Anzu revisited
Although we try to be objective, numerous factors always manage to skew our view in one way or another. Surely there are objective facts, like the restaurant is small or the fries are spicy, but generally the taste can be affected by the conversation of a nearby dining couple, the window seats looking out to a blazing sun, an unusual day at work, or sometimes just the unwillingness to compliment. The mood makes the food. My mood wasn’t particularly bad last time I was at Anzu, but it was particularly good this time I was there, as we were seated in this half-hidden corner. The bamboo curtain half obscured the view, the brown and green room was half sedative. The oksusu cha was half surprising, but fully pleasant.
We didn’t expect to be seated in such nice seclusion, nor did we anticipate an appetizer. But now that it came, two small cubes of fried tofu with honey,we seemed to recall that last time they also gave us something small for taste opening – a couple of gyozas it was. The tofu beats the gyoza. A thin crunchy crust contrasts yet complements the soft-almost-to-creamy inside, same with the bean blandness and the honey sweetness. Tofu can really do wonders sometimes.
For the main course, Anzu offers some good deals with combinations, such as a bento-box meal – like what we ordered last time – or the sushi-udon pair which we got today. The sushi comes in a full roll (6 pieces), with thinly sliced ginger and wasabi for kicks. But really, you don’t need kicks with California rolls, the nori’s salty streaks and avocado’s buttery dollop suffice. I also believe that what we have here was real crab meat, not surimi, because it wasn’t rubbery. It was good.
The sansai udon was also a delight. Thick wheat noodle in vegetable broth, it tastes far more interesting than it sounds. The stock is so pure and yet so relishing, with a profound taste of shungiku (Garland chrysanthemum, or rau tần ô). There was also an unsolved mystery: the pickled “bean sprouts” (translucent strands at the left corner). They look like bean sprouts, but only from a distance: close circumspection revealed rectangular cuts. They also taste starchy like some kind of root. I incline to say turnip, as such texture is midway between the porous crunch of jicama and the granulous dense of potato. Whatever it was, it had a great companion – some kind of pickled radish in ruby color. It was like a sour candy, all different tangy levels sang a song in unison, the song is called “The Best Pickle I’ve ever Had”.
Yes, this visit was full of cute little surprises. What can I say, subjective factors aside, some restaurants are like a bunch of grapes, you wouldn’t stop eating the bunch just because the first grape you picked out happens to be a bit sour. Anzu at Berkeley is such a place, and this time, the grape was perfect.
Dinner for two (free appetizer, 1 California roll, 1 udon, 1 tonkatsu): $15.04
Anzu Japanese Cuisine at Berkeley
2433 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 843-9236
P.S. Anzu also has an excellent salad dressing made of peanut sauce, mayonnaise, and a bit of seasoning. The salad comes with the entree, no extra fee.
Update: the “bean sprouts” are actually kohlrabi (German turnip, or su hào). Thanks to my mom who knows every ingredient upon hearing the description of the texture!
naturally like your website however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality nevertheless I’ll certainly come again again.
1Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
2fantastic points altogether, you simply received a brand new reader. What would you suggest about your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
3Just wanna input that you have a very decent website , I enjoy the layout it actually stands out.
4I think you have observed some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post.
5Good, I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task.
6Yay google is my queen helped me to find this outstanding internet site! .
7whoah this blog is magnificent i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, a lot of people are looking around for this information, you could help them greatly.
8Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “Procrastination is the thief of time.” by Edward Young.
9Definitely, what a great site and instructive posts, I definitely will bookmark your blog.Have an awsome day!
10What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & aid other users like its helped me. Great job.
11Wow! This can be one particular of the most helpful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Great. I am also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
12he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
13Just wanna say that this is handy, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
14Thanks for some other fantastic post. Where else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect method of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such info.
15Hey there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
16you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
17Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
18I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m quite certain I will learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
19You really make it appear so easy with your presentation however I to find this matter to be really something that I think I might never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent post, I will try to get the hold of it!
20I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
21Rattling fantastic information can be found on web blog.
22This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
23You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
24I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
25I think this is one of the most significant information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent :D. Good job, cheers
26With everything that seems to be building inside this subject matter, all your perspectives happen to be relatively refreshing. However, I beg your pardon, because I can not subscribe to your whole suggestion, all be it radical none the less. It appears to everybody that your opinions are not entirely validated and in reality you are your self not really totally confident of the point. In any event I did take pleasure in reading through it.
27I really like meeting utile info, this post has got me even more info! .
28Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
29Thankyou for helping out, wonderful information.
30Nice post. I be taught one thing tougher on completely different blogs everyday. It should at all times be stimulating to read content from different writers and practice a little one thing from their store. I’d desire to use some with the content material on my weblog whether or not you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a hyperlink in your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
31Some genuinely nice and useful information on this web site, too I conceive the layout has got excellent features.
32Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
33fantastic submit, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector don’t realize this. You must proceed your writing. I’m sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
34You are a very bright individual!
35I am glad to be a visitant of this utter web site! , thankyou for this rare information! .
36Very interesting topic, thanks for putting up.
37I must express my thanks to you for rescuing me from such a problem. As a result of looking out throughout the the web and coming across ways which were not helpful, I was thinking my entire life was done. Being alive without the presence of solutions to the issues you’ve solved by means of this posting is a critical case, and those that would have adversely affected my career if I hadn’t come across your website. Your main training and kindness in dealing with everything was helpful. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come upon such a point like this. I can at this time look ahead to my future. Thank you very much for your expert and sensible help. I won’t be reluctant to endorse your web blog to anybody who needs and wants support on this topic.
38Woh I enjoy your content, saved to bookmarks! .
39My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog. He was once entirely right. This put up truly made my day. You can not believe simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thank you!
40hi!,I love your writing very a lot! share we be in contact more about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this space to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Having a look forward to look you.
41Very interesting points you have remarked, thankyou for putting up.
42It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
43Very interesting details you have noted, thankyou for putting up.
44Thanks for the article, how can I make is so that I receive an alert email whenever there is a fresh article?
45I conceive this internet site holds some real good information for everyone :D. “I like work it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” by Jerome K. Jerome.
46Absolutely written content, appreciate it for entropy. “The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly.” by Corra Harris.
47Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
48Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
49Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Kudos
50