Sushi Nirvana: The Faux-hattanite goes to California!

My taste buds are in withdrawal. They are mourning the loss of California cuisine, in particular a little place in Huntington Beach that I visited on the 4^th of July which made the fireworks pale in comparison. People, I have found sushi nirvana and its name is Sushi on Fire.

This place was crowded and I hear it’s always like that. You had the diehard sushi fans at the bar, the couples feeding each other with chopsticks out on a date, and, of course, the ‘noisy Americans’ in the back corner doing sake bombs. Then there’s Big Mama flitting around making sure everyone in enjoying themselves and that the group in the back isn’t getting too rowdy.

We sat at the bar so we could see the sushi artists at work. The first thing I noticed was the large jar of wasabi to my left which patrons could dig into to get their spicy fix. The menu is overwhelming. Whatever you’re in the mood for sushi-wise SOF’s chefs will be able to quench your hunger. We started out with the Halloween roll (shrimp tempura and crab salad, topped w/ tuna, avocado, spicy crab mix, and eel sauce) and the Black Dragon roll (California roll, topped w/ BBQ eel). The first bite set my mouth on fire, pun intended. Quality ingredients and excellent pairing came together in an explosion of flavor.

I had thought the Halloween roll was my favorite until my mate convinced me that the next course should be the New York New York roll. A New York inspired roll for the Faux-hattanite; a more perfect combination could not be had (unless you count the ingredients that combined to form this succulent roll). The New York Now York contains shrimp tempura, crab mix, topped w/ seared filet mignon with ponzu sauce. And the best part? Being at the bar, we could see the chefs searing the filet mignon on top of the roll with crème brulee torches. Now I’ve had cooked meat in sushi before and I usually find it nothing to write home (or here) about. It’s often the main ingredient of such a roll and can be paired with ingredients that don’t necessarily enhance its flavor. I also find that the sauces other places may use tend to mask the taste of the roll altogether. However, the New York New York was perfection. The meat was not too chewy and worked in a way that it enhanced the roll and combined with the light ponzu sauce to transcend sushi as we know it. Visually the filet is the main component, but texturally and taste-wise it complemented the shrimp and crab. The overall taste is hard to convey, I can only liken it to a comfort food that fills you with a sense of warmth and completeness. It’s definitely something you must try if you are in the LA area.

By the time I was done with the New York New York I was feeling quite satiated, but my still-hungry companion ordered the Spicy Girl roll (shrimp tempura and spicy crab mix with masago outside), and with a name like that how could I refuse. Although not my favorite, it was a good way to end the meal and ended up turning into a competition to see if I could fit a whole piece in my mouth (1-1).

A truly spectacular dinner followed up by hundreds of fireworks (both legal and illegal), traditional bloody marys, and a few games of billiards made for a 4^th of July to remember. The only downside is that my new favorite restaurant is on the opposite side of the country and I don’t even want to think about what the delivery charge on 2,788 miles would be. Until next time California.

x,

Chace

Blind Barbers, Fresh Marshmallows & Boating

Recently Hilton gave me a free one night stay and I chose to take the girls on an overnight to NYC. Saying that we had a fabulous time is quite the understatement.

The night started out with a quick dinner at Q2, a Thai restaurant on 9th Ave between 52nd & 53rd St. While I don't love their pad thai, I do order their crab croquettes every time I stop by. Plus, if you order three appetizers they give you a glass of wine on the house.

After gussying up we headed down to Jade Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel (21st St. & Lexington). The drinks are a bit pricy, but it's worth trying at least one of their cleverly crafted concoctions. I had the Lavender & Cucumber Fizz and would trek downtown for it any time. The atmosphere is dark and intimate. It's not a large bar.

Once I finished my delicious drink we headed to a dive bar, whose name I cannot remember, to ask some locals where we could find some decent dancing in the area. Two games of pool and several cake shots later we ended up at The Blind Barber. Everything about this place captured my heart. The barber shop/bar is on 10th St. & Avenue B and is reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties. The bouncer that night was a tall (and imposing!) man with an eye patch who you DO NOT want to mess with. I saw a few people try to sneak in a side door and he was on them in seconds. Once he gives you the okay you are guided through a small, tiled, traditional barber shop into a back room that is the bar and dancing area. We were their on the Sunday before Memorial Day and it was crowded. The bar was very dark and had a fun atmosphere. I would have preferred a different DJ, but I didn't stop dancing the entire time we were there. There were a few leather & wooded booths and a small back area for a more privet feel. I just stuck to dancing and didn't sample the drinks, but I know I will have to next time. Apparently the Blind Barber house special is the Sweeney Todd (who didn't see that coming?), which is comprised of whiskey, an egg white, honey syrup and lemon juice! They are open daily 6pm - 4am except Sundays.

After a raucous night, which ended up with me falling asleep in the shower, we wanted a calm and relaxing Monday.

Our day started with lunch at one of my FAVORITE restaurants, Jean Georges in the Trump Tower at Columbus Circle. Reservations are a must and their are two dining areas with different menus so be specific. We went to the back dining area where we ordered off the Tastes of Spring prix fixe menu. Before our meal appeared we were presented with a tasting of three amuse-bouche: a watercress soup, yellowfin tuna (I believe) with a melon sauce, and fresh mozzarella with strawberry & balsamic. I ordered the Crispy Crab with Pink Peppercorn Mustard and Exotic Fruits as the first course. The crab was fresh and chunky, pairing perfectly with the mustard while the fruit gave you a sweet finish. One of the reasons I love Jean Georges so much is because of their sauces, mustards, and anything else they wish to put over the main "meat" of the dish. Every sauce I've had has been an explosion of flavor and has me wishing Jean George would come out with a cookbook purely for sauces. For the main course I had the Crispy Sweet breads, Glazed Maitake Mushroom, Spring Onions and Hibiscus Jam. Once again, my favorite part was the jam. It was sweet and tart, paired with very flavorful veal sweetbreads. By the time we had finished all our food we were convinced we couldn't eat anymore so we decided to skip dessert,...but then they brought out their version of petit fours: miniature coconut-strawberry macaroons with strawberry jelly, homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, and an assortment of chocolates. The marshmallows tasted as if you were biting into a pillow or perhaps a cloud. I look forward to going back and trying more off of their menu.

We burned off our meal at the Central Park Boathouse where we rented a rowboat and traversed the man-made lake. It was a great day to be outside, getting a tan and spotting turtles. A trip to NYC is never complete without some shopping and a walk around town. Overall it was one of the best trips I've had with the girls and I can't wait to plan our next one!

x,
Chace