A Dish To Know: Hwae Dup Bop

If you are a fan of sashimi and raw forms of sushi, read on. I need to tell you about hwae dup bop. This Korean-inspired sashimi dish seems perfectly suited for Japanese menus. Yet I rarely encounter it on any menu. Essentially it's a spicy fish bowl – one of the healthiest and most delectable “Japanese” dishes I know. And I would desperately like for it to become more popular.

Essentially it's a mound of sushi rice with dressed greens and seaweed on top of it. On top of those is are small portions of tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, yellowtail sashimi, whitefish sashimi, cooked squid, egg and perhaps some other sashimi based on the chef's selection. Then it is garnished with kampyo, sesame seeds, a little fish roe and a bottle of spicy sauce. Yes, you make the spicy as spicy as you want. In my experience it's a suracha-like spicy sauce with some nice flavor and heat that brings everything together. The dish is a little like the more-popular chirashi, but has lots of greens and seaweed as well as the spicy element. Also the fish included is typically more basic, which I prefer. I’ve heard compare it to a fusion of chirashi and bi bim bop and I pretty much agree with that assessment.

Hwae dup bop is so tasty, with all the flavors and textures making every bite pop. It fills me up pretty fast and is a complete and altogether healthy meal even as a stand alone dish. I almost always get this dish when I visit Saica in Ann Arbor for Japanese food, but have rarely seen it elsewhere. I would love for this dish to become more popular and widely served, as it is one of my absolute favorites. I could eat it for lunch or dinner – or both! So start looking for it and asking for it yourself and maybe we can develop a little niche demand for this yummy, little spicy fish bowl.

Metro Sushi Answers

In the mood for a light sushi lunch? Well often times I am. And it can be very tricky finding good sushi anywhere in the DC Metro area, let alone affordable, high quality, interesting, (in walking distance from work) and delicious sushi. Most people don't often want to spend any more than $10 for lunch, and usually the cheaper the better. That's tough at nearly any sit-down sushi restaurant and unfortunately knocks out even pre-made/pick-up sushi places, which are either still quite expensive or just not tasty enough.

So lost cause? Not quite. There is one place that does lunchtime sushi right – Met Cafe in the inner courtyard area off G street between 17th and 18th NW. I've been aware of it for a while but only have tried it a couple times recently. The place has a hot buffet for Asian-inspired lunches but the real gem is the sushi buffet. It is manned by an authentic sushi chef who really seems to care about the bar being clean, fresh, beautiful and stocked throughout the lunch service.

So how does it work? You go through the bar and get as much or as little as you want for $10.99 per pound. You're given your own personal pair of tongs – that are cleaned between usages – to take the sushi that are laid on beautiful, wooden sushi boards behind some half-glass. The rolls are big, vibrant and deluxe. Plus, the sushi chef is replenishing constantly, so the sushi is always extremely fresh.

So what was on the bar? You name it. Big pieces of tuna, salmon, shrimp and whitefish nigiri, along with countless large rolls. Not just basic tuna or California rolls, but spicy rolls, avocado rolls and even rolls topped with raw tuna or salmon as an added, luxe sushi garnish. These are rolls that would cost $7-$13+ each at any restaurant are sold here at weight. You can take one piece of each, or 10 pieces of one, and it's all the same. It's great!

And how IS this dream sushi? Superb. As good as any restaurant sushi I've had lately in this area. The fish was fresh and cut very well. The rice was flavorful, and each roll piece was loaded with flavor, and no sushi filler (i.e. cucumber) could be found. It was almost addictingly good. Just couldn't wait to go back. I was thrilled!

So how much did I pay for this? I was so excited that I loaded up and got certainly enough to be a dinner portion. And yet – it was still under a pound and cost under $10 for the sushi. On a normal day (like my second visit), a lunch portion for me only cost $6 or $7. Now THAT is a place to know. Great taste, great quality, great variety, great price. Great sushi! Met cafe: go there, but leave a little sushi for me.

A Call For Better Sushi Joints

I've said it before and I've heard it from others. So it's not just me. The sushi scene is weak in this area. The Washington DC metro area, complete with northern Virginia and a large chunk of Maryland enjoys a surprising dearth of high quality, affordable sushi, a combination in a sushi joint that I've found many times over in Ann Arbor and Manhattan alike. I'm looking for a neighborhood place that's not necessarily cheap, just not inflated. The fish needs to be high quality and consistent and the work not sloppy. That is all I ask for – a place I can go and grab sushi without even thinking about it. I've been to at least a dozen different local susheries since moving to the DC area and have yet to come close. The relatively inexpensive sushi I've found has been being bland and junky and anything nicer I've found has been so incredibly overpriced that it puts even most NYC joints easily to shame. I don't need frou-frou, I need neighborhood. DC doesn't always do neighborhood so well.

