Grand Californian Hotel.

Hubert Meyer Riesling 2018, Winzenburg Grand Cru, Alsace, France $80

Amuse Bouche

First: Hazelnut Crusted Spanish Pimentos "Flamequin"
stuffed imported mahon and serrano ham

First: Oak Roasted Pacific Calamari
fennel lemon vin blanc

Second: Crispy Duck Confit
poached tiger fig, orange thyme froth

Second: Matsutake Mushroom
harmony of the land, sea, and the mountain

Palate Cleanser

Entrée: Creekstone Farms Prime New York (add $5)
R.M.J mighty west honor chili

Entrée: "Paella" Spanish Red Carabinero Shrimp
saffron broth

Dessert: Wild Huckleberry, Raspberry, & Strawberry Sorbet

Dessert: Creme Fraiche Citrus Panna Cotta, Wild Huckleberry Sorbet, Toasted Angel Food Cake

Napa Rose
1600 S Disneyland Dr
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 956-6755
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/grand-californian-hotel/napa-rose/

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Sakae Sushi@Gardena ★★★

Inexpensive To-Go Sushi. Featuring Oshizushi and Futomaki Roll. Great taste and pricing. Vinegar in Shari (Sushi Rice) is on the heavier side. Rice is also on the heavy side. 20 pcs Mixed Sushi $32.30. California Roll $1.70 per piece. Same price/unit either order by piece or in bulk. Wasabi $0.20. Nice packaging & presentation. Good for picnic or potluck party. Closes early. Call in to order in advance. There will be a bit of a wait.

20 pcs Mixed Sushi $32.30
5 pcs California Roll $8.50

Nice Packaging

Sakae Sushi
1601 W Redondo Beach Blvd Ste 112
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 532-4550

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Yi Cha Pop-Up@Esters Santa Monica ★★★

Best Korean Food Ever w/ a Modern Twist. Yi Cha's last pop-up (9/15 only) before their opening in Highland Park by TV personality Debbie Lee (Morimoto's Sushi Master). Beautiful presentation w/ personal touch. Fine ingredients. Amazing taste with a pop of crispy accent texture in some dishes. The "Rockefeller" Oysters blew my mind. It shouldn't be called Rockefeller Oysters, because it's 10+ times better than ordinary Rockefeller Oysters out there. It needs quote and quote on it. Love Debbie's rendition of Korean seafood. An unforgettable night full of culinary surprise for the taste buds chilling at the wine bar. Debbie keeps striving for perfection in her culinary creativity. This will be my Korean comfort food. Can't wait to visit their opening in Highland Park soon.

Seoul Style Oysters Rockefeller (6pcs) $33
doenjang butter, panko shallot crust

Abalone Two Ways $31
abalone sashimi w/ kimchee mignonette, abalone porridge w/ gochugaru oil, crispy shallot

Hwe Dup Bap - aka Sashimi Bowl $35 (add Marinated Ikura +$6)
local catch of the day, melon, la bahn ranch egg, mountain rice, gochujang vinaigrette

Berkshire Pork Belly Ssam $45
plum glaze, farmer's market lettuce, perilla, weiser farms melon, minari, soy caramelized kabocha, pluot ssamjang, kimchee

Pan Seared Black Cod $37
gochu hollandaise, charred kimchee, Korean leek, crispy black rice, farmer's market radish salad

Little Neck Clams Soondubu Style $31
perilla pesto crostini, garlic chive oil

500 years Jinmaek Soju Oak (Reserve)

Marinated Melon

Group Picture w/ Chef Debbie Lee