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.)
I really wanted to compose a word so as to say thanks to you for some of the awesome ideas you are placing on this site. My time-consuming internet look up has at the end of the day been recognized with reasonable facts to share with my close friends. I would point out that we readers actually are definitely endowed to exist in a perfect website with many marvellous individuals with good tactics. I feel somewhat blessed to have seen your entire webpage and look forward to so many more fabulous times reading here. Thank you once more for a lot of things.
1Some really superb blog posts on this site, appreciate it for contribution.
2This is the appropriate weblog for anyone who needs to seek out out about this topic. You realize so much its almost laborious to argue with you (not that I truly would want…HaHa). You positively put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just nice!
3Hey very cool site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
4I genuinely enjoy reading on this website , it has good content.
5You are my inspiration, I possess few blogs and rarely run out from post :). “He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future conquers the past.” by George Orwell.
6It is really a nice and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you just shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
7You are my breathing in, I own few web logs and rarely run out from to brand : (.
8Hello there, I found your site via Google at the same time as looking for a comparable subject, your web site got here up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
9I haven’t checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
10You are my inhalation, I possess few blogs and infrequently run out from to brand.
11I have recently started a website, the information you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
12There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
13I am curious to find out what blog platform you are utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more secure. Do you have any recommendations?
14This is the precise weblog for anybody who wants to find out about this topic. You notice so much its virtually laborious to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just great!
15观点很清晰，例子也很贴切，对我帮助很大，谢谢！. Thanks for sharing this useful information.
16Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
17소액결제현금화(휴대폰깡·모바일깡)의 뜻과 수법, 정보통신망법 위반 처벌 수위, 실제 처벌 사례와 이용자 피해, 급전 필요 시 합법 대안까지 정리했습니다.
18소액결제현금화(휴대폰깡·모바일깡)의 뜻과 수법, 정보통신망법 위반 처벌 수위, 실제 처벌 사례와 이용자 피해, 급전 필요 시 합법 대안까지 정리했습니다.
19누누티비의 서비스 종료 이력과 같은 이름의 사이트를 확인할 때 알아둘 내용을 정리했습니다. 드라마·영화 다시보기 제공 여부, 회차·자막·화질 확인 방법과 자주 묻는 질문을 살펴보세요.
20부산오피를 검색하며 부산 지역 일반 마사지·스파를 알아보는 분들을 위한 안내입니다. 프로그램 선택, 관리 시간과 비용, 시설·위생, 주차, 예약 전 확인사항과 자주 묻는 질문을 정리했습니다.
21광주호빠를 찾는 분을 위한 광주광역시 예약 안내. 라운지 분위기, 인원별 공간 선택, 가격 상담, 첫 방문 준비와 자주 묻는 질문을 확인하고 원하는 일정에 맞춰 문의
22광주호빠를 찾는 분을 위한 광주광역시 예약 안내. 라운지 분위기, 인원별 공간 선택, 가격 상담, 첫 방문 준비와 자주 묻는 질문을 확인하고 원하는 일정에 맞춰 문의
23여기여에서 검색·콘텐츠·학습·디자인·개발·생활 분야의 링크모음과 주소모음을 살펴보세요. 사이트 주소 확인법, 모바일 이용법, 북마크 정리, 접속 문제 해결 방법과 FAQ를 안내합니다.
24I besides conceive so , perfectly pent post! .
25I just discovered this website and already found some useful information. Great work, looking forward to more posts.
26Thank you for another magnificent post. Where else may just anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect approach of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I am at the look for such information.
27대밤·대구의밤을 찾는 분들을 위한 대구 지역 정보. 동성로·수성못·동대구역·달서구의 저녁 여가와 지역별 특징, 후기 비교 기준, 가격·운영시간·교통 확인사항 및 자주 묻는 질문을 살펴보세요.
28It’s laborious to seek out educated individuals on this subject, but you sound like you understand what you’re talking about! Thanks
29I conceive this web site has some rattling great info for everyone :D. “I like work it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” by Jerome K. Jerome.
30Really wonderful visual appeal on this site, I’d value it 10 10.
31I’ll immediately take hold of your rss feed as I can not to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me understand in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
32Its like you learn my mind! You appear to understand so much approximately this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something. I think that you can do with some to pressure the message house a little bit, but other than that, that is excellent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.
33I am incessantly thought about this, regards for posting.
34Excellent post! I especially appreciate the simple presentation. Great work, looking forward to more posts.
35You completed some nice points there. I did a search on the issue and found nearly all folks will have the same opinion with your blog.
36Undeniably consider that that you said. Your favourite justification appeared to be at the net the simplest factor to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed even as other folks consider concerns that they plainly don’t realize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and also outlined out the whole thing with no need side-effects , other folks could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you
37Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers?
38Very nice pattern and fantastic subject material, hardly anything else we want :D.
39Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
40Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
41Howdy very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to seek out so many helpful information here in the publish, we want work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
42Once I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any method you’ll be able to remove me from that service? Thanks!
43Thank you for sharing such valuable information with your readers. Nice write-up, keep it up.
44I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for beginners. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
45I have been surfing online greater than 3 hours today, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours. It’s pretty value sufficient for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content material as you probably did, the internet can be much more helpful than ever before.
46I like this post, enjoyed this one thank you for putting up. “The basis of optimism is sheer terror.” by Oscar Wilde.
47good post.Ne’er knew this, thanks for letting me know.
48I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!
49Thank you for posting this wonderful content. I really like your site. Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment on your article. I would love to see more engaging articles from you in the near future.
50