I recently found a strong contender – Bonsai Sushi on 23rd St near Fern in Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. About as hole-in-the-wall as I've seen around here, which gave me fond memories of a couple of my favorite Ann Arbor and New York sushi joints. Small, unpretentious, fast, efficient, high quality, simple, well priced, tasty. All the things I need and nothing more. Not so cheap that I'm getting ungainly cucumber (my sushi pet peeve) in rolls as filler for fish or avocado, but not so overdone and overpriced that I'm pressured into ordering the Barak Obama Roll and the Super Man Verses Godzilla Roll for $17 each that make their $12 spicy tuna roll look like a real bargain. Perfectly in the middle and great sushi. The tuna was cut perfectly and tasted perfectly lovely. I stayed simple and just ordered the tuna sampler, so that's all I can say for now. But perfect tuna for a good price is a perfect start for me to a beautiful little relationship. It's only been once and consistency is the last and most crucial trait (see Café Asia). I will be trying Bonsai again and giving it that chance to become one of my “destinations” like my sushi places always becomes. And I will try other potential great sushi places – like the new Current (in Dupont Circle) tomorrow for my sister's birthday.

But seriously, DC area, you can do better! Crystal City is not the only place I should be resorting to for good sushi around here. I'm looking for better than that and hope to be further impressed shortly. You’re on notice, and I’ll be keeping my eyes open.

Birthday Adventures: Zengo

Happy birthday to THE most special girl today! Of course while I could never think of a celebration quite worthy of Julia, we did manage to have several highly noteworthy meals in DC this weekend in honor of her further foray into her 20's. I'll highlight a few of the weekend’s culinary highlights this week.

And start with...

Zengo: A highly popular, high-energy restaurant in DC's Chinatown that manages to fuse Mexican cuisine with several Asian cuisines (including Indian). The slightly peculiar-sounding result was actually quite interesting and well, awesome! The menu included a sushi section, a small plates section, an entrees section and a noodles/rice section. The sushi all looked interesting including a complex vegetarian roll, a Kobe beef roll and several ceviches. But for the prices and the waitresses' skimpy descriptions, we decided to skip this section in lieu of the even-more-interesting alternatives.

We ended up trying a side of their plantains to start with, which were good for plantains, being not too sweet but crispy and with a nice little unnamed sauce that was half spicy and half creamy. Compared with the rest of the food though, they were relatively unmemorable. Julia, along with her mango mojito, ordered the crispy tofu blocks entree with grilled bok choy and other accoutrements and found it to be fabulous. Actually one of the better and more interesting entrees she has had at a restaurant in a while.

I agreed, despite not being limited to the vegetarian items. I finally decided on a two Mexican-Japanese fusions. The first were mini crispy wonton tacos containing sushi rice, ahi tuna and mango salsa, with a dollop of fresh guacamole. Yes, they were as heavenly as they sound, with the crunch of the shells and the vinegar of the rice mixing perfectly with the sweet of the mango and the savory of the tuna and avocado. My only complaint was that they were a little messy to eat, but hey, who cares when they're tacos? I also wish the sushi rice was slightly more prominent. Nevertheless, these were comprised of an exquisite combination of flavors that had more uniqueness than most restaurants ever manage.

My second dish was a rice noodle bowl that was filled with awesome ingredients like tender, delicious pork shoulder, a soft poached egg, mushrooms and countless other veggies. It was a real treat and was very spicy. The flavors mixed together well on the palette and surprisingly lightly with the thin rice noodles keeping everything from sagging. The pork itself was the tastiest and most tender pork I have tried in quite a while, and the dish was worth it even for that. It was very pleasing and was a second testament at Zengo to the wonders that combining cuisines can create.

While we were licking our lips to the crispy tofu, ahi tuna, plantains, pulled pork and intriguingly delicious cocktails, the waitress managed to slip a dessert menu onto our table. This included several interesting desserts and from these, Julia ordered a very nice lemon cake with a lemon custard and a black sesame cracker accent. But the real standout here was the churros and chai, which I quickly recognized as a must-order. Once she tried them, Julia quickly agreed. They were divine; as divine as you'd ever expect a churro to be. Tiny little, ruffled, fresh, warm, soft, donut-like cigars with a perfect layer of cinnamon and sugar around them. And a tiny little shot of chai-flavored chocolate mousse and cream to dunk them in. Now that's coffee and donuts! Our mouths are still watering over those.

