Monday, September 2, 2024

Takumi-Tei@Walt Disney World EPCOT ★★

High-End Omakase Dinner at Walt Disney World. By Mitsukoshi. Good quality. Nice presentation. New seasonal menu since July. Japanese A5 Wagyu option available with no surcharge. (Restaurants usually charge $50-$150 additional.) Wagyu option was fantastic, but the Lobster option tasted frozen and overcooked. Complimentary non-alcoholic sparkling drink at the end of the meal for celebrations. 5 themed rooms available: Wood, Paper, Stone, Water, & Earth. I dined at Paper & Wood room before. Earth Room for this time. Water Room is a private room with $100 surcharge. Omakase Kiku Menu $250 per person. Refillable hot or cold sencha tea $8. Sake pairing available. 10% Annual Pass discount no longer applies due to policy change.

Hassun
chef selection of 7 seasonal small plates tailored by Takumi-Tei

Ichijyu Sansai (Traditional One-Soup Two-Dish Style)
Sea Urchin Chirashi Sushi
Deep-Fried Tofu in White Miso Soup
Tuna, Avocado, & Zucchini w/ Ponzu Jelly

Sashimi
4 varieties of today's seasonal sashimi w/ assorted garnishes

Hassun
chef selection of 7 seasonal small plates tailored by Takumi-Tei

Shiizakana
Deep-Fried Japanese Wagyu Beef Wrapped in Shiso Leaf
topped w/ in-house yellow vinegar sauce, shiso flowers, yuzu salt, & sliced key lime
Grilled Floudner Marinated in Saikyo Miso
pickled celery

Onmono
Choice of Japanese Wagyu Beef & Bamboo Shoots
w/ tortoiseshell sauce, maitake mushrooms, chopped myoga, chives, & dew ginger

Onmono
Choice of Spiny Lobster & Bamboo Shoots
w/ tortoiseshell sauce, maitake mushrooms, chopped myoga, chives, & dew ginger

Gohanmono
Cooked Conger Eel Nigirizushi
w/ gourmet unagi reduction, wasabi, gari, & red miso soup


Japanese Pumpkin Blancmange
w/ blackstrap molasses, whipped cream, & chervil

Homemade Green Tea Cake
w/ vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, blackstrap molasses, & chervil

Matcha Green Tea

The 5 Elements: Wood, Paper, Stone, Water, & Earth

Takumi-Tei at Japan Pavilion inside EPCOT
200 Epcot Center Dr,
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 939-3463
disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/takumi-tei-restaurant/

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Kadence@Orlando ★★★

Michelin Star Sushi Omakase in Orlando. Beautiful presentation with seasonal ingredients & Filipino influence. Small bite-size sushi. Cozy vibe. Mark and Jen are Filipino husband and wife team. Kuheiji Sake available. $305 per person. Sushi pickup orders available.

Kegani

Husband & Wife Team Mark & Jen


Kuheiji Sake


Celebratory Champagne



Kuheiji Tako 2019 $250


Kegani




Prawn Soup



Sashimi


Chawanmushi
























Uni Label Wall

You will find Michelin signs in the restroom

Kadence
1809 E Winter Park Road
Orlando, FL 32803
http://kadenceorlando.com

Friday, August 30, 2024

Tiffins@Walt Disney World Disney's Animal Kingdom ★★

Favorite Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Love The Land Salad with fresh greens grown from EPCOT. Octopus was nice and soft. Whole Fish is always great and good to share with coconut rice & greens in the dish. Just have to be careful with the bigger fish bones when eating. 10% annual pass discount applies.

Whole-Fried Sustainable Fish $45
coconut fried rice, green & red curry, thai green papaya slaw, peanuts

Complimentary Bread

The Land Salad $14
young lettuces from the Land Pavilion at EPCOT, muhammara, feta, sumac, garlic breadcrumbs, citrus vinaigrette

Charred Octopus $19
sweet corn salsa, chorizo, tequila, mole rojo, pickled onions, cilantro

Tiffins inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
2901 Osceola Pkwy, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 939-5277
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom/tiffins/

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Cheng Can Cook: Unasu ★★

Fun Japanese Recipe on Instagram. It was really fun learning to make this molecular gastronomic dish. I modified the recipe a bit because it was too sweet. Because of the sweet sauce, it did kind of taste like Unagi.

My first cooking tutorial video with this dish on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/I2GBOD3qMCo

Ingredients:
2 Egpplants
Sugar 3-4 Tablespoons
Mirin 3-4 Tablespoons
Soy Sauce 3-4 Tablespoons
Sesame Oil
Sansho Pepper
Rice

Directions:
1. Cook rice.
2. Wash, cut ends, and peel Eggplants. Steam with rice for 10-15 minutes when rice is almost done cooking or microwave for 5 minutes.
3. In a bow, mix Sugar, Mirin, & Soy Sauce.
4. Take out Eggplants and cut into 4 seams vertically each so that it's flat. Trim off uneven ends.
5. Heat pan with Sesame Oil, cook Eggplant until a bit burnt on both sides.
6. Add in sauce mixture and use spoon to cover Eggplant with Sauce consistently until soaked.
7. Serve on rice, sprinkle with Sansho Pepper, and enjoy!