syori the foodie

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Hayato@Little Tokyo ★★

Michelin Star Restaurant Hayato. Exquisite Kaiseki Cuisine carefully handcrafted. Various traditional cooking techniques used for the courses. It was 1 Michelin star when I went on 8/14, 2021, and they got the 2nd Michelin star a month after. Love the Karasumi Mullet Roe paired perfectly with sake. Impossible to book. 7 seats & 1 seating per night. Reservation was made on Tock at release time. Limited 2 people per party. After the meal, I asked how I could book again, they said, "Good luck". Service can be friendlier. $260 per person (2021 pricing; 2023 pricing is $350) plus 18% gratuity. Parking at the Row DTLA structure or street.

Sakizuke (Cold Appetizer) Charred Eggplant Soaked in Kombu Ginger Junsui topped w/ Torigai

Kakiyaki Tempura Brentwood Corn over Hokkaido Scallop

Sakizuke: Kinmedai

Shimeharitsuru "Jun" Junmai Ginjo $72

Shinogi - Anago Oshizushi with Salt & Wasabi

Suimono Owan Dungeness Crab Ball w/ Kani Miso & Japanese Baby Turnip

Straw Smoked Bonito with Myoga Ginger

Steamed Awabi (Abalone)

Seared & Fried Amadai from Kyoto w/ Scales in Dashi w/ Ginger & Tokyo Negi

Preserved Bafun Uni Simmered w/ Sake & Soy

Shabu Shabu Wagyu Beef

Karasumi (Mullet Roe)

Pickled Daikon & Vegetables

Miso Cod Marinated Kamameshi

Tanaka Harry Strawberries w/ Kinako Infused Whipped Cream

Tanaka Harry Strawberries & White Apricot

Matcha

Hayato
1320 E 7th St Ste 126
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 395-0607
hayatorestaurant.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Gozen@West Hollywood ★★★

Exquisite Omakase Course. Previously Raku. Grand opening night with discount. Preceded by an impressive tour of the restaurant artwork, showcasing 200 year-old-artwork from Japan. Staffs with face masks and face shields on. Greeted with welcome sake drink after the tour. The kaiseki-style omakase course was amazing. Their menu is seasonal. The meal was very enjoyable with their recommended iced green tea plum wine, which tasted like green tea ice cream. Some plates were 200 years old with detailed artwork. Dessert included in the course. I recommend their House-Made Blancmange with Persimmon Purée. Light and fluffy. Dinner ended with a small surprise gift. Omakase course only, ranges from $100-$300.

Welcome Sake

Green Tea Plum Wine (tasting)

Green Tea Plum Wine

Green Tea Plum Wine (Iced)

5 Appetizers: Kabocha Pumpkin Twists, Mackerel Marinated in Spicy Sweet Vinegar, Simmered Duck Loin, Eggplant Tomato Festival Skewers, Chilled Mushrooms with Grated Daikon Radish

Seasonal Vegetable Roll
toro and avocado roll

Sashimi
sea bass and tuna

Sashimi

Tuna Topped with Grated Mountain Yam and Caviar

Seasonal Vegetable and Seafood Tempura

Mushimono

Mushimono
Steamed Egg Custard with Salmon and Salmon Roe

Chilean Sea Bass Marinated in Sweet Miso

Aged Miyazaki Beef Steak

Lamb Steak Marinated in Sweet Miso
with grilled vegetables

Claypot Matsutake Mushroom Rice

Miso Soup

Yuzu Japanese Citrus Cheesecake

House-Made Blancmange with Persimmon Purée

Gozen Japanese Sake Bistro
521 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(213) 308-9393

Friday, July 3, 2020

Morimoto Napa@Napa Day 1 ★★

Napa Road Trip during Pandemic. Went during July 4th weekend, when all wineries and bars in LA shut down again. Had our struggles, but ended up going. (Now indoor restaurants are closed again after our trip Was asked about the trip, so I decided to blog about the experience and share the itinerary. We left LA at 6am and arrived Napa at 12pm. Were able to sit at sushi bar without reservation. First time eating out since pandemic in March. Felt uneasy. Nervous to sit at sushi bar facing the sushi chefs. Luckily, we brought face shields to eat with them on. We also brought hand sanitizer. Pretty fresh sushi. Temperature checked upon check-in.

Sushi Lunch Set $47

Negitoro Roll $16, Soft Shell Crab Roll S15

Eating with Face Shield on

Morimoto Napa
10 Main St
Napa, CA 94559
(702) 252-1600
morimotonapa.com

JaM Cellars@Napa Day 1

Not worth it. Wine tasting with cool music vibes, but wines were too salty with mediocre service. Menu available to scan via QR code. We had the Napa Exclusive Tasting of 5 glasses for $30 per person, which included sparking, Chardonnay, 2 dry Rosé, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Everyone in the group needs to have the same tasting. We had face shields on the whole time. Our server spent a lot of time chatting with the table behind us and neglected us. Free glass pour of your choice with Yelp check-in. Temperature checked upon check-in.

JaM Cellars
1460 First Street
Napa, California 94559
(707) 265-7577
jamcellars.com

Kenzo Estate Winery@Napa Day 1 ★★★

Exceptional Private Tour & Wine Tasting. Kenzo is the founder of Capcom (think Street Fighter). Limited to 3 groups each time due to pandemic. Must wear mask during tour. We wore our face shields on top of that. Tasting was outdoor. Very safe and distanced. Did not have to wear face shield during tasting. Aaron booked our reservation and also led our private tour. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. He let us decide if we wanted him to introduce all wine at once so that he can leave us alone during tasting (while still checking on us occasionally). It felt safer that way. He would suggest a dish pairing with each of the wine we were tasting. All their wines were amazing. Yui and Muku were some of my favorites. Taking WSET certificated wine course helped me understand wine much better. Aaron warned me that taking Level 1 make me keep going Level 2. He was also very helpful in terms of answering my questions related to WSET. Tour was $80 per person. One of our fees was waived because we bought so many wines. Our tour was at 2pm (booked a month prior). Went to their kaiseki restaurant for dinner the same night. Temperature checked upon check-in.