Zengo was a fabulous find, although it wasn't much of a gamble, since I've heard so many good things in the past. But now that we've tried it ourselves and left completely satisfied, except for the lingering thoughts of longing for dishes we haven't tried yet, it has definitely quickly soared to one of our favorite DC restaurants. When we actually talk about a restaurant for an entire day afterward, we know that it was definitely a memorable experience.

Wow and I even wrote twice as much about it as I was going to, so I'll have to save the rest of the birthday-celebration descriptions for later this week. Plus, my tasty-looking pictures are unavailable due to technical difficulties, so you'll have to check back in soon when I can finally post up the Zengo pictures. In the meantime, Happy Birthday to Julia again!

Servicing A Sticky Situation

Adversity is something that all restaurants face by nature, sometimes more so than others. Restaurants’ customers can have issues with just about anything, there is a strict health code that needs to be followed at all times, plus the industry is just tough to compete in. That is why excellent customer service at an eatery is a unique accent to a restaurant that helps it stand out in my mind. The rare times that I actually have a problem with my experience at a restaurant, action above and beyond the typical service expectations for a restaurant can quickly make me forgive and forget.

Like the other day.

Café Asia is a restaurant I really like. It’s a place I happily go for lunch or dinner to get sushi, plus I love their Happy Hour. So it was a bit disheartening when there was an issue with the sushi I ordered there recently. It wasn’t really their fault, as it could happen to any fish in any sushi restaurant and maybe it was just a rough day for an otherwise consistent joint, but let’s just say it was a little unsettling. Their reputation was suddenly on the ropes for me.

As I beckoned to the first waiter I saw, I relayed the information to him and he promptly imparted me a stony look of understanding and removed my untouched plate. After some time he came back and apologized, indicating that he had made sure that it was taken care of and was taking over our table. He offered to bring me a new plate of sushi or to bring me a cooked entree and then assured me that this type of thing had not happened before to his knowledge. At this point I wanted sushi and I wanted to complete my investigation, so I asked him for the sushi. He brought it, and it appeared he had brought me the best whitefish and tuna that they had. And upon noticing the sheer size and quality of the sushi, I ate the best plate of nigiri I have ever had at Cafe Asia. Nice bounce back for them.

But it gets better. After apologizing another ten-ish times, comping us the whitefish nigiri, bringing a dessert “on him” and taking another twenty percent off the entire bill, I wasn't even that upset when I left. I actually felt better about Café Asia.

One of my biggest fears is having a fish-related problem at a restaurant because I love sushi so much. I’ve heard that once you have a bad fish experience, there is no turning back. That is why I tend to only eat sushi at reputable places. To think that Café Asia was heading down that road but used impeccable customer service to even improve my opinion of their restaurant speaks more wonder about their restaurant than any great dish. There will be a next time at Café Asia for me, and I recommend that there be a next time for you too.

Still haven't found what I'm looking for

While I talk about DC area restaurants and food joints quite often, that doesn't mean that I've forgotten about the places I enjoyed in my old home town of Ann Arbor for the previous 14 years. So here I will tell not the top places in Ann Arbor, but more importantly, the top places in Ann Arbor that I have yet to replace in DC. While DC is loaded with restaurants of all ranks and genres, sometimes it’s still lacking that slight culture of uniquity that Ann Arbor is known and loved for. I should just be careful not to make myself too hungry or too nostalgic, or I might just have to extend our Thanksgiving return to Michigan next week.

No particular order, (except number one)!

9. Saica: Saica is an awesome little sushi joint in Ann Arbor, just off of North Campus of the University of Michigan on Plymouth Road. I frequented this place at least once a month since 2003, either with Julia or other roommates or friends. It is casual, open seating, very unpretentious and high quality. Above all, it's high value. I am so sick of sushi places in DC, a great one I have still yet to find, that is not entirely overpriced. Pair that with a lack of creativity to make up for the high prices, and I yearn for my far less expensive Saica classics like the Spicy Shrimp Roll, Chicken Teriyaki Roll, the most crispy, delectable shrimp tempura roll I have ever had, great tuna and whitefish Nigiri, a super spicy sashimi-rice bowl (hae dup bop), Julia's favorite rich, goma dressing over a crispy tofu salad, their over-the-top bento box. The list goes on. It's like Japanese comfort food, and I do miss it.

