B-Dama – Taste fresher than fresh
Why don’t I like spicy food? For the same reason I don’t like cupcakes, Chicago pizza or anything that has too much of something for me to taste anything else. For the same reason I shunned sushi for almost 10 years: the first time I had sushi I scooped a spoonful of the lovely green paste into my mouth.
Those were 10 years that I could have enjoyed so many hamachi nigiri. It’s sad. But that aside, for the same reason that I dislike spicy food, I like B-Dama so much more than I expected. It’s a tiny tiny Japanese restaurant in Piedmont. Its menu doesn’t boast anything particularly breath-taking to draw me out of the comfort of my home, except that I once saw Kristen post on Facebook a picture of the ankimo (monkfish liver) from B-Dama, and Kristen and I have had more than two failed attempts to eat there together just because the restaurant was either closed or too busy when we popped in. When you can’t have something, you want it more.
Then the day finally arrived. My friend and I tried the ridiculously popular Geta that serves possibly the cheapest sushi and fried chicken bits in the East Bay, were thoroughly impressed by how cheap it was ($35.30 for 7 items), and felt compelled to try its posher sister B-Dama. This time, we made reservation.
Let’s talk about the dish that implanted the name B-Dama in me from the very beginning: the monkfish liver.
This wasn’t the first time I had monkfish liver, or liver, or monkfish. I’m neither a fan nor an antifan of monkfish, but I love livers, so it’s a make-or-break deal for me. At B-Dama, the liver was so creamy yet maintained the smooth, bouncy resilience of freshness, and above all, the taste was so clean! If I didn’t know that it came from a fish, I would think that it’s just soft tofu flavored with cream and a pinch of salt, slightly chilled to shape into such medallion-scallop size. Considering the steps to prepare ankimo (the liver must be rubbed with salt, then rinsed with sake, then de-veined, then rolled, steamed and served in ponzu sauce), this dish requires such precise treatment to rid of the ocean smell and preserve the creamy nature. I think steaming is the most unadulterated cooking method, and this ankimo is the most unadulterated, freshest ankimo I’ve ever had.
The same theme resonates throughout the rest of the meal. The housho maki (raw tuna and salmon with sliced cucumber wrapped in daikon), the hamachi nigiri and even the nabe taste crystal clear. Daikon naturally has the daikon taste (a bitter, somewhat piercing pungency that sometimes reminds me of sake), but the daikon at B-Dama, in whatever form it’s served from grated to sheet, does not have that daikon taste. Its crunchy texture and cooling freshness are well preserved, only the pungency is gone.
The cold openings:
Hamachi nigiri sushi ($6.5)
My must-order item at every sushi restaurant. This version sets the highest bar so far.
Housho maki ($6) – raw fish and cucumber wrapped in daikon.
So fresh, so suitable for spring.
Ankimo ($8) – steamed monkfish liver served in ponzu sauce
My most recent must-order. I find it offensive that I have to pay so little for something this good.
The fried and grilled dishes:
Tsukune – chicken “meatball”
Ika karaage ($6) – deep-fried squid.
I like it. A lot.
Hotate – scallop
Gyutan – grilled beef tongue
Another must-order of mine. A little bit too thick (and therefore, too chewy) for me, I still prefer Musashi’s gyutan.
Kani korokke ($8.5) – crab croquette
Creamy inside, crunchy outside, not too overwhelming but yet to be the ideal croquette I’m looking for.
The finish:
Oxtail stew ($10) in soy-based soup.
There’s no way around ordering a serving of rice for this one, that sauce demands to be soaked up with rice.
Yosenabe ($12) – seafood, tofu, and vegatable soup with glass noodle (harusame)
For reason unknown, the host gave us one of the specials of the day, the asari sakamushi – steamed clams cooked in butter and sake broth ($9.5). At this point, I was too busy chowing to remember taking pictures. I feel obliged to mention this because the host was so nice, but I should clarify offhand that the clams did not alter my perception of B-Dama.
So, at the restaurant, we ran into my friend’s colleague, who also works at another great Japanese restaurant in the East Bay, and after the meal we briefly mentioned how good we thought B-Dama was. I said that I was surprised that the food here did not have any strong taste, and my friend’s colleague commented that Japanese food in principal are not supposed to be overwhelmed with spices anyway. I knew that before, and that’s why I like Japanese food, but my comment might have failed to explain my thoughts properly. B-Dama especially succeeds in delivering that clean-tasting aspect of Japanese food more than any other Japanese restaurant in the East Bay.
