Crispy Nori Chips and Dream Maki Roll
Okay, so, it's not exactly in Oakland. Google Maps actually shows that it IS in Oakland, but according to their menu and all other references I could find, it's in Berkeley (but it must be by just a foot or two, literally). But we oaktown-crawlers didn't let that stop us! We put on our boots, crossed that line, and enjoyed a delightful dinner. Thanks, Karen, for the recommendation.
Six of us met up at Mitama this absolutely BEAUTIFUL Oakland evening (weeks of cold and rain suddenly turning to sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80's today!) for some good Japanese food and good company. My synopsis? Great food, simple flavors, totally unpretentious, yet beautiful and elegant presentations, and to top it all off, quite affordable!
So what did we eat? One order each of: Crispy Nori Chips (crunch sushi-grade seaweed with wasabi aioli), Dream Maki Roll (tempura shrimps, fresh water eel, avocado, scallions and tobiko), Caterpillar Maki Roll (eel, cucumber, radish sprouts, wrapped in avocado), grilled hamachi cheeks (maybe just one, so I guess "cheek" would be more correct), Black Cod Kasu Zuke (miso-braised black cod), some sort of soba noodles (sorry, missed which one), and the Chicken Teriyaki entree (with veggies).
Highlights? For me, there were a few, with a few different reasons. 1) The hamachi cheek. I pick this one because it was a FIRST for me (which I love), and because it was delicious. Tender, almost fall-apart flesh. Oily. Yummy. It had a distinct flavor, which I loved, and it reminded me of something, but as of yet, I can't seem to remember what it was. But really good, even it if it did take a little bit of a mind trip to get over the mental picture. 2) Crispy Nori Chips. Fun, delicious, fried, and new! I was intrigued by these when I first saw them on the menu, and they were even better in real life! Thicker than I had imagined, deep-fried in seemingly tempura-style fashion. Crisp and crunch, yet with a slightly chewy interior. Just the right amount of saltiness. Surprisingly filling. And with a wonderfully-addictive wasabi menu (which I could have taken some of it home with me! i wonder if I could recreate it at home?!).
The others? The black cod was delicate, slightly sweet, and very good, although I fear that some of its subtly was lost on my palate. Didn't try the chicken. Tasted the noodles; they were good, and the orderee said they exactly fit the bill on this surprisingly summer-like day. The rolls were, well, rolls. I love sushi rice and I love fish and I love avocado, so what's not to love. I struggled with the process of eating them, though - perhaps it was me! - each slice was way too big for one bite, and way too fall-aparty for multiple bites. For my first one, I ended up eating it in pieces with my fingers (not very polite!), and my last, I dug out an American-style fork and cut the eel into bites, not sure what happened inbetween. As much as I love maki rolls (starch has always been, and will continue to be, my natural favorite food group), at this moment in time, I have to say that I think I'm a little bit more interested in trying other things... but oh, how I do love them!
What did we drink? We all had water, and a few of us had beers. Beer being a new thing to me, I'm never sure what to order, so I just copied a pair of my friends, and ordered some kind of (very) dark Japanese beer. Hey, I'm game. My wine of choice is dark, so I figure that dark beer would likely be to my liking as well. And, true to fate, I thought it was great! Someone will have to remind me of the name, so I can re-order someday...
What did we talk about? Food, mostly. Other stuff too. Like tennis (sorry, to those of you who are not the fanatics that some of us are), and food, and opera, and food, and jobs, and fundraisers, and art, and food, and... I find it interesting how the conversation from one oaktown crawl varies from that of another oaktown crawl. I imagine that it's the people who happen to be there on any given night, but I also wonder if it's impacted at all by the place that we're in, the food that we're eating, the mood that we're in, etc., etc., etc.... in fact, sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, i find myself pondering the conversation, which, i then realize, probably isn't very productive to the conversation itself... but i digress...
The statistics? Well, out of a maximum of 5 acorns each (this is the "oaktown" crawl, afterall), the "food" got a 4.0 (it was unanimous), "ambiance" a 3.25, "service" a 3.33, and overall, a "3.92." Written comments were few, but included, in their entirety (partially to provide my point), were: "Black cod was yummy!," "Maybe too many choices," "Presentation was gorgeous," "Good, casual night out," and "Simple spot for great simple food."
Who was there? (in alphabetical order, just to be fair) Gayle, Jessica, Nancy, Shari, Susan, and Terri. It was great to see everyone, and of course, we missed those of you who had other obligations and events tonight (book club, sleepover, and out-of-town guests, to name a few). I'd like to make a special welcome to Terri, who attended her first-ever Oaktown Crawl tonight - we're glad that work and tennis were absent from her schedule tonight so that she could join us! It was also Jessica's 2nd, so we're glad that we didn't scare her away at Ozumo, and that she chose to return! And of course, it was great to see everybody else as well, to eat together, to visit, and to hang out. The folks who come to the various Oaktown Crawls are all different walks of life, and not everybody knows each other, and that's part of what makes it work, what makes it fun (at least for me).
Gut reaction? For me, what helps me define my gut reaction is to think about if and when I'd come back, and what I would be inclined to order. For Mitama, I will definitely be back (even though parking is a bit of a challenge). What feels right to me about Mitama would be evenings when I'm looking for good food on a casual night. Maybe not when I'm famished. Definitely when I'm craving fish (which, as a mostly-vegetarian) is surprisingly often. Quiet enough to talk. The kind of place that doesn't make a big deal out of things, but seems to turn out good food. I would return for the nori chips, hamachi cheeks, and dark beer. :-)
Thanks, my friends, for a lovely evening. See you next time... (and thanks for letting me do a stream-of-consciousness blog posting tonight, so that I have time to catch up with my husband, and then catch up with my pillow!)
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