8. Mr. Spots: Best wings out there that I've tried. They have the reputation as being the best and lived up to it each and every time during my three years of Mr. Spot’s patronage. The little dive on State Street just past Hill in Ann Arbor employs some of the rudest individuals that I have ever encountered in the service industry. That didn't matter because these are not people you are tipping. They know how to make Buffalo wings, plain and simple. Crispy and meaty wings, the perfect amount of addictively flavorful, Buffalo spicy sauce. Plenty of chunky bleu cheese dressing (unless you get a really really rude employee and then they give you one tiny little cup of dressing). Many a cold winters night after an economics exam I would treat myself to a dozen wings, and they never disappointed. In DC all the wings I have had so far have tried to do too much – be too fancy, too sweet, too sticky, too spicy, or sometimes just too bland. I think I'll find some wings to rival Spots someday, but until then I'll just try to score some when I'm in A2.

7. Zingerman's: Best deli in the country (and yes I have been to many New York delis); best specialty food store I have been to as well. Located at the corner of Detroit and Kingsley Streets, Zingerman's has a reputation beyond compare and it is a singular draw in Ann Arbor for many. Its sandwiches are unique, fresh and loaded, and are complemented by two whole buildings filled with house made breads, cheese, gelatos and pastries; house cured meats and olives; a pantheon of rare olive oils, vinegars, mustards, sauces, spices and other specialty goodies. The dill pickles alone with their emphasis on the dill and the garlic and the salt and not on the vinegar (re: jarred dill pickles) are unrivaled by ant. I have tried about 25 different pickles in DC and none have even come remotely close to Zing's. I have tried a bunch of deli sandwiches here too and none yet have been awful, but none have had the love that Zingerman's packs into their sandwiches, which make them the best. At a DC or NY deli, if you order pastrami or ham or whatever, they slap a heaping portion between two slices of rye bread and “badda-bing.” Nice sandwich, no love. At Zingerman's, you might end up with Jimmy Wants Rosemary's Baby, piles of thin sliced country ham with house made fresh mozzarella and tomato slices, with a beautiful combination of olive oil and balsamic vinegar from their stores, all between two thick slices of house made sesame semolina bread. Makes my mouth water. But hey, you want that corned beef on rye or the turkey Reuben at Zingerman’s? They've got you covered. And still manage to pack in the love.

6. Shalimar: It's not that Shalimar (Main Street near Liberty in Ann Arbor) is the best Indian food out there, and certainly is not the cheapest. It's that I have not had the opportunity to find a consistent, high-quality Indian restaurant that is as simple and packed with the classics. We have been to a couple so-so Indian restaurants in DC, one pretty good high-end Indian restaurant and of course the amazing Naan & Beyond for sandwiches. But none that had a menu as loaded with different naans and other breads, crispy appetizers, Tandoori delicacies and an endless list of thick, delicious meat and vegetarian curries as Shalimar's. I think they have the best naan bread and best Tandoor chicken that I have tried, and that pairing is one of my favorite dishes in any cuisine, so that alone is saying something about Shalimar.

5. Silvio's: Authentic Italian organic pizza can be found on North University near State Street in Ann Arbor at Silvio's. And this place is a hidden gem. Competing with endless bland campus pizzerias, this place is special. The taste of the pizza is, well, real. The crust is chewy and crunchy and endlessly flavorful. The sauce and cheese actually taste fresh and flavorful and interesting. A list of over 40 organic toppings range from shiitake mushrooms and raw fresh arugula to bacon, fennel and truffle oil. You can even get grapes or carrots, but most of the ingredients are organic variations on classic ingredients. Bottom line is this pizza place is unparalleled by any I have seen and is vastly underrated, even in Ann Arbor. Needless to say I have not found a pizza place that can match up in DC as of yet, but if I ever do, it will be good enough that you will be hearing about it.

4. Pizza House: Another pizza place, you ask? Well yes, sort of. This one is not so much for the pizza, although the pizza is actually very good. It's about the atmosphere. Pizza House (Church Street near South University) is that comfortable, campus place that everyone loves. It's huge so you can almost always get a table for any party; it's open and delivers until 4AM every night; it's got a huge menu filled with pizzas, bar foods and a full bar, desserts, salads, sandwiches, their famous chapattis (huge fresh pita stuffed with salad) and even steaks and other dinner entrees; oh and it's pretty darn cheap. The place is hopping in the middle of the day, the middle of the evening and the middle of the night, and Julia and I would go there whenever we needed to just get out for a little comfort and relaxation. Whether it was meeting friends or just us, this was our little hangout for years, and it will take quite a lot for another place in a big city like DC to quite have all that it would take to be our next Pizza House.

