Mmmmmmmmmm, sushi

[gurdymonkey]

Geez, I sound like danabren ....
syele and I had been talking about a sushi and sake night for months. We finally had time to do it last night at her favorite place. Kirala in Berkeley was spendy, but worth it.

Dewazakura Dewasansan (at the bar)and Nishida Kikuizumi sake (at the table) were both smooth with fruity notes. The Kikuizumi was a bit bolder than the Dewasansan,

Ground chicken wrapped in shiso leaves and beef with asparagus from the grill were both great and having a couple of the grilled items provided a nice contrast to the nigiri sushi we chose. That  included, hirame (halibut), sake (salmon), toro (fatty tuna), kani (shredded Dungeness crab), and because I like to be a bit adventurous and try something new when at a place one can trust to prepare it correctly, ikura (salmon roe with raw quail egg).  Everything was delicious and the ikura was, despite the fact that it was "staring" up at us off the plate like a pair of weird, cartoon eyes, a revelation. The creamy egg yolk cut the saltiness of the roe beautifully.

Comments

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Sounds divine.

*grin*

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

And it's only 20 minutes from Oakland Airport, nudge, nudge.

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sigh, yeah...

[takadai-no-tora.livejournal.com]

Your Dungeness crab sushi and the ikura with quail aggs both sound wonderful. I like salmon roe, but you're right, it's often too salty on its own.

[sasha-khan.livejournal.com]

insert Homer Simpson 'donut sound' here...

[syele.livejournal.com]

It was so yummy, and the company was fabulous! :)

Shhh, it's a secret.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Note to self, subject of Sooper Seekrit Abdukshun Plot will evidently go for bait - REAL bait. (And maybe dooooooh-nuts. Isn't Sconehenge on that block too?)

[mochimonkey.livejournal.com]

You've only just tried ikura w/ egg now? Sacre bleu!

And I'm so picking your brain the next time regarding sake and other spirits.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Not much brain pickage to do. I'm still learning myself and ultimately it's down to what your tastebuds like. That said, pick up a copy of John Gauntner's The Sake Handbook or visit his website at
http://www.sake-world.com/ and you can learn the basics of what sake is, what the various types are and get some ideas on how to find the ones you like.