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!
I went over this internet site and I think you have a lot of fantastic information, saved to bookmarks (:.
1Very interesting subject, regards for putting up. “Men who never get carried away should be.” by Malcolm Forbes.
2Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
3Does your website have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.
4Hello there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same subjects? Thanks a lot!
5Very interesting topic, regards for putting up.
6I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
7Some truly select articles on this internet site, saved to bookmarks.
8Whats Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other customers like its aided me. Great job.
9Thank you for some other great post. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the look for such information.
10You made some respectable factors there. I regarded on the web for the issue and located most people will go along with along with your website.
11I just like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and take a look at again right here regularly. I’m somewhat certain I will learn plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
12Real fantastic info can be found on blog. “Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect.” by Theodore Parker.
13It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
14An fascinating discussion is price comment. I think that it is best to write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
15Wow, fantastic blog structure! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The whole glance of your site is magnificent, as smartly as the content!
16Keep functioning ,great job!
17Hey would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price? Cheers, I appreciate it!
18Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this website is rattling user genial! .
19There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
20I see something really special in this website .
21I love looking at and I think this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! .
22When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Appreciate it!
23I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I observed this on google .
24You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation however I find this topic to be really something that I feel I might never understand. It seems too complicated and very wide for me. I am taking a look forward for your next publish, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!
25Betrupi official giriş platformu ve resmi adresi
26Betrupi official giriş platformu ve resmi adresi
27I rattling lucky to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for : D likewise saved to bookmarks.
28Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
29WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …
30After examine a couple of of the weblog posts in your web site now, and I actually like your approach of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and can be checking again soon. Pls try my web page as well and let me know what you think.
31Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
32Very excellent information can be found on blog.
33This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
34An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
35magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector don’t notice this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
36Great amazing things here. I am very glad to peer your article. Thank you a lot and i’m having a look forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
37Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
38I truly enjoy reading through on this site, it contains good content.
39I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
40Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
41This is really interesting, You are an overly skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to in search of more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
42My wife and i got very ecstatic that Chris managed to conclude his researching out of the ideas he came across out of your blog. It’s not at all simplistic to just be offering information and facts which often many people have been making money from. Therefore we fully grasp we’ve got you to be grateful to for this. Most of the illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward blog menu, the friendships your site assist to instill – it’s all superb, and it is assisting our son in addition to the family know that the theme is exciting, and that’s rather important. Many thanks for everything!
43Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
44I 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.
45Really enjoyed this blog post, how can I make is so that I receive an email whenever you write a fresh update?
46Very interesting topic, appreciate it for putting up.
47Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
48It’s truly a nice and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
49It’s the best time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I may I desire to suggest you few interesting issues or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more issues approximately it!
50