3. Le Dog: Le Dog is a tiny little soup stand (think less glamorous than Seinfeld's “soup Nazi”) located on Liberty Street in Ann Arbor near Thompson. It is only open several hours per day during lunch, but it has a line every minute that it's open – in rain or shine or sleet. Yes, they do have hot dogs, and I have heard they are quite good, but this place is known for its out-of-this-world homemade soups. Rich, thick and comfortable, these soups are worth any wait. The portion is certainly large enough for lunch, especially with a huge hunk of Zingerman's bread that comes with it. The selection changes daily and is always fresh, ranging from Turkey Chili to Minestrone to Squash with Bleu Cheese. I have heard there are over 70 soups that rotate through the window, and I believe it. The absolute best is the weekly offering of lobster bisque on Fridays. A thin, flavorful, slightly-spiked broth encompassing huge hunks of lobster meat. Oh yah baby, that kind of comfort is well worth the $6-7. As for soups in DC, they have yet to inspire me, although I did try an extra worldly pumpkin and chorizo soup at the Bread Line in DC last week (Pennsylvania near 18th) that might have me changing my tune soon.

2. Ashley's: Ashley's, located on State Street near North University in Ann Arbor, is a surprisingly good Irish pub with surprisingly good food. The surprising part is that although it is “Irish,” its selection of imported beers, ranging from high-quality Belgium beers to Irish to local Michigan microbreweries, is astonishingly vast and cheap. They have a book of beers (with extensive lists of wines, liquors and mixed drinks in the back) that has beer descriptions, a taste guide and even flights. It is a fun place to go, which is likely why it is packed to max most evenings and nights. I even enjoyed having dinner at Ashley's sometimes – it was a little pubby of course, but they manage to sneak quite a few interesting (and even healthy) dishes on their menu. Nothing spectacular like the beers, but definitely worth eating at if you're trying to decide.

1. My Mom's Home Cooking: There ain't nothing like it no matter where in the world I could possibly travel, and I miss it most of all!

Check out my reviews of these places in even more detail at Menuism.com!

Quick Tip: Ginger Sticky Rice

There's nothing quite like a really easy dish. Especially one that is super delicious and even healthy. Here's my quick tip product: Naturally Fresh Ginger Dressing.

I've been using this awesome dressing for a few years for several reasons. First, it's available in many grocery stores in the refrigerated salad dressings. Second, it is the only ginger dressing that I've ever found in a bottle that tastes just like Japanese restaurant ginger dressing. My favorite! Third, this dressing is very low in saturated fat and sugar, so it's not as bad as 99% of the the bottled dressings out there. That's pretty much why I avoid 99% of them except this one.

Once you have this super dressing, just make some rice. Whatever kind you like. Long grain or short grain. Basmati or Arborio. Brown or white. Or sushi/sticky rice. However, whichever you choose, do not use any butter or oil or salt. Just put a dollop of the dressing in the water at the beginning of the rice cooking, right when you would normally put a little butter/oil. Once the rice is cooked, you want to add more of the dressing so that there is enough to completely coat the rice after stirring well. Maybe a couple more tablespoons, but do it to your taste. Stir in a couple tablespoons, taste it and add more dressing a tablespoon at a time until it tastes great.

You want perfect stickiness of the rice and gingery, salty flavor from the dressing. But it will never be oily or greasy, just sticky and savory. So delicious. I could eat it every day.

Nigiri Hour

It is a rare confluence, especially in an overpriced urban area, to find high quality sushi, expertly made, that is also a good deal. I would go into the reasons for why, but that would certainly bore you. Besides, I've discovered DC's version of that rare confluence, so it does not matter. Just go to Cafe Asia near 17th and Eye streets NW, between 4 and 7:30 PM for their happy hour sushi and drinks.

It's as simple as you can imagine. During those hours, all Nigiri (pieces) are $1.25. Yes, nigiri. The cleanest and most exquisite form of sushi. The pieces that most places have no problem charging two to three times that price for. And they are delicious at Café Asia. Not too thickly cut, very flavorful (not fishy) and very visually appealing as well. Simply put, it is highly excellent sushi for an obscenely low price. I got 11 pieces of my favorites (tuna, shrimp, white fish) recently for $14. Most places you'd be lucky to get 5 pieces of their choice and a California roll for $20 in the sushi dinner. Here, you make your own sushi dinner – for less. Any nigiri on their menu – tuna, salmon, white fish, yellow tail, eel, octopus, squid, shrimp, mackerel and more – same price, every day during happy hour. And something tells me they probably do a large portion of their dinner service during happy hour by design. It gets me coming there.

So you're probably thinking by now that Cafe Asia must be some sort of hole in the wall, a little sushi joint that is slightly suspect. Thus the good prices. Well that couldn't be farther from the truth. Hey it's not Morton's, but it is a big, open New York style restaurant, immensely spread across three terrace-like floors. The wait staff is friendly and quick. And the bar and happy hour drink specials ($3 glasses of wine, $2 bottled beers, $2.50 draft Kirin and others) add to its appeal as well.

