Page 19 - Boca Exposure - May '22

Boca Exposure, Page 19
Dining Out: Do You Know Your Sushi?

Here’s A Way To Find Out!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire he’s Japanese with a Jewish name, asked me to join him at an sushi bar, often called red sea bream; Maguro, a beautiful
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love Omakase restaurant for what he considered to be the perfect sashimi piece of Bluefin tuna perched on black rice; Ebi

for food started very young. Never Bento Box. Tempura, fresh prawns dipped in a crispy tempura batter;

satisfied with his mom’s dishes, he For those who have never heard of the word Omakase, it Buri Daikon, a simmered dish featuring yellowtail, sweet
started to cook his way through her literally means; “leave it up to you.” That translates to giving daikon radish in soy-infused broth; Chu Toro, expensive cut
Betty Crocker Cookbook. During a very experienced sushi chef (Itamae) approval to use his full of medium fatty Bluefin tuna on black rice; Wagyu Toro,

the years to follow he spent many discretion on what to serve. Here in the United States it has you got it … this is the hard-to-find premium Bluefin tuna

hours working in restaurants, both taken on a secondary meaning of an extended sushi dinner, of high fat content; and Uni, this is a world-class delicacy
as server and cook, attending cooking classes and traveling often eaten at the sushi counter, with the chef preparing one of sea urchin roe and of limit availability.
the world in an effort to expand his palette. As a professional piece of high-quality fish at a time using a very artistic and Your Local Omakase Destinations: Of course, I don’t

writer, Hungry Al offers his perspective on current food trends theatrical method. expect all of you to travel to Fort Lauderdale to have such
and guides you through your local restaurant options. The Experience: I recommend that, if you ever desire an experience. So taking into consideration the current cost
to participate in this method of dining, I would come with of gas, parking fee, and added drive time, you might want
TAKATO/OKU a strong appetite along with an increase to your credit card to consider some more local options for a few less yen.
Conrad Beach Hotel limit. Usually, an Omakase is limited to an average of eight
551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach to 10 diners. There is an average of 20 courses, and set your Sunset Sushi Sushigo
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 watch to about three hours. 477 North Federal Hwy 2433 North Federal Hwy
(954) 414-5180 Our first course started outside the locked doors of Oku, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Boca Raton, FL 33431

www.takatorestaurant.com an exclusive sushi bar separated from the main dining room (561) 347-7888 (561) 927-6029
at Takato. Our special escort happily delivered a tequila
Food For Thought: My first memories of eating sushi Mai Tai for us to sip as we waited for our other six sushi Check Please: Obviously, this is not your weekly sushi

date back three decades ago. If my recollection is correct, participants. outing. But for a special occasion, a special treat, or you
there wasn’t even one sushi restaurant in Boca (hard to There was an informal meet and greet as we took our want to upgrade your sushi palette without a trip to Japan, I
believe). I actually drove to Coral Springs where the only positions at the sushi counter and filled our glasses with sake. recommend this experience – with an asterisk*.

sushi restaurant existed, and most of the way I complained Then the curtains went up and the show started. For the next * As you know, everything good comes with a price.
why I thought eating raw fish seemed very unappetizing. I three hours, two master sushi chefs performed their artistry The bill for two of us without the premium sake, including

was such a novice I thought a California Roll was a surfing with the knives that would make a Shogun jealous. The fish tip and taxes, totaled $680. Fortunately, Hungry Al never

term. After struggling through the meal, I confess I was never dishes seemed to fly off the hook nonstop with a methodical complains about cost when it comes to quality of company
going to eat sushi again. Boy, was I wrong! preparation that would win any skilled Itamae an Iron Chef or food. Spending three wonderful hours with my son-in-
Then, as they say … you have to acquire a taste for sushi. trophy. law, enjoying what he loves is enough to make me feel
So, my next visit a year later was Sushi Ray, the first of many The Omakase Courses: With 22 courses, it would be like an emperor. How can I

sushi restaurants to open its doors in Boca Raton. Fortunately, overwhelming to explain each dish we consumed. So, in not award Oku five golden
this trip I fared much better. Having dropped the “fear factor” an effort of brevity, allow me to give you the highlights. pieces of sushi?
this time around, I allowed myself to indulge in the flavors Our first course, was actually presented in a Bento Box. It *****

and textures of this Japanese cuisine. contained fresh Bluefin tuna, urchin topped with gold leaf, (Editor’s Note: As editor, after reading the above and noting

Like most of our choices in cuisine and restaurants, we sliced octopus with edible shio flowers, and Amberjack the clearly wonderful, sharing relationship this writer has

become complacent in our experiences. What we determine topped with fresh black truffle. with his son-in-law, I am assigning
to be the “best” sushi in the neighborhood is only governed Here’s what followed: my own award of four golden after-
by our personal taste buds and our understanding of the norm. Chawanmushi, a Japanese savory egg custard bottomed dinner Cuban cigars to our columnist
It was that way for me until my son-in-law, who believes with sliced snapper; Madai, one of the most prized fish at the Alan Serinsky.—NAS)