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| Complimentary starters awaiting consumption on the grill |
This is the kind of Japanese spot I will frequent anytime
I’m in the West Village neighborhood.
It’s not only the food, but it’s the authentic Japanese toilet, the TOTO
Washlet. Warm seated, various bidet options, and kind enough to open or close
the lid at the appropriate time. But less bathroom talk, more food talk. This
is an all beef menu, and some items are more adventurous than others.
Vegetarians beware! It was fate that I was at their doorstep at 6PM sharp right
as they opened, and so it began….
For a more personalized approach to sake, you may select
your own glass from an assortment of mix-matched eclectic glasses. After some
sake, out came three complimentary appetizers, kimchi, cabbage,
and bean sprouts with peanuts.
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| A beautiful presentation of beef tartare |
To start, we ordered Yooke. Thin shredded chuck eye tartare
with quail egg yolk, toasted sesame seeds, and Korean seaweed. Being that I usually eat my meat cooked, the
texture threw me off at first. However it didn’t take long to start enjoying
the mixture of flavors.
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| Pre-cooked short rib (bottom) and tongue (top) |
To grill at the table, we had kalbi (short rib) and shio-tan
(tongue). Dipped in the special sauce
and cooked by yours truly. A side of bakudan rice bombs covered in Korean
seaweed and pickled sesame leaf completed the dish. So delicious I could shed a
tear.
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Finally, to end on a high note, Madagascar vanilla ice cream
with rice dumplings and salted caramel syrup. Topped off with an edible flake
of gold, which the waiter explained actually benefits our health in some way. I
stopped listening when I felt its instantaneous health benefits kick in by
inducing me into a heavenly food coma.
To experience a TOTO Washlet, click here to find the closest one to you.
Let me know if you get as excited as I do over it.
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