Address: B-Dama
4301A Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 420-1578
www.b-dama-geta.com
Sake sampler – ($11)
The Yamahai Junmai is the sweetest, least stringent and best-tasting to me, and I’m not just saying that because it’s listed as the “connoisseur’s junmai”. (I didn’t the description when I tasted it.)
Of course, what a magnificent site and enlightening posts, I definitely will bookmark your site.All the Best!
1I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I’m quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
2익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.
3익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.
4Im no longer certain where you’re getting your information, however great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or working out more. Thank you for great information I used to be in search of this info for my mission.
5I’ve learn several good stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you place to create this type of excellent informative website.
6I am thankful that I observed this weblog, precisely the right information that I was searching for! .
7주소콘에서 필요한 사이트를 분야별로 살펴보세요. 뉴스, 커뮤니티, 영상, 웹툰, 쇼핑, 생활 정보와 온라인 도구를 찾는 방법부터 주소 확인, 즐겨찾기 관리, 접속 오류 해결까지 안내합니다. 목적에 맞는 링크를 고르고 더 편리하게 이용하세요.
8Wow that was odd. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say superb blog!
9Hello There. I discovered your blog the use of msn. That is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your useful information. Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
10Excellent web site. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to a few pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
11주소콘에서 필요한 사이트를 분야별로 살펴보세요. 뉴스, 커뮤니티, 영상, 웹툰, 쇼핑, 생활 정보와 온라인 도구를 찾는 방법부터 주소 확인, 즐겨찾기 관리, 접속 오류 해결까지 안내합니다. 목적에 맞는 링크를 고르고 더 편리하게 이용하세요.
12Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
13주소콘에서 필요한 웹사이트 주소를 쉽고 빠르게 찾아보세요. 분야별 주소모음과 링크모음, 주소찾기 방법부터 변경된 주소 확인, 안전한 링크 확인 방법까지 한눈에 살펴볼 수 있습니다.
14You have mentioned very interesting points! ps nice internet site.
15Useful information. Fortunate me I discovered your web site accidentally, and I’m stunned why this accident did not took place in advance! I bookmarked it.
16An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
17Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I am also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your hard work.
18Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
19Hey! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my apple iphone. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to resolve this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share. Many thanks!
20I am forever thought about this, thanks for posting.
21Merely wanna admit that this is invaluable, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
22Good write-up, I am normal visitor of one’s web site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
23excellent points altogether, you simply won a emblem new reader. What may you recommend in regards to your put up that you made some days ago? Any certain?
24Normally I don’t read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice post.
25The core of your writing while sounding agreeable in the beginning, did not work perfectly with me personally after some time. Someplace throughout the sentences you managed to make me a believer unfortunately just for a short while. I nevertheless have a problem with your leaps in assumptions and one would do nicely to help fill in those breaks. When you actually can accomplish that, I will definitely be amazed.
26I truly enjoy examining on this website , it has fantastic blog posts.
27Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
28Thank you so much for giving everyone an extremely marvellous possiblity to read articles and blog posts from this blog. It is usually very enjoyable and packed with a great time for me personally and my office acquaintances to visit the blog not less than 3 times weekly to read the latest secrets you will have. Not to mention, I’m usually astounded with all the stunning creative ideas you serve. Some 3 facts in this post are completely the most beneficial I have had.
29I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i’m happy to convey that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much indubitably will make sure to do not put out of your mind this website and provides it a look regularly.
30After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
31Hi there, I found your website via Google while searching for a related topic, your site came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
32I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.
33I carry on listening to the news broadcast speak about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i find some?
34naturally like your web-site however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the truth then again I’ll certainly come back again.
35After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
36Right now it looks like BlogEngine is the best blogging platform out there right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
37Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your weblog. You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested. Thanks!
38Good post. I be taught something tougher on completely different blogs everyday. It can at all times be stimulating to learn content from different writers and apply just a little one thing from their store. I’d favor to make use of some with the content on my weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.
39Hiya very cool web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionallyKI’m glad to seek out a lot of helpful info here in the publish, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
40I’m now not certain the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I must spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thank you for wonderful information I used to be searching for this information for my mission.
41Precisely what I was looking for, regards for posting.
42I’d constantly want to be update on new content on this website , saved to bookmarks! .
43Good day very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to search out so many helpful information here in the publish, we need develop extra techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
44It’s really a nice and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
45Thank you for publishing such wonderful information. I love your blog. Thanks again for letting me share my thoughts on your website. I hope more interesting posts from you in the coming days.
46You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
47I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one today..
48I like this blog so much, saved to my bookmarks.
49Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange techniques with others, why not shoot me an email if interested.
50