EN Again

Kem Cho, Kimchi?

Reva and Samir introduced us to Kunjip, a Korean restaurant in the heart of K-Town, on 32nd between Broadway and Fifth.

Crowded. Warm. Chopsticks. Real authentic.

Tons of little plates arrived at the table instantly - spicy pickled vegetables. Followed by the seafood scallion cake. Then, we got the highlight.... Korean BBQ. A NYC classic and a new favorite for us.

Kyo ya.... ya ya ya!!

May 28, 2010: We visited Kyo ya, one of the most mysterious, hidden Japanese treasures in New York City. I first visited this place with my Japanese clients a few years back. Apparently, this restaurant came to fame through inner circles of Japanese New Yorkers, in a hush-hush-pass-it-along type of movement. Certainly "oishi" (japanese for yummy) all across the board.

We started with a pressed salmon sushi appetizer, followed by a corn potage soup (with brussel sprouts), which led us to a panko-breaded sea scallop sitting on top of nori seaweed paste (incredible!), a piece of delicious flaky miso black cod and ended with an entree of magret duck, thinly sliced sitting on top of mache greens. The flavors were classic Japanese - not much 'preparation', but just simple flavorful natural elements. For dessert we had a vanilla custard complemented with caramel syrup, which reminded Sara of french creme caramel. The unique menu choices and presentation, along with the authentic interior design added an element of warmth and comfort. We certainly add Kyo ya to our list of the best Japanese restaurants in New York.

Oshi!!!

Ever since I got my first Japanese client in 2005, I've slowly become a Japanese food connoisseur. Partly because the Japanese themselves think that New York Japanese cuisine ranks as highly as Tokyo, and partly due to all my trips to Japan.

The Japanese food voyage I've been on over the past 5 years has been bi-polar: both wonderful and eerie, both comforting and adventurous. It was always my desire to share these experiences with Sara. And one by one, we've been doing just that.

One of our first visits was to Japonais, a French-Japanese fusion restaurant in my neighborhood. Excellent, overpriced Japanese fare, accentuated by great sushi cuts. The star of their menu is their Kieseke options of delicately cooked small plates. The vibe of the restaurant is red, glowing and trendy. Not a particular fit for our tastes, but a fun visit.

Next up, was 15 EAST, a small restaurant off of Union Square which is very good with sushi & sashimi. With Sara, it was my third visit and unfortunately I've observed declining quality each time. What was really unique was the live sea urchin, sitting in its prickly black hollowed shell, which was served on a bed of ice and eaten with with a spoon. While Sara enjoyed the unique experience, she didn't love the texture. Overall, a very good sushi experience but not quite worth the price-tag.

An exclusive staple of the west village, EN Japanese Brasserie, is an excellent choice for a full rounded Japanese experience. One of my clients had pointed out that EN is a semi fast-food option in Japan, but in the West Village, this restaurant is all dressed up and ready to impress. The restaurant features an extensive selection of vegetarian options (almost unheard of within Japanese restaurants), and excellent full rounded choices. The sushi was soft and delicate, and the black cod and other small dishes completed the meal.

Cha an, and on and on...

Sara read about this Japanese tea house a while back and wanted to check it out, along with a quick stop at "Sunrise Mart".... both Japanese traditions of the neighborhood, her old Cooper Union stomping ground!.

Cha-an is a fun, authentic Japanese experience with a great selection of teas. The food is Japanese keiseke (which means you won't find sushi there). But the flavors are light, healthy and adventurous. The wooden surroundings are serene, and the atmosphere makes for lovely conversation - a perfect way to start a Sunday...