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!
Very interesting topic, appreciate it for posting.
1Appreciate it for helping out, wonderful information.
2Simply wanna comment on few general things, The website design is perfect, the subject material is real wonderful : D.
3Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
4Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
5I precisely needed to thank you very much once more. I am not sure the things I might have made to happen without the ways documented by you regarding such a problem. It previously was the hard dilemma for me personally, but finding out the very expert fashion you treated that forced me to weep for joy. Extremely happy for your assistance and then sincerely hope you recognize what a powerful job you have been carrying out instructing many others with the aid of your web blog. Probably you’ve never got to know all of us.
6It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
7Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was searching for!
8very nice put up, i definitely love this web site, keep on it
9Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
10Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “The capacity to care is what gives life its most deepest significance.” by Pablo Casals.
11Howdy! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share. Cheers!
12It’s really a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
13You actually make it appear so easy together with your presentation however I to find this matter to be actually one thing which I believe I would never understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely vast for me. I am looking ahead for your next submit, I will attempt to get the hang of it!
14I’m often to blogging and i actually recognize your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and preserve checking for brand spanking new information.
15Real excellent info can be found on weblog. “Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect.” by Theodore Parker.
16whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your articles. Keep up the good work! You know, lots of people are looking around for this information, you can aid them greatly.
17I see something really special in this internet site.
18Very good written article. It will be supportive to anybody who usess it, including me. Keep up the good work – for sure i will check out more posts.
19You have observed very interesting points! ps decent site. “By their own follies they perished, the fools.” by Homer.
20Keep working ,fantastic job!
21I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
22Thank you, I have just been searching for information approximately this subject for a long time and yours is the greatest I’ve came upon so far. However, what concerning the bottom line? Are you certain in regards to the source?
23Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
24Hey! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Terrific blog and fantastic style and design.
25Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
26I want assembling utile info, this post has got me even more info! .
27I have recently started a website, the info you provide on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
28I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
29Thank you for helping out, superb info. “Considering how dangerous everything is, nothing is really very frightening.” by Gertrude Stein.
30Really nice pattern and superb content material, absolutely nothing else we need :D.
31Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Many thanks
32certainly like your web site but you have to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the truth on the other hand I will certainly come again again.
33Hi there, I found your website by way of Google at the same time as looking for a comparable topic, your website came up, it appears to be like good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
34I have read several good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make such a great informative web site.
35You have noted very interesting points! ps nice internet site.
36Right now it appears like WordPress is the preferred blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
37Hi would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using? I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
38Thank you for every other informative site. Where else may just I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I’m just now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such information.
39Well I truly liked studying it. This information procured by you is very helpful for accurate planning.
40Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I to find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to give something again and help others such as you aided me.
41You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
42Really clear site, regards for this post.
43I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again
44Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no backup. Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers?
45I genuinely enjoy reading through on this site, it contains fantastic blog posts. “Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.” by Demosthenes.
46Appreciate it for helping out, excellent info. “A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.” by Napoleon Bonaparte.
47When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
48I’ve recently started a blog, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.
49Regards for this wonderful post, I am glad I discovered this internet site on yahoo.
50