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TokyoEsakiGonpachi HigashiyaKappabashiKyubeyRobataShunjuSushi Kanesaka Yururi |
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS |
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This is because at Esaki, the vegetables are transformed into delectable treats, dressed up with fresh and innovative "cream" sauces made from entirely healthy Japanese ingredients, especially in the hassun platter, my favorite course. The rich, creamy sauce clinging to the slightly warm and peeled muscat grapes made a luxurious and wholly new taste sensation: the soft grapes almost had a texture akin to sashimi, and a restrained, tart sweetness that was transformed by the sesame-rich tofu sauce. And the black soybean sauce on the green beans and eggplant had a chocolate-like richness that elevated the humble but perfectly prepared vegetables. |
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For many of the dishes, there was not one, but two or three sauces in perfect — if surprising — harmony that provided bursts of complementing flavors. And many of the ingredients were artisanal, like the miso from Yamanashi prefecture, with twice the rice koji (starter for fermentation) as regular miso which gave Esaki's miso soup a powerfully rich flavor with depth and character. There is a nice selection of sake from small, regional brewers, and the amtosphere is quietly elegant. During lunch, light spills into the mostly white space, and we imagine it takes a romantic turn during dinner. Esaki is the perfect respite during a shopping excursion to the Aoyama area, as it is very close to the fashion center of Harajuku and the famous fashion street of Omotesando. |