The bottom line is, Cafe Asia sushi has some of the better sushi I have had in DC. Clean-cut, tasty and fresh. And it’s definitely the cheapest too. So, know when to go – and enjoy exactly how much and what types of sushi you're in the mood for. Go nuts!

Check out my review of this place in even more detail at Menuism.com!

Join the Sushi (Sake) Club

I find it difficult to define what makes good sushi. These days, it seems that unoriginal sushi restaurants are all over the place. And most of them do their unoriginal sushi pretty well, using high quality, fresh fish – an absolute must with even the lowest rung sushi. And I do not give originality credits for a roll where they stick two or three types of fish together with a few sauces and suddenly jack the price up to $10-15 per roll. That's just highway robbery. For that kind of money I could order the tuna and salmon rolls myself for $4 apiece, dismantle them and make the darn “superman” roll myself. For what I obviously lack in manners, I make up for in common sense – that's sucker pricing right there.

So with all of my sushi idiosyncrasies (many of which remain unmentioned), how do I possibly grade a sushi joint? It's simple really. I look for three things: the classic/unoriginal sushi done exceptionally well, faux originality for a good price (under $10 a roll), or real originality. Sushi is one of my absolute favorite cuisines to eat, and I have tried many many sushi restaurants, so at least I can uphold my opinions.

While I would now like to list the aforementioned sushi idiosyncrasies, I find it would be more industrious to tell you about an actual sushi restaurant in DC – Sake Club – that we ventured to with my Mom and Dad. This modern Japanese warrior decor sushi house is located right across the street from the Woodley Park Metro near Connecticut and 24^th St NW.

Sake had some big elevation in the middle of each table, like a serving level above the eating level, but I found it was more for show than anything and really just sort of got in the way. I also thought the four menus – regular, sushi, happy hour and sake – were a bit cumbersome, although their happy hour drink and sushi specials until 7PM were pretty decent (maki roll combo or nigiri combo for $7, cheap house martinis and sakes and half price Japanese beer).

I found the overall menu to be extensive and classy, but not too original. The vegetarian sushi was impressive, with a number of maki and nigiri options. I had personally never seen veggie nigiri (like spinach or avocado in this case) or a fully vegetarian sushi dinner, and Julia was pretty excited to try out a few of them. I thought the more classic maki and nigiri were pretty reasonably priced, while some of the less classic maki (like dragon, caterpillar, rainbow, fiesta and vampire) were outrageously high. Plus, while they all seemed well-conceived, I had seen all of them before in one way or another and was unwilling to pay $12 for one. I saw very little on the menu that was original, so why don’t they just stick to the classics altogether and just ignore the (highly profitable?) nicknamed rolls? Or come up with something I’ve never seen before, and then maybe I’d pay $12 or $15 for one. This is not a plague on Sake Club; it is a plague on many sushi restaurants. I just was not expecting it from a place of this caliber and reputation.

Needless to say, I can quickly divorce myself from an underwhelming OR overpriced sushi menu if the sushi I order is excellent. And thankfully for Sake Club, what I did order was excellent. I ordered the classics (in my book) to see if they could do them well. I ordered nigiris – Tuna, Salmon, Flounder, Cooked Shrimp – and makis – Spicy Tuna and Shrimp Tempura. About as basic as I can dream up. This really is my test plate at any sushi place: tests the fish quality and freshness and size/quality of the chef’s sashimi cut in the nigiri, and displays quality of flavors and cleanliness in doing the bigger maki rolls. I especially like ordering a shrimp tempura roll because they can be one of the most luxurious tasting bites of food you will ever have when done well, and a clunky, awkward, bland mess when done poorly. A good litmus test to see how they handle something like that.

So let me reiterate, Sake Club passed these tests with flying colors. The fish was so fresh and cut so well that the nigiri had a butter-like consistency. They were big enough to really enjoy, but not too thick or garish. I loved that the maki were done “inside-out” (rice on the outside) with toasted black sesame seeds crusting the rice. It is little things like that, which make me appreciate a sushi roll. The spicy tuna was one of the spicier ones I have ever tasted, but it was extremely flavorful, had no mayonnaise and was not a big gloppy mess like so many often are. And the tempura roll was as luxurious as desired as well. It probably could have used a little sauce to bring out the flavors (maybe they forgot it) but it was so well-crafted and balanced in crispiness and succulence, I really couldn’t have been much more pleased.

So yes, the menu didn’t excite me, but as you can see, I am just as happy being a sushi simpleton. And yes, there were a few things that weren’t perfect like Julia’s (frozen?!) spinach nigiri being bland and there being no side salad for less than $7. But, if you asked me to go back for a sushi meal at Sake Club, I would remember how delicious the most important part of the meal was, and quickly say “yes!”

