Salt – bar & kitchen

Disclaimer: Super old review and pictures.  Okay maybe not super old but I am pretty sure these pictures are at least 2 years old. If you have followed me at all, you know that I used to run a food blog and well, I haven’t updated that in years as well.  I’ve been more active on Yelp for sure.  Anyhow, this is a review of Salt – bar & kitchen.  I went to this restaurant when it was fairly new and I understand the menu has undergone some changes since then, but good food lasts the test of time!

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Fois Gras - so good yet so bad

Fois Gras – so good yet so bad

I can't remember what this was!  Looks like grapefruit and raw fish - it wasn't very memorable as you can see

I can’t remember what this was! Looks like grapefruit and raw fish – it wasn’t very memorable as you can see

House Charcuterie Platter

House Charcuterie Platter – includes Head Cheese!

Pork Stuffed Calamari

Pork Stuffed Calamari

Bread Pudding (french toast, tarragon anglaise, kula strawberries)

Bread Pudding (french toast, tarragon anglaise, kula strawberries)

Salt provided a good experience.  We went fairly early so there weren’t a lot of customers yet.  The food was good but nothing was so good that made me want to rush back here to dine again (which I haven’t).  I’d say the best dish of the night was the bread pudding.  I mean, I don’t even like bread pudding and this dish blew me away.  And tarragon, who knew it would work so well with this bread pudding?  It was amazing.  My friend went back to this restaurant not too long ago and I heard that this dessert is no longer on the menu.  Now I’m bummed and definitely won’t be rushing back.

Homemade Ahi Poke

I have never made ahi poke before, I leave that to the professionals.  For this particular post, I decided to make a rendition of an ahi poke dish I tried in a restaurant.  I can’t remember where I tried this poke, but if anyone recalls where it might be – please let me know.  This ahi poke is very light on seasoning, if you’ve had ahi poke in Hawaii – I think you see that a lot of times they can be pretty saucy; like me.  😛

Anyhow, for this dish – the seasoning is minimal.  I don’t have the exact ingredients I used but I do remember creating a ginger infused oil for this dish.  Then I added some onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, ahi and probably just a touch of soy and salt.  I even plated it…too sad that I don’t remember what’s in it!

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Yum.  Can someone invest money for me to run a restaurant?  Or a food truck?  Anyone?

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Bichiumaya in Shinjuku

Before I made the trip out to Japan, I had to do a lot of research on Japanese eateries!  The research definitely yielded some great rewards but in the end, I was unable to find a few due to the fact that I don’t know a lot of Japanese and being unfamiliar with the area.  One of my first meals in Japan was located right in my neighborhood, Shinjuku.  I found Bichiumaya thanks to the Tokyo Cuisine Guide.  His blog is so useful for us tourists – he shows a lot of pictures and tells you what you should order.  If I hadn’t read his entry, I would never have been able to eat what I ate there!

SURUMEIKA NO BUTTER SHOYU YAKI (Grilled squid with butter and soy sauce)

SURUMEIKA NO BUTTER SHOYU YAKI (Grilled squid with butter and soy sauce)

NEGI KAKE TSUKIMI NIKUTAM (Okonomiyaki with green onions & fried egg)

NEGI KAKE TSUKIMI NIKUTAM (Okonomiyaki with green onions & fried egg)

MOCHI CHEESE NIKUTAMA (Okonomiyaki with cheese & sticky rice cake)

MOCHI CHEESE NIKUTAMA (Okonomiyaki with cheese & sticky rice cake)

This was one of the best meals we had in Japan.  We didn’t realize how big the portions would be and had to get a take-out bag.  I felt so bad especially since I read that you aren’t supposed to do take-out in Japan.  The squid was the best squid I have ever tasted.  Perfect seasoning and oh so tender.  The egg in the second picture was really one egg that had two yolks!  I was amazed by that.  Wonderful food and start to my trip in Japan.

Shinjuku, Japan – April 2012