Restaurant Week Miniseries, Part II: Kaz Sushi Bistro

This is the second installment of this week's three-part Restaurant Week miniseries. Yesterday, I discussed our experience for a birthday dinner party at Vinoteca off U Street in DC.

Part II, Kaz Sushi Bar

It takes a lot to get me to spend $20 for a lunch. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Restaurant Week was able to. It was probably a combination of things. My coworker Steve had told me that Kaz Sushi was one of the best sushi places in the city. It's located at 19th and I St NW (right near work), so Becca and I decided to invite a few coworkers out for RW sushi at Kaz, since we normally had no excuse to go there. So four of us made a reservation for a Friday Kaz lunch and made the three-block journey under the sunny afternoon together in eager sushi anticipation.

I won't say much about the look, decor or service at Kaz, since I rarely do, and since it was adequate but not noteworthy. I will fill that space with a few notes about their regular menu. It was filled with very interesting combinations both in Maki rolls and in the Nigiri pieces. The prices were a little high for sushi, but with high-end ingredients like truffles, foie gras and kalamata olives being thrown around with the likes of tuna, salmon, lobster and whitefish, along with other not-sushi-like complements like almonds and garlic chips, I was still quite intrigued. Plus, their vegetarian sushi was even impressive, with a red pepper and asparagus roll, and a sundried tomato and portabella roll, to name a few.

It was with this diversity now intriguing me that I was disappointed to learn how ordinary the lunchtime RW menu was at Kaz, even at the prix fixe price of $20.08. Essentially, they offered a miso, a seaweed salad, a scoop of ice cream and a sushi choice. The choice was either a sushi tasting or a bento box. The bento included a California roll, Japanese short ribs, Barbecued Mackerel and a couple other little tastings. The sushi tasting was a spicy tuna roll, a spicy California roll and then one each of tuna, salmon, flounder and cooked shrimp Nigiri. To me, these seemed like either skimpy or uninteresting choices for over $20, during RW, but it was lunch so neither was actually insufficient. There is a reason that I don't like spending $20 on lunch though.

I ultimately ordered the sushi tasting and found it to be quite tasty. The spicy California had a great kick and they worked the orange roe, which normally dons a Cali roll, into the rest of the sushi, which I found to be much more pleasant. The spicy tuna roll had a similarly flavored kick, which I quite like with my sushi rolls, but it was the smallest spicy tuna roll I've ever seen. It was wrapped seaweed-side-out and was no larger than a regular tuna roll or a standard vegetarian sushi roll like asparagus or avocado. Usually spicy tuna rolls are quite large, so to see a small one was certainly noticeable and the slightest bit disappointing, since it did taste so good. The Nigiri pieces were not cut too thick and were quite fresh. They all had an appropriately rich flavor and color, and were very pleasant to eat. Again, there was nothing out of the ordinary here and the potions were modest, but it was certainly a good plate of sushi.

The other accoutrements were passable if not typical versions of miso and green tea ice cream. The seaweed salad was actually the only huge portion of the meal, and I was initially excited, since it is one of the tastiest and healthiest items on a Japanese food menu. However, this version was actually drenched in a creamy, sesame dressing, which did not dramatically change the taste from the typical salad with just a light sesame finish, but certainly did wonders to kill the healthy aspect that I usually like about this salad.

I think Kaz makes nice sushi from good quality fish, and has some extremely interesting sushi innovations. Through which, Kaz has likely made its name. However, the RW patrons were not offered anything interesting, unique or name-making-worthy. Even at over $20.

They might have intrigued me just enough to give it a shot for dinner, where I make the sushi selections, but it's not going to be any time too soon.

Stay tuned for the third and final installment in this week's Restaurant Week miniseries, as I reveal our trip to Ballston's Dan & Brad's.

Top 10 (12) Olympic Cuisines

You have diligently read about my physical (and mental) travels in the world of food all week. I'll try to reward you with a fun, Friday post.

TOP TEN FOODS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO EAT IN HONOR OF THE OLYMPICS (regardless of calories). Okay, it will be a Top Twelve in fact, so I can be a little more inclusive. It’s hard to exclude people(s).

12. Italian – Insalata caprese and ciabatta

I had Italian last night, so it’s not throwing my senses into haywire this morning like the other ones, but nothing beats an Italian restaurant and the myriad classic dishes that never fail to disappoint. I choose this appetizer because it’s fresh and has basil, tomato, cheese and bread – the four base ingredients of much of Italian cuisine – at their simplest and most elegant.

11. Mexican – Carnitas with fresh tortillas, salsa, guacamole and lime wedges

We all have a place in our hearts for some variation of Mexican food – a very Americanized version for many, but one nevertheless. I happen to love the tang of pork in my tacos or burritos when I can afford the slight indulgence. This classic way with big flavors and without the burden of lots of cheese, beans, rice and sour cream make this taco-esque dish refined and well, to-die-for.

10. Greek – Pistachio baklava

I am a big fan of Mediterranean food, and Greek cuisine is at the center of this pantheon. I could go on about many of the dishes that Greeks get to enjoy all the time, but I go for the ultimate dessert right now. The filo, the nuts, the honey, the spices. I would love the universe where it was okay for me to finish every meal with this dessert fit for Zeus.

9. Ethiopian – Injera and vegetarian wat stew selection, with salad

Perhaps not as mainstream as some of the others, this cuisine is a winner. Go find your local Ethiopian restaurant if you have not already and make time soon for an experience. They’ll bring you a table-sized piece of flat bread, put a big salad in the middle and then speckle the sides with little piles of different and extremely flavorful stews. The vegetarian ones, full of onions, collard greens and lentils are very rich and smooth, but the meat versions are also quite popular.

8. Spanish – Manchego cheese, crusty bread and mixed olives

Spanish tapas make me happy with their depth and creativity. Perhaps the simplest and most classic one is the best though. To really kick off your meal in style, enjoy some assorted olives and bread with a salty, nutty cheese and an opening glass of red wine.

7. Israeli – Labneh with zatar and fresh, hot pitas

Israeli food is another chapter in the Mediterranean realm that I love. I picked this popular hummus-replacement dish from Israel that I was introduced to recently by a friend because it, well, rocks! It is a thick, smooth cheese-like yogurt. It has the tang of yogurt and the richness of cheese. Served with an awesome Israeli spice, zatar, this is the ultimate opener to a nice Med meal.

6. Chinese - Dim Sum

An experience like none other. That is how I have and will continue to describe my experience with Chinese brunch fare. An assortment of different dumplings, soups and meats very different from standard Chinese food is not one I could handle every day, but every four years or so, I give this the ultimate gold medal.

5. French – Crepe with brie, tomato and some type of meat

French food is so expansive and complex, I can’t always decide what I like and what I don’t like about it. Some of its simple classics like the omelet and the crepe are very easy to decide upon. A light crepe can be a nice elegant brunch, or a loaded one can be the ultimate drunk food. Believe it or not, I prefer the loaded ones.

4. Brazilian - Gaucho style barbecue

If you eat meat and have not tried Brazilian barbecue, go and reserve your next paycheck to visit a churrascaria. Okay, well it’s not THAT expensive, but the high-end version in the United States is pretty much the only version I’ve seen. Typically, after going through an endless pre-dinner buffet of salads, sushi, fruits, cheeses and Brazilian side dishes, you return to your table for an all-you-can-eat meat onslaught. The waiters travel from table to table, each with their own beautiful cut of a different barbecued meat. Beef, chicken, duck, lamb, pork. Indulgent. Endless. Perfect -- every four years or so. (During the Winter Olympics though, to space out the dim sum.)

3. Japanese – Tuna, salmon, whitefish, shrimp and yellowtail nigiri

If I had to eat the same meal every day of my life, it would be sad and even depressing. But after making the easy choice of sushi, the brilliance of this simple meal would certainly cheer me up each day. I haven’t mentioned sushi much yet, but it will be a regular contributor to my food thoughts. I love a really tasty, creative roll of sushi with three kinds of fish, tempura flakes, avocado, fish eggs and two crazy sauces as much as any sushi lover. But it’s the classic nigiri listed above that are truly impeccable.

2. Indian – Tandoori chicken tikka with naan and rice

Like any warm-blooded American male, I love barbecued meat. Too bad Brazilian (see above) and Indian are my favorite preparations. The Tandoori clay oven method gives chicken or fish an incredible charred taste. The marinade of yogurt and spices give off an aroma and character unlike anything I get in from cuisine. With 1 medal per Summer Games since 1956, I don’t know how many Olympic medals my brainy Indian brethren will be winning this year, but in the culinary games, they are on my podium.

1. American – Buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing

Okay, so who ever said patriotism was dead? American food, like its athletes, is really good in a few areas and really mediocre in many others. But we still TRY in ALL the areas, whereas most others stay to their niches. THAT is what makes us the best. Forget unexciting, unperfected hot dogs, hamburgers and corn on the cob. If you want THE all-American food, look no further than the holy chicken wing from Buffalo. Now how do you say “gold” in Chinese?